Get ready for the e-mail "drip-marketing" system on steroids! For the last two issues I've highlighted e-mail drip-marketing systems specifically designed for real estate. However, nothing, absolutely nothing prepared me for the most awesome e-mail marketing tool I discovered just a couple of weeks ago. Before you read further however, make sure your seat belt is tight and low across your lap --and hang on!

ProAutoresponder is an incredible Web-based e-mail drip-marketing service where:

• You can run as many simultaneous e-mail "campaigns" as you want;

• Each campaign can have an unlimited number of messages, each timed to "fire" (i.e. be sent) any number of days out (NOTE: you can have e-mail campaigns that continue for years if desired!);

• Each campaign can have an unlimited number of contacts (database mass uploading right from your Web browser is a snap, however limited to 5,000 new names per month);

• Each contact record contains many data fields that can be automatically merged into the messages sent for the ultimate level of customization; (NOTE: I am currently merging as many as 12 fields of contact data into each message sent in some of my campaigns…)

• Each message can be sent out simultaneously in both TEXT and HTML format, where the recipient's e-mail software will automatically choose the best way to display it;

• TEXT based messages sent to AOL recipients will have their embedded links automatically modified to be "clickable" within the AOL e-mail software;

• Each message can have your voice attached that will automatically start playing the moment the recipient starts viewing your message (HTML recipients only);

• Bounce-backs, bad addresses, spam attacks, and unsubscribe requests are all handled automatically.

Now if all that were not enough, ProAutoresponder will also automatically track when each HTML message is opened, which links were clicked and when —for each contact it was sent to! The power of knowing which of your contacts are reading your messages and what they are reading within them (and when) is an online marketer's dream come true.

And it gets even better, because you are not going to believe how little all this power costs (more on that later). First however, it may be helpful to review what we mean by e-mail "drip-marketing".

E-mail Drip-Marketing —A Short Course

An e-mail drip-marketing system consists of one or more targeted "campaigns" where each campaign contains a series of messages that are automatically sent to a contact (either prospect or current client) who has subscribed (i.e. opted-in) to the campaign.

For example, suppose a first-time buyer prospect stopped by your site and requested more information. You could offer to include them into your free series of educational e-mails (i.e. your "First-Time Buyer campaign") about the entire purchase process. The following table gives you an idea on how this particular campaign might be structured:

The Day # indicates when the contact will be sent the respective message. Messages set to go out on Day 0 are sent immediately upon entry into the system. It's important to note that each contact in a particular campaign will receive their messages relative to when they were first entered and completely independent of when anyone else in the campaign receives theirs.

Prospects can opt-in to any of your campaigns via a Web form on your site (including subscribing to multiple campaigns simultaneously) or through sending a blank e-mail to a special campaign address. You can even set it up so you are notified when someone joins one of your campaigns. Remember, ProAutoresponder allows you to have as many messages as you want, with full control of when they go out.

The beauty is that you can have can have campaigns for any number of target markets or situations, such as: FSBOs, Condo Buyers, Buyers After Close, Sellers, Relocation, Waterfront Property, etc. Once set up, this kind of dynamic, interactive marketing program will start converting prospects to clients like clockwork —without any intervention on your part!

Your "Super" Autoresponder

At the very least, you can also use ProAutoresponder as a means of creating an unlimited number of simple, unique autoresponders. Here's how you set them up:

1. Create a separate campaign for each autoresponder you want to use —each with its own e-mail address (which you assign when you create the campaign);

2. Create the autoresponder message for each of these one-message "campaigns" and set the "Days #" to 0 —which means it will immediately send the autoresponder response when someone sends a blank e-mail to the appropriate address;

3. Place the address(es) of your new autoresponder(s) anywhere on your Web site or even in your e-mail signature.

You can see how this works yourself by simply sending a blank e-mail to tips@epowertips.com.  (make sure your speakers are turned on when you download this autoresponder's response e-mail.)
(NOTE: this particular demo autoresponder is set up to send only the HTML version of my message.  If you use AOL or your e-mail software cannot display HTML mail, it probably will not work properly for you.)

Keep in mind that this is the most minimal use of ProAutoresponder, yet it still out shines all other dedicated autoresponders on the market in terms of power and ease of use —oh yes, and cost.

Sometimes The Best Things In Life Are (almost) Free

Personally, I would expect a service like this to cost $100 or more per month. So you can imagine how far my jaw dropped when I saw they were only charging $17.95/mo!!! But wait, it still gets better. If you CLICK HERE you will see how to receive 33% off the monthly subscription, bringing it down to $11.99/mo! This is part of my exclusive e-Bate™ discount where I negotiate special pricing for my constituency and not a penny comes to me or my company —period.

All this power for so little.  Just remember you heard first from Mr. Internet (as usual!)

The Rest Of The Story

Whew!  This has been a lot for you to absorb in just one article. So go ahead and check out  ProAutoresponder and "play" with it for a while (they have a complete set of online training videos to help you get started fast).

PART II of this article in the upcoming April 2002 issue of ePOWER! NEWS will cover the all-important details of message content and PART III (May 2002) the design for your killer e-mail marketing campaigns.

If you ever had any doubt that e-mail was the only true "killer-app" of the Internet, ProAutoresponder should put that to rest once and for all!

PS: be sure to read the very next article of this issue where you can have the chance to win a professionally written set of e-mail marketing campaigns to go with your ProAutoresponder account and personal coaching by me on how to use them to dramatically boost your online business. (just CLICK HERE to read it now)