Low open rate with Getresponse, suggestions?

by jrenzi
8 replies
Here's the thing. I have an email list of 3600 subscribers with GetResponse, that I've been building since 2009. They receive follow up messages for 60 days, so that means that after that they become inactive. Usually the open rate during this sequence is around 70%.

During the last month I decided to reactivate this list, sending broadcast emails to everyone that was beyond the 60 days, that means 3500 contacts or so.

I've sent several emails during this period of 30 days, and the average open rate for each email is around 700 opened emails, that is around 20%, which I find pretty low. I was expecting a lower open rate than the autoresponder, since I haven't sent any email to these people for a couple of years in some cases. However, I didn't think it would be that low.

A friend who's more experienced than me in IM suggested to switch to aweber. He stated that when he did this move from getresponse to aweber his open rate doubled.

So my question is: do you think that moving to aweber would be a good idea, or this deliverability rate is expected in my situation?

Would love to hear the experience from those who have switched from getresponse to aweber.
#aweber #email marketing #getresponse #getresponse or aweber #low #open #open rate #rate #suggestions
  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by jrenzi View Post

    I haven't sent any email to these people for a couple of years in some cases. However, I didn't think it would be that low.
    I haven't switched from GetResponse to Aweber and can't therefore answer the substantive part of your question, but I would honestly have expected it to be at least that low. On those facts and figures, it would never have occured to me at all that you might be looking at some sort of "GetResponse deliverability problem". That sounds like an "unresponsive list" problem, to me - and not at all surprising after all that time, surely?
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  • Profile picture of the author obin94
    I think the fact that you stopped emailing them is why they aren't opening the emails. You need to constantly be building and sustaining the relationship with you list. After all that time they have forgotten about you and no longer care what you have to say.
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  • Profile picture of the author jrenzi
    Alexa, as I said, I expected to be lower but not that low, and since my friend made this recommendation just want to hear what more experienced people think.

    I'm in the same line of thought as you, but maybe moving to aweber might be a good move.
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  • Profile picture of the author marketinguk
    Originally Posted by jrenzi View Post

    I've sent several emails during this period of 30 days, and the average open rate for each email is around 700 opened emails, that is around 20%, which I find pretty low. I was expecting a lower open rate than the autoresponder, since I haven't sent any email to these people for a couple of years in some cases. However, I didn't think it would be that low.
    I have used both Aweber and Get Response in the past although presently I am comfortable with Get Response. I would say like Alexa has said that the problem you have is an unresponsive list. I mean you say that some you haven't kept in contact with for around 2 years, which I can tell you is a long time, even months can be too long nevermind years.

    I would honestly say from my experience so far that Get Response's deliverability rate is very marginally weaker than weber's, but certainly isn't the problem here. This is actually a useful lesson for others here, that if you allow your relationship with clients/customers to go cold it can be pretty hard to resusciate!

    Joel
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  • Profile picture of the author jrenzi
    Ok so I think we're all in the same page here. Maybe I'll try to segment the list to those that don't open the emails and try resending to them with a different subject to "wake them up".
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    • Profile picture of the author ryant21
      Originally Posted by jrenzi View Post

      Ok so I think we're all in the same page here. Maybe I'll try to segment the list to those that don't open the emails and try resending to them with a different subject to "wake them up".
      Yes, you can try to "resurrect" the dead by giving them a catchy powerful subject and slowly bring back your relationship with your subs! I believe you can save some of them in my past experience.
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  • Profile picture of the author lotsofsnow
    As soon as you stop mailing on a regular basis your subscribers tend to forget you.
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  • Profile picture of the author brentb
    Use better subject lines... Try something completely different in the subject. Also consider changing up your From line. ie yoursite.com to John IM Guru or vice versa. Be creative.

    I would immediately be taking all openers and putting them in one list, now you know what is working with them but the people who have not opened still, keep trying different things, don't be afraid to experiment to them. Whats the worst that can happen? I will tell you, someone who never opened one of your emails will unsubscribe... no loss there. But you have the potential to get them to open and stay... so everything to gain.
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