By: jackie.sauter

First, a disclaimer: I don’t send marketing emails on behalf of The Daily Record, so if any of my complaints sound familiar, please – contact our marketing person.

Now then. I’ve been having some fun this summer – a little too much. A recent spate of “red tag” shopping Web sites (Gilt Groupe, RedTagCrazy.com, Rue La La) have eaten away at my discretionary spending, and it’s time to take matters into my own hands. I’m cutting them off at the source: my inbox. If the “too-good-to-pass-up” deals never get delivered – well, problem solved!

I started off my morning by unsubscribing to all the usual suspects – Target.com, RedTagCrazy.com, Payless Shoesource. Then a new enemy appeared: Ann Taylor Loft, tempting with “Everything Under $50″ and “Perfect Styles for the Holiday Weekend.” I had too much self-control at this point, and I hurredly clicked “unsubscribe.”

That’s when a choice appeared I’d never seen before.

“Inbox overwhelmed?” It asked politely. “You can stay informed of news and special offers…and still give your inbox a break. To receive only one LOFT email update a week, click ‘change frequency’ below.”

Not a bad idea there. I didn’t take ATL up on it – after all, I was on a mission – but I like where they’re going with this. Maybe once my new wardrobe’s worn out, I’ll invite them back into my inbox.

I know we have some marketing professionals who follow along, so I ask: Do clients usually find this approach successful? How many emails per week is too much? 2? 3? 5?