Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Follow Up with an Autoresponder After You Generate Leads

By Miguel Pancardo


So you know the importance of lead generation and you realize you need those leads to stay afloat online. But what about AFTER the lead is generated? What do you do with it? What is the next step? Let's look at those questions right now.

Following up with a new lead is similar to a farmer fertilizing his crops, and it's just about as important. It helps the lead develop into an actual customer. You need to show that new lead that you're real and trustworthy, so you don't want to stay anonymous or seem aloof. In other words, don't be a stranger: you need to follow up with that new prospect right away.

Using an autoresponder is the most effective way to follow up with leads. An autoresponder is a piece of software that helps the user keep up with new leads, manage older contacts and follow up with both on a regular basis. This process is particularly important at the beginning of the relationship. And yes, relationship is the right word. You are developing faith and trust in each other.

Whenever someone joins your mailing list, an autoresponder immediately sends that person a welcome or thank you message. It can be configured to send the number of messages you need at the intervals you select. Although the initial welcome message should be sent out immediately, subsequent messages can be sent at the intervals you choose - daily, weekly or whatever other interval you need.

Messages will be able to guide your prospects through your system and offer them items to buy along the way. You've probably already set the precedent that they can believe and trust you, just by giving them something for free right at the beginning. Sell inexpensive products to your prospects and build their trust while you are bringing them along. They'll be much more comfortable buying your main moneymaking product when they arrive at the end of this process.

As much as the autoresponder helps in this manner, it provides other services as well. If you are getting a lot of inquiries, the software organizes your list and tells you exactly where each person is in the process. You also have he ability to send singular messages, called announcements, whenever you may need to. Perhaps you have come across a particularly good product at a ridiculous price. You can offer it in this way.

One thing with email marketing of this sort is the danger of SPAM reports. Autoresponder software guards against that with an "unsubscribe" option embedded in every message. If the customer has the option to leave at any time and they don't, then the emails you send are not SPAM; they are expected and you are safe from that, so it's like insurance, in manner of speaking.

Here's the bottom line: you need to follow up with your prospects and maintain contact at all times. Autoresponder software will do this for you easily and automatically. Customers actually expect to hear from you periodically. If you don't contact them from time to time, they'll think you're useless and will opt out of your contact list without even saying goodbye.

Use auto responders for follow up and you will always have a satisfied list of buyers on a constant basis.




About the Author:



No comments: