Change… no one likes change.
If you have been privvy like I have to about 20 + emails in the past week (from people whose email list you subscribe to,) letting you know the workaround to the latest change to gmail you may have :
1. Taken it seriously and fixed it all up as directed
OR
2. Kind of laughed as I did at the panic of it all and how everyone is freaking out
I really find it amusing how so many people think this is the end to anyone ever opening their emails and newsletters. It truly reminded me of the Classic Children’s book “Chicken Little“.
The Sky is Falling, The Sky is Falling!
OMG People, stop the Panic… As with other minor changes in many online systems – like gmail, facebook, twitter etc, people learn to adapt and figure it out.
So, what changed? Gmail created some new auto filters to place items and notifications coming from social networks in one ‘folder” and promotional type emails” in another. So these emails stay out of your inbox unless you tick a button to note they are ‘good email’ or you leave them there and deal with them in this folder. (The filter looks like this)
I know, I know the main reason there is such a panic is the worry that the open rates on their emails will go down. The reality is not everyone uses gmail and those of us that do will adapt. In fact I love the change!
Why? Because it creates its own filter for all my email newsletters that I sign up to and places them in that one area. This keeps my inbox clean (because not always do I follow my own rule of using my ‘special’ email address for newsletter signups) by automatically sorting all the newsletters in this new Promotions tab. It saves me having to set a new rule / filter for them. So I love this new setup!
The same goes for the social ones… It keeps them here – you know emails if someone mentions you on facebook etc. Again, I like that as well – I do have some notifications coming (most I untick to keep my inbox clear and check them online) in so it moves them right in this neat folder and I can view and my inbox is clearer because of it.
End result… The world is not ending, the sky is not falling. The reality is your open rates for email newsletters truly depends on your content and what you consistently deliver to your email list – your subscribers.
Gmail has simply created a neat tool that some of us love and some of us hate.
I’m a Lover, how about you?
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