…the bounced address! I send out a monthly newsletter to people who are self-subscribed. So, I never understand why their mailboxes are full everytime I send out a newsletter! I end up deleting them from the list – in disgust.
Many of them are VA email addresses – ones I recognise, some I don’t, but I can tell from the address that they are a VA. Others are people I know who are actively marketing their businesses – and yet their email fails. I get messages like the one below:
This message was created automatically by mail delivery software.
A message that you sent could not be delivered to one or more of its recipients. This is a permanent error. The following address(es) failed:
[email protected]
mailbox is full: retry timeout exceeded
Now I know that sometimes mail servers can play up, have problems, go down due to power outages, etc – and so I usually give them the benefit of the doubt. But when I see the same addresses over and over each month, there comes a time when I decide they don’t deserve to be on my list – and yet I know they probably need the information that is sent out each month.
I mean, why would you have an email address and not use it for your business? And not fixing the problem, or not responding to an email, is like not fixing a broken phone, or not answering it when it’s ringing. Or perhaps leaving it permanently engaged.
If you are someone who battles a constantly full mailbox then you need to consider any of the following:
- Unsubscribe from some of your lists (yes, even mine if necessary)
- Set up a different email address for subscriptions
- Get your mailserver box enlarged – even if you have to pay for it
- Discuss with your webhost or ISP other possible options
The reality is that you are going to receive enquiries, orders, requests from prospective clients and if they can’t get a message through to you, they’ll move on to the next person. So one sale could possibly cover the cost of increasing your mailbox size – webhosting is not an expensive affair these days. And if your current webhost can’t help you then seek out another! I know if the ‘new’ customer really wanted what you have they could pick up the phone, fax you or post a letter, even drop in, if they know where you are, but the reality is that people lean more on email these days and far less on the other options.
Don’t risk losing business – make sure your email address is working and receiving! KMT
bounced email, mailserver, subscribe, broadcast email, virtual assistants
Meredith says
Deeds, not words. Meredith.