Email Watch: Deniath Needs to Give the Geeks More Data
While I’m subscribed to the email lists of several members-only sales sites, I have to say I’ve never really gotten into the swing of the concept.
Most of them seemingly offer amazing deals on designer goods, but I’m never quite sure if the “deals” really are deals, since 95% of the time I’ve never bought or priced out anything by any of the high-end brands offered.
So, when I saw the banner ad for Deniath, I was intrigued. This, I thought, might finally be a sale site up my decidedly nerdy alley.
Headquartered in Seattle, Deniath is a privately held company that offers limited time sales for the geek set—sci fi/fantasy themed toys, tech accessories, games, comic artist prints, etc. Each sale only lasts 72 hours. Hurrah! This—especially so close to the Geek Prom—is something I could get into.
I responded to the offer and soon got my invite, and then after, my first email notification of a sale. I was a bit underwhelmed, to say the least.
Not by the product selection—my geekery embraces all, loves all, and I begrudge no one the right to purchase the nerdy totem of their choice, even if it ain’t my cup o’ Jelly Babies. What underwhelmed me was the lack of content and copy in the emails.
Yes, these are limited time sales, and the point is to get the word out there quickly. But that’s what’s missing. Words. Nerds love words and data—minutiae is what we live for. Don’t believe me? Search any comic book, sci fi or genre website/forum and you’ll find folks passionately debating, well, just about anything they can debate. (Will Wonder Woman be wearing long pants or shorts in the relaunched DC Comics universe? Discuss. And then discuss again. And again….)
Deniath’s emails are sparse, to say the least. Aside from boiler plate information—follow them on Twitter, invite a friend and earn $10, etc—the emails are pretty much devoid of copy. The sale of the moment is announced with an image of a product and an “enter” button that links you to the site’s sign-in page.
How about a little background about the brand featured? A recipient might not recognize the name of the artist featured, but if a paragraph said where his/her art had appeared, it might pique interest. More information about upcoming sales is offered on Denaith’s blog, so at the very least a link to there would be a start.
So folks, don’t skimp on the copy. We may be a pale bunch who know way too much about alternate realities for our own good, but one thing we’ve never been accused of is not being literate.
Ah well. Then again, I may just be bitter that I missed out on the deal for the Cthulhu slippers. I would have been stylin’.
