What happens if you hit reply all?

When Brad asked me to write a guest post for his blog, I felt honored to be given such an opportunity. Why? Because this blog is Brad's stage, his "central messaging platform" on the Internet.

This blog is the avenue from which Brad delivers the information you're seeking. He owns it, he runs it and he alone controls the type and quality of information you receive here…and I am certain Brad wants nothing more than to provide the best, highest quality information to you – his readers.

This is why I felt distinctly honored to be given the chance to write for you. See…I'm pretty quiet online. I don't have a huge network of fans. I do not have hoardes of followers, and I don't make millions of dollars by marketing on the Internet.

The question rises, then, of why? Why would Brad ask "me" to write a post for him to share with his loyal followers?

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What is it Brad believes I can deliver to you through a post on his blog?

Insight. Reasons why. A closer look, a deeper explanation of the smaller, more intricate, but no less important pieces of the puzzle many tend to overlook and then leave entirely out of the Marketing equation.

I believe Brad feels a post from me would benefit you because my goal would be to help you understand things a bit more clearly, and so it is.

For an example, let's take a look at Brad's recent post here titled: My 4 Favorite Ways to Build a Relationship With My List. Now, while I don't have a list of any substantial size at the moment, as a wife and mother of six, I'm no stranger to relationships and relationship building.

I'm a watcher, an observer of people and a student of learning why people do the things they do. Knowing this, I feel qualified to speak on the "why's" of Brad's post.

"Just Hit Reply" method with his list

By not only "inviting" his readers but actually "giving them permission" to "just hit reply" and respond to emails he sends out to his list of followers, Brad clearly and cleverly deferentiates himself from other marketers. How so?

Essentially, by asking readers to "just hit reply," Brad implies he is a marketer who is "here" for you.

With three tiny little words, Brad sends a message to his readers that he is both available to and reachable by them on a personal, one-on-one level — something many marketers today do not offer their followers. But Brad doesn't stop.

In #4 of his post, Brad admits that he personally answers emails from his readers- and does so in a timely fashion.

He also warns against underestimating the power of answering your readers' emails yourself, mentioning how by doing so he has turned many a disgruntled person into a loyal buyer — using nothing more than personal communication.

So the question is: why should YOU do it?

If you aren't inviting your readers to communicate with you via email and then answering your own email, Brad's pretty much saying you're missing out on opportunities, whether it be the opportunity to form deeper relationships with your prospective customers, make more sales, or simply to acknowledge alternate viewpoints and opinions (which also has the power to raise you up in some people's point of view).

You do not have to agree with another's point of view, but disagreeing with a person's words doesn't have to stop you from acknowledging the speaker. "I hear you" is not the same as "I agree with what you're saying."

Before I close, let me address your concern about the constraints of having a large list and limited available time with a tip: Most people love seeing their name in print, or being specifically mentioned by someone they trust and/or admire.

In short, people love to be acknowledged.

If your list has grown to a size that makes individual personal communication a full-time job and leaves you with no time for marketing, remember this and use it as a motivation to personalize your more "informal" communications.

Such as with an FAQ or even what will come to be a "canned" email response in your business.

Go ahead and answer the questions one-by-one as you normally would, but underneath each answer, specifically acknowledge each person that asked, by name (or by nickname, however they sent you their questions or concerns) and thank them for their perspectives and contribution.

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Doing so will give your readers the acknowledgement they desire. You will convey the message that you have not only acknowledged each concern but, while you've addressed those concerns informally, you formally appreciate every contributor as an individual.

Others' opinions of you will rise, right along with the esteem of your readers because they will see you're not "all about you," and you value (or at least acknowledge) the opinions and perspectives of others.