I’m surprised so many Web companies are still clueless about the simplest, oldest of Internet technologies, the one we condescendingly call SMTP, and everyone else calls e-mail.
If I get an e-mail I may want to take the time and reply or forward it.
Putting advertising or any other junk on the right column does not work! It’s acceptable on the Web, we’re all trained to look at sites with right-eye closed. It’s ok for informational e-mails, like your end of summer sale, or “thanks for registering” notifications. But not for actionable item.
I don’t have time to edit text out of the layout table before composing a reply or forwarding with annotations. There’s a space for this stuff: under the fold.
This week’s top honors go to Yahoo “monetize first, service second” Groups, and Linked “just-don’t-forward” In. And I’m sure you’re all familiar by now with Face “you’ve got new e-mail! email” Book.
Let’s not forget. E-mail is still a great way to communicate and share information, when done right.