1. Product related autoresponders: Inventory the products you sell on your web site. When a customer buys a product, offer them a free “tips” in a sequence of letters in an autoresponder.
You may even consider including a personalized video email in the first or second email thanking them for their business. Time your autoresponder to start immediately after purchase and over time send them tips on the use of the product they purchased.
Since video can double or even triple your click-thru rate, you may want to consider few demo videos on tips and tricks about the product they purchased, and a few personalized videos here and there. If they bought something that will require replacement parts, using autoresponders with personalized video or audio can be a powerful way to get them back to your site to buy, especially if it is a consumable product with monthly re-orders.
2. Share your experience: The fact is; no one likes being sold or have opportunity shoved down his or her inbox. However, almost everyone appreciates tips and advice from someone they trust and respect.
Fortune is truly in your follow up. A great way to build your list, gain the respect and trust with your contacts is to talk about experience you have had in different fields.
Share the wisdom you have gleaned from your experiences along with how you have applied that experience to get results. In addition, write articles & whitepapers and post them on your website. Include a few lines of the article in your email, with a link to the full article where they can read it.
Take advantage of your video Vault and FLV Hosting in your account, posting short 30 second personalized videos on the page with your article. Personalized Video goes a long way in helping your contacts get to know you, and is a proven effective way to build relations and gain your contact's trust.
Showing people how to get from point A to point B is the gateway to their success, and in doing so will gain you their trust and at some point, when the time is right for them, will convert them to your deal.
3. Upcoming Events: If you host events, let your contacts pre-register & sign up for updates and tips, then schedule a series of autoresponders that build up to the event.
4. The Bottom Line: Research shows the majority of sales take place between the fifth through the twelfth contact. In addition, all of this automation can be powerful and profitable, creating more time and freedom for you to enjoy your life, but be careful with too much automation.
We have discovered (by experience), the key to a good autoresponder is to avoid letting your contacts feel like they are in an autoresponder. If your contacts begin receiving too much email from you, they will unsubscribe and you will lose them forever.
People can easily tell these days that they are in an autoresponder. You can thank the spammers and all that junk email for that. Nevertheless, even though your subscribers may know your emails are automated, you can add some personality to them, especially by taking advantage of your free video email and audio email in your OfficeVP account. Always keep your emails useful, relevant, and always let recipients unsubscribe at any point.
One of our customers sent us this email. Thought it was worth passing along.
Step One: Where would your rate your followup?
- One follow up with contacts after first contact
- Two follow ups with contacts after first contact
- Three follow ups with contacts after first contact
- Four follow ups with contacts after first contact
- Have a consistent plan in place to continue following up after first contact
Step Two: Results of the survey
- 48% of Sales People Never Follow Up With A Prospect
- 25% of Sales People Make A Second Contact and Stop
- 12% of Sales People Only Make Three Contacts and Stop
- 10% of Sales People Make More Than Three Contacts
- 5% Have a consistent plan in place to continue following up after first contact
Step Three: How many follow ups before people generally make a decission?
- 2% of Sales are made on First Contact
- 3% of Sales are made on Second Contact
- 5% of Sales are made on Third Contact
- 10% of Sales are made on Fourth Contact
- 80% of Sales are made on Fifth to Twelfth Contact
The email went on to say; In their conference after going over the above information - these questions were asked.
Question One: Have you ever heard the cliché - "Fortune is in the follow up", and, you really knew you should be following up? -
(100%) answered yes.
Question Two: If you know most people make a decission after being followed up with, then why are you not following up?
- (89% requested more information on effective follow up, 5% actually took the course.)
The email went on to say; It's baffling that so many wonder in amazement why only 5% actually achieve wealth. So... Want to increase your sales? Fix Your Follow Up Failure! <end of email>