[Omniscient]

Currently HF doesn't send marketing emails. Basically in 15 years I believe I have only sent an email blast out 3 times and once was to alert of a security breach. All the emails sent from HF are transactional for things like registration, notifications of PMs, member opt-in subscriptions (threads and such) and Password Resets.

I'm curious to get feedback on how HF members would feel if I did have an official newsletter that went out either monthly or weekly. I may even work with the HF Writers and HF News group to create a good format and provide content.

Would you consider this spammy or actually read the emails?

My fear is that members would too often "Unsubscribe" from all HF emails which even prevents them from getting PW resets and they have to subscribe again. Often I have to walk them through it but if they just read they'd see how to fix it themselves. I am also not the biggest fan of email marketing.

What's your view on some of this?

Intent for example might include some sponsored content, important new threads, contest info, and whatever else I can find appropriate.

[Nachfolger]

I couldn't care less about HF news content, it's just weeb trash now. Maybe if it was actually interesting again, this would be neat.

[MavenGradle]

Definite no from me if it's opt-in by default. I get so many newsletters and they all end up in spam folders anyway.

I think the best option would be to send a system-wide notification instead when a newsletter is released on HF and have an optional feature to get an email if the user chooses to subscribe to said feature.

The system-wide notification could be a user-option as well (but I'd like that one to be enabled by default because I actually enjoy watching the HF statistics evolve over time). Furthermore, I believe that it's already a feature to get notified about certain sections of the forum, so it looks like that feature is already present as-is, but not enabled by default for the news section.

Marketing emails that are useful for both the consumer and business, in terms of revenue, like for example: '50% discount for L33T now' is something I can actually see happening and would appreciate but again, opt-out by default and only when the user likes to receive them.

I would definitely underline the functionality of the HF notification system. Luring members back to the site with emails might have some value, but old members that already have a lifetime Ub3r won't be particularly profitable to have back. There are ways of increasing member activity, by for example having a marketing team that is active on social media platforms like Twitter, etc. that are luring new people in. The right tweet, or the right shout out or the right reply on a social media platform at the right time can seriously boost member registrations and activity.

You could even use the HF API to create a twitter/facebook/whatever bot that sends out 'tweets' about the 'hottest' HF topics at the moment.

[Lrrr]

Hard pass on anything email related, I just won't read it. Email is for password reset codes and purchase receipts...

[bronzegods]

We already have a news section to get the latest information. I can't figure how it would be any different from what already exists.

[Lrrr]

We already have a news section to get the latest information. I can't figure how it would be any different from what already exists.

and as other members in this thread have already pointed out..... the news section has certainly seen better days.

Is it the content? Is it the direction of the content? Is it the news staff?

These are all good questions

[Riggs]

My fear is that members would too often "Unsubscribe" from all HF emails which even prevents them from getting PW resets and they have to subscribe again. Often I have to walk them through it but if they just read they'd see how to fix it themselves.  I am also not the biggest fan of email marketing.

If you're concerned about complying with things like GDPR, password resets are considered 'transactional emails', and so would satisfy the necessary legitimate interest conditions to remain in place even if a user opts to unsubscribe from all, providing you include a clear notice within the process explaining why certain transactional emails cannot be opted out of.

You would also need to update the privacy policy to reflect this.

[Omniscient]

I ain't worried about GDPR. It's more about increasing engagement. Getting the tens of thousands of members who don't visit HF often enough to know what's happening here. Example is that big $2200 giveaway I did. It might have had more impact if it reached a larger audience.

But I can see from the feedback so far that my gut instinct that email marketing won't be well received is probably accurate.

[Pat13nt_Zer0]

I think its a great idea, I know personally I would subscribe and read as I believe most of HF users would. Definitely worth a shot, I hope to see this happen ✌✌

I misread the original post, marketing emails no. Some kind of info related email yes.

[123]

Personally I never read Newsletter sent via Emails. They just end up in spam folder or get ignored.

[False King]

This could be enabled for opt-in, and for actual usage simply just target those with low engagement. That way you won't annoy any users which are active anyways, and it might give a notch to lesser engaged members (In that case, you could go with an email like "This is what you've missed last month" with some of the best/most active threads linked in them.

[Kavalli †]

Is there no way to separate transactional/function emails like pw resets etc and newsletters? From a marketing stand point I think it'd be great for HF to have a newsletter and have all the members automatically opted in (with the option for them to opt out), and you can send them the newsletters, offers, etc.

Of course this would only be beneficial if members can opt out AND still receive password resets and transactional emails. Maybe you can incentivize staying opt in by giving out random prices, bytes, awards, and ub3r upgrades.

[SUI-3183372]

Bi-yearly email blast to users who haven't logged in > 6/12/* months letting them know what they've missed out on and what's coming up.

[peldon]

As others, I never read newsletter sent via emails. Except for HF ? I don't know

[Skorp]

I can see email marketing working back in the day, when everyone was more revolved around it.

But in current times now, I agree with [mention=1306528] that a (modern) on-site alert/news system be implemented as he said earlier in the thread, will be your best bet IMO. But I will modify his wording slightly and not just make it for RANF and HF News threads, but for the entire forums just incase we do have an attractive/sponsored/important thread that is outside of those sections. But more importantly, so we can reach "everyone" and not the same circle of active members currently. Hope to see this happen!

I know when I say "(modern) on-site alert/news system" can be vague from a point, but just something more engaging to the member instead of a little number that pops up on the notification bell icon.