Jeanniey Mullen of the eec recently posted “Email - The Battle Never Ends” on the eec blog. In the article she voices her frustration with the bad rap that email has taken over the years. As Jeanniey puts it, “email has been battling for respect since day one, like one of those little toy soldiers battling their way through the real (and very large) world.”
On this day - Thursday, April 10th, 2008 - I join Jeanniey and the eec in addressing the “email battle.” I’ve heard some refer to email as the “digital glue.” Think about email in the context of new technologies, widgets, killapps, fads, trends, etc.
For example, the interplay between email and…
- Facebook/LinkedIn/MySpace
- Email Marketers Club
- Twitter (quickly becoming my new addiction)
Facebook/LinkedIn/MySpace
All 3 social networks have their own versions of inboxes. However, they all send emails regularly. Facebook sends, “…confirmed you as a friend…wrote on your Wall…commented on your…” while LinkedIn sends, “…invitation to connect…join my network…” emails. Yeah. You read it. Email.
Email Marketer’s Club
The Email Marketer’s Club was started about a year ago by Tamara Gielen as a “place where email marketers can network and share knowledge and information.” The club is rapidly approaching 1,000 members. It was created through Ning, an online service that allows you to create, customize and manage your own social network.
Some mornings, I go directly to the Email Marketer’s Club, but more often than not an email triggers my interest. I’ve set up reminders using the “follow” feature. I receive an email when someone comments on a forum post. Again. Email.
Twitter
Similar to Facebook, I fought the Twitter craze for several months. On March 27th, I broke down and set up my account. Twitter also leverages the power and ease of email with email updates such as, “…is now following you…direct message from…” Notice a theme? Email.
Email is the tool that other applications use - fall back on - to inform. As the digital glue, email serves as a reliable channel for critical communication. While these apps don’t seem to overtly respect email as a medium, they all incorporate it as an integral component. Email.
Speaking of battles, Jeanniey and the “mystery army guy photographer” are onto something. A version of the little toy solider made it’s way into the Bronto offices this week. First there was the roaming gnome, then the traveling Bronto, now…the traveling little army dude?
Check out other pictures here, here, and even here.
So, please help me and the eec dispel the myth of the “email battle.” As G.I. Joe used to say, “Now we know! And knowing is half the battle.”
DJ Waldow
Account Manager at Bronto
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What about RSS? Is it digital velcro? Not as messy and makes for really sweet sneakers.