As a small business or nonprofit, bringing in sales or donations from new and existing customers or supporters is a must-have. With email automation, you can do more and save time all by delivering the right message to the right people at the right time. Email Marketing
We're taking the most popular questions from our latest webinar and expanding upon them so you can better understand how to integrate email automation into your marketing strategy.
You can view the webinar directly through Wistia or right here on the Blog!
Have your own questions about using automation? Let us know down in the comments! We're happy to help.
What kinds of automated emails are available in my account?
You can create automated welcome emails, birthday and anniversary emails, abandoned cart emails, or a series of emails to contacts, and automatically resend emails to non-openers.
What do you include in a welcome email? Our business is mostly focused on sales.
In many cases, you may want to provide something of value to entice people to sign up to your list (a free resource, or a special offer). The first welcome email is perfect to fulfill that offer, thank them for subscribing, and let them know what to expect. Keep it short and sweet.
In email two, ask them to connect with you. This could be asking them to follow you on social media or simply how to get in touch with you if they have questions or need some sort of support.
Blog: How to Set Up an Effective Automated Welcome Email Series
Can I send a birthday email to my contacts?
Of course! Who doesn’t like getting a card in the mail to celebrate their special day? It’s the same thing when one arrives in their inbox. Create an automated birthday email to let them know you’re thinking of them. You can include a simple “Happy Birthday” message or take the extra step to include a coupon or discount. Make sure your landing pages have the birthday field activated to collect contacts’ birthdays.
Hint: Did you know we have automated anniversary templates as well? You don’t have to use this just for wedding anniversaries. Get creative with them! If you provided a service during their wedding day (looking at you, florists, and photographers), congratulate the couple and ask them to refer you to friends and family. Recognize a one-year membership to a reward program.
Do you have abandoned cart emails?
Our Shopify and WooCommerce integration includes automated abandoned cart emails so you can re-engage with a customer who may need that reminder to complete their purchase.
After someone has purchased from my business, how do we follow up with them?
If you use Shopify or WooCommerce, we have an integration allowing you to connect with your customers through your Constant Contact account. You can create an automated marketing journey for your customers based on what you’re looking to achieve. Ask for feedback on your service and how they’re liking their purchase. If they haven’t purchased from your business in a while, you can create a win-back series.
Our charity does a lot of fundraising. How do we keep our donors to stay engaged with us after their donation is made?
With an automated “thank you” email, you can remind them of your mission and where their money is going. This is a great place to include a personal message from someone who has benefited from a donation in the past! You can even make this into a series to provide something of value. While you may not be able to offer a coupon or discount, include a link to an informational pamphlet, a list of organizations that your charity works with, or an invite to an upcoming event.
Blog Article: Marketing Automation for Nonprofits
What can I do to keep the momentum going with potential clients who want to do business with me?
Leads should be acted on right away while you have their interest. An automated welcome series is an easy way to keep the momentum going without you needing to lift a finger. Continue the conversation right away by sending an instant "thank you" email and letting them know what they should expect going forward. Follow up with them a few days later to continue the conversation, inviting them to connect over social media or point them toward your website to learn more about your business.
When should I schedule a resend to non-opener email?
If it’s an email with an “expiration date” (like a coupon or signing up for an event), you’ll want to take that final date into consideration when resending an email to non-openers. This should be sent out close to the final date, maybe even the day before with a different subject line to create a sense of urgency.
For other types of emails, such as newsletters or other updates, scheduling it to send three or four days out is best (remember to change that subject line!). We don’t recommend using this feature for every sent email. Pick which emails have the highest importance and impact for your contacts.
