HOW TO WRITE A FOLLOW UP MESSAGE


Smart marketers know that follow up autoresponders
drive sales. But, many don't know how to write the
e-mail messages they need in order to use these tools.

Don't let that keep you from increased profits! Write
masterful messages with these simple steps:

Pull the Reader in

Introduce the Product

Explain the Product's Significance

Tell the Reader to Make a Purchase

(Examples in this article use the fictional product
"Green Garden Lawn Fertilizer". Any similarity to
actual products is unintended and coincidental.)

PULL THE READER IN

First, convince your audience that your text is worth
reading. Make your first sentence or two very
interesting: Make a bold statement, say something
seemingly ridiculous, or appeal to your prospect's
emotional side. Later, tie this grabber in with the
rest of your copy. For instance:

"Want to make your neighbors jealous? How about with

a lush, green lawn in just 2 weeks?"

INTRODUCE THE PRODUCT

What is the product you're advertising? What does it
do? Directly after your grabber, give a compact
explanation of your product. Keep this explanation
short, while still being very clear. For example:

"Green Garden Lawn Fertilizer is taking the

landscaping industry by storm. What else can give

you the lawn of your dreams in just 15 minutes a

day?"

EXPLAIN THE PRODUCT'S
SIGNIFICANCE

What will it do for me? This is the time for details -
make this section long and rich. Suggest a variety of
product uses, and give examples. Make the most of this
opportunity to directly target your unique audience!
Clearly explain how your readers will benefit from your
product.

TELL THE READER TO
MAKE A PURCHASE

You've come so far - you've laid out exactly what the
product is and how it will help your unique audience.
Now, seal the deal - tell your readers to purchase the
product!

This step may sound strange, but it's necessary. Often,
people hear about a product and are genuinely
interested, but fail to actually make a purchase. A
clear call to a simple action cuts down on buyer
ambivalence. Don't be pushy - just change your verb
tenses to the imperative. Instead of:

"If you think that you fit this profile, you might

want to think about buying Green Garden Lawn

Fertilizer."

Say:

"Click here to order Green Garden Lawn Fertilizer

today."

AN EYE FOR CONTINUITY

More and more opt-in e-mail is being sent around the
Internet. Remind your prospect that he requested your
messages by keeping an eye on continuity.

Start and end each message in a similar way. At the
top, let your prospect know who you are, why he is
getting e-mail from you, and where he is in the follow
up sequence. This can be as simple as saying:

"Last week, you requested more information about

Green Garden Fertilizer..."

Then, end each message with your own contact
information. Use your autoresponder's personalization
features to list details about your lead. Also, include
a way for the lead to unsubscribe. For example:

"This message was sent to Dusty Dan at

dustydan@needsanewlawn.com. On April 5th, Dusty Dan

requested information about Green Garden Fertilizer.

Questions? Call us at 000-000-0000. Or, to

unsubscribe, click here."

CREATE WITH CONFIDENCE

Don't sweat over follow up messages - your prospects
are waiting for you! Print and follow the guidelines in
this article, and follow up with confidence.

About the Author

Beka Ruse is the Business Development Manager at AWeber
Communications. Experience the acclaimed customer
support and reliability of AWeber autoresponders.
http://www.aweber.com/a/p163/lfs.htm