How to Make Autoresponders Work for You 1 - 2 - 3

---

What to Look for in an Autoresponder

• 1. An autoresponder program that's easy to use
• 2. A multiple follow-up autoresponder
• 3. A feature where you can personalize each email with the recipient's name

Write Your Autoresponder Messages

Autoresponders: Tips on Writing Autoresponder Messages that Make Sales
(excerpt from Autoresponder Magic)

Personalize

Since most services let you use personalization - do it! There's nothing better for a person to see their name.

Write just like you talk

Use plain, easy-to-understand English. Nobody cares if you can use xenophobia and ostentatious in a sentence. Write almost like you're talking to a buddy over a beer. So that means use contractions. Be friendly and personable in your writing.

Put passion into your email

Since you won't have the luxury of seeing your prospect eye-to-eye to gauge their reactions, you need to put extra passion into your message. Even if you think you are overdoing it when you write, your letter will end understated when it gets read. Get Enthusiastic!

Write to one person

Try to think of the ideal prospect as you are writing and make the message just for them. Even if your website will be read by thousands of people each day - every person will read it one at a time. Use "You" and "Your" liberally. Focus on them, not yourself.

Keep your sentences and paragraphs short

Keep your sentences and paragraphs short and simple. Period.

Sentences (and even paragraphs) can even be one word like the last one. And paragraphs should be no more than 4 or 5 lines. You want your email to look easy to read with a lot of white space.

Make it inviting. Long blocks of words are scary. Paragraph breaks do not need to be determined by content.

Use plenty of compelling subheads

Subheads should be like mini-headlines.Use them to break up large bodies of text and to bring people back into the body of the letter.

A lot of people will scan your email, so you need to make your subheads give a complete selling message by themselves. Also, be sure to give different graphic embellishments.

Eliminate excess wording

Simplify. Convey your message in a clear and concise manner - but remember that doesn't mean keep it short. You need to ruthlessly edit your email for flow. Use action verbs whenever possible

If you see too many "as", "is", "was" or "were", replace them. Sentences using action verbs are more powerful.

When writing your email, you want it clear enough so a 6th grader could understand it. Now you probably think your prospects are a lot smarter than 6th graders, but nobody has time anymore to sit down and figure out what you're trying to say - so keep your writing simple and straightforward. Read more

Sample Autoresponder Messages - copy what the experts use!

Personalize and Schedule Your Follow-ups

Message personalization is a very powerful feature. When your lead requests information from you via your autoresponder, this feature enables you to actually capture that person's name.

You can then place a special variable in the subject line or body of your message, and your autoresponder will insert each lead's name into the message at that point.

Each of your leads will receive an e-mail addressing him by name! This is a very powerful sales tool, and is included Free of charge with all AWeber accounts.

Scheduling Follow-ups

A website an be a great selling tool. However, unlike a brick-and-mortar store where you can greet clients face-to-face and understand their questions and concerns immediately, a website doesn't let you do that.

So the question arises, "How do you help website visitors immediately when they have a question or need help?"

With autoresponders, you can deliver answers and information to them right when they request it. You don't have to be there to pick up your email and respond. The autoresponder does everything automatically. With autoresponders, you can be assisting customers with their concerns while you sleep - literally.

The other big benefit to autoresponders is that you can program them to automatically follow-up with customers. This automated tool of course means less work for you, but it also helps you stay in contact with prospects. This can translate to higher customer satisfaction and more sales for you.

Most times, shoppers do not buy on their first visit to your website. Maybe they haven't made up their mind, maybe they don't trust you yet or maybe they are comparing other products. With follow-up autoresponders, you can stay at the top of the prospect's mind, giving them helpful information and building trust - all in a low-pressure manner.

Every customer is different, and most likely you know your market better than most. With autoresponders, you can schedule one follow-up or multiple follow-ups. You can arrange messages to be sent every other day or once every two weeks. You have the flexibility to do what your market prefers, so you can improve your results.

Which follow-up method actually works?

Following up with prospects has shown to work - but you need to put together the right messages and develop a sales strategy beforehand. Forget about acting like a salesperson here. Yes, you want to sell, but your readers are more likely to listen to you when you write to them like a friend.

Provide information that you think will help them in their decision-making process, including the benefits of what you offers. Again, write like you were writing to your friend. Don't compose a sales letter. 

Keep your messages brief, so that you can keep your reader's attention. Use bullet points to make the letters easy to read. Focus on one key point in each message, so you don't overwhelm the recipient.

After a few follow-up messages, you may want to include a special limited-time offer or discount. Encourage them to take action, but leave the decision up to them. Buyers want to know that the decision is in their control.

AWeber Demo

You can set up a sign-up form on your website where your visitors can receive information on your products, they can subscribe to your ezine, they can get copies of articles that you write and more. Autoresponders are great tools that can act as your customer service department - answering customer questions quickly and delivering information instantly. Besides including your autoresponder address in your ads, print them on your business cards, use them in postcard mailings and sales letters, refer to them in your voicemail. Take full advantage of the time they can save you - you'll find you spend more time out of the office. Read more