Email isn't dead yet
07:38, 22 December 2008
.. Posted in techculture and tech to help.. Link
I would love to replace my Tech4Impact email newsletter entirely with this blog. But I can't. When I tried to switch over to the blog entirely, the subscriber outcry was immediate and unanimous -- DON'T. Turns out all the blogs and media stories that no one uses email anymore are highly exaggerated.
I started migrating from email to the web to read online discussion groups several years ago, such as those via YahooGroups and GoogleGroups. In the last year, I've started signing up for updates and blogs from various organizations via RSS rather than email, and have noticed a significant reduction of email clutter. Email, for me, is becoming the way to communicate one-on-one with people, rather than a way of reading newsletters or discussion groups. Based on my own experience, and listening to all the blogs and stories about Web 2.0, I thought it might be that way for others as well. I was *wrong*. Good thing I asked first!
So, my advice to nonprofit organizations: don't abandon email entirely. For instance, if at all possible, give your newsletter subscribers the option of receiving your updates via email *or* RSS. There are still many millions of people in love with email. I still love email. Don't base everyone's Internet preferences on your own!
Jayne Cravens
