Follow up

Number one on your list is a good, solid autoresponder, to help with consistent, scheduled follow-up. Studies have shown that, on average, a customer doesn't make a decision to buy until he or she has been contacted SEVEN times.

The first time, they may be interested but not yet ready to buy. The second time, they may be still interested, but distracted by other things going on.

So, to be really effective online, you must be absolutely committed to following up with a prospect seven times, before you can expect a sale.

Now, I understand about real life. Schedules get changed, delays happen. Just imagine if you had a direct marketing business and had to do a follow up every week (this seven exposure rule applies to both online and offline businesses!) Think of all the cost and effort needed to print, fold, address and mail to prospects week after week after week.

Online, we have sequential autoresponders available to help us in the follow up process. And they do it automatically.

You only write your marketing message once, load the different messages to the autoresponder, schedule when you want the different messages delivered (#1 on day one, message #2 on day three, etc.), connect it to your list, and that's it. You're hands free.

Then, when life happens and schedules change, you'll still be secure knowing that the follow-ups will continue, regardless of what's happening elsewhere.

This is only one type of way that email can effect your bottom line.