How to Automate Customer Follow up

When your business grows beyond its first few customers, it will become more efficient to automate certain aspects of your customer relations. If you automate customer follow up, you can retain leads with minimal effort and hopefully create repeat customers.

Instructions

Automate Customer Follow Up for Your Business

1. Create a series of concise emails to send over a period of time, usually about a week apart. These emails should be informative for the customer, offering hints and tips for using the product. You can also highlight other services that may benefit the customer.

2. Look at your e-commerce software or your customer relations management (CRM) system to see if either allows you to automate customer follow up. Even the most basic software usually allows one follow up directly after the order. Look for modules or additions that add more automated features.

3. Avoid spamming your customers. While you should follow up periodically, do not fill their mailboxes with different email newsletters and guides. Definitely do not send more than one email a week.

4. Purchase an "email autoresponder" to automate your follow up emails. Most allow you to send a series of automated emails and manual newsletters to your customers.

5. Choose autoresponder software that is easy to use. You don't want to accidentally send the same person hundreds of emails in one day simply because you didn't understand the software.

Include Helpful Information in Your Follow Up Emails

1. Offer shortcuts on software, ideas for product use and links to related services in your email. Your follow up should make the customer believe you care about him. They should not be a plea for him to buy more.

2. Include your contact information and links to your support site, if you have one. Make sure that customers know they can contact you if they have a problem. Since you are building a relationship with the follow up emails, they will most likely email you for help before they get angry with a faulty or troublesome product.

3. List accessories or related products that may be useful to the customer. Use these featured products in addition to any content you may include in the email.

4. Offer unsubscribe or opt-out directions. Even if the person has purchased something from your company in the past, she may not want your helpful emails. Avoid resentment by offering an out.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask site visitors for their email addresses. You can automate follow up emails to potential customers to help foster a relationship.