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List Builders: How long is your autoresponder sequence?

by rmolina88
21 replies
Hey fellow list builders, I was wondering how long your autoresponder sequences for your lists are.

My current one goes for about half a year and I only email 2-3 times a week with a mix of tips, freebies, and offers which has been my main source of income. I'm using solo ads and swaps to constantly gain new subscribers.

How about everyone else?
#autoresponder #builders #list #long #sequence
  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    My longest one is well over 200 messages, now. I add them indefinitely to all my main lists. (I write articles anyway, and I recycle a lot of the "new articles" as additional messages - it's not much extra work).

    I avoid broadcasts, for the reasons explained here: List Building Question, Do You Broadcast Over the Top Of Your Autoresponder Sequence ??

    Different people do things slightly differently.

    I'm willing to keep sending emails for ever, in principle. I'd even rather recycle old ones than just stop. (I do segregate lists as much as I can, too, so it's not quite as simple as I'm making it sound).

    I saw a highly experienced Warrior, whose opinions I always respect, mentioning casually in another thread, a few days ago, that he thought one of the key factors involved in making a living from it was "having at least a year's supply of messages in your autoresponder", and I don't disagree at all. (Others may, though!).
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    • Profile picture of the author agmccall
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      My longest one is well over 200 messages, now. I add them indefinitely to all my main lists. (I write articles anyway, and I recycle a lot of the "new articles" as additional messages - it's not much extra work).
      How do you keep track of all the offers that might be in the emails. For example: An offer might be in email #73 and is no longer available How do you remember that A. You have that offer somewhere and B. Where you have it.

      Thank You

      al
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Shook
    In my main market, 2 or 3 times a week for a year, I do broadcast regularly, but with different kind of content than what is my my A/R messages. That combo has worked pretty well for me.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      I was going to say about 4.75 inches on this screen, but I won't...

      About the longest one I completed was 52 weekly newsletters, all original evergreen information and products that promised to be around for awhile. Some of them broke that promise, but that's another story.

      When someone reached the end of the 52 weeks, the script automatically reset them to the first newsletter in the sequence. I ran that particular list for almost four years, and only one person ever noticed the repeats. Oops, I mean "encore performances"...
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  • Profile picture of the author M42
    Once per week for 10 weeks with top quality, helpful content and after that only when there is important news or offers up to a maximum of once per month. I have found that the less you mail, the better response (sales!) you get. Too many and you'll be spam boxed. This is just what I do. Others may be different. Hope this helps
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  • Profile picture of the author rmolina88
    Thanks for all the advice, everyone!

    I know there's a lot of advice that says to email every day, even 2 times a day, but I would personally get annoyed by it, although I'm sure it's working for some other people.
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  • Profile picture of the author kencart
    I have set in sequence an introductory 12 emails for all new subscribers. After that I broadcast after every two days indefinately excluding Sundays. I switch from offers to free stuff in between the emails.
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    • Profile picture of the author KLinfluence
      Originally Posted by kencart View Post

      I have set in sequence an introductory 12 emails for all new subscribers. After that I broadcast after every two days indefinately excluding Sundays. I switch from offers to free stuff in between the emails.

      What do your emails/broadcasts consist of though? For example, You create a free product. buy solo ads to get people to optin with that free product, Then get a autoresponder sequence ready of emails,freebies and products related to your original free product or just Internet Marketing in general? Also, are you just finding products and helpful stuff to send them. Just trying to understand the "Overall" Process.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve L
    If you create a really long autoresponder series, you better be sure all the info is kept up to date. It's really easy for a bit of info to become outdated, for this reason I'm trying to keep my autoresponder series tight. This makes it easy for me to change if I need to update the info.

    I then use broadcast emails for timely info and offers.

    Just be sure to always test, you never know what will work in your business.
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  • Profile picture of the author kencart
    @KLinfluence
    Yes, set up a free offer to optin (you do not have to create one, buy from mmr sites).
    The initial 12 emails are mostly free stuff and info related to the niche the free optin offer was based.
    What has worked for me is to send the "buy offer" email after two enticing free offer/info to get them in a "must have must buy" mode.
    Offers must be high converting and freebies must offer great value as they help build a good relationship of trust.
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    • Profile picture of the author Nightengale
      For now, I just have one autoresponder that confirms they've subscribed and delivers the freebies.

      Then, I send out a weekly e-mail newsletter that I wrote THAT week (usually just finished it minutes before sending it).

      I've only been doing it a few months and have missed some weeks, so it hasn't been much. (Lack of consistency is one of my flaws.)

      I need to tweak my one autoresponder and maybe add one or two more. But my weekly newsletter is the main communication and I write a couple of articles for it each week. I'm slowly getting into a rhythm.

      So far, I just send the one newsletter each week. I've also just added a "weekly inspiration" e-mail which is nothing more than a quote in infographic form. (Just sending one e-mail a week isn't enough and I needed a "non-spammy" way to stay in touch more.)

      I'm in the middle of creating a new product though, so I'll actually be sending some commercial solo messages to my list soon. Though I stay in touch each week, I haven't actually sent commercial messages since growing the bulk of my list. It will be my first real test of sales to my list. Guess we'll see how good my relationship-building has been!

      Michelle
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    • Profile picture of the author KLinfluence
      Originally Posted by kencart View Post

      @KLinfluence
      Yes, set up a free offer to optin (you do not have to create one, buy from mmr sites).
      The initial 12 emails are mostly free stuff and info related to the niche the free optin offer was based.
      What has worked for me is to send the "buy offer" email after two enticing free offer/info to get them in a "must have must buy" mode.
      Offers must be high converting and freebies must offer great value as they help build a good relationship of trust.
      Thanks Ken, Quick question though, MMR site?... clarification please.
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  • Profile picture of the author Resale Rights Ninja
    Mine is like a month. I prefer to do broadcasts, and I only do them when I have something really special for my list.
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    • Profile picture of the author professorrosado
      What we use at mycbhmail is a never ending monthly newsletter email full of relevant niche affiliate links.

      Between mailings, we only send emails at each update we have. Members are encouraged to send emails at least every three to four days with content and we provide a free resources page for email subscribers to come to for downloads and other information. There they'll find a video of the latest network wide offer with the email account holder's affiliate links with the call to action.

      Even when our members forget to send an email or run out of their own email series, our emails still continue on with that member's affiliate links still making sales. The great thing about this service is that it also creates niche-based squeeze pages that continually produce new emails and a video series that sells products and services as part of its step by step instruction to viewers.

      I believe that the question should be.... how long should you keep your email list engaged with you? And I agree with Alexa in that it should never end.
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  • Profile picture of the author paul nicholls
    I usually have my prospect list follow up around 3 - 6 weeks but every list is different

    A lot of it depends on what niche you are in, because things, trends and tools change in some niches so having a certain email follow series may not be as relevant in say 6 - 12 months time

    If you are building buyers lists then i would def make sure you follow up with them at least a few days after there purchase

    I have been doing this for a long time and it works well for me

    Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author VinnieVegas
    A seven day sequence, a bonus module on the eighth day, then an email every 5-6 days with a tio, for a year.

    Occasional broadcast of special offers, sales, or topical stuff, no more than once a month.

    For my sequence, I offer brief tips in a self contained email 2/3 of the time, and a teaser & link back to my site the other 1/3 of the time (an article).

    How do others mix up the self contained emails vs teases back to your site? Of course, I link in the signature of ever email.
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  • Profile picture of the author tonyt3000
    mines is 4 per week for 6 months and is different stuff is content for the subscriber some affiliate offers and sometimes gift for the subscriber...
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