I often take for granted that certain styles and methods work with autoresponders and other styles and methods often have the opposite effect.

Firstly, it should go without saying, using autoresponders can give you an advantage over your competition right away.  Most companies and professionals don’t use them.

snag_program-0442So the simple fact of using autoresponders will set you apart from the pack.

But if you are going to use them here are 5 examples of autoresponder sequences you should try.

Remember, you can use more than one autoresponder in your marketing.  You could have a series for new newsletter subscribers and a different one for new customers.  You can create an automatic series for any event that happens in your business.

Two quick tips.

1.  Don’t refer to anything that is time, date, or seasonal in nature.  Your message 1 could go out next Tuesday (spring as I write this) or in 6 months (which would be in the dead of winter) so if you refer to something that’s time related your message may sound odd.

2.  Send the message from a person and make a personal connection.  The more personal the connection, the more impact the email will have.

Now here’s a few examples of exactly how to layout your autoresponder campaign.

1.  Use your top 5 customer service questions.  This one is pretty straightforward.  Simply take the top 5 questions you get from your customer service calls and create a standard answer for each. Then craft your autoresponder series and frame it with, “Here’s a few of the questions we get from our best customers.”  I’d still use a call to action in each one to see which ones perform the best.  Space them out by 5 to 7 days apart.

2.  Outline your best features.  Frequency works in your favor in marketing and the same is true here.  In each message set the tone with a “Thought you’d like to know…” and then describe one of your best features (complete with benefits).  Again space these 5 to 7 days apart and keep going as long as you like.  These work best when you take the approach that you have to give before you get.  Don’t sell too hard in these emails.

3.  Educate them on how to get the most from your product or service.  Consider these messages part of your new customer orientation or training program.  You’ll be able to show your readers that you care how they are doing and build a stronger relationship with them.  Funny thing is, they will be more loyal to you when it’s time for promotions to come their way.

4.  Lead up to a survey.  This option can be included in any of the first three or on its own.  Doing a survey sends a message that you care. So not only do you send a powerful marketing message but you will also be collecting data from your subscribers that you can use.  This has been a powerful tool for me in the past.

5.  Lead up to a coupon.  You may have used an incentive (like a coupon) in order to entice people to join your list and you can send more than one message and more than one coupon to encourage repeat orders. You may have certain specials you can use and for this series you are saying, “We enticed you with a coupon offer and here are a few others you might want to take advantage of.”

If there is one thing you take away from this article, it’s that autoresponders are not often used and the emphasis should be on what can you GIVE your readers that will encourage them to be loyal to you.

It makes a big difference in your business.