Nerd message patrol.

Since I am all about helping my fellow nerds find a way to connect with their audience, I think it's high time I put some teeth(or at least my book) into this. Once I week, I am going to provide an example of a nerd-filled communication, offer my suggestions for improving it, and then mail a copy of my book to the selected communicator. If you submit a suggestion to the site, you will receive your very own book copy as well.

So be on the lookout for your copy of the book in the mail. Someone might be trying to tell you something.

***************************************

I have my first example today. It is an e-mail that I just found in my inbox. The subject of this e-mail is data quality which sounds interesting enough - right? Well it gets worse.

Here is a smattering of the oh-so-insightful links that you might want to click on :

> A link about "downloading your Stylelist API" (at first I thought this was referring to my stylish API - thank you for noticing.)

> Or how about this one about "16 countries ...certified for New S42 International ...Standard" (we can only imagine the joys of standards A-R  and S1-S41)

>And finally you can learn all about "Name Object 2"  (you mean there is more than one?)

First a disclaimer, if this e-mail is being sent only to database administrators who thrill to the sounds of "S42" and "Name Objects 1 and 2", then I am totally off-base. These people might want to receive this information in exactly this way. But, if instead, this e-mail is going to the general population, I have a hard time imagining anyone other than me clicking on those links.

Item #1: "downloading your Stylelist API"

Okay, first I had to decipher the code they were using. An "API" from my experience is an "Application Programming Interface" that allows you to connect two pieces of software in a seamless and meaningful (in a non-sexual) kind of way.  

It sounds like this is in fact what they are offering. And Stylist is a piece of software they sell that helps you "control the formatting of data within mailing lists to add a personal look that will increase direct mail success."  

Here's how I would convert this link to normal-people speak:

Click here to learn more about special software that can help you increase your direct mail success. (then you take them to a landing page that explains the details including the technical specs which are printed in a tiny in little box visible only to the system administrator.)

 To be continued ...