How to set up GetResponse for email marketing

Sending emails is still the best way to connect with a customer directly and convert contacts into sales. GetResponse markets itself as the world’s easiest email marketing system and you can get started with it in as easy as 1-2-3. 

What is email marketing?

Email marketing is a coordinated campaign designed to deliver timely automated emails or an email newsletter motivating a customer to act- whether to buy, sign up, download, or whatever else your business needs. It allows you to send strong, valuable content to every person that expresses interest in what you have to offer. The autoresponder is what automatically delivers these emails.

Prospective customers interested in your product or service can join your email list and learn everything that they need to know to make an informed buying decision. This engagement process can turn them into a loyal customer.

Lead generation starts when you share the essentials with your targeted audience. These are the people who will most likely benefit from your product or service.

What is a newsletter?

A newsletter is content sent by an organization or company to an audience to inform them of the latest news, or of sales and promotions that they are currently running. It can be sent out daily, weekly, monthly or annually.  

Do you know of those magazine ads that you or your parents may be receiving in your mailbox? A newsletter is very similar to that but in this case, it is sent via email instead of a snail mail. Newsletters differ a bit since they can be more interactive than your average direct mail promotion. They can include links to webpages and videos, contain files to download, and give your subscribers direct access to your by replying to the newsletter.

What is an email autoresponder?

An email autoresponder is a group of email messages sent out in sequential order. This is often referred to as an “email autoresponder sequence.”

These sequences are activated based on a triggered event. For instance, when somebody enters their email address into a web form, that is treated as a triggered event that will activate an “email autoresponder sequence.” A well-crafted email autoresponder sequence can yield incredible profits in your business.

The anatomy of an email list

Before sending out your first email, you must understand how building an email list works. The first step is to get your website visitor to fill out a web form. Once they submit their information, a sequence of events occurs before they are actually added to your email list.

The most important part is the Confirmation Email. This is where permission to add them to your list is requested and granted.

This email contains a link that your subscriber needs to click to be added to your list successfully. Once they click the link, it will permit you to send them emails. They will be added to your email list and start the first step of the autoresponder sequence.

GetResponse email marketing

GetResponse is an email marketing platform that provides additional features like landing pages, webinar hosting, and marketing automation. It delivers the service in a variety of languages to over 180 countries. (READ: GetResponse Review: Why use it to grow your email list)

GetResponse sells itself as the world’s easiest email marketing system. The platform makes it simple and hassle-free to create professional-looking emails and landing pages with its simple drag and drop editor.

Moreover, the email intelligence feature of GetResponse allows you to measure the impact of your campaigns and improve them. You can track, gauge, and analyze your efforts to know what works for your audience. The tool empowers you to view several customer segments, measure site conversions, compare follow-ups, and quickly make intelligent decisions.

GetResponse hosts a detailed Help Center where you can find answers to your common queries. They also provide 24/7 support through live chat and email. The whole experience is excellent, and the third-party integrations extend what you can achieve with this email marketing platform.

Overview of GetResponse 

The landing page feature is unique for newsletter tools, especially for one that offers high-level customization options. Another feature that’s worth mentioning is the automation. It allows you to set up automated campaigns based on triggers/conditions like clicks on your website. While other email marketing platforms offer automation, most are not as powerful or user-friendly.

GetResponse is a complete online marketing solution. It provides turnkey newsletter publishing and hosting features and unlimited follow-up autoresponders, landing pages, webinars, marketing automation, and CRM. These will deliver information to your contacts and convert them into paying customers.

Through responsible and fully automated list hygiene, anti-spam practices, and established relationships with internet service providers and email service providers, GetResponse provides the highest possible email deliverability to ensure that your messages get through to your prospective customers.

GetResponse has the following highlights:

  •       Over 100,000 active accounts
  •       30-day free trial
  •       Deliverability of up to 68% higher than competitors
  •       Unlimited emails
  •       Powerful, automatic message personalization
  •       Smart tracking features

Upon signing up with GetResponse, you will be supported every step of the way through excellent customer support and materials. You will benefit from industry-leading email deliverability, which GetResponse consistently maintains through solid relationships with ISPs, proactive delivery initiatives, and strong anti-spam commitment. 

How to plan and send your first Email Marketing campaign

Sending your first email marketing campaign might feel like a challenge. Below is an action plan that can help you prepare and impact your target audience and your business.

  1.       Set smart campaign goals

Smart means specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. For best results, set smart goals in your email marketing strategy, such as:

  •       Get an average open rate of 23% by the end of the year
  •       Increase click-through rates by 15% in 3 months
  •       Improve conversion by 10% in 6 months
  •       Retrieve 20% of abandoned carts
  •       Sell $200 worth of products through your campaign. 
  1.       Determine the Call-to-Actions (CTAs)

Start your campaign by answering the most important question: what do you want your subscribers to do as a result of this campaign? The answer to this question will clarify the business objective and set directions for your campaign.

It will help you create the best call-to-action for your emails, such as:

  •       View offer
  •       Read more
  •       Find a store
  •       Shop now
  •       Shop [product] 
  1.       Choose an email segment.

If you are collecting information about your contacts and divide your contact list into segments- groups of contacts sharing common characteristics. Segmentation allows you to target your campaigns and reach the right people with the right content.

Here are a few examples of segments based on shopping behavior.

  •       Deal seekers
  •       Frequent buyers
  •       Cart abandoners
  •       Seasonal shoppers
  •       Impulsive customers 
  1.       Prepare your email templates.

Now that you know your calls-to-action, you need to choose the right email template. Customize it to reflect your brand identity, and craft the copy to convey the message.

Come up with a compelling subject line and a preheader that will encourage your contacts to open the email. 

  1.       Create a marketing automation workflow

If your campaign consists of several emails, arrange them to create a logical communication flow—use conditions, actions, and filters to plan the best workflow that will trigger your emails automatically. 

  1.       Test and optimize

Track crucial data to see if you reach your goals. Track conversion and revenue to measure your email marketing ROI. Each successful campaign or a money-making workflow is a business case for more budget.

How to create and configure your first campaign in GetResponse

  1.       Enter Campaign Name
  •       If this is your first campaign, enter the campaign name.
  •       Create your campaign. 
  1.       Edit Campaign Settings
  •       Choose Edit Campaign Settings.
  1.       General Settings
  •       Turn this setting on if you would like people to send an email and be added to your campaign. You can also choose to have the email forwarded to your personal email address.
  •       Enter an email address that you would like to receive an email whenever someone is added to your campaign.
  •       This is the same address you used when you set up your account. It will display at the bottom of every email you send. 
  1.       Profile Settings
  •       Give your campaign a descriptive title. It will be shown on your Unsubscribe page and will be a good reminder to your contacts what your list is about.
  •       Select a category from the drop-down that best describes your intentions.
  •       Use 2-3 sentences to describe your list. It will be visible to your audience when they click on the unsubscribe link. It can also serve as a reminder of why they joined and help keep them on your list.
  •       You can share this link with people to add to their RSS feeder and get updated every time you send a newsletter. 
  1.       Permission Settings
  •       This is where you set your list to single or double opt-in.
  •       A confirmation message is the first message they will receive from you once added to your list. It contains the activation link to confirm their opt-in.
  •       Click the drop-down.
  •       Click the “Customize confirmation message” button if you do not want to use the default system message.
  •       The confirmation page is what your subscribers see once they click the link in the confirmation email. If you have created a page on your website, use that URL. Otherwise, choose “Hosted by GetResponse.”

 

Email marketing is powerful and GetResponse makes it easy and affordable for business owners to get started. 

Utilize GetResponse’s various features – from prebuilt marketing funnels to a mobile-optimized landing page builder, automation, and intuitive drag and drop creator – to get the best ROI results from your email marketing campaign.