Yes, Please Do Come In, But Better Watch Your Step!

This little parody, and the comments that follow, were written nearly six years ago. In my opinion, they're even more appropriate now than they were then. Let me know what you think.

You are sitting in your house one sweltering summer morning and chatting to a friend on the telephone.

Because it's so stuffy inside, you've left the front door slightly ajar. You're engrossed in your conversation and almost oblivious to what's happening around you.

Eventually, you look up - and emit a loud gasp.

A well groomed gentleman, clutching a typical salesman's briefcase, is sitting opposite you, waiting patiently for you to finish.

After mumbling an apology to your friend on the phone, you angrily demand to know who the stranger is. Further, you want to know how he had the effrontery to walk in like that, without as much as a knock.

Far from being repentant, our stranger is puzzled and hurt.

''Nobody objected, so I walked right in,'' he explains. ''Since all your neighbors are going wild about the thing I want to show you, I know you'd be mad at me if I left you out...''

''Well,'' you think to yourself, ''he looks harmless enough, so I might as well let him stay.'' You motion for him to wait while you finish your telephone conversation.

You finish talking on the telephone, and look up again, but your unexpected visitor has disappeared!

Ah, but there he is! The intruder has now moved to the kitchen where he is eagerly devouring some goodies from your refrigerator.

''Just refueling,'' he insists. ''You didn't say I can't.''

''Gee, what did I do wrong now?'' our would-be salesman thinks to himself as you bodily eject him from your premises...

Strange? Maybe not...

A strange saga? Yes, but if you distribute marketing messages, newsletters, e-zines or the like by email, perhaps you'll feel some sympathy for this hapless fellow, because it's just possible that you're guilty of the same sin!

Today, the so-called principle of ''permission marketing'' - ''We won't bother you unless you opt-in first'' - is widely accepted as an industry best practice. Too bad that more don't realize there's a bit more to it than that.

You've managed to gain access to the private domains of your readers. Congratulations!

But what happens next? Depending to a large extent on your approach,you're either received willingly and enthusiastically, or - like our salesman - you're tolerated because you're there already.

But either way, at least you're in. Whew, what a relief - and what a privilege! Shouldn't you be treading very, very carefully now?

And then what do you do? Make a beeline straight for the kitchen!

''Before we introduce our breathtaking content this week, I just want to tell you about the wonderful deal I've managed to arrange for you - exclusive, of course, to subscribers to this publication. Only $50 instead of the usual $500, but you must reply within the next three days...''

''Here's three very special offers for you, and then we'll get down to business...Hurry, before it's too late!''

''As you know, I seldom do solo mailings, but every once in a while I stumble across something that will change your whole life..''

And when you're kicked out of the house, you want to know why!

Azriel Winnett is creator of Hodu.com - Your Communication Skills Portal. This popular free website helps you improve your communication and relationship skills in your business or professional life, in the family unit and on the social scene. New articles added almost daily.

---

Google News Updated : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:50:04 GMT With Outlook Dim, Bernanke Says Fed May Act on Rates - New York Times Boston Globe With Outlook Dim, Bernanke Says Fed May Act on Rates New York Times - 2 hours ago By DAVID STOUT and EDMUND L. ANDREWS WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, said on Tuesday that the turmoil in the financial markets had increased the risk to overall growth and that federal regulators would have to be vigilant to ... Video: Bernanke signals possible rate cut ReutersVideo Bernanke hints at possible interest rate cut MarketWatch Bloomberg - TheStreet.com - Forex Market all 1,140 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:40:38 GMT Uneasy calm in Bangkok after day of deadly riots - Reuters The Age Uneasy calm in Bangkok after day of deadly riots Reuters - 1 hour ago BANGKOK, Oct 8 (Reuters) - An uneasy calm settled over the Thai capital on Wednesday after the worst street violence in 16 years the day before, when two people died and nearly 400 were injured in clashes between police and anti-government protesters. Video: Raw Video: Tear Gas Fired at Thai Protestors AssociatedPress Two dead as Thai troops battle protesters guardian.co.uk Xinhua - Sin Chew Jit Poh - Washington Post - Radio Australia all 1,463 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:18:31 GMT Tehran confirms seizure of aircraft - Financial Times AFP Tehran confirms seizure of aircraft Financial Times - 42 minutes ago By Thomas Escritt in Budapest and Najmeh Bozorgmehr in,Tehran Iran yesterday revealed that it had forced a Hungarian-crewed transport aircraft to land after it strayed into the Islamic republic's airspace at the end of last month. Iran Withdraws Claim on US Plane New York Times US Military: Tense Encounters With Iran Occur Almost Daily FOXNews CNN International - AHN - United Press International - The Associated Press all 684 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:08:03 GMT Study Shows Weak Circumcision/HIV Benefit for Gay/Bisexual Men - WebMD AFP Study Shows Weak Circumcision/HIV Benefit for Gay/Bisexual Men WebMD - 1 hour ago By Daniel J. DeNoon Oct. 7, 2008 -- Circumcision offers little HIV protection to gay/bisexual men -- overall. But it might cut HIV risk in predominantly insertive partners. Circumcision HIV impact doubted BBC News AIDS Benefits of Circumcision Are Limited, Study Finds New York Times U.S. News & World Report - Bloomberg - TIME - MedPage Today all 45 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:24:47 GMT Nashville Knockout: What To Watch For - Washington Post Vancouver Sun Nashville Knockout: What To Watch For Washington Post - 4 hours ago Riggers lift scaffolding into place in front of the Curb Events event site at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Oct. 6, 2008, as preparations continue for Tuesday's presidential debate. WRAPUP 5-Obama, McCain battle over taxes, economy Reuters Presidential debate: minute by minute Los Angeles Times The Associated Press - New York Times - Newsweek - Newsday all 1,781 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:08:13 GMT ACORN office in Vegas raided in voter-fraud probe - The Associated Press ABC News ACORN office in Vegas raided in voter-fraud probe The Associated Press - 2 hours ago LAS VEGAS (AP) - Nevada authorities seized records Tuesday from a group they accused of submitting fraudulent voter-registration forms - including for the starting lineup of the Dallas Cowboys. Non-Profit Raided In Voter Fraud Probe CBS News ACORN Nevada Office Raided Washington Post MarketWatch - CNN Political Ticker - USA Today - Cleveland Leader all 197 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:01:25 GMT McCain, Obama discuss possible Treasury secretary picks - Reuters Wall Street Journal Blogs McCain, Obama discuss possible Treasury secretary picks Reuters - 43 minutes ago NASHVILLE, Oct 7 (Reuters) - US presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama both mentioned investor Warren Buffett as a possible pick for Treasury secretary on Tuesday but both spoke in only general terms about the qualities they would seek ... McCain, Obama agree that Buffett could lead US treasury (Extra) Monsters and Critics.com A Strong eBay, A Strong Government Forbes Wall Street Journal Blogs - CNN Political Ticker - Boston Herald - Bloomberg all 24 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:06:13 GMT Make Money With Affiliate Data Feeds Amazon Tool

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