Email is the Net's most powerful marketing tool. And
autoresponders are the best idea yet for marketing with email. There is an old saying that the first ad rarely sells. You have
to put your product, service, or idea in front of a prospect
several times before she buys.
Autoresponders are designed specifically to get your message back
to the same prospect over and over. That's why most
autoresponder packages come in groups of 7 messages--from the 7
message marketing rule that has been the rule in advertising
since our grandparents were in diapers.
But what do you say in your 7 messages? We've written
autoresponder series for hundreds of customers. Here is one
method that always works.
This method is called REMIND 'EM. People don't read your sales
letter as carefully as you think. They tend to skim. They read
the first message, but miss the second and third message. The
prospect may not tune in again until message five. It's so easy
for people to completely miss your main points intended to lead to
a sale.
It's important to *repeat* your main message over and over. Say
it once, twice, three times in your first message. Say your main
message in a different way in the second message. Re-cap your
main point again in the third message. That way, people who
aren't paying attention still get your important ideas.
Here's an example of how the "remind 'em" formula works for a 7
letter series promoting personal security products.
Message (1) The world is a dangerous place. You need new innovative
security products to insure your protection.
Message (2) More details on how and why the world is a dangerous place.
List places or situations that are especially threatening.
Message (3) Recap how the world is a dangerous place. Give more details
on the key new security products that have come out.
Now start the middle section of messages. Note how they become
more instructional telling people how to use the products.
Message (4) Protect yourself from the dangerous world with Product A.
Here's how to use Product A. Here's why you would use it.
Here's where to use it.
Message (5) Protect yourself with Product B. Here's how to use it.
Here's what happy customers say about it. Tell a hair raising
story of how Product B saved a customer's life.
Now comes the wrap-up and reminder, especially important for
people who never got around to reading your earlier messages.
Message (6) Go back to your main sales letter used in numbers 1 and 2.
Start all over reviewing your main points and highlighting your
most popular products.
Message (7) This is the final follow-up email. I usually have it come
two weeks to one month after message 6. It's designed to scoop
up all the people who weren't ready to buy in the beginning, but
may be ready to buy now.
It can start with "For the past few weeks I've been sending you
important information about how to protect yourself in threatening
situations. I know you are busy and may not have had time to
consider how these products could improve your life and
confidence." At that point, you again review your main points.
Repetition is the key to advertising success. Find creative ways
to keep the main message going week after week and you will have
as many customers as you can handle. Busy prospects simply need
time for your message to sink in. As we used to say when I
worked in media, it's just when you and your staff are sick to
death of a commercial that the audience is just beginning to
notice it.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- About The Author =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Kevin Nunley provides marketing advice and copy writing for businesses and organizations. Read all his money-saving marketing tips at http://DrNunley.com/. Reach him from his site via email.
