This is Part 2 of the series. For previous parts please see:
Travel Email Marketing Guide Part 1: Website Signup Forms
In Part 2, we’re going to look at creating an autoresponder series. Now that you have your signup forms setup on your site you’ll start getting new subscribers. One of the best ways to get those new subscribers interested in your site and your company is with an autoresponder series. These are emails that are sent out automatically in a scheduled manner after a new visitor signs up for your emails.
Here are the steps you can take to get yours all setup.
1. Organize Content From Your Regular Sales Process
You have a sales process. Every time you speak with a customer in person or on the phone you go through pretty much the same conversation. They ask the same questions and you provide the same answers.
By this point you probably know the process by heart.
Take down notes of the entire sales conversation for your business. Organize it into a 3 or 4-part series. You’ll start with the introduction and the basic information and move closer to the eventual sale.
Here is an example of a process and how it would breakdown into an autoresponder series:
The Cozy Inn
- Part 1 – Fun Things To Do And See In Cozy, USA
- Part 2 – The Best Restaurants In Cozy, USA
- Part 3 – Book Your Stay At The Cozy Inn
2. Setup The Series In MailChimp Or Aweber
Once you have the content for your sales process you can start setting up your autoresponder series in MailChimp or Aweber.
- Here is the info for MailChimp: How To Create An Autoresponder
- Here is the info for Aweber: How To Get Started (pdf)
Each of the messages should be about 300 words. These will only be in your emails and you don’t want them to get too long.
You can link to any businesses you reference if you’re doing fun activities or restaurants. It’s good to give your local partners some love in your email. They might return the favor when they setup their own autoresponder series.
Add your logo to the email and if you have some good photos that are relevant than add one photo to each of the emails.
Here is how you should schedule the emails:
- Part 1 – Send immediately after a new person confirms their subscription
- Part 2 – Send 2 days after Part 1
- Part 3 – Send 2 days after Part 2
- Part 4 – Send 2 days after Part 3
3. Analyze The Results And Adjust
Now you’re all set!
Sit back and watch how new subscribers interact with the autoresponders. You can check in MailChimp and Aweber to see the open and click rates for these emails.
And since the final email in your series asks people to contact you and book with your business you should know if the email is leading to increases sales.
Sales are the ultimate goal for the program so keep tabs on the people signing up for your email and registering for your business.
And at the end of each email provide a little sentence letting the subscriber know what’s coming next.
Like this: Stay tuned for Part 3 – Referral And Sharing Programs
