Lead Generation Web Sites and Autoresponder Follow-up



by Miguel Pancardo


So you know the importance of lead generation and you realize you need those leads to stay afloat online. But what about AFTER the lead is generated? What do you do with it? What is the next step? Let's look at those questions right now.

Following up with a new lead is about as important as fertilizer is to a farmer's crops. It helps the growth process. That person on the other end of the computer needs to know that you are real and trustworthy. So you don't want to be aloof and remain totally anonymous. In other words, you need to follow up with that contact immediately.

The most effective way to follow up with new leads immediately is by using an autoresponder. This piece of software will help you keep up with your new prospects, manage your older contacts and maintain regular contact with both. The follow-up process is especially crucial when the relationship with a contact is first beginning. And it is a relationship, because you are each building faith and trust in the other.

As soon as someone signs up for your mailing list, an autoresponder immediately sends an email welcoming the new lead or thanking them for joining. The autoresponder can be set to send as many messages as you need at the intervals you determine are appropriate. While the initial message should be sent right away, later messages can be sent at the intervals you set in the autoresponder. These intervals can be daily, weekly or any other time period you select.

Subsequent messages will walk them through your system, offering other items along the way. Since you probably gave them something for free at the outset, you have already set a precedent that you do what you say you will do. As you bring the prospect along, you can sell them other low end products and build their trust as you do. At the end of this process, you will then offer your main money maker and hopefully they will buy it.

An autoresponder can do several other things in addition to helping in this way. If you receive a lot of inquiries and signups, an autoresponder will organize your prospect list and tell you precisely how far every person has progressed through the process. An autoresponder will also let you send individual messages called "announcements" whenever you think it's appropriate. For example, you might get a great deal on an especially good product. You can offer it to your prospects by sending an announcement.

One thing with email marketing of this sort is the danger of SPAM reports. Autoresponder software guards against that with an "unsubscribe" option embedded in every message. If the customer has the option to leave at any time and they don't, then the emails you send are not SPAM; they are expected and you are safe from that, so it's like insurance, in manner of speaking.

Here's the bottom line: you need to follow up with your prospects and maintain contact at all times. Autoresponder software will do this for you easily and automatically. Customers actually expect to hear from you periodically. If you don't contact them from time to time, they'll think you're useless and will opt out of your contact list without even saying goodbye.

Use auto responders for follow up and you will always have a satisfied list of buyers on a constant basis.




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