Email Marketing and Sequential Autoresponders

Some use web sites to market their products and services to people. But how often do you visit a site? And how many times do you return? But your email -- ah, that's something you get back to on a regular basis.

That's why some businesses are looking into email marketing, with the help of autoresponders. Here are answers to some of the frequently asked questions on this topic.

What are autoresponders?

Autoresponders are email addresses that automatically respond if you send an email to them. For example, if you send an email to preparedbirth-sked@viloria.com, you will get the latest posted schedule of Prepared Childbirth Classes organized by Chiqui Brosas Hahn. Expect the autoreply in about 2 minutes, assuming the internet and your email system are working.

In this example, you will get ONE reply.

What are sequential autoresponders?

A sequential autoresponder is similar to an ordinary autoresponder, except that it will give you a series of email messages, delivered over a certain number of days. For example -- TAMS@viloria.com (This is a FREE course on how to use affiliate marketing to build a profitable internet business.)

Sequential autoresponders are more powerful than single-reply autoresponders because they give you the opportunity to get in touch with your potential customers more than once.

There's this theory that by the seventh time someone hears from you (assuming they haven't yet asked you to stop emailing them), they'll probably be more willing to give you some business.

Why use autoresponders?

It's hard to know who visited your web site. But with autoresponders, you at least have an email address, and you have the chance to "keep in touch" with that person assuming they give you permission to do so. It also gives you an idea of how many visitors are interested in you, your products or your services.

What are the potential problems with autoresponders?

You probably don't know how to program sequential autoresponders.
You probably don't know what to write in the sequence of messages.
You probably don't know how to motivate people to send email to your autoresponders.

Good thing there's a service called "The List Warrior" where they do the programming, and in some cases even help you write the actual messages you need to load into the sequential autoresponder.

Maybe you can give it a try? List Warrior: The Automated Sequential Autoresponder
[ First posted on 08/27/2002 by Manuel Viloria ]