I’m often asked by my friends/colleagues how I manage my blog and reader relationships, along with my full time job as a HR Manager. While it is quite a lot to juggle, having systems in place to streamline your efforts make all the difference. It’s not always about working harder, but working smarter.
So, with that said, I want to share a review of one of my favorite tools for staying in touch with my readers- Autoresponders. The company I use is Aweber, which is hugely popular and with good reason. I’ll share my take on Aweber and how it has helped my business, in the hopes that you find the information useful. And if you do decide to try Aweber, use my affiliate link to show support to for the blog. We’ll toast you with a cup of coffee to say thanks.
Ok, first of all-what in the world is an Autoresponder? Sounds like something from the Jetsons, right? Well, here is the short and
sweet layman’s definition:
“An autoresponder allows you to send pre-written messages to individuals who have chosen to receive information and updates from your website. These people have freely given you their email address and want to hear from you.”
There are a number of ways that you can use an autoresponder to
stay in touch with subscribers. Some of the most frequent are:
- Sending out a weekly or monthly e-newsletter with interesting
niche or industry news. - Delivering multi-part Ecourses over a predetermined timeframe.
Announcing new blog posts. - Offering specials and incentives just for subscribers.
- Conducting surveys and market research.
Not just about bombarding your list with links and advertisements, using an autoresponder is a relationship building tool. It’s well known that prospects purchase from people they like and feel comfortable with. Also, it usually takes 5-10 instances of contact with you and your message before someone is willing to open their wallet. There are a ton of people on the net offering the next big thing. You have to stay in front of your prospect with repeat
connections, until they convert to customers.
Also, even if you don’t get immediate sales, taking the time to build relationships with your readership helps you to enhance your business in the following ways:
- Builds trust and credibility.
- Showcases your expertise, which eventually increases conversions
- Your messages can be forwarded to others, thus increasing your readership.
- Allows you to pre-sell your products and services and serves as a vehicle for product launches.
Ok, enough about the WHY, now on to the WHAT. When I was researching an autoresponder service for my own blog, I looked at a number of options. Some looked great on the surface, but had clunky user interfaces or extravagant hidden fees. Others looked a little shady and I was a bit worried about whether my messages would really be delivered. In the end, I signed up with Aweber for a number of reasons.
- A great reputation, both online and off
- A clean product, which doesn’t seem to trigger spam filters & has good open rates
- Quick one-click data back up feature
- Click tracking, which tells me what the most popular links are in
my newsletters - Easy scheduling options to send out your communications as you specify
- A variety of pop-up or subscription forms to capture email
addresses 1 - 150+ HTML templates
- Customizable emails with the recipient’s name populated
- An unlimited number of lists and messages
- Social media integration
- First class customer service
Of course, no product is perfect, so here are a few of the drawbacks of using Aweber:
- Learning. While it isn’t very hard to figure out how to get the
most out of the system, it will likely take people new to autoresponders an hour or two to get everything up an running
perfectly. But once you’ve got the hang of it, you’re good. - You can’t embed video, only a link to a video. If video marketing is a big part of your business, Aweber may not be the best option.
- There isn’t a free trial like some other companies. Instead, you
get the first month for $1.00, and can cancel anytime. - As for prices, Aweber is pretty affordable, but not necessarily the
cheapest autoresponder available. However, for the peace of mind it provides regarding delivery rates and features, I think it’s a
steal.
This is the current pricing :
$29.99 a month, with discounts for paying ahead.
Up to 500 subscribers/unlimited emails to 500 subscribers. Go up to 2,500 for an extra $10.00.
First month for $1.00 special
Now, in an oversaturated online world, having a reader trust you with their email address is a big deal-make sure you appreciate that. Below are a few email marketing rules to ensure you keep your readers happy:
- Give something away in exchange for their email, something of
value.
- Never sell, rent, or swap email addresses.
- In your newsletters, provide valuable information that your
readers can easily implement.
- Do not knock them over the head with a sales pitch in every email.
Ok, there you have it. My experience with email marketing and
Aweber. I hope it helps you in your own marketing endeavors.
Click on the link below and enjoy services for the first month for only $1.
Aweber Autoresponder Service
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