Anything Better Than Plain Old Signup Sheets For Collecting Emails?
July 30, 2015 6:00 PM Subscribe
Mrs. Cowlick will be at a flea market this weekend selling her wares. During past events, she's simply has folks sign their email addresses on paper to join her mailing lists but many emails are either illegible or just plain misspelled.
Has anyone tried a different way to collect emails? We were going to feed these emails to Mailchimp if that matters.
My favorite way is if there's an ipad available I can type into. There are collecting apps you can use (don't know any off the top of my head, but I do know they exist). That way 1) I know it's spelled right and I don't have to worry about making sure my handwriting is perfect and 2) the next 10000 people to come visit your booth won't see my email address.
posted by phunniemee at 6:06 PM on July 30, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 6:06 PM on July 30, 2015 [3 favorites]
You can also print out a little card with a QR code on it that links to a google form. While they're standing there talking to you they can scan the code, enter their info on their own phone, and send it off to you.
posted by phunniemee at 6:07 PM on July 30, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 6:07 PM on July 30, 2015 [4 favorites]
Agree the signup tablet/phone is best - Mailchimp has stuff like http://mailchimp.com/features/mobile-signup-forms/ to help with it.
If you can't do the tablet: I have had to collect personal info on paper before and found that larger rule with a light grid helps, as does double-checking it while they're there. Sometimes, getting their name can help if they also have it in their email and it's an unusual name.
You could also have people email or text you for a coupon they can use on the spot or some small free thing (you can text people to get their email address later.) You check for receipt on your phone and then apply the discount. I tried this for something and it didn't go that well, but smartphone adoption % was lower then.
posted by michaelh at 6:24 PM on July 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
If you can't do the tablet: I have had to collect personal info on paper before and found that larger rule with a light grid helps, as does double-checking it while they're there. Sometimes, getting their name can help if they also have it in their email and it's an unusual name.
You could also have people email or text you for a coupon they can use on the spot or some small free thing (you can text people to get their email address later.) You check for receipt on your phone and then apply the discount. I tried this for something and it didn't go that well, but smartphone adoption % was lower then.
posted by michaelh at 6:24 PM on July 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
A friend of mine had an old typewriter at her booth for her mailing list. She had a great response, partially because people wanted to use the typewriter! And everything was legible.
posted by Elly Vortex at 6:40 PM on July 30, 2015 [56 favorites]
posted by Elly Vortex at 6:40 PM on July 30, 2015 [56 favorites]
Offer a draw prize or some other incentive to make people care a little more if their email is legible or not. Having individual draw prize forms allows more than one person to fill out their email at the same time as well.
Make the space to write the email address relatively large or do the official form thing where there is a little rectangle for each letter. Having a name does help fairly often, as many of the semi-legible emails will match the names.
posted by ssg at 7:36 PM on July 30, 2015 [3 favorites]
Make the space to write the email address relatively large or do the official form thing where there is a little rectangle for each letter. Having a name does help fairly often, as many of the semi-legible emails will match the names.
posted by ssg at 7:36 PM on July 30, 2015 [3 favorites]
Does Mrs. Cowlick have a presence on social media, too, like Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? In addition to collecting e-mails (classic and effective when legible!), could she also post a prominent sign with those listed for interested customers? These days I'm more likely to follow people/shops/etc. IG right on the spot than join a mailing list.
posted by smorgasbord at 8:15 PM on July 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by smorgasbord at 8:15 PM on July 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
Yeah, mailing lists are old school. Get them to follow you on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.
posted by monospace at 8:42 PM on July 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by monospace at 8:42 PM on July 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: +1 for Chimpadedoo, MailChimp's app for iPad, iPhone and Android phone sign up.
Whenever I speak at a con or other gathering, and someone comes to my table, I merely hand them my phone or my iPad and ask them to sign up. Takes seconds and they are in your ecosystem.
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 9:14 PM on July 30, 2015 [4 favorites]
Whenever I speak at a con or other gathering, and someone comes to my table, I merely hand them my phone or my iPad and ask them to sign up. Takes seconds and they are in your ecosystem.
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 9:14 PM on July 30, 2015 [4 favorites]
Disagree that mailing lists are old school, so please don't replace them with social media!
I do like the typewriter idea. A simple Google form works well, too, if you decide to go the tablet route. If you do, buy a security stand to go with it so the tablet doesn't accidentally walk off.
posted by Goblin Barbarian at 9:52 PM on July 30, 2015 [3 favorites]
I do like the typewriter idea. A simple Google form works well, too, if you decide to go the tablet route. If you do, buy a security stand to go with it so the tablet doesn't accidentally walk off.
posted by Goblin Barbarian at 9:52 PM on July 30, 2015 [3 favorites]
mailing lists are old school, in the awesome way of practiced reasonably polished well understood technology that people of multiple age groups understand and can use. Facebook is getting there, but facebook only shows any messages you send out to a fraction of your followers, unless you pay.
If you can't do the tablet thing, I'd recommend she ask each person, "would you like to be on my mailing list?" and if they say yes, asking them for their email. It will be much more legible in their own handwriting. Also mailchimp requires that you consent to the mailing list explicitly, not just give someone your email, I believe.
posted by gryftir at 10:21 PM on July 30, 2015
If you can't do the tablet thing, I'd recommend she ask each person, "would you like to be on my mailing list?" and if they say yes, asking them for their email. It will be much more legible in their own handwriting. Also mailchimp requires that you consent to the mailing list explicitly, not just give someone your email, I believe.
posted by gryftir at 10:21 PM on July 30, 2015
Response by poster: Wow, thanks everyone.
phunniemee, I like the idea of having a QR code for quick and easy navigation to her sign up form except not everyone seems to have a QR code ready installed on his/her phone (not that I know of).
Elly Vortex, I never would have thought of using an old typewriter! Maybe the 'rents still have theirs but it's not one of the mechanical typewriters so the wow factor may not be there for some people.
smorgasbord, we do have a Facebook and you're right: we'll try and publicize it as an alternative to the old mailing list.
At this point, I think we'll try Mailchimp's Chimapadedoo (thanks Major Matt & michaelh) with her iPad. If we were crazy, I suppose we would try a typewriter docking station (e.g. http://www.usbtypewriter.com/) with her iPad.
Thanks again everyone!
posted by cowlick at 6:14 AM on July 31, 2015
phunniemee, I like the idea of having a QR code for quick and easy navigation to her sign up form except not everyone seems to have a QR code ready installed on his/her phone (not that I know of).
Elly Vortex, I never would have thought of using an old typewriter! Maybe the 'rents still have theirs but it's not one of the mechanical typewriters so the wow factor may not be there for some people.
smorgasbord, we do have a Facebook and you're right: we'll try and publicize it as an alternative to the old mailing list.
At this point, I think we'll try Mailchimp's Chimapadedoo (thanks Major Matt & michaelh) with her iPad. If we were crazy, I suppose we would try a typewriter docking station (e.g. http://www.usbtypewriter.com/) with her iPad.
Thanks again everyone!
posted by cowlick at 6:14 AM on July 31, 2015
About having her tablet set out for use: she probably doesn't have to worry that someone will bolt for the door with her device, but it has happened to a vendor friend that a customer dropped the tablet while signing (this was a card thing, rather than an email list, but same principle) and she had to buy a new iPad. And Otterbox case. So I definitely recommend a case, and I have seen "secure" setups that involved the case being tied to the table.
posted by aimedwander at 9:01 AM on July 31, 2015
posted by aimedwander at 9:01 AM on July 31, 2015
I can only speak for my limited mid/late 20s tech-literate but not tech-obsessed peer group but I'd say yes on the tablet, yes on trying out Mailchimp, (and maybe tinyletter for managing the email newsletter?) but a big NO on the QR code. Everyone hates QR codes, nobody except corporate marketing departments actually uses them. Nope nope nope.
posted by Wretch729 at 9:10 AM on July 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Wretch729 at 9:10 AM on July 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by heathrowga at 6:05 PM on July 30, 2015 [6 favorites]