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If our inboxes could talk, they’d probably beg for mercy. We’re ruthless when it comes to clearing out the digital clutter—slashing through marketing blasts, promotional emails, and newsletters we accidentally signed up for (or were mysteriously enrolled in). We’ve perfected the art of saying “no” to unwanted emails.
But what about the emails that make the cut, i.e., those that earn a spot in our daily digital lives? Let’s take a peek at what survives the great unsubscribe purge.
➡ Newsletters We Actually Read – Not all newsletters are created equal. The ones that stick around are thoughtful, well-curated, and offer something valuable—whether it’s industry insights, a dose of humor, or a digest of the news we care about. These are the emails we don’t just tolerate; we look forward to them. You know … like Mariner Waypoint (ok, cheap plug!). We also like Your Nerdy Best Friend Beth Z for all things tech and Jack E. Appleman for business writing tips.
➡ Emails from Real Humans – Shocking, right? The emails that feel personal—whether it’s a note from a colleague, a community update, or a message from a friend—tend to survive the inbox purge. They remind us that email was originally designed for communication, not just an endless stream of marketing messages.
➡ Personalized Updates That Matter – We might not care about generic “big sale” alerts, but we do appreciate useful emails, e.g., shipping notifications, event reminders, flight check-in details. If an email makes our lives easier instead of adding noise, it earns its place.
➡ The Guilty Pleasures – We all have them. Maybe it’s that one store’s sale email you secretly look forward to, a daily dog meme, or an overly dramatic horoscope. Whatever it is, these emails bring a little joy (or at least a break from the serious stuff) and therefore get a free pass. Check out TED Recommends for a weekly newsletter tailored to you.
✔ The Inbox Reality Check – The truth is, we’re all striving for that elusive inbox zero, but we also recognize that not all emails are bad. The ones that survive provide real value—whether it’s connection, insight, or just a moment of entertainment. So, the next time you’re mindlessly unsubscribing, take note of what makes the cut. That might just say a lot about what matters to you most.
📬 What’s in your inbox?
p.s. trying to get through the email clutter with your message? Check out this Associations Now post with tips on improving your open rates.