Autoresponders have become an
increasingly important marketing tool as it allows you to automate a
series of email messages to your customers and prospects.
An email autoresponder is a
small program on a service provider’s server or software set up with
your desktop email program that is set up to
automatically respond to an email inquiry or request.
A sequential autoresponder is a whole
sequence of autoresponder messages going out at pre determine time
intervals. For example one might go out immediately an email is received,
message two might go out two days later and so on for as many messages as
you might want. The best part is that it is all done automatically once
the customer makes the initial contact.
If you subscribe to the theory that a
number of contacts (emails) will need to be made prior to a sale then you
can see the advantages of using automated autoresponders.
Autoresponders working on your site
Here are a range of ways to put
autoresponders to work on your site;
- Follow up prospects after they make
the initial contact with you.
- Create a series of emails that is part
of an ongoing training program.
- Deliver special and timely reports to
build your company image.
- Follow up buyers of your products and
services and sell them your "back end" products and
services.
- Automate order confirmation.
- Provide price lists, advertising rates
and so on relevant to your business.
- Maintain your relationship with your
total customer base.
What to look for in a good Autoresponder
Some of the real important features to
look out for in an autoresponder are:
- The facility for unlimited text length
so that you can make your messages as long or as short as needed.
- No restriction on the number of
updates to text. You must remember that things are constantly changing
and you will need to modify your text from time to time.
- Auto reply messages should not be
triggered by keywords. What would happen if your customer misspells
the keyword – there will be no reply message sent, which could
result in lost business.
- Recipient notification from the
autoresponder must be sent to you so that you can initiate follow up
procedures.
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