Jason Better’s Tips On Writing Autoresponder E-mails
HOW do you write for autoresponders? I’d be tempted to say, “You don’t.” It’s the same as any kind of copywriting, only it isn’t. If you mess up, then all you succeed in doing is ticking off everybody who signs up for your list. And when they go. They don’t come back.
So why bother? Well, if you can learn to write a great autoresponder sequence then your business will work while you sleep. You’ll make money while you’re on vacation. Plus, you’ll have more time for friends and family. And after all, that’s what really matters in life, right?
So today, I’d like to give a few pointers that will guide the way even if you never wrote an autoresponder e-mail before. I’m sure you’ll nod your head if you’re a copywriting pro too. Here they are.
Jason Better’s Tips On Writing Autoresponder E-mails:
1) Be loose.
You know, I’ve talked about writing like you speak. Or having personality before, but this is so important when you’re writing e-mails of any sort that I thought I’d hammer it home.
Some of the best autoresponder sequences are so casual that you wouldn’t even think they’re selling anything at all. They use slang, some even use vulgar words. They sound exactly like a friend speaking to you. They sound exactly like you.
Of course, they have to reflect your brand and your personality. So don’t pretend to be you’re someone you’re not. Don’t be obscene for kicks. But do write exactly like you talk.
2) Switch It Up.
When you’re writing autoresponders you’re often writing three, four, or even a dozen e-mails that will be sent out in a specific order. Some experts have been known to write as many as fifty. So it’s really easy to bore your subscribers to tears and they’ll leave in droves.
So switch things up.
Pay attention to your tone. Your emotion. Make some e-mails exciting and others interesting. Make some short and some long. Throw in a little drama. Tell a story one day and share a checklist the next.
In short, keep an eye on the texture of your e-mails.
3) Don’t Sell.
Okay, I know the purpose of all marketing is to make the sale but people are picky these days. They think they should get everything for free and get it now. So you can’t get away with writing fifty e-mails that yell and sell. You’ll scare everybody away.
Casually mentioning your product in an e-mail is enough. If it’s done right it can cause a flurry of sales. But at most, you should only make a full sales pitch every tenth e-mail. And some people would say that’s pushing it.
I know that sounds like a pain but people are sick to death of salesmen. They want free content and they want it now. And selling out in the open scares them away.
Besides, people won’t buy until they trust you anyway. That’s what where autoresponders come in. They slowly build a relationship over time.
4) Hide And Seek.
Essentially, you’re trying to blend your sales pitch into content. Think of a fishing hook. No fish wants to bite the hook. But if you hide it in the right bait. Bam! You got the fish in no time.
So hide your pitch. Make it useful. Make those e-mails so good they print them out and save them in a binder. Turn them into lessons. The best tips you know. Something they can forward to friends. Something of value.
5) Grab A Book.
If you’re stuck, grab a good book on copywriting. You probably won’t find anything about writing copy for autoresponders but you’ll get a better idea of what copywriting is all about.
6) Get Spammed.
Go out of your way to read those e-mails you get. You’re getting a million dollar education in what really works online and that’s something you can’t buy cheap. Eventually it kinda seeps into your brain. So read at least a few e-mails a day. Write a few out by hand and get started.
To wrap things up:
1) Be loose
2) Switch It Up
3) Don’t Sell
4) Hide And Seek
5) Grab A Book
6) Get Spammed
Who woulda thought spam was a good thing?
I guess, every annoying pest is a little opportunity in disguise. Hah, it kinda reminds me of that book “Think And Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. I think he said something like that… not the part about spam… the part about opportunity being found.
To your success,
Jason The “Better Networker”
P.S. If you’re a copywriting pro. Or if you would like to share a few solid tips about e-mail copywriting then share them in a comment below. I was blown away by some of the tips we got last time. You guys rock.
5 Comments
Mark Herdt on November 22nd, 2009
I’ve ran across multiple tips on good copy writing and this article provides even more guidance.
It’s true that we are not really trying to sell something but rather gain the readers trust.
Some see copywriting as spam but not all of it is. the good type of copywriting is more of an open invitation to get the reader to take action whatever that action may be.
Kudos on a great article
[Reply]
November 22nd, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Hey Mark,
Thank you. I think there’s
a big difference between spam
and copywriting too. I mean, spammers
can’t even sign up for a decent
autoresponder. All the top names
are against spam.
Yet, there’s still a buncha bad eggs
out there who make us all look bad.
[Reply]
This is Hilarious.
For a YEAR I have trying to figure this one out. I know most peeps that are in the marketing business get this and do it well/great but to newbies like us.. it’s like being in space without a ship and no idea how to get you to the other side of the universe.
I finally got it watching my Elite videos with Mike Dillard. He mentioned that there are three things an autoresponder should do. IN THIRTY seconds I got what I have searched a year for.
I may feel a bit like a dummy (because of the time frame and know there are simple elements) but like a dummy who stumbled upon a box of riches and I LOVE IT!
Now to use the Magical Box of Riches for doing good for others! YAY
Thanks for the little details that lay overtop of what I just learned.
Thank you for being a great teacher!
[Reply]
November 21st, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Isn’t Mike great? The best training
in the biz. And I can’t wait to see
what he comes out with next.
[Reply]