Free doesn’t always mean free in email marketing. Fool me once…
Oct 08 2008
“1 week only: Free Custom Cover Book”. Awesome right? No. It’s actually a “Buy one Get one Free” offer. Semantics? No. Bummer? Yes! These types of misleading subject lines do more damage to the brand than the subscriber.
Fool me once? Shame on you. Fool me Twice? Ask George W.

Now maybe I misintrepreted this email from Snapfish, but it look like to me it says: “order one, get the second free with Coupon Book108″. Isn’t that called “Buy One Get One Free”?
This tactic may work in other marketing channels but it’s not going to work in email. We will find out the true offer the moment we open the email.
Be honest and your audience will trust you. Trick them and they will stop listening. Or worse, they will unsubscribe.
- Posted by Alex Williams
- @alexcwilliams
- at 6:18 PM
Published in Customer Appreciation, Missed Opportunites









October 9th, 2008 at 8:05 am
Not only do I (heart) this post – it is spot on – but I also love the link to W.
Pretty sure that deceptive subject lines are also a CAN-SPAM violation…
dj (director)