A simple email motivated me to buy this book.
With all the focus we put on automating tasks these days, I’m surprised when we still receive an email with a “lazy” auto-response or a haphazard email signature.
You know what I’m talking about: The “I’ll get back to you when I return from my much-needed vacation” messages that are meant to let folks know they’re not being neglected, but mostly leave us feeling, well, neglected. Or the pointless email signature (or lack of one) that has us trying to remember who this person was and how are we supposed to learn more about them, aside from emailing them back…
This morning I received the most clever auto-response to an email I’ve yet to see. In fact, I was so amused by her response that I had to email the author, Lisa Patton, and ask her permission to post a blog about it. To which I received another auto-response (silly me) but then she personally responded that yes, I could share and explained, “I hate having to send an auto-response in the first place but wanted to create something people could understand and hopefully might give them a smile.”
So here with her permission is Lisa Patton’s clever email auto-response:
Hello and thank you for writing. I hope you’ll understand that I am under a deadline to finish my next book in the Whistlin’ Dixie series, due to be published in the fall of 2013.
It may be a while before I can get back with you unless, of course, you happen to be . . .
1. The Today Show
2. Oprah
or
3. A Hollywood movie agent writing with the news that Amy Adams wants to star as Leelee Satterfield.
For everyone else, know that I still love you and will get back with you as soon as I possibly can!
In a simple email Lisa shows without telling (first sign of a good author!) that she:
- Is a serious writer and respects deadlines
- Has a sense of humor
- Has books published and a new one to read when we fall in love with her series
- Has excellent taste in actresses!
And Lisa really made my day when she responded and her email signature hit the Trifecta, too — including her name, links to her social media accounts, and the following:
WHISTLIN’ DIXIE IN A NOR’EASTER – in stores now
YANKEE DOODLE DIXIE – in stores now
Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press
www.lisapatton.com
These further illuminated the reader (me) as to where to learn more about Lisa Patton and her books. Did I go out and order said books this very same day? Absolutely, and all because she made it easy and enjoyable to do.
Moral of the story: make it simple and fun for readers to find out more about your work, even in your emails… Have an interesting auto-response or email signature you’d like to share? Please include it in a comment so we can learn more about your words, too!
Excellent idea! I think I’ll try something similar. Thanks for the post!
Here’s another great one the WWW team grabbed from author Ryan G. Van Cleave (spaces deleted for brevity):
Hello! Thanks so much for writing. I trust that you’ll appreciate that I’m under a deadline to finish WRITING MEMOIR FOR DUMMIES, due to published just after Xmas this year.
I will respond to your email, though it might be a little while. Unless, of course, you’re:
***a literary agent wanting to champion my books like your life depends on it
***Publisher’s Clearing House with the message that I ACTUALLY won millions of dollars
***Oprah
***Steven Spielberg
***Giovanni Ribisi with an offer to buy the movie rights to my memoir and play me in the feature-length film
Everyone else, hold tight. I’ll get to you as soon as I possibly can! Thanks for understanding!
Ryan
Ryan G. Van Cleave
http://www.ryangvancleave.com
Check out Ryan’s latest Young Adult book
http://www.unlockedthebook.com
Another excellent example that offers a male perspective to Lisa’s… also clever, to the point, and offering ways to see/buy Ryan’s work. GREAT work, authors!
Great advice on how to transform what is usually mundane. Ah, creative people. Love them. And when someone is witty? No easier way to catch my interest. Think I’ll have to check out her book, for sure.
For signature i use Brandmymail ( http://www.brandmymail.com ), which has full control over email signature and overall template 🙂
What a really novel idea. I think I will try some of these suggestions. I think some other people I know are already doing some of these ideas in their emails.
Great post and most excellent use of the auto-response feature. I am impressed with the authors that take the extra time to make their signature line work for them and their books. I’m specifically thinking of Rodney Page, who has his first novel coming out later this year. His book has been in his signature line since he came aboard with BQB Publishing and he’s doing amazing work building awareness around his novel, Powers Not Delegated, before it’s even in the marketplace. (http://www.powersnotdelegated.com/) Business-related or not, don’t pass up the opportunity to let someone you’re corresponding with learn more about you and your work!
i love it. I’m glad that you blogged about this.