I’m a big fan of sequential auto responders (the automated email programs that send a pre-written set of messages over a period of time). I like them because they automate part of the sales process and automation is good.
I use them to great effect on sites like my ITAR Compliance Training web site. For this site, I give away a free product in exchange for email and contact information. Once you sign up for the product, you’re placed in the queue for follow up. I have about 11 emails written for that site, and they go out:
- On the first day
- On the second day
- On the first week anniversary
- Once week for a while after that
- Once every other week for a while
- Lastly once every month until the end of the sequence.
I’ve had prospects purchase the products almost 200 days after their initial sign up. It’s just a matter of tickling the prospect at the right time and staying conveniently in front of them for when they’re ready to buy.
Total time to setup an auto-responder for this site: one afternoon.
Total cost: about $10/month.
Value of the auto responder: 30% increase in sales for a web site earning an annual five figure income.