Autoresponder Courses: The Automated Marketing Tool

By Author: Shelley Lowery
Total Articles: 19
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Autoresponders, also known as mailbots, automatic email and
email on demand were derived from the very popular fax on
demand and designed to automatically respond to any email
message it receives with an automatic response.

Autoresponder programs vary from software set up to run with
your desktop email program and automatically answer your
incoming email to a script that runs on your server. The script
may run a Web-based autoresponder system that utilizes a web
page form, or it may run with your pop email account on your
server. It is programmed to automatically send out a
predetermined message when a message is received to a
specified script address or email address.

In addition to the standard autoresponder systems, there are
also autoresponders that can send an unlimited amount of
follow-up messages. These follow up messages can be set
up to automatically be sent out at predetermined intervals. In
other words, you can set up your autoresponder to
automatically send out a new message each day ...
... for as many
days as you would like.

This powerful technology is currently being used by some of
the top online marketers to reach thousands of potential
customers. As you may know, it may take up to seven contacts
with a potential customer before closing a sale. By setting up an
autoresponder and offering a free autoresponder course, you
can completely automate a portion of your marketing efforts.

Creating A Course

The first step in creating an autoresponder course is to decide
upon a subject. Your course should focus on a subject in which
you have a great deal of knowledge and target your potential
customers.

Once you have selected your subject, you'll need to make a list
of topics. Each topic will represent one lesson. If you have five
topics, then you can offer your visitors a free 5-day course. If
you have ten topics, then you can offer your visitors a free
10-day course and so on.

Separate each of your topics into course lessons. Your first
lesson should welcome your subscriber to your course and
explain a little bit about what they are going to learn, followed
by the first lesson.

The key to creating a successful autoresponder course is to
provide quality information that will be of interest to your
target audience. Each daily topic must contain valuable
information or your reader may decide to unsubscribe. In
addition, make sure you include information in regard to your
course such as the lesson number, lesson title, information
about your products or services and highlights of the next lesson.

Your course should identify a problem, provide advice in
regard to solving the problem and provide the solution with
your products or services. Keep in mind, your course should
not be written like a sales letter. It must provide quality
information written to teach and inform.

Setting Up Your Course

After you've written your course, you'll need to transfer your
text into an autoresponder. You can find free follow-up
autoresponders here:

http://www.getresponse.com/
http://www.fastfacts.net/

Sign up for a follow-up autoresponder and follow their
instructions in regard to setting it up.

Once you've gotten your autoresponder set up, your final step
will be to place your course information on your web site. This
will include a description of your course and a mailto link to
your autoresponder.

By offering your visitors a free autoresponder course, you are
not only providing them with a great service, but you are also
automating a portion of your marketing efforts. This form of
free advertising can increase your sales considerably.
About the Author Shelley Lowery is the Webmistress of Web-Source.net. Your
Guide to Professional Web Site Design & Development.
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