What are Autoresponders and Why do You Need Them?
What are Autoresponders and Why do You Need Them
?
When you are setting up a JV marketing campaign, suddenly an entire world of Internet marketing strategies is opened up to you. While it can be beneficial to have so many marketing tools at your immediate disposal, it can also be quite intimidating to know which ones will bring you the biggest bang for your marketing buck. This article will explain one such marketing tool, the autoresponder, and why it is an essential element in building an effective online business.What is an Autoresponder?Simply put, an autoresponder is a computer program that automatically answers emails that are sent to it. However, the idea of an autoresponder can become rather complex, depending on what you want your autoresponder to do. In addition to basic responses, an autoresponder can also shoulder the following responsibilities:- Manage subscriptions for newsletters or promotion announcements- Track the people who open your emails and categorize them once you get up to a certain number- Build communication with current and prospective customers- Broadcast messages to your subscribersAs you can see, an autoresponder handles much of the work you might normally do yourself to contact customers. However, this computer program can reach many more customers in a fraction of the time than you can do yourself, making it well worth the cost of a program. In fact, most Internet marketers claim that the use of autoresponders can boost sales from a mere 3% of potential buyers to as much as 30% in some cases.The Importance of Follow-UpThe reason for increased sales through the use of an autoresponder is actually quite simple - follow-up. When you follow up with potential customers, you are more likely to get the sale than if you leave them hanging. Potential customers who don't receive follow-up contact from you may never buy because:- Potential customers rarely buy after their first contact with a business
- Some potential customers may not be able to afford a purchase right away
- Many may be in the process of "shopping around" and aren't ready to make a purchase decisionWhen your potential customers receive follow-up information from you, you are building brand recognition and credibility for yourself. You are also reminding customers who may have become busy with other projects that you are still happy to get their business. This is where an autoresponder can nab sales that you might otherwise miss without some sort of follow-up to potential customers who have contacted your website.Autoresponders do the work for you, so you can rest assured that customers are receiving the proper contact without the need for you to pour many hours into the process. The automation allows you to focus on other important responsibilities of your business. You save time on sending emails, managing subscriber lists and entering new names and contact information onto your lists. The autoresponder program can handle these tasks for you so you can move on with the important task of managing your company. In addition to the timesavings, the autoresponder will handle tasks with better precision so you can rest assured all potential customers are reached efficiently and consistently.