Articles
About Autoresponders : Laura is right, I was wrong -- Update Dec. 15
by Philippe Moisan Tutorial videos, sci-fi writer Update :Mark Hodgetts saw my article and the comments, he commented about it on his blog, take a look
http://www.markhodgetts.com/why-autoresponders-remain-vital
Recently, I had a strong discussion with Laura Newton about autoresponders.
Laura firmly believes using autoresponders is not good for business. Her main argument is that it's too impersonal. She said she prefers to build her business one on one. She's been successful with her Multi-Pure business for a number of years, thanks to her approach.
I kept telling her an autoresponder can be used the right way, that the people who subscribe to your list do so because they like the kind of information you provide, they want to know more, yadda yadda yadda.
Well, I was arguing with her about a tool I'm not even using.
I read in so many articles, eBooks, blogs, that : "You have to build your list !"
Every successful marketer said an autoresponder is an essential tool for success.
For months, I've wanted to learn to set up an auroresponder. I looked at Aweber, GetResponse, Traffic Wave.
I always had a good reason to put it off.
In the past 2 months, I've been active here, that the only reason I take a look at my gmail account is to see if I've received new emails from activity at IMfaceplate, Kooiii, FaceBook, or here.
I received dozens of emails from Internet marketers every day. I don't even look at them anymore.
They work hard at trying to get my attention. All the techniques are used in the headlines to make an email attractive.
It doesn't work for me anymore.
I prefer to see if I've received a notification or private message here.
Laura, thumbs up to you ! I was so blinded by the so-called "best approach" to marketing online, that I had refused to see the evidence : my own behavior.
In the pas 2 days, I've discussed with 2 good friends who tried to convince me I'm making a big mistake by not adding an AR as a tool in my IM toolbox.
Are they right ? They might be.
For now, I'll try the ideas I have in mind to get some form of success in my marketing efforts.
If I'm wrong, it will still be time to change strategies. Testing and tweaking. Testing and tweaking. I wrote a blog here with that title.
It's time to put my money where my blog is. :)
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About Philippe Moisan 
Tutorial videos, sci-fi writer
4,461 connections, 182 recommendations, 13,910 honor points.Joined APSense since, August 20th, 2010, From Quebec, Canada.
Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.
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Philippe Moisan
Tutorial videos, sci-fi writerAPSense sends emails for newsletters and special offers. In this case, it is the only possible way to reach every one of the 75,000 members. I have createa filter in gmail to make sure no email from APSense escapes my attention. However, I don't have time to create filters for every kind of email I receive. Dec 10th 2010 00:50 |
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Ruediger Schaefer Schaefer
 mrI think it's not a question of wrong or right but of how you set up your ARs and how valuable the email letters are. More important is what kind of business you're in. Imo personal approaching or social networking with your customers and / or affiliates is nothing else than the modern name of the old fashoined way of list building. Certain business tasks can and should be automated by using ARs. This way you gain more time to get in personal touch with your customers / affiliates. My personal conclusion: there's no 'black or white' in this question. Dec 10th 2010 03:05 |
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Sean North
 Businessdont know where my last post went, I totally agree with Rudiger, business and product dependant, but a useful tool nether the less Dec 10th 2010 03:14 |
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Dawie Bezuidenhout
Systems Engineer I.T.Philippe, glad to see this post. We discussed this as well, remember. I use autoresponders too communicate to my downlines in different programs, not too advertise, to share news of an upgrade coming or something related to the site that they signed up for. My problem with these services, is not the service, it is the person that use that service. Unethical marketers have been using auto-responders to SPAM the people on their list, and most do it. If i sign up for a specific product or service, send me news about what i signed up for. Most idiots start sending you all kinds of crap the moment they get their sticky little fingers on your email address. I am sorry, if you send me to a splash page where you want my e-mail address and giving me some kind of e-book for free, i leave. Don't like being Spammed.:) Dec 10th 2010 04:26 |
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Scott Popma
E-commerce & Marketing AdvisorWhat I've been doing is an equal effort with both methods. Advertise get the people to go to your auto responder then use the one on one to help teach those who are willing to learn. The personal touch of a teacher so important. Dec 10th 2010 05:05 |
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Rammesh Perumal
 Web Business & Development ConsultantHi Philippe! I am agree with Dawie too, I do still read emails from some of the marketers who are provide good contents. If our emails contain value information, AR will be very effective marketing tool. Its all depends how we use it. I never use AR to promote affiliates products. Dec 10th 2010 05:05 |
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Ed Blount
Business Owner and MentorYes autoresponders can be impersonal. However I would not say thay you should never use them. Everbody is different, but I have to say I use them as Dewi says more for information purposes :) Dec 10th 2010 05:14 |
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Warren Contreras
 Old Retired GuyI have been on both sides of this question for years, back and forth, but the truth is they do work to ESTABLISH the kind of one on one that builds your relationship with people from your list. You have to start somewhere and if you provide real value with your emails, it can be done with an autoresponder to start with. Dec 10th 2010 05:26 |
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Katrina O.
Indiana Water FiltersNot sure if I agree with you, Oldbuddy. I think the way to begin building a relationship is through personal contact. Phone call, skype conversation, personal email, etc. Once the relationship is in place, then invite to an autoresponder with good content. Dec 10th 2010 07:09 |
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Laura Newton
 The Water Filter LadyThanks Philippe. I'm not saying that they "dont" work. I'm just saying they dont work for me. We all need to use the tools that work for us, and we all have different businesses, with different approaches for marketing. What may work for one type of business, may not work for another. Yes, you and I have butted heads over our marketing approaches, but that is not to say your doing it wrong or visa versa. I highly respect you Phil, and hope we can help and learn from one another. Isnt that what network marketing is all about? Dec 10th 2010 07:14 |
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Ginny Williams
Affiliate and Network MarketingI too am like Laura and build my business one on one, I have used them in the past, but don't care much for the either! Dec 10th 2010 08:15 |
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Stacey Whitney
Internet MarketerI agree that being upfront and personal is the way to go but not all of us are good at that, so what does the marketer do that has yet to learn these skills? They have to market their product somehow. I use an autoresponder along with other methods of advertising. I think that an autoresponder can be a good tool if used properly. Send out good content and you get results, otherwise, will I'm sure most of us know what that means. Dec 10th 2010 08:23 |
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Helen Smith
ConsultantTomatoe Tomatoe, who is right who is wrong...I find any marketer with a modicum of success will have a bit of arogance concerning the methods we use to get where we are. There fore I personally feel there's merit in both sides of this question. When first building business there is going to be a lot more one on one. Once your list reaches an unmanagable number you will have to have a good AR. So Philippe I would suggest you start learning how to use one now, so when your list is in the thousands you will not be fumbling around trying to learn(lol)! The larger ones with the trials, can be a bit difficult i.e.(get response, adweber etc.) for the novice. When I started using them I experimented with a free one with classes. I don't know if they are still around, but I will check if you'd like me to. Let me know. Dec 10th 2010 08:25 |
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Al Hamilton
Online MarketingCan't say I totally agree here Philippe. I think AR's can be VERY valuable, both in maintaining communication AND for advertising. I want to track the production I am getting from different sources. My AR has unlimited tracking, so it's simpler there. I don't SPAM-- if they OPT-in, they get the follow up info. I've not had a problem w/ my email filling up...Though I might try out a safelist as a free member, which WILL send you emails to click for credits. These can be easily filtered straight to a folder, skipping your inbox. If I'm satisfied I'm getting results, then I might upgrade and unsubscribe--or --If it IS one of those that send 500 solo ads a day--I'm out quick, not my style. I WOULD certainly recommend G-Mail, and a good spam filter as well, though. Dec 10th 2010 08:25 |
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Rod D.
Visit --> CityShopper.wsI have several opinions on this topic. AR's can be a valuable tools providing if not abused. Time saving. Could you imagine of having couple hundred members and you need to send out a team update on your business and manually sending one email at a time, of course most people do not realize they can use there email as an AR by copying and pasting the emails as BCC ( Blind Carbon Copy ) and send to your list and send about 50 at a time and wait about 15 to 20 minutes and send another group. Doing a BCC you will hiding the email addresses to all. Organize the emails in note pad first, then it's ready when you are. Then you have the listbuilders with no agenda that harvest emails to send you a new daily email on everything under the sun that gives one no direction other then to pick your ATM wallet. ( Those I Unsubscribe from ) However, there is an advantage to those type of listbuilders reserved for there own special gmail account to spam you daily. Put them to work for you. They scour clickbank for products, they sit and dream up ad copy to try and sell you. So, they done all the work, then you can spin off there ad copy, edit the wording and form it to your business. Makes great for those that has trouble writing up ad campaigns to your personal business. Boy, did I hit touchy subject on emails from admins that got 1500 views the first week. If you read the TOS, they all say, if you don't like receiving our emails, then delete your account. Well, I answered back to this subject headline. If you wish to read thread just google up this: Kicking Admins to the curb, Killing your downline Dec 10th 2010 09:06 |
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Philippe Moisan
Tutorial videos, sci-fi writerLord, I will bookmark my own blog. I'm so glad I wrote it. I'll be frank with you all, I had 2 objectives. 1st ) Win back the friendship of Laura. I say it shamelessly. I have such a high respect for her. She's awesome ! She wants to help her downline in Multi-Pure so much, she promotes their RevPages and blogs. Her Multi-Pure site has been on Google's 1st page for a long time. Is it months, years ? I'm not sure. I will let her tell it herself here, or on a blog. How did she do it ? Simple : total dedication to learn SEO. Please join any group she's a part of, you will learn a lot. She's a moderator in a group called something like "Hot to earn income on the Internet", a group created by Joseph, a member who wants all of you to be totally successful. I know he and Laura are great friends, what a combination ! 2nd ) I've discussed the subject of auto-responders so much in the past week, I'll be frank, I'm still on the fence. I'm very happy of the feedback I've gotten here. All your posts are food for thought, IMHO. I was hoping I would get such responses. You guys made my day. Yes, Helen, you're not the first one who tells I'm making a big mistake. Gilberto Cintron and Cory Crabb are whacking me on the head. LOL My response is : testing and tweaking. I even wrote a blog about that subject here. There you go, I shamelessly plug one of my own other blogs at APSense. If my ideas are way out of whack, I will get back in line and use conventional list building methods, like ARs. But, for now, here's my idea. Wal-Mart doesn't use an AR. People flock to their stores because they offer great value. That's what I want to do. I want to have a website that will offer such good value with more info added every week that I won't need to send truckloads of emails, people will come again and again, they will write their comments on the pros and cons of what I offer, and I will respond there. Dec 10th 2010 09:32 |
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Helen Smith
ConsultantPhilippe....Wal-mart does use a AR, and every other big company that has thousands of people to get in contact with on short notice. I am not trying to change your mind, but offering a alternative to totally leaving yourself unprepared, by not learning to use one. We are all individuals with, ideas, and opinions which to me is the beauty of humanity, but when it comes to business we must explore the avenues which will help us be productive, and progressive in todays market. I have a friend who is always telling me: "Helen, I'm old school I believe in putting out flyers, and going door to door! Well for him that may work, but for me I think they both work, and in todays market we have got to utilize all the tools available to reach our goals. Sales is a numbers game PERIOD! You have got to get what you are marketing in front of a lot of people to be successful. Adwords and all the other pay per clicks are successful, and rich because of this. There are 75,000 or more membes here in ApSense imagine trying to send an alert to all of us without the use of a AR...LOL! NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. So yes continue doing what you are comfortable doing, but no do not limit yourself in your ability to contact, and stay in touch with potential clients. Dec 10th 2010 10:00 |
Yes, I also agree with Laura that AR is not good tool, most of time your email box has cluttered with so many emails which you do not even want to have a look. If, you really good in your product then automatically, news will spread. But sometime, it is essential to send news through AR. So, it is depend upon business and marketing strategy of the organization. Thanks Philippe for sharing this thought.
Dec 10th 2010 00:42