It has been over four years since I started the Placebo Gazette and over seven years since I started the Placebo Journal. With my 100th issue of this e-newsletter I want to get some feedback from you, my loyal readers. There are over 10,000 of you. It seems e-newsletters have lost a little luster with all the new types of media out there (blogs, vlogs, etc.) but I still feel there is a real need for the written word. But maybe not.
This is where you come in. Well, and for a favor that I need from you. I am going to give you some questions that you can answer, if you choose, in a reply to this email. They will be at the bottom of this Placebo Gazette.
As far as the favor, I need help in promulgating what we offer at the Placebo Journal. First off, if you have ever thought that you may have wanted to subscribe to the Placebo Journal, I would hope you would consider doing so now. You would be paying the nominal price for a year of humor without that nasty pharmaceutical company aftertaste that you see in other medical journals. We survive financially in this manner and could always use your help.
I am also asking for the power of 10. The power of 10 is one of the only ways for the Placebo Journal to spread its message. We are unable to advertise or market ourselves in the normal manner for two reasons. One, the cost is prohibitive as the drug industry pays so much for their ads that we are unable to match that cost to put an advertisement in another journal. Secondly, when we have tried to put ads in some others we have been soundly rejected. They won't even accept our money! Talk about feeling threatened.
The only way we have succeeded and will succeed in the future is you. I am going to send you another email in a few days that is not intended for you. Instead, it is an explanation of what we offer and that you enjoy it and would like a friend to check it out. Basically, it is an advertisement that you endorse. Please do not report it as spam as we do not want that reputation. I would be grateful if you could send it along to 10 others. I won't get their email addresses or their information unless they intend to sign up themselves for the Placebo Gazette or subscribe to the Placebo Journal. There is NO risk of exposing your friends' information to us as we never sell or give away names.
Now, here are some questions I have for you that would be useful feedback for me. Ignore any question that you don't want to answer:
- What can we do to make the Placebo Gazette or Placebo Journal better?
- What ideas do you have for spreading the word about the Placebo Journal?
- Do you think using advertising (non-pharmaceutical) would be appropriate for either the Placebo Gazette or the Placebo Journal?
- If advertising was used, would making the Placebo Journal (print edition) free devalue this product knowing that over half of the journal would be ads?
- What features do you like best about the Placebo Journal (ex. true stories, fake drug ads, realistic weeks in medicine, etc.)?
Thanks so much for your time, concern and interest in the Placebo Gazette and Placebo Journal. I cannot guarantee I can answer all responses. All positive feedback will be considered for the "emesis basin" for the Placebo Journal unless you specifically have a problem with it.
