Confessions Of An Info Junkie

I love the Internet! Information about any topic that piques my curiosity is just a few clicks away. Ezines on almost any topic are available to all.

Yes, I have to admit it -- I Am An Info Junkie. It has become an addiction. I subscribe to dozens of ezines and my browser's bookmark list is huge.

Today, I fired thirteen ezine publishers.

It was hard. I didn't want to let go of those threads to information sources, but they all made the same mistake.

Maybe you were one of the thirteen.

Maybe it wasn't just a mistake. It is more like a cardinal sin on just plain ignorance.

Your ezine/newsletter didn't contain any news.

There was not a sentence of content in it. You and the other twelve publishers have not provided a lick of content for weeks or even months. I have been hoping that "maybe the next issue will be the one?"

That next issue that contained the content I was hungry for never came. Yes, your ezine was always there right on time. Yes, I even received your bonus editions.

You flooded my RSS reader and my email box with ads.

I realize that we are all in the business of trying to make a buck or two and I can accept a couple of ads if I get my info fix. Ads support your ability to provide content and we info junkies of the world can tolerate that.

Your cardinal sin was to send ads to me without content.

That, my friend, is spam. That is why I clicked on the "unsubscribe me" link and fired you.

Anyone who has been in the Internet Marketing business for more than five minutes has memorized this mantra:

THE MONEY IS IN THE LIST

(I could go off on a tangent about ebook authors who hired copywriters to provide wonderful sales copy for horrible ebooks that I have bought, but that is a rant for a different day.)

Back to this rant.

If you want the privilege of feeding ads to my RSS reader or dropping them in my email box, please have the decency to feed my addiction ? I get real cranky if you make me go into withdrawal.

Wrap your ad in some decent content!

Consider this ? if you have no list, you'll have no money.

Do you wonder why your ezine has such a low response?

Is it even being read?

Here's another info junkie confession ?

A lot of us are lazy! (I know ? that is an earth- shattering fact you never thought of ? LOL)

It is much easier to click on "delete" than it is to search the fine print for the unsubscribe instructions. Lots of us have those cool email clients like Thunderbird that let us click a "Junk" icon and never be bothered by your spammy ads again.

It is sad.

A world full of info junkies that like to buy good stuff from the 'net and a world full of Internet marketers that want to sell stuff ? it looks like a match made in heaven.

You blew it. You and twelve of your colleagues.

You lost your focus. You forgot that the info junkies of the world provide your Internet income. We are your customers. Without us, where would you be?

Just give us our fix. Put some content in your ezines and we'll stay on your list buying more than we can rationally afford forever.

@2005, John Gilger

John Gilger is a professional copywriter and technical writer that has been paid to indulge his writing habit for more years than he cares to admit. More info is available at John Gilger, Freelance Wordsmith

In The News:


Google News
Updated : Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:33:37 GMT

Weak Japan exports pile on economic gloom - Reuters


Straits Times
Weak Japan exports pile on economic gloom
Reuters - 56 minutes ago
By Tetsushi Kajimoto and Jason Subler TOKYO/BEIJING (Reuters) - Japan's exports to Asia fell in October for the first time since 2002, showing that the fallout from the credit crisis has spread to neighbors such as China and adding momentum to ...
Japan's exports mark biggest decline in 7 years The Associated Press
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Publ.Date : Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:37:03 GMT

The Obama Health Plan Emerges - Wall Street Journal


dBTechno
The Obama Health Plan Emerges
Wall Street Journal - 2 hours ago
"Universal" government-run health care proved too ambitious even for FDR, who stripped it out of the Social Security Act of 1935.
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Insurers make pitch for health coverage mandate San Jose Mercury News
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Publ.Date : Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:00:54 GMT

Deflation fears roil Wall Street - Houston Chronicle


The Associated Press
Deflation fears roil Wall Street
Houston Chronicle - 56 minutes ago
By VIKAS BAJAJ New York Times After gyrating wildly for weeks, the stock market lurched lower on Wednesday, falling to its lowest point in nearly six years, as concern spread that the economy might be beset by a chronic and debilitating decline in ...
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Publ.Date : Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:37:08 GMT

Astronaut who lost tool bag admits making mistake - The Associated Press


Times Online
Astronaut who lost tool bag admits making mistake
The Associated Press - 2 hours ago
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - The astronaut who lost her tool bag on a spacewalk admitted Wednesday that she made a mistake by not checking to see if the sack was tied down, and said she's still smarting over the whole thing.
Video: Astronaut Who Lost Tool Bag Admits Mistake AssociatedPress
Ahead of schedule, astronauts install water recycler Houston Chronicle
eFluxMedia - Tucson Citizen - Register - ABC News
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Publ.Date : Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:13:12 GMT

Mussina Close To Making It Official: He’s Retiring - New York Times


National Post
Mussina Close To Making It Official: He’s Retiring
New York Times - 4 hours ago
By TYLER KEPNER Jim Palmer has known Mike Mussina for 17 years, but rarely had his friend seemed as loose and carefree as he did this summer.
Yanks' Mussina to retire after first 20-win season FOXSports.com
Mussina to retire, end 18-year career Washington Times
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Publ.Date : Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:20:43 GMT

Movie Review: Twilight - Entertainment Weekly


Canada.com
Movie Review: Twilight
Entertainment Weekly - 1 hour ago
By Owen Gleiberman If the droolingly awaited big-screen version of Twilight is any indication, sanpaku eyes are the new cheekbones.
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Publ.Date : Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:00:34 GMT

Will winning 'Sexiest Man Alive' lose 'Australia' hunk Hugh ... - Los Angeles Times


Boston Globe (registration)
Will winning 'Sexiest Man Alive' lose 'Australia' hunk Hugh ...
Los Angeles Times - 6 hours ago
This has been quite a week already for Hugh Jackman and it is only Wednesday. On Monday, he got good reviews from his hometown papers when the long-awaited epic "Australia" world premiered in Sydney.
Hugh Jackman is the Sexiest Man Alive (unless you look at Jon Hamm) Entertainment Weekly
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Publ.Date : Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:32:48 GMT

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