On: Startups, Fix Your "From" Field

[badclient]

In some cases it may be intentional. I am unlikely to open an email from startup X if months ago I reached a negative judgement about startup X.

On the other hand, if the From field only says "John" or "notification", I may open the email even if just for a second.

Also, note the branding value of having your company name in the from field. I receive emails from some sites that I no longer visit. Yet, just seeing their name day in and day out in my email makes me remember their name/brand.

[lotharbot → badclient]

> "if the From field only says "John" or "notification", I may open the email even if just for a second."

I'm completely opposite. If I don't recognize the name in the From field and the company name isn't in the subject line, it gets categorized as SPAM.

[jazzychad → lotharbot]

Ditto. My inbox is an email wasteland. I don't have any spare time to bother with emails that I don't recognize on the first pass.

[badclient → lotharbot]

So, if you meet ten John Schmidts at a conference and 7 of them email you, you remember all their names? Or you just hit delete?

[rhizome → badclient]

If I was one of those John Schmidts, I would mention the conference. I think this is just a question of providing context in a world of email inundation.