Am I alone here...
I downloaded my contacts to use in a mailing. That was simple enough.
I sent the first 1400 or so an email this morning (so the stats are still percolating, but they prove the following points).
67 emails bounced (49 outright, the others are considered soft).
So let's talk about the 49. If LinkedIn is such an important tool, why isn't your email address up to date??? (the "Soft" bounces could be a whole host of problems, probably out of the control of the recipient).
So far 24 people unsubscribed. Interesting, because the list says we're either 1st Connections or we've met (and gave me your business card) our communicated.
The breakdown is 3 not interested, 4 did not sign up and 17 just left. 1 person had the ISP reject mailchimp period. 1 person said SPAM (thanks guy). So everyone other than those who just didn't want more email ("just left") tell me the connection we had wasn't that firm.... I removed my connection to them.
I have more emails to send over the next several days, but I don't think the stats for those names will be much different (I hope not anyway).
On the bright side:
My Open rate isn't bad, it's currently at 18.3% (Mailchimp says for consulting the average is 12.7%). But that doesn't mean I get any conversion... and it is too early to tell.
Anyone see a better response from LinkedIn or are we just climbing up a dead branch?