Why bother with email?

I keep getting all these reminders of how important it is to use email to keep in touch with guests when they're not here. Granted, most of these reminders are from businesses trying to sell me email marketing plans, but I still thought it was worthwhile to pull a newsletter together once/month for those folks who signed up.
Then I read a blog post by one of the 'younger' generation. (This was about people who share social media/email accounts with their spouses.) Recent research indicates that the only time the majority of under-30's use email is if they are required to do so for work. Under-40's are weaning themselves off email. Over-40's are the ones who use email. So, if your target market is under 40 you'd best be on snapchat and instagram because that's where they're hanging out today.
And, everyone texts. (OK, not everyone. That's what the blogger thought but she doesn't know me and Gomez.)
BTW, another grandson called me yesterday and showed his obvious unfamiliarity with talking on a phone. So, it must be true about those under-20's never using the phone feature on their smartPHONES.

crazy. my email is almost always ads and specials. I get emails from inns and hotels and never even open them. I don't think it's worth the time.

I'd hate to have to send all I e-mail to guests via text message: welcome, maps to find the place, attachment with policies listed, photos of how to work the keypad lock, and a lot more.
Certainly I now have some friends who I only communicate with through FB messenger because it handles photos and such well.
If RezKey every supports sending my stuff through FB or text messages, I'm game. Until then, people better have an e-mail address!

Arks said:

I'd hate to have to send all I e-mail to guests via text message: welcome, maps to find the place, attachment with policies listed, photos of how to work the keypad lock, and a lot more.
Certainly I now have some friends who I only communicate with through FB messenger because it handles photos and such well.
If RezKey every supports sending my stuff through FB or text messages, I'm game. Until then, people better have an e-mail address!.

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I think they have them for things that require one - school, work, buying stuff online. But they communicate thru other mediums. That's where they hang out.
Which may be why we wonder why guests don't get back with us about questions we have - they entered the email to buy something, not to talk to us.

I also get e-mail "offers" from other inns and no, I do not open them. I am not likely to visit them, especially for their offer. I save time reading e-mails with judicious use of the DELETE key. With ads (not inns) I use the Junk, block sender which unfortunately does not really work or they are just getting new addresses (junk senders I mean).

gillumhouse said:

I also get e-mail "offers" from other inns and no, I do not open them. I am not likely to visit them, especially for their offer. I save time reading e-mails with judicious use of the DELETE key. With ads (not inns) I use the Junk, block sender which unfortunately does not really work or they are just getting new addresses (junk senders I mean)..

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I do read those other inn's emails for ideas!
But getting them, when all I did was stay there, made me realize I don't want to be that inn. My list is strictly opt in now.