2nd Page of Basic Set-Up
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To make your responder of value at all, you must have at least one message in the sequential messages. The first message goes out as soon as someone joins your responder. Whether they join from eMail, a form or by manually being added or imported as Active. The only exception is if you import the lead as Archived - we'll get into that at another time. This first message is usually a 'thanks for joining' note and a little about what they can expect from you - a weekly newsletter, training, etc. The subject line and the from section (filled in by the FROM area you filled out earlier) are the most important parts of any eMail. Obviously the content is important too, but, your eMail will not get opened if the subject and from areas don't draw the readers attention. The messages you send can be either text, html or both - there are paste in boxes for both types. I will advise you that html is quickly becoming the standard. It allows you to have control over the font, color and general appearance of the message. Text is just that - text :o( Use the 'days apart' feature on each message to separate them timewise (sic). I suggest no more than 2 or 3 messages in a week. With today's SPAM issues, people do not want to see a message from you EVERY DAY. You can create an html message with Microsoft Word if you do not have a html editor (many PC's today have MS FrontPage). Be sure that you input the code and not the 'visual page'. If you don't understand this contact me. Text messages should be copied from a text editor (like notepad in Windows). If you copy it from a word processor it will have hidden characters that make the message look unusual when it is sent. After you set up your 1st message, be sure you update the sequences at the bottom of that page. My advice would be to create several messages separated by a two, three or four days before you get many subscribers in your system. If not they will be archived as soon as they receive all messages (even if it is only one message) and will only receive messages if you manually or weekly send them. For your AutoResponder to be of any use, you will need to enter your subscribers. I would suggest that you start with yourself. Go to the 'manually enter eMail address' (#4 on the right side) and fill in the form that clicking on it provides. Fill in as much as you'd like - at least eMail and first name. When you hit enter you will be sent the first sequential message. You will then receive the other messages sequentially, the number of days apart that you set them. TEST, TEST, TEST - make sure you test your message sequences. This can be done from the #2 (Click Here for visual instructions) on the right side of your admin page. The page contains fill in spots to see how the variables you use in your messages print out. Since the test is sent to you, it does not work from your subscriber database and has no variables to fill in. Be sure to fill in the 1) message to start with 2) message to end with. The manual send has its own test button. The PRO account can import names, the Starter accounts cannot. Before you are ready to import names you need a little more time, experience and information. The other ways to send messages are 'manual send' - #1 on right side of menu and 'weekly messages' - #2 on the left side of the admin menu. I would suggest that you try all of them before putting in a bunch of subscribers. Be sure to 'turn off' the weekly sends if you play around and do not want them sent out. They are set to go out every week by default. There is an on/off 'switch' in each days section. Next time around we'll get into setting up a customer sign-up form and importing leads.
Once again - Play around in your site. You cannot hurt anything. Just be careful
if you do any sends - be sure and test them 1st. The test features sends
them only to you. There are test features in all of the message areas or
from the top right of the admin page.
I look forward to hearing from you. To our mutual successes.
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