When people join your email mailing list to receive your lead magnet (see also Domain Name Advice: 3 Tips for Your Lead Magnet), the welcome message they receive from your email autoresponder – short for “automated response email” – is a critical next step to grow your business.
While the welcome message is automated, it is personal to the person who receives it.
Treat any email autoresponder with the same level of care as you would an in-person conversation with a potential customer.
It can be the start of a long-term relationship with a professional.
It can also be the quick end to one as well.
Therefore, plant your relationships carefully and professionally – starting with an email autoresponder welcome message.
What follows are five email autoresponder tips for your welcome message, plus an email autoresponder example from this site to quickly demonstrate all five recommendations.
5 Email Autoresponder Tips for Your Welcome Message
Email Autoresponder Tip #1: Personalize your gratitude.
If you capture an email subscriber’s first name – in addition to her email address – you are able to personalize the welcome message.
It’s recommended you include a first name field in your opt-in form, but do not make the first name field mandatory (you can view an opt-in form example in the sidebar of this web page – if viewing on a desktop).
Whether you are able to include the subscriber’s first name or not, start your welcome message with a word of thanks to the person.
Email Autoresponder Tip #2: Deliver your lead magnet.
Immediately after a word of gratitude in your email autoresponder welcome message, deliver the lead magnet you promised.
If your lead magnet is a downloadable resource like a guide, do not attempt to attach the file to the welcome message (it’s an email security risk and will likely be blocked by your email service provider). Instead, provide a link to the lead magnet within your message.
Additional Note: If you are seeking project guidance on the design, integration, and marketing of a professional lead magnet to grow your email list, you may be interested in joining the new interactive Lead Magnet Project.
Email Autoresponder Tip #3: Set expectations with your subscriber.
Your email autoresponder welcome message is the perfect opportunity to set expectations with your subscribers about what’s next in terms of future messages.
Specifically, you want to be upfront about when they’ll hear from you again, how often, and what you will send them.
If you are planning to send out new content to your email list once a week, for example, it’s also recommended you pick a specific day and time each week to do so. That way, your subscribers know when to check their inboxes for your content.
Email Autoresponder Tip #4: Highlight your other resources.
Just like in your professional Lead Magnet (see the 5 Essential Characteristics of a Lead Magnet), it is appropriate to cross-reference the other resources you have available or planning to have available.
Email subscribers know you are in business (or starting one).
Do not be afraid to share resources that you feel will help people – just do so in a succinct and professional manner.
Email Autoresponder Tip #5: Reinforce your expertise in your signature.
Lastly, close your email autoresponder welcome message with your email signature.
Specifically, you will want to include your full name, your professional credentials, and a short summary of what you do.
It is also recommended you include a small photo of yourself in your email signature. It further personalizes your welcome message.
Email Autoresponder Example
For your quick reference, here is a snapshot of the current email autoresponder welcome message sent to Graceful Resources subscribers from ConvertKit. The five recommendations are labeled accordingly.
If you would like to join the email list and receive this actual welcome message, simply click here.
Thanks,
Brent
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