What is it with HootSuite and reminder emails? I stopped using the site months ago, but now I’m suddenly getting emails that I have to act NOW to protect my account.
What if I don’t?
The e-mail warns they will “disable HootSuite access to (my) social network profiles on March 15th.”
Initially, I was terrified. I felt the urgency in the e-mail. I scrambled and went into panic mode. Certainly, the tone of the email would scare any seasoned social media pro, let alone a hack like myself.
And it didn’t appear to be a form letter. No, it was much closer to a personal plea.
They detailed how they announced their changes in August, had grandfathered my account until November, then provided an additional 7-day grace period. The e-mail explained that their business sales team unsuccessfully attempted to contact me. There may have even been special dispensation from the pope at some point. But now there’s no denying it.
March 15 is coming.
Eventually my fear subsided and I managed to regain control over my emotions.
I realized that I had stopped using the service before their announced changes in August. I determined there were two possible explanations.
- Of their users who had not selected a plan, they could not determine who were still active users and who simply had inactive or abandoned accounts.
- Perhaps they did know I had long ago stopped using the account and this was an attempt at a clever marketing stunt.
I stopped caring which answer was correct after a few seconds and simply deleted the email.
But HootSuite was worried about my organization’s well-being. So when I didn’t reply, they contacted my wife, who had also been connected on HootSuite to the Twitter account in question. They explained how they were concerned that I had not taken action. They thought, perhaps, that I was no longer a part of the organization.
Once again, I had to ask myself some tough questions. Is HootSuite just one of a thousand web and OS applications used to access social networks? Or do I have some sort of deeper connection with HootSuite that I’m forgetting?
I checked my will. Nope. No mention there.
After another several seconds, I deleted the email without coming to any conclusion. And that’s where things are at now.
I wonder, though. Does everyone do this? I haven’t used TweetDeck in some time, but it’s still installed. If I uninstall it, will they send me dire e-mails? Maybe they would send the Priceline negotiator to help me reconsider.
But I strive to push forward, convinced this is nothing more than marketing.
I’m fairly certain that a service that I haven’t used in months will continue unused.
My confidence is strong.
My Twitter account is tweeting away.
Still …
I can’t help but wonder what will happen on March 15.
Editor’s Note: HootSuite, please don’t take offense to this rambling blog post. I’m just having some fun with you. No worries!
