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You Don't HAVE To Load Up An Autoresponder

by Zeus66
10 replies
I may be wrong about this, but I think there's a common misconception "out there" that you have to have your autoresponder pre-loaded with at least a few messages before you start building your list. That's not true, at least not always. For example, if you already know a lot about the topics relating to your list, you can add messages on the fly. I often do this at Aweber. I'll start adding subscribers when I literally only have the 1st "welcome" message loaded up. Then I wing it. It might sound kind of lazy or shoddy, but it's really not. OK, maybe it is a little lazy, but the quality doesn't drop even a little - again, as long as you know that niche well.

I guess the reason I started this thread is to inspire all you wannabe list marketers not to delay starting to build your list just because you worry that you don't have a bunch of follow-up emails all set up and ready to go out. Better to get that list going and add on the fly, as long as you have lots to say on the subject.

One caveat, though, about monetizing your list. Be sure you DO have at least one or two of your own (or good affiliate) products to offer the list. That's where you don't want to get caught with your cyberpants down. And make sure whatever you used to get people to subscribe is very closely related to what you ask them to buy later on. That's crucial! That might be the most common newbie list builder mistake.

Staying on topic = higher conversion rate

John
#autoresponder #load
  • Profile picture of the author Loren Woirhaye
    I do the same thing. I'll send out broadcasts though, and keep them
    all as my "swipes" which can later be edited and turned into
    Autoresponders.

    If I waited to start growing the list until I'd come up with ten decent
    AR messages and written and nitpicked them, I'd almost never start
    a new list.
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    • Profile picture of the author Zeus66
      Originally Posted by Loren Woirhaye View Post

      I do the same thing. I'll send out broadcasts though, and keep them
      all as my "swipes" which can later be edited and turned into
      Autoresponders.

      If I waited to start growing the list until I'd come up with ten decent
      AR messages and written and nitpicked them, I'd almost never start
      a new list.
      Exactly! It can really make getting started that much harder if you assume you HAVE to come up with 10 or 20 follow-up messages. I say remove that obstacle.

      And I don't know how other systems work, but with Aweber, you can just add follow-ups as you go. Anyone who hasn't gotten a message from you lately will get it like it's a broadcast. And your newer subscribers will get it on the assigned day. That's very convenient if you do things this way!
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  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Originally Posted by Zeus66 View Post

    I may be wrong about this, but I think there's a common misconception "out there" that you have to have your autoresponder pre-loaded with at least a few messages before you start building your list.
    Three of my lists have exactly two messages on them: "Please confirm" and "welcome to the list."

    Everything else is broadcast on the fly.

    Seriously, build a list, even if you have no followups to schedule. Just capture and get the optin.
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  • Profile picture of the author paulie888
    I totally concur. Don't let the classic "I need to preload my autoresponder with 1,000 messages first before I can actually start marketing" excuse keep you from building your list. If you keep thinking like that, you'll never get off the ground - I know people who will spout off every excuse under the sun in an attempt to stave off their listbuilding efforts. Please don't let that be you!
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  • Profile picture of the author KraftyKyle
    I'd say it's good to have at least three or four messages prepared for your list. Then you can go on the fly from there. It really does depend on the niche though.
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  • Profile picture of the author bretski
    I do believe that if you add a follow-up to your autoresponder it will send out like a broadcast...then you are sure that anyone that joins your list after you send out the broadcast gets your message....unless it's something moronic like a series of messages for some huge bogus hyped up launch that you're whoring yourself out for.:rolleyes:
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    • Profile picture of the author Matt Morgan
      Whats the longest time period you guys have had from the start of building a particular list to the time you preload your autoresponder with messages? (even just 3-5).

      Mine was some months, but luckily the list subscribers still remembered where they subscribed from lol.
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      • Profile picture of the author Zeus66
        Originally Posted by Matt Morgan View Post

        Whats the longest time period you guys have had from the start of building a particular list to the time you preload your autoresponder with messages? (even just 3-5).

        Mine was some months, but luckily the list subscribers still remembered where they subscribed from lol.
        Yeah, a "stale" list is a risk. You might get a serious number of spam complaints, which could put your account at risk. I don't wait more than maybe 10 days ever between messages. Also, it's good to train your list members to expect your emails on a somewhat regular schedule. Get them used to seeing you in their inbox.

        John
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        • Profile picture of the author Matt Morgan
          Originally Posted by Zeus66 View Post

          Yeah, a "stale" list is a risk. You might get a serious number of spam complaints, which could put your account at risk. I don't wait more than maybe 10 days ever between messages. Also, it's good to train your list members to expect your emails on a somewhat regular schedule. Get them used to seeing you in their inbox.

          John
          Oh, I meant from the time you build your first subscribers to the time you upload your very first Autoresponder message, and get them uploaded on your email broadcaste service. (not the spacing between the email messages themselves)
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          • Profile picture of the author Zeus66
            Originally Posted by Matt Morgan View Post

            Oh, I meant from the time you build your first subscribers to the time you upload your very first Autoresponder message, and get them uploaded on your email broadcaste service. (not the spacing between the email messages themselves)
            Ooh, well you don't want to wait very long at all, in my opinion. At least get them that 1st message immediately. That's a must. Then I would not personally ever wait more than a few days at most before sending the first true follow-up. They will probably by then have read or seen whatever you used to get them to sign up to your list. As long as it was good stuff, you have someone who is about as receptive as they'll ever be to building trust with them.
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