Autoresponders can be a great way to interact with customers in a hands-free way. It is ideally suited to providing visitors with a specialized ecource or newsletter. In fact, online businesses are finding autoresponders a wonderful marketing tool.
Many businesses use an autoresponder on email inquiries. However, there is a problem that can develop when using standard email autoresponders. The premise is that the customer can receive an immediate response letting them know the email has been received.
Often that email looks something like this...
"Thank you for contacting the XYZ Company. This is an automated response, but be assured we will respond to your email.
"We appreciate your contact and will be contacting you shortly."
This sounds pretty good, doesn't it? However, the problem comes when follow through on email inquiries are lax or a response is delayed.
If a customer (or potential customer) took the time to contact you they are looking for answers - now. If you don't respond in a timely manner they will look elsewhere.
We've all received those autoresponder-generated emails. In some cases that original generic email is the only one the company ever sends. This gives a strongly negative impression of the company.
If you have use autoresponders for email please consider evaluating how effective you are at making sure those emails are responded to once the automated email is sent.
Customers often become customers based on their belief that you view them as something more than simply a means to derive an income. Does your email response allow those customers to envision you as the caring business owner you are or as someone unresponsive to their questions and concerns?
Follow through is a difficult proposition for any company, but it is vital when it affects the ongoing partnership you have with your customers.
Real estate businesses thrive on providing meaningful follow up with their customers. These customers can work with numerous real estate firms, so if they choose one to work with they want to be sure that their best interests are being fairly and completely represented.
This is the same idea for any business. Customers who have a positive experience with your company are more likely to come back again. So, if you use an email autoresponder make sure responses to those emails remains a high priority.
If you feel you are receiving too many emails spend some time improving your FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section and providing an email link to the answer in your FAQ section. You should also encourage visitors to visit your FAQ section first and then contact you if their question is still not answered.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Q&A Powered by:
More from Scott Lindsay
Ecommerce - Entrepreneurial Perseverance
By: Scott Lindsay | 03/10/2007 | Internet
"It is time for us to stand and cheer for the doer, the achiever, the one who recognizes the challenge and does something about it." - Vince Lombardi
How does ecommerce differ from entrepreneurialism? Well, the former is dependent on the latter. What this means is that for every ecommerce business...
Web Design - You Are Replaceable And That Should Make You Happy
By: Scott Lindsay | 03/10/2007 | Internet
In the past there was always a fear that automation would replace (or displace) honest, hard-working citizens. While this may happen, there is reason to look at automation as an ally in online business.
If you were to conduct an online search you would likely find businesses that rely on personal...
Site Promotion Tools - Never Stop Learning
By: Scott Lindsay | 03/10/2007 | Internet
Site promotion for your online business is something that takes on a life of its own. Site promotion is not relegated to one specific site promotion tool. If you find one tool that seems to work for you it may not be long before it is not as effective as...
Internet Marketing - One Bite At A Time
By: Scott Lindsay | 03/10/2007 | Internet
Internet marketing provides the ability to expand the possibilities of your website while giving a nod to your own dogged determination and mental quickness.
Internet marketing is not simply a one-size-fits-all piece of clothing designed to allow you to simply apply one standard where you discover yourself on the same footing...
Web Branding - Bottled Rainforest
By: Scott Lindsay | 03/10/2007 | Internet
Have you ever been around a poet that knows so much poetry by heart that they annoy you every time the subject of poetry comes up? They are passionate about their love for poetry and are emotional as they explain the complexity of the poems they recite.
Certainly you have...
Web Design - Using The Family Tree
By: Scott Lindsay | 02/10/2007 | Internet
When it comes time to work on a web design you should work to develop the site before you actually develop the site. What I mean by that is try to map out what you are wanting in your website and how everything should break down logically.
Think of it like...
Seo - Tracking Words
By: Scott Lindsay | 02/10/2007 | Internet
WordTracker.com provides both a free and fee-based service to help you in finding keywords or phrases that will assist you in developing word lists for Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies.
Obviously the fee-based software provides several upgraded features that can be a real benefit to business, but the use of the...
Site Promotion Tools - How Many Sites Do You Need?
By: Scott Lindsay | 02/10/2007 | Internet
Site promotion tools are an important element in making sure you give online users the greatest opportunity to visit your website. It is likely you have infused your site with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies, and you have included site link information in any forum posts and blogs. You might...
Internet 
