15 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
15 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Email marketing dilemma - looking for advice

by John Romaine
12 replies
Ive got something that's bothering me and I'm hopeful that someone here may be able to offer some advice and or suggestions.

At present I'm using Aweber to process and deliver all of my email marketing.

For each site, I have two separate lists ...

A) Buyers - those who have purchased my product
B) Non buyers - those that have downloaded my free sample and haven't purchased.

My two lists, might be something like ....

product_buyer (for the buyers)

and...

product_nonbuyer

(I should mention at this point that those on the product_nonbuyer list are automatically removed from that list and added to product_buyer upon purchase)

Now for those on the product_nonbuyer list, I have my emails scheduled to go out every 3rd day (over a period of about 3 months) in the following format...

Email 1 - helpful information (direct user back to my site to read an article)
Email 2 - helpful information (direct user back to my site to read an article)
Email 3 - OFFER (promote my own product or an affiliate offer)

...repeat

Email 4 - helpful information (direct user back to my site to read an article)
Email 5 - helpful information (direct user back to my site to read an article)
Email 6 - OFFER (promote my own product or an affiliate offer)

...and so on

Now this is where Im a bit confused.

I essentially want to remain engaged (moreso) with my buyers, as these people are already proven buyers that have trusted me to go ahead and make a purchase, and its these people that I should be interacting with more often.

However, my question is, how can I offer them the same useful information as I have above, as I do with my non buyers, as they may have "already read it"

To clarify...

Lets say that someone is on my list for 2 months. They receive and read my emails during that time - THEN they decide to buy.

They then shift from product_nonbuyer to product_buyer.

I again want to make offers to these people in the back end, but i ALSO want to provide them with useful information. Ideally it would be great to send them to the articles onsite, but the issue is that they may have already read those articles whilst on the other list.

Whats the solution here???

Im stuck for a solution.
#advice #dilemma #email #marketing
  • Profile picture of the author fin
    If they've bought your product, assuming it's the seo-business one, can you not send them specific information related to the actual product, such as more in-depth stuff on getting the best out of it.

    Maybe also more in-depth stuff about running a business as well, if they are newbies.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6116473].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author winsoar
    Just beware with Aweber the prices can skyrocket without warning. Why don't you move your list to a self hosted solution so you don't have to pay monthly fees?
    Signature

    Visit my official blog: James Winsoar and learn how to generate 30+ new FREE leads a day on auto-pilot!

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6116586].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author legalbear
    Originally Posted by John Romaine View Post

    However, my question is, how can I offer them the same useful information as I have above, as I do with my non buyers, as they may have "already read it"
    When I came to the above I had a comment to make as if I was your customer:

    1. Everybody I'm a customer of sends me lots of emails, and, even though I know there's good stuff in there I never read them.

    2. It pisses me off when someone merely says, "Check out this link." I don't care I can do it for FREE, I'm not a Pavlovian dog that goes around clicking every link someone tells me to check out.

    3. It pisses me off when someone tries to get me to click the link with a bunch of hype; this will change your life; everyone who does what is at this link makes bgillion dollars, etc.

    4. What I like: Since I'm a buyer who might have seen it, I like to be asked had you seen this blog post or video about... Followed by a brief explanation as to why that post or video is there and what is in it for me.

    5. I also like to be told, this article is a 1000 words, or, this video is 8 minutes long so I can decide if I can go there right now and read or watch it.

    6. Of course, you probably already thought about the issue that subject lines should be different for buyers than non-buyers. I see subject lines as a brief sales pitch on why to open the email in the first place. Subject lines should also be substantive as a way of assisting in the decision making process of whether to read or not. A buyer should be able to tell from the subject line whether he already read that or not.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6116661].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    I would have assumed the free/helpful information you are giving to the non-buyers list is related to the first product you are trying to sell them.

    Once they purchase you would not want to be sending them that same information. You would now want to be sending them free/helpful information building up to a second product... and so on.

    In short I don't think the free information you are giving before the purchase and after the purchase should be the same, whether the purchaser has seen it before or not. That to me should be irrelevant.
    Signature

    .


    .

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6116843].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Nixgan
    Just keep your emails friendly and interesting. You can write everyday about the weather, current happenings, travel photos, bizarre food taken even political opinions. Just keep them in the buddy buddy style email and when you want to sell something, then you add in something at the end.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6121947].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mike Hill
    Try some videos for your buyers specifically related to the product. Reference different segments of your product they have purchased and go more in depth with helpful information.

    Also, on a side note...

    If you want to try and convert more people into buyers try delivering your information in different formats like one week offer a video case study or other helpful tips via video. Then try a conversation style interview and deliver it via audio.

    Engage your audience in many different forms using as many of our senses as possible.

    PS. Don't be afraid to share small pieces of what you are up to now, with your audience.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6122058].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Asher
    Hey John,

    That's the problem when it comes to automation =)
    But I think it's okay since good information is worth
    repeating.

    But that's my opinion. If you gave your weight in value
    for those posts, I don't see why you shouldn't bring
    them back there again.

    People can send repeat messages for sales messages
    to "get" but they don't send repeat messages for value
    to "give".

    And these are the same people who keep saying over
    and over again to build a relationship with the list...

    How do you build without giving?

    Anyway, my post may not give you the answers you
    need but you should consider contacting DrunkenMonkey
    since he seems to have experience in what you're
    looking for.

    Alternatively, you can give more value just by changing
    the format of your posts. If it was in text only, maybe
    consider text AND video.

    Asher
    Signature
    Asher Aw
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6122087].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author MikeTucker
    John,
    When you check your buyers, do you see
    if they are actually reading all of your emails?
    In my experience they still miss a lot of the
    good ones.

    Either way, it doesn't hurt for them to see
    the same information again, often times it
    serves as a good refresher and reinforces
    the knowledge for them-- and their belief
    in you.

    ...This is the original reason I switched
    from Aweber to Infusionsoft, and I'm looking
    at my stats right now and it just doesn't
    seem to matter that much all when it
    comes to getting my emails read and
    making sales.
    Signature

    The bartender says: "We don't serve faster-than-light particles here."

    ...A tachyon enters a bar.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6122394].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
      Hey guys, sorry its taken me a while to respond. Been running around in circles the past 24 hours because most of my sites have been slammed.

      Originally Posted by fin View Post

      If they've bought your product, assuming it's the seo-business one, can you not send them specific information related to the actual product, such as more in-depth stuff on getting the best out of it.
      Sure can. This is great advice. Ive already got a few ideas here. Thanks.

      Originally Posted by drunkenmonkey View Post

      I know exactly what your trying to do
      Thanks dude. I was concerned that my post may not make sense! It sure is a bit frustrating.

      Originally Posted by legalbear View Post

      2. It pisses me off when someone merely says, "Check out this link." I don't care I can do it for FREE, I'm not a Pavlovian dog that goes around clicking every link someone tells me to check out.
      It pisses me off too, which is why I dont do it.

      Originally Posted by WillR View Post

      I would have assumed the free/helpful information you are giving to the non-buyers list is related to the first product you are trying to sell them.

      Once they purchase you would not want to be sending them that same information. You would now want to be sending them free/helpful information building up to a second product... and so on.
      Hi Will.

      Not necessarily mate. I want to value add as much as possible to my buyers. I dont want to start pushing offer after offer via email, otherwise Ill lose them. This is why Im trying to figure out how best to send them information that they *may* have already read. Which brings me to this very question.

      Originally Posted by MikeTucker View Post

      John,
      When you check your buyers, do you see
      if they are actually reading all of your emails?
      In my experience they still miss a lot of the
      good ones.
      Mike, thanks mate. How on earth (apart from open rates within Aweber) would I know if a particular user has read one of my emails? :confused:
      Signature

      BS free SEO services, training and advice - SEO Point

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6123269].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author helisell
        1. Build your follow up emails so that the campaign lasts for 2 years. (obviously you need to keep adding fresh info)

        2. Don't remove buyers from the original list just allow them to keep getting the info from the original list follow up sequence PLUS another follow up sequence for the buyers.

        3 Consider having a 'premier list' of buyers AND non buyers where you'll send them extra special info/offers. Get them to opt in to this list with some good free info. This then becomes your 'super responder' list.

        In aweber you can search your lists and find the 'didn't open email xyz' and segment them.

        You'll find that there are many of these that will open and respond if you send 2 or 3 times.
        Signature

        Making Calls To Sell Something? What are you actually saying?
        Is there any room for improvement? Want to find out?

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6123376].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
          Originally Posted by helisell View Post

          2. Don't remove buyers from the original list just allow them to keep getting the info from the original list follow up sequence PLUS another follow up sequence for the buyers.
          Hmm, this *seems* to make sense.

          My only concern is that they'll then be on two lists, which might mean multiple emails coming in from me (which might piss them off) :confused:
          Signature

          BS free SEO services, training and advice - SEO Point

          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6432172].message }}

Trending Topics