Autoresponder sequence for offline clients?

8 replies
Do you use an email autoresponder sequence with your offline clients?

I have an opt-in form on my blog for my local consulting business and wondered what kind of autoresponder sequence I should use. It just seems that whatever I think of putting in an autoresponder is already a post on my blog.

How many? How often? What about? What do you do?
#autoresponder #clients #offline #sequence
  • Profile picture of the author vndnbrgj
    This all depends upon what you are offering....
    Did they join your opt-in on a general squeeze page or a targeted one?
    If they joined a targeted opt-in, say about Google Places or Social Media or Website Design.... then you offer a mailer regarding just that service.
    Offer advice, and the importance of such services, as well as how they can do it themselves if they so choose.
    In doing this you will position yourself as an expert to your subscribers, making you a go to guy for said services.
    It is said that it requires 5-7 contacts with a subscriber to make a sale. Although this all depends upon the messages you send.

    If your sign up form was on a general page, I don't know what to tell you. I suppose focus on your entry level product or service. Something that will allow you to upsell other products or services to them down the road. I don't offer a general opt-in. I find it better to have more targeted subscribers.

    Whatever you do, don't offer all of your services at one time. This could be overwhelming to some, and cause confusion.
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    • Profile picture of the author netkid
      I would touch base on the general things offline consultants do for them. I would start with an autoresponder message about Google Places, and if they are interested, then make a link to contact you to set up doing that for them. Then, bam...you have a Google Places job!

      The next couple of messages should touch base on backlink services, online promotions, SMS services, Facebook Fan page consultation or whatever you have in the way of your services. Explain briefly the "what" and sell the "how" in your messages. Always end the autoresponders with a direct phone number to you or some way of getting in touch with you for more info on how specifically you can help them on the topic of your autoresponder message.

      Should be simple to plan and implement. You just have to think in terms of ending your autoresponders with "call to action" of phone call backs to you. Object here for offliner autoresponders is to make YOUR phone ring!

      Hope that helps,

      Bruce
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  • Profile picture of the author RaptorGabe
    Start with Google Places (see my sig for Free How To) and then slowly upgrade them from there. There is also NOTHING wrong with repeating stuff in your autoresponder that you have on your blog. Think about it, they most likely haven't read everything on there so repeating it to them can make sure they get it. Just make sure its good content though. You can also through in some "expensive" PLR that you got them for free
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  • Profile picture of the author cbest
    Depending on the initial approach a few (not overwhelming) stats abt who is online... 500+ million users on FB or there are more mobile users on the internet than PC/macs if you're addressing mobile services..
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    Offline/Online Coupon App free coupon for your clients coming soon.

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  • Profile picture of the author briancassingena
    Originally Posted by Intermission View Post

    Do you use an email autoresponder sequence with your offline clients?

    I have an opt-in form on my blog for my local consulting business and wondered what kind of autoresponder sequence I should use. It just seems that whatever I think of putting in an autoresponder is already a post on my blog.

    How many? How often? What about? What do you do?
    For a client in a consulting business, I would advise doing it a bit differently. See, there's a couple of kinds of autoresponders - the sequenced mailing type, where you are sending information, like maybe an e-course, related to the main product or industry you're in.

    But I think you might benefit more from a more personal approach. The autoresponder I use on my blog only has 2 automated messages - one for the double opt in, one for the download link for the videos. I take a more personal approach here where I email the list a few times a month, for a blog post, etc.

    To be honest many people can now see right through an autoresponder series, it's not a problem but it doesn't build a relationship as much which is what you'll need to get more consulting clients.

    Of course this means sitting down and writing emails and sending them to your list, but if it means one more consulting client than you would otherwise have had, it's worth it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bayo
    Originally Posted by Intermission View Post

    Do you use an email autoresponder sequence with your offline clients?

    I have an opt-in form on my blog for my local consulting business and wondered what kind of autoresponder sequence I should use. It just seems that whatever I think of putting in an autoresponder is already a post on my blog.

    How many? How often? What about? What do you do?
    Q1. Yes.

    Q2. If you decide to use one, your sequence should be determined by your target market and what you are aiming to achieve. In other words, if I was to sign-up for your auto-responder sequence, what would the end result be?

    This is what I did when I created my auto-responders content in the early days and is also what I do for new target markets to this day.

    For example, my Chiropractor prospects get a different set from my existing Chiropractor clients, Dentist prospects get a different set from those who are current paying clients, the same applies to my CPA/Accountants and so on.

    Content on blog same as AR content

    There's nothing wrong with that.

    Here's something you can do and that I do to create information products for specific groups.

    Use the information and re-purpose it into information products that fill in the missing pieces in the puzzles that your target business owners are looking for.

    The mistake many people make is that they try and provide wholesale solutions...to problems local business owners are either not aware they have, are not looking for solutions to right now or just don't care about.

    Hope this helps

    Bayo
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  • Profile picture of the author Intermission
    Some really great feedback here.

    My blog is about all things web design/seo/facebook/google/email mkt that would be of benefit to a local business. No one is on my list yet (site goes live tomorrow), so I won't be segregating the list. I wanted about 7-10 sequence emails that kept me foremost in the customers/potential customers mind and makes me the 'go-to' person for all things internet related. I am giving a freebie as incentive to opt-in.

    I guess I will just make the sequences sell my services, but not as 'services', rather as important factors to keep in mind for their 'web presence'.

    I'm not doing a lot of hard marketing here. I am hoping most of my business will eventually be referral. I'm not that much of a 'salesperson', but I love helping local businesses 'get it' when it comes to business online.

    So obviously there is no one particular way ya'll are doing this. That makes me more relaxed about it, but now I have to go think this all through ...

    Thanks for your help.
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    • Profile picture of the author netkid
      The great thing about being your "own boss" as an IM'r is that sky's the limit on what you can do and how you do it. There is no one way or one method to market online. Try taking what you are learning and do some of your own "tweaks" to get success. No one yet has written the ultimate step by step book on what you should do.

      That is beauty of it...there is no "wrong" or "right" way to do it! One thing is a constant here, keep testing!!
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