My mornings mostly begin like this. Wake up, check Twitter, use the loo, put the kettle on, and check emails. As I have my breakfast of Milo and a peanut butter sandwich, I go through my emails and mark the ones I need to respond to, the ones I just have to read and archive, and the ones to delete.
I get quite a lot of emails from PRs on a daily basis, but before you go “gee, show off why don’t you“, most of them are from American PRs whom I don’t work with at all. Somehow my email address gets circulated amongst the PR vine and database, and I get press releases that are irrelevant to my location.
Amongst those emails, I can guarantee you that 7 out of 10 of them are never addressed to me. I understand that in the wide ocean of bloggers out there, the PRs have to cast their nets of press releases and information to the sea, and hopefully catch some who will blog about the brands they represent. Still, it’s only common courtesy to properly address the person, and I’d very much prefer emails addressed to me. These are the emails that I respond to. The ones that begin with Dear Ms almost always end up in the bin.
I suppose I’m quite immune to it now and don’t get offended anymore if they call me Tina, Christina, Kate, Henry (oh yeah, that has happened)…anything but my name. I get an average of 300 such emails per week and if I were to be annoyed at each one that comes in without proper salutation, well, I’d be a shriveled-up ol’ prune by now.
Here are some of the ones I get often:
Dear Ms
Dear You
Dear Blog Owner
Dear Writer
Dear Editor
Dear Beauty Blogger
Dear Blogger
Dear Awesome Blogger
Dear Sir
Dear Mr. [Insert Name]
Dear [Insert Name]
Hello Babe (from someone I’ve never even heard from before)
Dear ‘another name which isn’t mine’
Dear Owner of your Respective Blog (got this recently. Cracked me up!)
It has gotten to the point where it’s highly amusing and I look forward to what other boo boos people can come up with in emails. I have noticed quite recently that press release emails do not even begin with a salutation anymore, but straight to the point with images. Drats. I think I would still have preferred a Dear Ms.
What about you? Have you gotten emails like these? What are the best salutations you’ve gotten? I’m waiting for “Dear Your Royal Highness”, but that’s rather far-fetched, don’t you think? π
I get those funny salutations too, they are so amusing. I liked the Owner of Your Respective blog, that one came through recently and made me laugh. I’ve never had Dear You, that’s quite rude really, but funny at the same time.
GlossQueen recently posted..Weleda Baby Care Starter Pack and Giveaway
GlossQueen: Hahaha you got that email too? Cracked me up! π
Hilarious! I think I’ve had all of those two, although the best one was when they had copied and pasted another bloggers name, followed by mine…Babow. FAIL.
p.s That bag and lipstick combo you were rocking on Saturday: ah-mayzing!
MsCritique: What about you, with your hair and gorgeous fuchsia lips? Girl crush, hello! π
Hahaha I had that too, emails addressed to another blogger but sent to me. I’ve also had a package sent to me once, but addressed to another blogger. The PR had me send the package to that blogger at my own expense!
PS: Look me up again when you’re in Melbourne!
Lol… your post title already manage to crack me up, Tine! π
Jess recently posted..New In | Boss Orange Platform Sandals
Jess: Hahaha glad to oblige! π
My email hasn’t gotten on the big lists yet thankfully, so I am not getting the flood you are, but I am still getting some silly proforma messages.
The best one so far was to Ms Adjacent… made me think that was a lot more fun than my actual surname, think I might change it! π
If they did that to you, you’d be Ms Beautyholic – doesn’t sound so bad now, does it? … or Ms Anonymous, which seems to be rather close to what you’re already getting π
Omega recently posted..OOTD: How to mix red & green without looking like Christmas
Omega: Oh I’ve had Dear Beautyholic many times. It hasn’t gone to Dear Anonymous yet, although I’m not surprised if it goes there π
i like the ‘dear you’, LOL. i think it’s still alright if they are writing to you for the first time without knowing your name, it beats using someone else’s name for your email right π
p/s: HI HENRY!
xin recently posted..Monday’s Tip: Bedside Wall Organizer for Foot Cream
Xin: Hahaha I’ve had that, so many times! I think that’s why people don’t even bother with salutations any more, just bam! The press release. Kao tim.
PS: Henry says hi π
LOL! I feel you! I get Dear blogger, Dear Editor, basically those you listed above. If these PR people wanted a response, at least take some time to find out the REAL NAME of the person behind the blog. It’s not that hard. Dear Tine, or Dear Lily.
I usually just delete. Especially those who say, link to us and I’ll link back to you! My blog might not be the most popular out there, but no, I don’t need your link either. Then, there are those who say, you might not know me, but appreciate if you’d like my FB page and tell your readers. Those, I mark spam because it’s a total WTF moment.
Where do these people come from?
Lily recently posted..FOTD: A Pop of Green for St Patrickβs Day
Lily: I just delete those link to us and we’ll link you back emails too. The ones that show what Google Page Rank they are, etc. Pfft. I don’t think I’m happy linking to a plumbing website, thankyouverymuch!
LOL I’ve gotten quite a few (including the ‘Dear Owner of Your Respective Blog’ one), but the most amusing ones are 1. Those addressed to someone else, but sent to me (I’ve gotten mail addressed to PB, and I think vice versa once) and 2. The spam mails that go “Dear Kind/ Kindred Soul” π
That said, I’ve had an email conversation with someone who just used “Hi” in all her email salutations – never mind that it had been 3-4 emails, she STILL started her email with “Hi”. Hello, I have a name? Or was she just terrified she’d use the wrong one? Hmm…
beetrice recently posted..Try the new Kiehlβs Clearly Corrective range and stand a chance to win!
Beetrice: Dear Kindred Soul? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Oh I know those, the ones with just the Hi, even though we sign off with our name. I don’t know if that’s rude or just plain lazy.
Remember when you got “Dear Paris”? Now that was sloppy! I’ve gotten emails addressed to other bloggers (including you!) and “Dear [insert name here]”. I don’t know how hard it was just to just fill in the name eh? π
Paris B recently posted..Tap Swirl and Buff : Revisiting Mineral Foundation Makeup with Mineral Hygienics
Paris B: Ooooh heheheh I remember that one! I was like, err, okay, thank you that you think so highly of me that you think I’m Paris B π
Oh my HENRY?? REALLY???? How in the world do you look like a HENRY???
I am laughing so hard because I can really relate! I have been addressed as another blogger, been called Mr. Nikki, been called MIKKI, MICKEY (as in the mouse) and a whole lot more! I think I would prefer to be called Dear Ms. then DEAR BLOGGERS! (I’m now in PLURAL form, am I that fat?) ayoooooo…. No matter how unrelated a press release could be, if I’m addressed correctly, I take the time to reply to them because they took the time to type down my short name! NIKKI and yours…even shorter! TINE! π
Nikki: Haha beats me. What DOES a Henry look like anyway? π
I think a lot of PRs have just taken to “Hi!” or “Dear Bloggers”, just so they don’t make the mistake of putting in the wrong name. Fair enough, I suppose, especially if they have a lot of bloggers to reach out to. Still, it would have been much better to receive emails actually addressed to us. Those are the ones I respond to π
Hello babe sounds really naughty, and not in the nice-sexy kind of way. More like you-ought-to-be-jailed kind of way. Lol. I wouldn’t mind my readers addressing me ‘dear’, or ‘babe’, but not from a complete stranger with a hidden (actually not really hidden) agenda.
Bun Bun Makeup Tips recently posted..Bun Bunβs First Birthday + Giveaway: You Deserve Part II
Bun Bun: I’m not a fan of “dear” or “babe”, but yeah I wouldn’t mind it from my readers, but from a PR, it just sounds wrong and unprofessional. Especially if we’ve never written each other before, and the first time you hear from that person, it’s “Hi darling!” or “Hi babe!”. *shudder*
Oh Tine, I hear ya! I get all sorts too. One PR person wrote to me asking how my husband and kids were doing… way to rub it in that I’m single and alone forever! Haha kidding, but you know what I mean. At first I thought maybe she made a mistake, but no, she called me Renee and wrote my blog name. How strange! The most cringe-worthy one was “Hey Babe”, I’ve always hated that word haha.
Renee | Beauty Fool recently posted..Animal Testing: The Ugly Side of Beauty (Part 2)
Renee: Hahahahaha! How obvious is it that they don’t even read your blog before reaching out to you?
Ugh I can’t do “Hi Babe” either, especially from someone I don’t know personally. Unprofessional of PRs to use that!
Hahaha Henry……
Dear You …. so wrong it’s funny.
Not very good PR i say! π
Raylene: I know, right? Do I look like a Henry? Come to think of it, what does a Henry look like? π
Always amusing to see what people start the email with! I don’t remember what I’ve been called, though more recently the emails have always been Dear Celeste. Phew!!
Celeste @ Becoming Beautiful recently posted..Review: Ettusais Eye Color BK1
Celeste: That’s very good! It should be how things are done, manners and courtesy to address you properly π
Hahaha, loved this! I just delete all emails that are not addressed directly to me. If youβve got the time to email me, youβve got the time to find my name on my blog. I also delete emails that say βbecause you are one of UKβs/Canadaβs/{Insert Country Here} top bloggersβ¦β. Iβm like, really? Last I checked my About Me page clearly says Iβm from Sydney Australia. But my favourite greeting by far is Hi Webmaster, followed by wanting to do a link exchange with whatever site theyβre spruiking now. Webmaster, makes me feel positively IT savvy ο.
Lilit recently posted..Nail Polish version of MAC Viva Glam Nicki? I Pink I Can
Lilit: Hahaha I’ve had those too! I’m getting them very often these days, asking to exchange links because their site’s SOOOOO high up on the Google Page Rank. Pfft! π
Henry? with a blog Beautyholics Anonymous? wahahaha … And what’s with the Dear You? Oh my!
It is not so hard knowing the names of the blog owner if they only read your blog, hihihi π This is funny! You made my day Tine! π
Issa: Well, it’s very obvious a lot don’t read my blog before contacting me, because really, do I look like a Henry? π
LOL! Great post again.
I got some funny ones recently “Dear Sir” – sorry, I don’t have a penis! and “Dear Blog Expert” – Delete delete delete!!!
Ling recently posted..5 Beauty Products That Helped Me When I Suffered 5 Days Of Diarrhoea
Ling: BAHAHAHAHAHA!! Nope we don’t have that at all, but we sure have balls! π π
Gosh, I wish I get emails like that… I’ve been really active in posting and updating my blog for the past few months and yet I have not even reached to the number of page viewers that equivalent to the rate of my posting. *sign*sign*
Beautytoast: It’s frustrating, I know. It’s always slow at first, when you start out, but trust me, it will only get better. Be active and comment on other blogs, and they’ll come to you. Good luck! π
It is pretty sad. A bit annoying… I had it all too… The funniest thing when they email you with someone else’s name (or blog) who you actually know. Sometimes I do respond to such emails – just to shame them. If I have time or in an appropriate mood but mostly I just delete them…
Maria V @CrashingRed recently posted..Whiter shade of pale
Maria: HAHAHAHA you did? Good on you! I once had a package sent to my address, but to another blogger whom I also know. In the end, I had to send it back to that blogger at my expense. In hindsight, I should have just asked the PR to pay for it. It was her mistake after all. Oh well, the things we learn in our blogging journey π