What Is an Automated Response Email?
You’ve probably used an auto-reply email before. It’s that handy out-of-office message that reminds everyone you are, indeed, away from your desk. It’s a standardized way to save time and direct an urgent matter to the appropriate outlet without physical input. And it’s as useful in email marketing as it is within your office!
That’s right!
Today’s blog post is all about those handy autoresponder emails.
I’m sure you’ve seen and written plenty of personal examples, but it’s time to dig into this handy tool’s use for marketing professionals. It is, after all, one of the many resources built into every email address. So, why not use it?
Defining the Automated Response
Automated responses are what they promise on the box. They’re hands-off solutions for those times you’re away from your desk. In their most basic form, they take only a few clicks to program. You write the message, set the start date, select an end date, and let your email platform handle itself.
However, you can make more advanced automatic replies, too.
Even within an internal team setting, you absolutely have the resources to program conditional replies. That may sound frightening or complicated, but I have good news: You’ve already set up two conditional statements. You’ve told your platform a date to begin sending emails and a day to stop sending them.
Now, for most office replies, conditional statements are fairly limited. I can only think of a few off the top of my head:
- Domain-based automatic replies are useful for public-facing positions. These can be programmed to use a different email template for anything sent by customers (who shouldn’t be using any internal email domains).
- Recipient-based auto-reply emails trigger if a specific person sends an email. For example, you may know that Jimmy might need help with his assignment. Being the upstanding worker you are, you save a unique response for him that will only be sent to Jimmy.
- Time-based auto-replies are an extension of your start and end date. These are handy for workplaces with set business hours.
The Automated Response in Email Marketing
Of course, within an email marketing setting, the auto-reply is a more versatile tool. Yes, it functions well as your bread-and-butter notice of, “Hey, valued customers! We’re closed right now. Here’s all the information you need to contact us later.” But it can be so much more!
Its most common application falls under the jurisdiction of conversational marketing, which is itself an offshoot of automated email marketing.
What Is Conversational Email Marketing?
The tactic is what you probably expect from its name. It’s a way to create the illusion of a live conversation. Essentially, it’s a way to ensure customers enjoy an intuitive response without the necessary human interaction.
As with any automated reply, conversational marketing relies on a series of logic gates — programmer’s speak of if/or statements. Most businesses with auto-reply marketing use a three or four-step process:
- Receipt: The email software receives and reads an email.
- Processing: The software scans the content for meaning. The question is sorted into an appropriate category.
- Response: The program chooses which of its messages best fits the situation.
- Confirmation: Optionally, the program may include additional prompts to further enhance the customer experience. This is the email marketing equivalent to the surveys you get at the end of most customer service calls.
The Benefits of Automatic Replies in Marketing
So, why should you care?
Auto-reply messages are a hassle to program and establish. Even a basic out-of-office email may take longer than you’d like to compose and program. Why, then, shouldn’t you spend your time on other resources?
Well, ultimately, the answer is — like auto-reply emails — conditional! Some companies can run perfectly well without automated responses. These brands often lack high-volume customer service departments.
However, some brands have more extensive needs within their support team. These companies are the perfect fit for automated responses!
Increase Your Efficiency
The most obvious perk of an auto-reply setup is efficiency.
Regardless of the size of your company, your ability to communicate is limited by the size of your support team. You can enter a loop of endless expansion. You can hire more and more, hoping against logic that your clients’ needs will eventually taper off. But that’s not the most efficient approach.
Automated messaging supports your support team. Like a chat bot, it parses each request before it reaches a live agent. This gives you the opportunity to sort out otherwise minor concerns. These questions can be answered immediately and without further input. Meanwhile, more complex matters are sent up the chain.
Reduce Your Overhead
These automated systems give your company more room to grow and expand. More importantly, they create the illusion of personal interaction without a requisite employee.
Yes, it’s a blunt statement. But a dollar saved is a dollar earned! An auto-reply system’s increased efficiency also translates to reduced costs for your business!
Beyond freeing your inbox and clearing your business hours for more pressing concerns, automated email templates can serve additional functions. After providing assistance, you can direct customers to your website. You can collect feedback and use that data to improve your flows. You can even direct concerned inquiries to a dedicated blog post or website article.
Start Building Your Auto-Response Content Today
Could you have ever believed the humble auto-reply email held so much potential?
While it’s an exciting prospect, there’s an important prerequisite! Auto-responses do not work if you’re using a no-reply email address. These ubiquitous marketing setups are often used to prevent technical issues (mostly due to unexpected customer replies) and reduce overhead costs. They slightly increase the overall financial benefits of marketing, but they eliminate the possibility of customer interaction!
Moreover, your brand must compose and program its new service. It’s a daunting challenge for anyone! And — as usual — small businesses will feel the squeeze the most. After all, how can you possibly have time to write one auto-reply message? A whole series of them is out of the question!
Well, here’s my last silver lining.
I’ve heard your concerns, and I established The Email Marketers for businesses like yours! My team of hand-picked pros knows how to create successful marketing campaigns that will blow your competition and clients away. We’ll set up your inbox for auto-reply functions and ensure everyone gets the assistance they need. And — best of all — we’ll do it for the right price.
Don’t just take this post’s word, though! Schedule a free strategy session to see how your business can reap the benefits of auto-reply email campaigns.
