August 11th "Autoresponders In Your World" Series, Part 25.

Autoresponder Personalization: How Intelligent Wild-card Use puts the Wal-Mart Smile Back into your E-mails

In the real world, everyone appreciates the personal touch. Nothing puts a smile on a customer’s face faster than a warm greeting in their favorite store. Whether it be the grocery store, corner gas station, or local watering hole, what’s better than a friendly ‘Hello’ from the owner or his employees? Size is irrelevant – Wal-Mart has turned ‘Meet and Greet’ tactics into an art form. This is classical customer support: proprietors nurture personal relationships and cater to your needs and desires in order to build business loyalty.

The Internet presents unique challenges to entrepreneurs looking to connect with prospects and customers. Autoresponders can play a big role in this respect. Most third party services and software are built with a rich set of “wildcards” that allow you to personalize your e-mail communication. You can use wildcard code to address your subscribers by name, date your correspondence, and even add geographical references.

Incorporating wildcards into your autoresponders is simple. Within your message, insert appropriate wildcards in the positions you want. For example, many e-mail marketers start their letters with a “Hello John” salutation. In this case, you would insert the first name (or full name) wildcard to replace John. In aweber, for example, {!firstname_fix} is the code used. Therefore, your salutation would be:

Hello {!firstname_fix},

If your subscriber’s first name is Mary, then she would see ‘Hello Mary’ at the start of her email, not ‘Hello {!firstname_fix}’.

Not surprisingly, most research indicates that e-mail open and response rates improve with autoresponder personalization. Think about it – if a letter addresses you by name, wouldn’t you be the least bit curious to find out what the letter is about? Just use the ‘first name’ wildcard in a few strategic locations, perhaps even the Subject: line, and each individual subscriber will see their name in your correspondence.

Your ability to personalize e-mail marketing with autoresponders depends on the contact information collected while building your list. Therefore, make sure your opt-in forms include fields for the prospect’s first name and e-mail address at a minimum. This way, you can send instructions for list confirmation, ‘Thank You’ offers, or e-book download messages even before starting your regular autoresponder sequence. It goes without saying that having no contact information takes away your ability to personalize e-mails.

Autoresponder personalization is the best way for Internet entrepreneurs to capture the essence of relationship-based online marketing. On the surface, it may not put money in your pocket, but it is the first step towards building a responsive list of subscribers. Everyone likes to be called by their name; with the rapid growth of social media, e-mail marketers must demonstrate that they are still capable of personal contact and taking their subscribers’ problems to heart.
and putting smile on their faces…

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here

August 11th "Autoresponders In Your World" Series, Part 24.

Using Autoresponders to Generate Invoices and Get Paid Fast!

Wow, you’ve made a sale! Congratulations, but before popping open the champagne don’t forget that you must complete a payment processing sequence to receive your money. Invoices are an integral part of the sales process, but as your business grows, they can become very time-consuming and impede overall productivity. Fortunately, many web hosting companies permit invoice automation thanks to autoresponders.

Simple and recurring invoices can be automatically sent to customers via a shopping cart (e.g. PayPal) or from your own autoresponder. Instead of guessing whether or not a customer has paid for a product or service, follow the merchant’s invoicing instructions to free you from administrative drudgery. Once completed, use your extra time to create more marketing campaigns and pursue other exciting ventures.

To get started, use pre-existing invoice templates offered by the leading shopping carts. Before long you will be able to:

- Promptly send customers goods and service invoices.
- Provide specifics about each purchase (i.e. item description, quantity, unit price, shipping details, tax, and currency)
- Automatically generate purchase dates and sales totals.

Once you are comfortable with the process, you should create your own templates to further personalize each transaction. Some shopping carts permit e-mail invoicing with Microsoft Office and Quicken, so that you can create forms with commonly used productivity software.

In addition to invoicing with autoresponders, consider offering your clients an e-mail payment option. This ‘one-click’ option lets you accept credit card, bank, and online merchant payments without the hassles of long paper trails. Be aware of any and all fees, especially set-up and recurring monthly fees that eat into your profits.

Another advantage of using automated invoicing messages is to inform customers about complimentary items in your sales catalog. Much like the marketing tactics used by telephone, cable and credit card companies, you can present special deals and discounts for people who regularly contribute to your monthly cashflow.

Presenting professional invoices to your customers will encourage them to move money into your bank account faster. Automated invoices and e-mail payments, with the help of autoresponders, put the power of blue-chip corporations into the hands of home-based, solo entrepreneurs. Use this amazing tool to boost your administrative efficiency and expand your business.

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here

August 7th "Autoresponders In Your World" Series, Part 23.

Three Marketing Functions Best Suited for Autoresponder Use.

Why is the autoresponder an Internet Marketer’s most indispensable tool? Think about it – could you be an effective online entrepreneur without the tool that makes prospecting, relationship-building, and networking with other marketers almost effortless? You would be hard-pressed to succeed in list-building, affiliate marketing, and joint ventures marketing without the autoresponder’s versatility, flexibility, and adaptability. In short, you cannot have a serious business presence without it.

That being said, there are three specific activities that are tailor-made for autoresponders:

1. Growing your opt-in subscriber lists.

What is the first thing marketers insist they would do if they lost everything? Most (the smart ones, anyway) will opt to start rebuilding their contact list. Lists are where the money’s at, but to unlock its full income potential, you have to master autoresponders. Set up twenty to fifty messages right off the bat to distinguish yourself from casual marketers and those who simply don’t care. If your autoresponder service permits broadcasts, inject references to current news stories or important events in your life for added continuity. Autoresponder services let you incorporate name and time wildcards into your messages, so use them to build personal bonds.

2. Making repeated offers to subscribers and customers.

It takes seven looks (e-mails, salesletters, squeeze pages, etc.) on average before a prospect will seriously consider buying from you. To get the exposure your offers need, you must use an autoresponder to communicate with your permission-based list. Even if you have a respectable open rate, circumstances dictate that subscribers will not always heed your call to action. With autoresponders, you can resend e-mails, give reminders, or even build a storyline to better promote your offer. Note that discreet and subtle reminders are appropriate for both content and offers.

3. Creating and sending E-mail courses.

Most subscribers realize that you will send them content and offers on a regular basis. So, to differentiate yourself from fellow marketers, why not give original e-courses from time to time? Just load a topical 5 or 10-part series into your autoresponder and encourage subscriber interaction. Who knows, it may trigger a new product idea! By focusing on a specific area, you will prove your expertise and make subscribers take notice. E-courses are a great way to pre-sell affiliate products and your own stuff; they can be geared towards salesmanship or information (i.e. product review) depending on your goals and the characteristics of your intended audience.


Autoresponders automate time-consuming, even mind-numbing (but necessary) Internet marketing tasks. True, you have to write or outsource your sales material first, but once you get it right, plug it into your autoresponder and you’re set. It doesn’t discriminate between affiliate marketing and product creation, and is effective for e-mail relationship building. Some marketers even boast about subscribers who honestly tell them that their autoresponder messages are indistinguishable from personal letters.

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here

August 5th "Autoresponders In Your World" Series, Part 22.

3 Ways to ensure Your Autoresponder Messages Are not Rejected.

With great power comes great responsibility, or so we are told. Such is the case with autoresponders, the heart of e-mail marketing. No doubt they have revolutionized e-commerce and information marketing. However, as with so many great innovations, autoresponders are susceptible to abuse and misuse. Nothing represents irresponsible autoresponder use better than unsolicited commercial mail (UCE), and unsolicited bulk mail (UBE).

…Also known as spam.

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate legitimate Internet marketers from spammers. The large internet service providers (ISPs) have sophisticated anti-spam technology that frequently traps proper messages; smaller businesses also employ spam filters. Today, standard practice within most e-mail systems is to move questionable messages into a ‘Spam’ folder or in some cases delete them outright. No questions asked.

To ensure that autoresponder messages reach your subscribers’ Inbox safely, use the following three tactics:

1. Create a ‘White List’ Thank You Page.

Don’t assume that your list-building is safe after prospects enter their contact information into your opt-in page! Once they click your ‘Subscribe’ button, redirect them to a web page that gives clear instructions for confirming their request. If you are using a double opt-in procedure, tell them what to look for in your confirmation message’s “From:” and “Subject:” lines. Consider putting in specific instructions for getting onto Google (G-mail), Yahoo!, AOL, and MSN whitelists, since many subscribers use these services.

Even if new subscribers confirm their opt-in, remind them about whitelisting in your first (“Welcome”) message. It’s also a good idea to have your own accounts with large web-based e-mail clients, so that you can test and verify that your white-listing plan actually works.

2. Put each of Your Messages through a Spam Checker.

Successfully adding a new subscriber and being placed on whitelists does not give you free reign to write e-mails as you please. Avoid your subscribers’ Spam box by pre-testing each message before scheduling it in your autoresponder. Several third party e-mail deliverability services include automatic checking software with your membership. Otherwise, consider downloading a leading spam checker; many are no-cost and web-based for convenient use. With experience, you will learn to recognize words, phrases, and writing styles that demand editing or in the extreme case, a complete rewrite.

3. Send Subscribers an Appropriate Mix of Content and Offers.

Internet marketers are regularly targeted as spammers, so it behooves you to do everything possible to maintain a good score with subscribers as well as their e-mail clients. After all, what’s the point of being white-listed and using spam checking software if you’re going to blow it with 100% hard sell e-mails? Stay true to your original intentions by demonstrating your expertise to readers, building real relationships, and making appropriate offers that solve problems. You will be doing the industry, list members, and yourself a great service.

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

August 4th "Autoresponders In Your World" Series, Part 21.

Autoresponder E-Courses Maximize Sales.

Counter intuitive as it may sound, many top Internet marketers profit handsomely by giving things away. CDs, DVDs, e-books, videos – you name it – whatever it takes to get the proverbial “foot in the door”. Done properly, offering high-quality “freebies” is an excellent way to grow your list and set up successful sales campaigns down the road. So, why not offer something of value to web surfers today with the help of your autoresponder?

In particular, autoresponders are ideally suited for delivering free electronic courses (e-courses) to eager subscribers craving specialized information. E-courses allow you to demonstrate your knowledge, trustworthiness, and friendliness to people without blasting them with blatant sales pitches. Thousands of web surfers looking for help sign up for courses every day, so consider setting up a niche-specific course to establish your expert credentials.

E-course autoresponders operate similarly to other message sequences you currently send to subscribers. Each “lesson” is released at a specific time; you should be able to judge the optimum lesson quantity and frequency to use with practice and customize each aspect of the e-course to encourage desirable future results.

Unlike traditional academic courses and live webinars, you won’t be able to interact directly with list subscribers, although you should encourage immediate feedback from them. Once you finish writing the course material, segment it into manageable lessons, and schedule its release, the autoresponder automates the entire process.

E-mail courses are effective, because they blend information with salesmanship. For example, if you sell battery-powered lawn mowers, your e-course autoresponder should prove why they are superior to gas-powered mowers. Alternatively, you could write a course about lawn care and maintenance with “green” mowers. After following your lessons, all conclusions drawn should favor your product or service. Your credibility has been established, and subscribers are less sales resistant, because they have received “free” valuable information from you.

With careful planning, your can create expert courses of varying lengths for in any niche. For example:

-Short courses: 3-5 lessons.
-Two-week course; delivered every alternate day: 7 lessons.
-Ten-day course; daily lessons: 10 lessons.
-30-day course delivered every second day: 15 lessons.

Barring unique circumstances, do not deliver more than one lesson daily, so that subscribers can focus and digest each lesson and anticipate what comes next.

Before launching your opt-in page and releasing your autoresponder address to the public, test the lesson sequence on yourself and make necessary adjustments. Edit your messages! Even the slightest spelling and grammatical errors could increase your unsubscribe rates and weaken your sales performances. Put yourself in your subscribers’ shoes and ask, “Would I buy from this person?” Always be professional.

While text-based e-courses are still the norm for new marketers, more established types are increasingly preparing audio-visual course material for complimentary consumption. As production costs plummet and equipment become more accessible, expect to find more and more free video courses on your favorite subject.

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

August 4th, "Autoresponders In Your World" Series, Part 20.

How to Use Autoresponders to Automate Your Internet Business.

The post-modern, industrial age saw individuals, corporations, and governments take a giant leap forward by automating various business processes. Nothing was left to chance as manual, mechanical and electrical/electronic work were analyzed, isolated into its component parts, then automated to astonishing effect.

Today’s Information Age has taken automation to a whole new level, thanks to computer technology and the Internet. The business rationale remains the same: eliminating or reducing time spent on menial tasks to focus on more revenue generators for your company and yourself. Alternatively, automation frees up time to pursue leisure activities. For Internet marketers, creating a business model that runs on autopilot is Nirvana, and with autoresponders, it may not as farfetched a pipedream as you think.

Autoresponders in concert with your favorite traffic generation methods can be used to promote both your latest and previous offers. You can use a ‘Thank You’ page to greet new list subscribers and introduce relevant products or services. If you feel such tactics are too aggressive, place sales messages into your autoresponder sequence that pre-sell on your behalf through repeated exposure. By the time you direct prospects to a salesletter, your information and sales arguments will have done the trick.

…and the beauty of it all is that you are doing something else when sales are made!

Assuming that your sales copy passes the test and prospects place an order, use a follow-up autoresponder to send out the customer receipt and product access details (N.B. if you sell digital products, provide download instructions.). A third autoresponder, a ‘Thank You’ autoresponder, should also be sent immediately to thank people for their patronage, and inform them about goods that compliment their recent purchase.

Although sales acquisition and order processing may appear complicated, your direct involvement ends once you have personally tested and verified each marketing campaign’s sales funnel. Write your customer care autoresponders once, and revenue will continue to come in as you develop other business projects.

…Or plan your next vacation.

That’s the essence of automated Internet Marketing – maximizing autoresponders to make your strategic business and income goals come true.

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 22nd "Autoresponders In Your World" Series, Part 19.

Smart Autoresponders that Go Beyond List-Building.

Everybody knows how great autoresponders are for building a responsive list of subscribers and prospects for online or “bricks and mortar” business.

However, did you know that they can also help you become a recognized leader in your niche? Think about it – why not use your expertise to create an e-mail course that plugs directly into your autoresponder? Now, instead of individual messages or the occasional broadcast, you can cover specific topics that highlight your knowledge and experience. Before you know it, people will be beating down your virtual door to access your training sessions!

Alternatively, you can derive inspiration from the education system, where several novel uses for autoresponders can be found. For example, many university professors send messages to students reminding them about pending assignments and examinations. Teachers at all levels often upload study guides and class lectures for frequently taught courses. Assuming limited year-to-year changes, everybody wins: students have ready access to course material 24/7, and teachers save precious class preparation time to focus on other issues.

Upcoming events in corporations, government offices, and colleges alike present another opportunity for autoresponder use. Assuming sufficiently advance notice, messages can be set up almost immediately and integrated into personal calendars days or weeks in advance. Think of the convenience for potential participants like university alumni who must make travel arrangements to visit from out of town.

Today, businesses use autoresponders to train employees’ on new technologies and procedures. Whenever new software or equipment is introduced into the workforce, an instructional autoresponder can offer a step-by-step guide that helps everyone get up to speed quickly. With greater sophistication and growing Internet (intranet) bandwidth, autoresponders may eventually be able to offer embedded audiovisual manuals on demand. At worst, podcasts and videos can still be accessed with conventional URL links embedded in each message.

Smart autoresponder use will improve your bottom line. Whatever of your business of choice, there are strategies that you need to apply right now. In addition to time savings, your ability to share information with prospects, customers, and employees will strengthen your relationships. Entrepreneurs get a more responsive and appreciative list; corporate managers and trainers get a thriftier and more productive workforce.

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 22nd "Autoresponders in Your World" Series, Part 18.

The CAN-SPAM Act: Practice Proper E-mail Conduct.

Many of humanity’s greatest inventions come with a price. The automobile, created with noble intentions; i.e; fast and efficient transport across great distances for the masses, introduced side effects like traffic congestion, environmental degradation, and urban sprawl. Similarly, electronic mail communication – while revolutionizing letter writing and commerce – comes with an undesirable side effect that threatens its long-term viability and credibility. Namely, unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE) commonly referred to as spam.

To regulate business e-mails and combat spam, the United States government passed the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing (CAN-SPAM) Act in 2003. Although other countries have followed suit with similar legislation, the CAN-SPAM Act serves as a common reference point for online marketers throughout the world.

The law sets out four major requirements for people engaging in e-commerce and e-mail marketing in general:

1. Prohibit the sending of false or misleading header information: Your e-mail’s “From”, “To”, and path information must properly identify you as the e-mail communication’s source.

2. Ban deceptive “Subject” lines: The subject line must not mislead the e-mail receiver about its content.

3. Provide recipients with a clear opt-out option: Senders must provide a return e-mail address or an automated method to opt out of future messages, and any such requests must be honored within ten (10) business days.

4. Identify commercial correspondence as advertising, and include the sender’s valid physical postal address.

Reputable third party autoresponder services strictly adhere to the CAN-SPAM Act, and provide resources and support to ensure that you comply with its provisions. Given that the burden of proof rests with e-mail marketers, the performance of autoresponder software – especially free software – should be monitored to ensure that the above four criteria are met.

In most cases, your common sense and ethical business conduct should guarantee that you never run afoul of CAN-SPAM rules. Regardless, don’t be intimidated by legalities; if you face spamming accusations, take all necessary steps to protect yourself, including dropping troublesome subscribers from your list. Most e-mail delivery services enforce a double opt-in requirement for prospects, so you should be protected in most cases.

With great power comes great responsibility. Even casual requests for information can become headaches, so funnel online contacts into your opt-in forms. Similarly, customer purchases do not give you carte blanche to add people to your contact list. Remember to include a check box or equivalent in the order form to obtain explicit permission for follow-ups.

For more details about how the CAN-SPAM Act affects your electronic commerce, please visit: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/ecommerce/bus61.shtm

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 20th "Autoresponders In Your World" Series, Part 17.

Use Your Autoresponder to Reveal Valuable Business Secrets.

Revealing “secrets” is a tried and true marketing tactic that anyone – master or novice – can use to promote their business. Remember the first time you went online and a guru offered to reveal his (or her) secrets to you? How did you feel - pretty special, right? Everyone loves to get the inside scoop, especially if they know it’s something other folks can’t have. Now, it’s your turn to use autoresponders to build a special, private club.

On the Internet, you can create a special membership website containing your highly sought after business secrets. Use an attention-grabbing autoresponder sequence to create buzz, heighten awareness about your efforts, and invite subscribers to your site. To guarantee its value, implement scarcity marketing; i.e; limit the number of people with access to your pages, and/or impose a time limit for gaining access.

You must create rich content to ensure success for your successful secrets membership site. Give the site a mouthwatering title that drives subscribers to the sign up (e.g. “Winning list-building tactics to create income on autopilot!” for a Business Opportunity website). You need to create a password-protected website directory, but unlike most commercial websites, the same login/password combination is sufficient for everyone.

After you have completed your membership directory web pages, promote the URL and login information in an autoresponder. Direct your current list subscribers to a promotional salesletter. Cross promote with your joint venture partners and other list owners to broaden your reach, all the while maintaining your membership ceiling. The more unique and special your membership site appears, the easier it will be to meet your membership goals!

Resist the temptation to charge an entry fee into your membership site when getting started. Remember that your main goal is to generate traffic to your pages; as more motivated prospects see your high quality secret information, their resistance to purchasing your products later on will lessen. When subscribers see how good your free material is, they will be less hesitant about whipping out their credit card to buy stuff.

Wait a minute – aren’t you sacrificing easy upfront income by not charging an entry fee?

Nothing could be further from the truth! In fact, you are just extending your list-building reach onto a different stage. You could argue that the initial work on your secret content site is for “free”. However, the contact information you collect from subscribers who “raise their hands” is well worth the investment in the long-term.

Consolidating your secrets into a robust, members-only site is a proven way to generate leads and create new income opportunities. Don’t forget to use your autoresponder to inform subscribers about “secret” updates. Opening up new communication channels gives you the opportunity to promote more, sell more, and follow-up more. All courtesy of your friendly neighborhood autoresponder.

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 19th "Autoresponders In Your World" Series, Part 16.

Money for Nothing, Autoresponders for Free?

Autoresponders should be an important part of an online marketer’s lead generation and customer contact strategy. Yet, most Internet newcomers (“newbies”) hesitate to pay for third party services. People on tight budgets are drawn to the ‘no-cost’ option, i.e; free autoresponders, but is it an alternative worth investigating? After all, why not save hundreds of dollars per year? Fair enough – numerous options are available, and some free autoresponders may prove reliable enough to get your list-building off the ground.

…Let’s have a look.

Several web hosting companies supply free autoresponders with your personal account, so this should be your first option. Normally, it’s a straightforward procedure to get things up and running using the web host’s control panel. One advantage of using your webhost’s free autoresponder is the absence of advertising. Some subscribers object to reading banners or extra ad copy in addition to your messages, so giving them one less reason to hit ‘Unsubscribe’ is welcome.

Beyond your web host, you can investigate other free autoresponder software and services online. A cursory search reveals thousands of articles, reviews, and recommendations on what autoresponders to choose. Unlike web host autoresponders, these services will place ads in your outgoing messages. Understandable, because that’s how they make money, in the form of “top sponsor” or “bottom sponsor” ads. You have no choice but to accept them – even if they compete directly with you or distract your prospects!

Have a look at paid third party services that offer a free or “light” autoresponder version. As established businesses, they may in position to leave sponsored advertisements off your messages and satisfy most of your immediate autoresponder needs. However, be assured that non-paying subscribers will not have access to its more robust features. Nevertheless, testing this type of service is a great way to evaluate a company before committing to a paid trial or upgraded service.

If you are committed to using a free autoresponder, be aware that it will likely impose a limit on your list size. In fact, the best way to judge your autoresponder needs may be to use a free service until your list surpasses a certain size. From a bottom line, business point of view, “list profitability” should determine whether paid or free is right for you.

A free autoresponder is preferable to having no autoresponder at all, even if your list is small and you have the added burden of dealing with spam complaints. Conventional wisdom suggests that they are suitable for newbies, at least until they’re ready to take their businesses to the next level. Still, you should base your decision on tangible criteria, e.g.; the role autoresponders play in your overall e-mail and relationship marketing strategy. Some marketers concurrently employ free autoresponders for limited, list-building campaigns and paid services for true income generation.

Make sense?

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 19th "Autoresponders in your World Series", Part 15.

Autoresponder Broadcasts Make E-zines Simple!

Autoresponders serve many functions, but one of their best features is the ability to publish and promote electronic newsletters or magazines (e-zines). After you bring in list subscribers with attractive landing pages and freebies, your ability to retain them will be determined by the quality of your ongoing correspondence. Use your e-zine to forge a lasting relationship with your list through superior content and offers.

Publishing an e-zine can be a daunting task, but with discipline and a passion for helping others, your work will stand out in any competitive online niche. However, newsletters are not quite the “Set it-and-forget it” message sequences usually associated with autoresponders. As opposed to the automatic messages that you send subscribers at fixed intervals after they sign up, you will need to use the ‘broadcast’ option that comes with most third party autoresponders.

What is an autoresponder broadcast? Simply stated, it is a message that you schedule at the day and time of your choosing. All current mailing list subscribers receive this message, regardless of when they joined you. Broadcasts are “one-time” messages, unless subscribers specifically request them through your autoresponder address.

Technically speaking, broadcast messages are created in a similar manner to your automated autoresponder. Enter the broadcast control panel of your service, type your message (or copy/paste it from a word processor), then pick the time for your mailing.

Autoresponders give small business owners and “solo-preneurs” the same publishing power as any Fortune 500 corporation. You control scheduling and distribution while your service handles the flow of subscribers coming into and opting out of your e-zine. In fact, as you become a more skilled and prolific writer, you can “stockpile” several weeks worth of e-zine editions and send them out as if they were an automated sequence!

How about that!

Autoresponder services do not delete your previous broadcasts and auto-messages, thus you can resend issues when appropriate, or respond to individual requests about products and information. Don’t forget to track your open and click rates to gauge interest in your newsletter and the items being promoted in it.

Broadcast messaging should be high on your list of autoresponder “must haves”. Be aware that not all autoresponders are created equal. Ensure your have all the marketing tools you need to vault your online presence into the big leagues.

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 17th "Autoresponders in Your World" Series, Part 14.

Autoresponder Power Ratings: Four Criteria for Making the Best Choice.

Autoresponders are an integral part of a serious marketer’s online toolkit. Together with landing pages, opt-in forms, and traffic tactics, they constitute the 24/7 engine of your Internet Marketing regime. A uniquely informative, content-rich autoresponder sequence in a profitable niche makes all the difference for list-building, affiliate marketing, and customer care. So, make sure that the service you entrust your business to has enough muscle to deliver the goods.

What should you look for in an autoresponder service? For starters, ensure that it meets your e-mail deliverability needs. This is your main service requirement; therefore you must have confidence in its anti-spam policies and its own white-listed business domain. In addition, a third party company must have good relations with the major Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Otherwise, a high percentage of your e-mails will be blocked by various spam filters and flagged by online watch groups. One more thing: don’t forget to ask about broadcast capabilities.

Next, autoresponders should have an extensive suite of tracking tools that allows you to monitor your web analytics. A minimal set of metrics an autoresponder should provide includes:

• Open rates; i.e. what percentage of your list subscribers is opening each of your e-mails.

• Click-through rates; i.e. how many subscribers are clicking your links to reach salesletters, product offers, other landing pages, etc.

• Split testing results for messages and forms to see what works best.

• The growth of your list in absolute terms, and by segment (e.g. country of origin).
  

Let’s face it – what good is an autoresponder service if you cannot measure your performance?

A proven third party service should offer extensive subscriber management tools. While everyone enjoys the ability to automate their list-building with autoresponders, it’s critical for your service to allow manual adjustments as well. For example, you will need to remove “unsubscribes” and undeliverable addresses on occasion. You are running a serious business, so people wanting to tap into your expertise should be on your official mailing list. Similarly, the ability to move contact information from one list to another simplifies the management of multiple campaigns. This is especially helpful if you change autoresponder companies in the future.

A fourth “must-have” feature is the integration of your autoresponder with popular web-based shopping carts to permit seamless information (digital) product delivery and after-purchase follow-up. One-time sales are fine, but why end you customer relations there? By immediately adding proven buyers to your list, not only can you thank them for purchasing; you can nurture a relationship that eventually leads to more sales in the future.

The above four criteria: e-mail deliverability, web analytics, subscriber management, and shopping cart integration, should be your minimal requirements when investigating a prospective autoresponder service. Before putting your money down, take the time to evaluate your options – it will be well worth it.

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 16th "Autoresponders in Your World" Series, Part 13.

3 Ways that Autoresponders Motivate your Downline Members.

Internet technologies increasingly shape the way people market affiliate products and build network marketing organizations. Gone are the days when cold-calling, house parties, and lead purchasing were the main options for becoming successful. Now, home-base entrepreneurs (“solopreneurs”) in particular are invading cyberspace, turning the referral marketing model on its head to make money online.

Although the stampede into Internet “network” marketing shows no signs of abating, many marketers still find it challenging to motivate their downlines to perform at a steady pace. Unlike other sales and retail business models, income really does depend on an active downline. Therefore, it’s high time you ramped up your team leadership by introducing strong autoresponder campaigns into the mix.

With autoresponders, there is no excuse for not keeping with your downline and providing them with the support it expects from you. The quality of your correspondence will keep affiliates active, which in turn improves your bottom line. It’s all about communication, so consider the following three ideas for your autoresponder message sequence:

1. Positive Messages Galore!

There’s nothing more uplifting for a downline member/subscriber than a few words of encouragement. Add motivational quotes and a bit of humor to your words of wisdom. Consider acknowledging your top performers in a monthly or quarterly autoresponder, and keep everyone focused with achievable goals for the short and long term.

2. Product and Service Information.

The downfall of many Internet Marketers today is the failure to grasp meaningful product knowledge. As team leader, you must provide any and all details that your downline demands – and then some. Autoresponders are perfectly suited for this task. Once your core messages are in place, beginners have a stable example to follow, and you only have to update them when necessary. In many cases, just a little information is sufficient to keep members on track.

3. Practical Sales and Marketing Tips.

Most of your downline are part-timers without formal sales experience. Even if you are not a hardened salesperson yourself, you can use autoresponders to convey personal experiences and suggest winning strategies and tactics. When it comes to Internet sales, you may know more than you think, so begin with the basics and incorporate any feedback you get from others to fine tune your downline autoresponder.

Although most people come into network marketing with good intentions, the failure rate remains stubbornly high because very few make the time to learn marketing well. As a leader, your duty is to do whatever you can (within reason) to support your downline’s efforts. What seems obvious to you may not appear so evident to your members, so take the time to load autoresponders that will elevate their performance.

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 15th "Autoresponders in Your World" Series, Part 12.

Autoresponder Netiquette: 3 Great Ways to Ensure Trouble-free Use.

An autoresponder’s power and versatility should never be taken for granted, nor abused. Believe it or not, marketers get into trouble every day because of improper autoresponder use. While minor transgressions are often quickly rectified with warnings or perhaps a small penalty, some violations are so serious that they can jeopardize your entire online business.

So, as you embark on your next autoresponder campaign, please keep the following three rules of conduct in mind:

1. NEVER sign up to a newsletter, e-course, affiliate campaign, etc. using your autoresponder’s e-mail Address.

As an online business entrepreneur looking to exploit the Internet to generate leads and sales, you expect subscribers to enter genuine contact information into your autoresponder opt-in. How else are you going to nurture a “one-to-one” relationship with them? Similarly, you must respect your fellow marketers by giving them a valid email address – not unsolicited access to your list! Just imagine the complications of autoresponder-autoresponder correspondence:

- A message is sent to your entire list (not just you!), which includes another autoresponder address. The second autoresponder replies to your autoresponder that in turn responds to the autoresponder of the original marketer. This “loop” persists until all the services and software involved close it down and clean up the damage left behind.

Simply put, this rule is the autoresponder equivalent of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

2. NEVER sign up to discussion groups or forums with an autoresponder e-mail address.

You join special interest online groups to share information with like-minded folks, build your reputation, and market yourself as a trustworthy businessperson. So, why risk your good name and betray your subscribers’ trust by exposing them to something they never asked for? Signing up with your autoresponder address will lead to spamming accusations; when forum members send you a message, you AND your entire list receive it. Suffice to say that you are ruining the social networking experience for everyone. Forum administrators despise this practice and will banish you without hesitation.

3. Learn and Understand CAN-SPAM Act Basics.

Reputable third party autoresponder services have incorporated the relevant parts of the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing (CAN-SPAM) Act since it became law January 1, 2004. Still, being aware of its requirements can help you avoid being reported for spam; i.e., unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE). If you have any doubts about what constitutes proper autoresponder etiquette, check if you presently:

- Require a double opt-in when setting up your opt-in forms (recommended by most but not mandatory).
- Offer an “unsubscribe” link with every autoresponder message.
- Include a valid postal mailing address in each message.

As your online activity expands, you will inevitably come across troublemakers who enjoy giving Internet Marketing a bad name. Frankly, some list subscribers are not worth having, so if you receive complaints, be responsible and just let them go. Don’t give anyone an excuse to ruin your reputation. Use your autoresponder as if your livelihood depended on it. In a manner of speaking, perhaps it already does.

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 13th "Autoresponders in Your World" Series, Part 11.

How Autoresponders can Pre-sell (and Sell) Your Latest E-book.

How do autoresponders help you generate “buzz” and attract customers for your upcoming product launch? Apart from its recognized list-building role, autoresponders play a big part in most successful marketing campaigns, especially at the start. Given that you have invested time and money to attract website visitors and list subscribers, why not promote your product right away? Create anticipation for the launch by telling people how its benefits will solve their problem(s).

Autoresponders are particularly effective when it comes to launching e-books. Instead of just talking about it to subscribers, consider offering a full e-book preview autoresponder. Even though you want to earn income from your hard work, allowing a select group of people to see your product in advance can result in positive feedback, even suggestions for improvements that you did not consider before. Look at reviews for the big Hollywood blockbusters. Why do you think mass media critics get a “sneak peek” before the rest of us? Simple – the studios know that it’s the best way to create buzz and add – not subtract – from their bottom line.

Besides, who could say ‘No’ to free advertising?

If you are adamant about not revealing all at once, consider offering a “leaked” chapter or two in the autoresponder. Set up a landing page with a form that allows visitors to enter contact information in exchange for the e-book preview. This “ethical” bribe is completely acceptable: you build your list of potential customers; the prospects read your chapter for free. Every few days up to release, remind subscribers about your launch date and the great reasons for getting this product. Maintain your marketing momentum!

Another tactic you may wish to consider is the pre-lease e-book option. Once your launch date is set, consider offering preview subscribers your product a few days earlier. You are not obliged to discount your price for them; however you may give them a ‘Thank You’ gift for coming on board so early and sticking with you until the end.

Pay attention to your autoresponder retention rate; i.e, the percentage of people who accepted your e-book preview invitation and remain on your list. You willingly gave them an ‘unsubscribe’ link with every e-mail, yet they continue to accept your information. Sure, some may have forgotten about you, but the rest are legitimate prospects. These are the laser-targeted folks who are showing interest in your e-book and are likely to purchase once you give them the green light. The best autoresponder messages render fancy salesletters redundant – another advantage for marketers on a tight budget.

Autoresponders are a marketer’s best friend, because they can help you determine whether or not demand exists for your e-book. By using readily accessible autoresponder tactics and techniques, you can get answers fast. If results of your pre-launch preview autoresponder are negative, learn your lessons and move on to your next product idea. Otherwise, show subscribers how excited YOU are about your upcoming e-book launch, and then feed your hungry, pre-sold prospects everything that they have been waiting for!

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 12th "Autoresponders in Your World" Series, Part 10.

How Autoresponders Can Explode Your Article Marketing Results.

Think autoresponders and article marketing don’t go together? Think again. You may be the best writer in the world, but if you’re not converting readers into subscribers and eventually customers, your efforts are in vain. In order to become a great article marketer – not just a great wordsmith – incorporate autoresponders into your strategy.

Consider all four components of a successful article marketing campaign:

1. Original, high-quality, informative, niche-specific articles.
2. Resource Box.
3. Landing page reached by clicking resource box link.
4. Autoresponder code that captures contact information.

Each component, like teammates in a 4X100 track and field relay race, must work together to achieve results – in this case, more sign-ups for your business. The resource box, for example, is an essential link between your article and the autoresponder. These two or three lines after your article must entice readers to extend their relationship with you. It’s “call to action” should capitalize on the heightened sense of awareness generated by your words. To extend the track and field analogy, the resource box should “drive” your viewers to a landing page which in turn “hands off” the baton to the autoresponder anchor in order to win the list-building and sales generating race.

What are the best ways to use autoresponders? In the past, people were advised to set up each of their articles with a unique autoresponder address. This would permit easy tracking of important performance metrics to determine the effectiveness of a campaign, niche, etc. In addition, you would also maintain an article master list that included every address along with a brief description of the content.

However, promoting individual articles in this manner was extremely time-consuming, so marketers have opted for autoresponder campaigns, where the master list’s autoresponder address identifies a group of related articles. By opting into a newsletter, subscribers can receive a unified sequence of prewritten e-mails on a specific subject. To stay current, authors may contribute occasional broadcasts and/or edit their sequence accordingly.

Increasingly, leading autoresponder companies and article directories allow marketers to capitalize on synergies with well-known social media outlets. Consider some of the options already in place on the Internet that can extend your articles’ reach:

- Autoresponder services that give marketers the option of broadcasting messages to their Twitter followers.
- Article directories that connect you with Facebook and MySpace as expert and verified sources of information.
- RSS and other syndication feeds that originate from article directories and the blogosphere.
- Effective and creative use of widgets, including simple HTML autoresponder code for your websites.

Just remember to subtly direct new readers to your autoresponder!

Original, high-quality, informative, niche-specific articles attract readers – no doubt about it. Whether you submit them to directories, e-zine publishers, or your own blogs, they will improve your search engine rankings and establishing your credibility. However, without autoresponders, how can you initiate relationships that lead to subscribers, customers, and (ideally!) life-long buyers?

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 11th "Autoresponders in Your World" Series, Part 9.

Professional Autoresponder Formatting Just Makes Sense!

In their excitement to create winning autoresponder sequences, budding e-mail marketers are often careless about their letter formatting. Contrary to what you may hear, offline written communication still holds useful lessons for Internet marketers committed to doing their own thing. Amongst the most important is to format your correspondence professionally, especially with regards to autoresponder e-mails.

The easiest and perhaps most important rule to follow is compliance with a standard line length, normally sixty-five characters, for your e-mails. All too often, marketers are not sensitive to how their readers must strain themselves when facing “broken” emails: ten words on one line, followed by a two-word line, then two blank lines and more variations right up to the end.

It’s enough to make you scream…

Are these the type of emails you want to look at on a regular basis? What impression does a poorly formatted autoresponder make on subscribers? Chances are that if they have not already unsubscribed to your newsletter, they will simply ignore your presence in the Inbox.

As with other aspects of autoresponder use, you are best served by reading your service’s text handling instructions. Do you need a “hard break” or carriage return at the end of lines, or is the editor preset for wrap-around? How about plain text versus HTML format? Does copy pasting a Word file causes special difficulties? Different autoresponders will recommend slightly different tactics to handle formatting issues. However, common best practices should be clearly stated in each service’s knowledge database.

Once you figure out how to maintain a sixty-five character line in an e-mail, test it out to ensure that your autoresponder appears as it should. It is good practice to first send messages to yourself before your list subscribers, so that you can verify the delivery format. Maintaining an account (e-mail address) with the major Internet Service Providers (ISP) enables you to test multiple paths with confidence.

Standing out from your e-mail competition is beneficial in most respects. In fact, incorporating click-through videos and other audio-visual gadgets makes individuality increasingly possible these days. However, when it comes to marketing basics, let your well formatted words do the talking. Present yourself to subscribers clearly and in a non-threatening manner with a message to die for.

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 11th "Autoresponders in Your World" Series, Part 8.

Using Autoresponders to Deliver Exceptional Customer Service.

Many exceptional entrepreneurs and corporations boast about building their companies “One customer at a time.” Indeed, most people need to know that their business is appreciated, and that if issues arise, the company would step forward to offer personal assistance.

In the real world, it is still possible (although with alarming irregularity) to get customer service on a personalized basis. However, when it comes to Internet Marketing, even the most well-intentioned businessperson quickly realizes that one-to-one customer service is impractical. Clients and prospects are global, not local. In cyberspace, an autoresponder can fulfill a small to medium-sized business’ customer service requirements.

In the simplest scenario, autoresponder-based customer service amounts to sending out:

1. A sales receipt when a web-based order is placed.
2. Product access information (download information in the case of digital products).
3. A ‘Thank You’ or courtesy e-mail. May or may not include an ‘upsell’ or complimentary follow-up offer.

The above steps take place regardless of where you are (vacation?) or what you are doing. However, life is not always so simple, and there will be times when you must be more “hands-on” to satisfy your customer. For example, consider a person who orders a PDF-based e-book from you but cannot download it properly. Unfortunately, your first autoresponder sequence is not enough, so consider the following options:

1. Add a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) autoresponder that includes product access solutions based on prior customer feedback.

2. Create a special support autoresponder that automatically responds to a customer requests for help by acknowledging the inquiry and providing a time frame for resolution. This shows that post-purchase relations are important, and provides some assurance for customers.

As a business owner, you want to keep customers happy and hopefully retain them for repeat purchases. Therefore, don’t forget to actually resolve all outstanding issues before they get angry and upset. It’s amazing how much grief and misunderstanding can be prevented by short, easy to create autoresponder messages.

It is critical to analyze your online order processing system from both the top-down and the bottom-up. Put yourself in your customers’ shoes and identify each and every problem that they may face. Ensure your customer’s full satisfaction by including all three types of autoresponders mentioned above – not just a 'Thank you for your money." message!

In the long run, your reputation will make or break your business. Nothing kills a reputation faster than a failed customer service policy. By immediately addressing your customer service needs with autoresponders, you are one step closer to Internet marketing perfection.

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 10th - "Autoresponders in your World" Series, Part 7.

Making Autoresponder Messages Sell Themselves.

Autoresponders are ideally suited for e-mail relationship marketing, the modern approach to online sales entrepreneurship. Hard sales tactics are no longer the norm; people don’t need a formal sales background to attract prospects and potential customers to their network. Most experts claim that people need at least seven exposures to a product or service before buying it. So the burning question is:

What role can your autoresponder play in influencing purchasing decisions?

Assuming that you work with permission-based, double opt-in lists (always preferable to single opt-in lists) contacting prospects seven, seven-hundred, or even seven-thousand times over a lifetime is not beyond reach. Autoresponders give you the power to harness the Internet for that very purpose. Forget the “All or Nothing” approach; i.e. an uncompromising sales pitch in your “Welcome” autoresponder. Not only won’t you make the sale, but there is a good chance your prospect will immediately unsubscribe.

Instead, use your initial message to thank subscribers for giving you the privilege of speaking to them on a very important issue. Next, focus on why they chose to sign up with your newsletter:

Subscribers believe that you have the solution to their problem!

Don’t talk about politics if your squeeze page invitation offered expert advice about deep-sea diving! Inform readers with usable content that relates to your upcoming offers. You may include a sales page link at the bottom of your message or postscript (P.S.), or hold off until future autoresponder messages. The key is to build a relationship with your readership. Resist the temptation to bear all at once. Be patient; just hinting at your unique solution will keep prospects tuned in to your activities.

Once you have established your credentials and sincerity, tell subscribers how your product or services can help them. Use follow-up autoresponders to describe benefits, and gradually explain why it is the right solution for them. Free information should stimulate prospects and convince them that you are the real deal.

Finally, comes the sales pitch: a reminder of why they joined you, the benefits of the products, and special features (i.e. bonuses, testimonials, money-back guarantees, etc.) to close the deal.

Autoresponder marketing is not an exact science, and there is more than one path to success. Signing up for other marketers’ newsletters and analyzing their styles will give you an idea of what’s already out there and help you create a unique voice. Seriously consider maintaining a ‘swap file’ (i.e. a file containing advice and/or messages proven to work) of best practices to retain messages and language that you may want to try in the future. Just remember not to plagiarize sales copy or other autoresponder messages!

Allowing autoresponder messages to do the selling for you lets you concentrate on creating and finding good products for your customers. Having sales expertise is great, but don’t impose it on your new prospects. Peak their curiosity first by empathizing with their problem and defining it in terms favorable to your solution. Repeatedly offering pertinent information that addresses the issue in a non-threatening manner improves the chance that they will be pre-sold prior to your final message.

… and ready to purchase.

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.

July 10th - "Autoresponders in your World" Series, Part 6.

Autoresponder Service Fundamentals: Start Following Instructions to Hit the Ground Running.

Your autoresponder choice will be the catalyst for your growth as an Internet marketer. Everyone talks about how autoresponders make e-mail marketing and list-building easy, swearing by the service as if it was some kind of money tree. Perhaps it is, in a roundabout way…

However, before feverishly writing down your autoresponder sequences and broadcasts, do yourself a huge favor and become a student of your autoresponder service. By taking a few hours to properly understand how things should be done, you will avoid common e-mail marketing and software use errors that the vast majority of beginners commit. These mistakes will hurt you where it counts most: with subscribers, customers, and consequently in the pocket book.

These days, most highly rated autoresponder services offer a wide array of support features to get the new marketer going with minimal delay. Long gone are the days when a printed, on-site manual was the only source of information to get started. Amongst the best ways to get help with your autoresponder service includes:

1. Webinars: Live training, especially “How to get Started” demonstrations are quite popular with new autoresponder users. You’ll be able to login to your account and practically work through the essential steps “blow by blow” with professional staff.

2. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Comfortable with autoresponder basics but need something little extra before heading out on the Internet? Most autoresponder services maintain a large, searchable database of knowledge built up through customer experiences and best practices.

3. Video Tutorials: Even the most detail-oriented and attentive business folks may want to review their newly acquired skills after getting live instruction. Watching videos can reinforce basic concepts and clarify some actions that you need to complete before starting an e-mail campaign.

4. Live Assistance: When all else fails, there is always the telephone, e-mail, and/or live chats to answer your most pressing questions.

After you complete the signup process and get a feel for what autoresponders are all about, perform a self-test by loading one of your e-mail addresses into a list along with one “Welcome” message. Set up a dummy sign-up feature on your web page, enter your contact information, and press ‘Enter’. If you receive a confirmation e-mail from the autoresponder, chances are that you have succeeded. Congratulations! However, keep testing other features to become more familiar with how it really works.

Good autoresponder services can deliver super value for the dollar, but only if you invest the time up front to learn everything you need to become a great marketer. Developing proper autoresponder habits early will make it easier for you to test, track, and tweak all aspects of your future Internet Marketing campaigns.

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Rahul Majumdar is an Information Marketer specializing in article marketing, list-building, and digital product creation. Sign up for more of his insights here.