Do you follow a social media account you secretly wish you didn’t? There’s nothing specifically off-putting about it; the individual is smart, popular, and everyone you know follows her, too. She’s kind of a big deal in your industry.
But to be honest, she makes you feel like you’re not doing enough. Rather than inspiring you, her content is deflating your accomplishments and crushing your personal goals. You haven’t clicked through her links in months, you’ve finally stopped reading her photo captions altogether, and if she mentions another super top secret, amazing project she can’t wait to share as soon as she possibly can, you just might throw your phone out the window.
It’s time to unfollow.
The Power of the Unsubscribe
The same goes for unwanted emails. The general rule is that if you note the recipient, don’t bother to read the subject line, and head straight for delete, it’s time to formally unsubscribe. You’ve already distanced yourself mentally, and now it’s time to cut all physical ties, as well.
And the power of the unsubscribe shouldn’t be overlooked. It clears up your inbox (as well as your social media feed), making you more productive and adds more time to your day.
It’s been said that your inbox is other peoples’ to-do list for you. Think about that for a minute, because it truly changed my online life. From “Buy this” to “Can you send me that” to “Have you seen this,” it’s mostly action items. Once you view your email this way, there’s no going back. Carefully decide who gets to add to your to-do list, and edit those individuals and companies ruthlessly.
What this Means for Your Marketing
Realize that most people feel the same way as you do. When you’re building your content marketing strategy, make sure that your messaging accounts for the power of the unsubscribe
Unsubscribing from all the internet noise that’s not adding to your life gives you breathing space, a rare find in the online world. You’re going to love it here.