If they're like me, they subscribed when they first visited WebWord. Then when they realized the newsletter highlighted stuff on the web site they had already seen because they visit more frequently than the newsletter is published, they stopped reading the newsletter, but were too lazy to unsubscribe.

Posted by: Jack on July 25, 2002 11:36 PM

 

OK, I've looked at the screen capture now... I'm guessing the typo was so obvious people found it easier to let it go, rather than be one of many shooting off an e-mail to tell you something you already knew and was obviously a small thing.

Posted by: Jack on July 25, 2002 11:39 PM

 

I prefer to read book reviews rather than listen to them. I was very curious about what you had to say about this book since I'm in the middle of reading it right now, but I didn't want to do it via audio. You can't really skim an audio file whereas you can skim through an article to parts that are of interest. I didn't feel like I could devote 8 mins to it right then. So I would've preferred it in written form. Given that I wasn't interested in an audio format, I just glanced at the end of the URL to verify it was an mp3 and then moved on. I just assumed the front part was the usual and correct address.

Posted by: eszter on July 25, 2002 11:52 PM

 

I tend to download my mail onto a PDA so I can read it during my working day in spare moments (fag breaks, toilet breaks and the like). As my PDA is not 'connected' I never click on links in mails that I read in this manner.

Posted by: Mac on July 26, 2002 04:18 AM

 

Interesting comments. Thank you.

1. Skim, so I missed it
2. Don't care enough
3. Not connected
4. Easier not to respond than to respond

Others?

Posted by: John S. Rhodes on July 26, 2002 07:19 AM

 

Yeah. Nobody wants to click on an MP3 link from an email. 3.4 MB? Bloody long time to download. People want instant gratification.

Think about it. Here I am, with over 200 mails every day to deal with. I'm trying to get them out of my way as quickly as possible and then get working.

Here's how a typical email reading session could go (thinking out loud):
1) What's this? A joke from my friend Bob. Quick scan. Nah, not funny. Press Delete.

2) Message from my boss asking for a status update on the new project. Oops, gotta reply to this. Type out a three line reply saying that the SRS is getting finalised. Done with that. Phew!

3) Hmmm... subject says "the info you requested..." from Vince. Who's Vince. Open mail. Damn, it's more freaking spam. Delete.

3) Message from girlfriend asking if I'm free for dinner. Quick response saying I'll pick her up at 19:00

4) News.com newsletter. Quick scan through headlines. Couple of stories look interesting. Click on links and while the pages are loading in my browser, I get back to reading the rest of my mail.

5) Bah! 10% discount coupon from the e-commerce site I vowed never to buy from. Bugger that, press Delete.

6) Ah, the daily Webword newsletter. You know, that John Rhodes ought to consider sending weekly newsletters. Daily newsletters are such a pain in the butt. Let's see... what's he got? Book review... uh huh... Fast Food Nation... uh huh... where's the hyperlink? Waitamminit, it's an MP3 file. Wtf? How big is it? (scan through it again) Shit, it's 3.4 MB. Sorry, don't have time for it at the moment. Maybe some other time. Why didn't he just make it a regular article? These usability nuts, I tell ya'.

7) OK, so what do these News.com.com stories say? Hmmm...

(go back to clearing out the rest of the email)

-- end of session --

Now, did you find that insightful, John? You should consider that your newsletter is usually one of several mails that people get in a day. 3.4 MB is too much diversion. Give people instant gratification.

Posted by: MadMan on July 26, 2002 08:32 AM

 

You didn't give it enough time.

People first scan the newsletter for anything critical or relevant to tasks at hand.

Next they print the newsletter for offline reading, coming back to the PC at a later time to explore links of interest.

Posted by: Dusty Bottoms on July 26, 2002 12:38 PM

 

Two things: I figure 10 other people have let you know by the time I see it (overriding reason), and I usually don't click links from e-mail, but skim to see if something catches my interest right away, then I come to the site and click the link. The website is just more convenient because of the organization.

I never print out the e-mail, but I do stick it in a separate folder in case I want to look up stuff from the past.

Posted by: Lydia on July 26, 2002 12:56 PM

 

I use your newsletter as a summary of what is on your site.

I have now got into the habit of coming to your site daily for the same reason and thus I have become an ad hoc email reader.

Posted by: JB on July 26, 2002 01:18 PM