Lead Generation Web Sites and Autoresponder Follow-up
Posted on March 25, 2011 by Mankit Chan
You know how important it is to generate leads for your business. You also know you need those leads to stay afloat on the Internet. But what happens AFTER you generate the leads? What do you do with them, and what’s the next step you should take? We’ll answer 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.
An autoresponder will immediately send a message to every person that joins your mailing list with a thank you or a welcome message. You can set the software to send as many messages as are needed at intervals that you set. That first one should go out immediately and any others can be at one day, two day or even weekly intervals. Whatever you need is what you set it for.
Subsequent messages will walk them through your system, offering other items along the way. Since you probably gave them something for free at the outset, you have already set a precedent that you do what you say you will do. As you bring the prospect along, you can sell them other low end products and build their trust as you do. At the end of this process, you will then offer your main money maker and hopefully they will buy it.
An autoresponder can do several other things in addition to helping in this way. If you receive a lot of inquiries and signups, an autoresponder will organize your prospect list and tell you precisely how far every person has progressed through the process. An autoresponder will also let you send individual messages called “announcements” whenever you think it’s appropriate. For example, you might get a great deal on an especially good product. You can offer it to your prospects by sending an announcement.
Email marketing always carries a risk of spam reports, but autoresponders guard against them. They do this by embedding an “unsubscribe” link in every message they send. If the recipient of your email can opt out at any time but chooses not to, then the emails are not spam and you’ll be safe from spam reports. Think of it as being like insurance, in a way.
The important thing to remember is that you must follow up with your prospects and maintain constant contact. You can do this easily and automatically by using an autoresponder. Leads actually expect you to contact them periodically. If they don’t hear from you they’ll think you’re not worth bothering with and they’ll opt out of your list.
You can prevent this by using an autoresponder to follow up on your leads. When you do, your contacts will continue to be satisfied.
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