Autoresponders are not only known to send automated email, but it is also known to improve customer relationships. However, people are unaware of these facts. For this reason, we have listed 5 ways autoresponders can boost customer relationships.
You need to set up an autoresponder because it is easily understandable that you will not be able to manually send emails to all of your customers. The autoresponder will come in handy in this regard because it will make your life a lot better.
A lot of people believe that email marketing is a method of the past, but they could not be more wrong. People use emails now more than ever before; therefore, it is still a formidable form of marketing. Social media is great at a lot of things, but it still lacks behind in some aspects, and that is where emails shine. Emails offer a better level of engagement with the customer, and that is extremely important when you are trying to build a relationship with the customer. Here you will find some ways that can help you.
- Build Your List
If you want to boost customer relationships, then the first thing that you need to do is make sure that you build your own lists. A lot of people buy or borrow lists from other sources, and to be honest, you might be able to target a bigger audience with this method, but they’re still will be some problems. For example, when you buy lists, you don’t know your audience, so you might as well be wasting your resources. If you build your own lists, then you will know what your customers want, and therefore your emails will be better suited for the audience. Another thing that you need to do is you need to segment your lists. This is because not all of your customers will be interested in the same thing. By segmenting your list, you will know what to send to which customers. This will change the results significantly.
According to research published by Benchmark Email, harness the power of email autoresponders for tailored messaging to customers, contingent on their actions and engagements with your brand. An essential step is to segment your email lists because not all customers share the same interests. The practice of personalized communication not only imparts a sense of value but also cultivates customer loyalty.
Another thing that you need to keep in mind is that you need to communicate with your customers. You can’t keep your customers in the dark for a long time, and that is why you need to make sure that you engage with your list as often as possible. If you don’t communicate often, then it might contribute to increasing your unsubscribe rate. You don’t need people to unsubscribe, that is why you need to take care of your customers and make sure that you communicate every few days.
- Exclusive Discounts
Once you have built your email lists, you should filter out your most loyal customers. A great way of doing that is by observing the customer’s behavior. Some people simply browse while some actually make a purchase. As an example, if you have a few repeat buyers, it is time to show your gratitude and appreciation. You need to try to reward their loyalty so that they may also stay true to your brand.
According to findings from Campaign Monitor, if you’re aiming to retain customers and prompt repeat business, acknowledging and rewarding your dedicated clientele can make all the difference. The form of the reward can vary, but the primary goal is to cultivate a sense of exclusivity and appreciation among your customers.
One of the greatest ways to do that is to provide exclusive discounts and offers to those customers. These discounts don’t need to be anything special. However, they should make your customers feel special as they are the only ones receiving these deals.
For example, when a customer buys something, you can give them a special discount for their next order. This form of customer service builds trust and increases the chances of getting a return buyer.
- Ask for Feedback
The best way to maintain a good relationship with your customers is to involve them in your business strategies. Make them feel like they are part of a community because they are indeed the lifeline of your business.
According to insights from Constant Contact, maintaining a close connection with your customers involves actively seeking feedback after they’ve used your products or services. When customers observe that you’re taking tangible steps based on their input, it fosters trust and strengthens the customer-business relationship, ultimately contributing to a positive and lasting connection.
The greatest way to do that is to ask for feedback from your customers. People like it when they are listened to, it is also a great opportunity to see from a customer’s point of view. Research shows that a large percentage of the people visiting you do not ask questions about their problems.
If they face issues, they just turn to some other website. That leaves you with a few percent who actually go to the trouble of bringing the issue to light. This is valuable info for your business. If the customers see that you are taking actions based on their feedback, then it will help them trust you more easily.
- Don’t Bombard Emails
If you wish to build a long term relationship with your customers, then you need to ensure that you are not sending too many emails. Here’s why people already receive tons of emails daily, and they have little time on their hands. This means only a select few get to read, and yours needs to be in that list to be even opened.
Autoresponders are indeed a list of emails sent to the readers at regular intervals. However, that does not mean you spam their email box. In fact, doing so will quickly make them lose interest and also reduce the meaning of your message. If you bombard the customers with your emails, then they will easily get annoyed, and that will impact your profits.
Instead, choose special timings to give your subscribers a pleasant surprise. Ideally, a good email series will be at the right times, concise and to the point.
- Optimized for Small Screens
A lot of users today open emails on their mobile phones, that is why you need to go mobile-friendly. Almost everyone owns a smartphone nowadays. However, emails designed for PCs do not show as well on a mobile device. This is mainly due to differences in the characters shown and overall image quality and text readability.
If the campaigns are not easily readable or accessible, then you will start to lose followers very quickly. Over 50% of users read their emails on mobile devices; therefore, it is important that you keep this in mind. The email should be quick and easy to read, and you need to make sure that all of your emails reach their target successfully.
Lastly, you need to ensure that the customers are able to open your emails on smaller screens like mobile phones. This is where email marketing software comes in. Using these, you can create emails for both desktops and mobile devices. Ideally, you should go for a subject line that is around 50 characters and get to the point with the very first word. This is because the average mobile phone shows 50 characters on a subject line.
These were some of the main ways that you need to use to boost customer relationships. Email marketing is more powerful than most people think, and that is why you need to use it to your fullest. This can be very beneficial for your business, so if you are not using email autoresponders just yet, then now is the time to do it.