Yep, it’s yet another GDPR article…

There’s no hiding from GDPR, or GDPainintheRs as it’s known around here, but I think it’s a good thing for marketers. After all, we could do with less SPAM in our inboxes. Will GDPR stop it altogether, probably not, if the sender is prepared to fire out unsolicited emails, they probably aren’t at the front of the GDPR compliance queue. Hopefully it will help cull some of the unwanted dross, here’s three of my recent favourites from some of my regulars:

• The recruiter from Senitor, who perpetually ignores my requests to be removed from his mailing list, and who insists on addressing me as ‘Dear Kirsty’. I have never been, nor will I ever be, Kirsty. Except that one time.
• The ‘Branded Welcome Mat Company’. The idea of visitors wiping muck off their shoes on the greatly revered Thrive logo just doesn’t sit well with me.
• And of course – the GDPR expert (self-proclaimed) who I don’t know and has emailed me an invitation to a seminar (paid for of course) to tell me how GPDR will reduce SPAM in my inbox. Anyone else, or is just me?

These are emails I won’t miss.

The emails I want to receive, I’ve already re-opted in to. And that’s how it should be. Surely, just like any other communications channel, email is about reaching the right people, the ones who are interested in what you’ve got to say.

So how will the email landscape look post May 25^th? Mystic Dave predicts that:

• We’ll see brands working harder to encourage audiences to subscribe – by telling them, clearly, why they should.
• Content will improve, less quantity, more quality meaning brands focus on what’s important for consumers to know.
• There’ll be a less noise, less click-bait, less meaningless drivel in your inbox. Let’s hope so anyway.

Too long has email been a scatter gun approach. It’s time to bring back the sniper rifle.

Hang on, just got an email…

…Branded Mat anyone?