Build Subscription Paths With Automation

Inbox Ideas | Email Marketing Tips by AWeber

Posted by Justin Premick

Many customers qualify their subscribers over time so that they can better target their mailings.

This often involves sending out messages from a “main” or “general” list that all subscribers sign up to. When subscribers later express interest in more specific information, the customer has them sign up to another, more targeted list. Alternately, subscribers purchase a product and request product-related information.

As you create your own subscription path, you can ensure that your customers or other targeted lists do not receive the “general” list’s messages by using a Lead Automation Rule.

To set up an automation rule:

Login to your account and select your “main” or “general” list.
Click List Settings.

List Settings Tab

Click the Automation subheading.

Automation Link

From the Actions dropdown menu, choose the unsubscribe-on-subscribe option

Actions Dropdown Menu

From the List dropdown menu, choose the customer or more targeted list that subscribers will add to.

List Dropdown Menu

Click the Update Actions button.

Update Actions Button

Now, anytime someone signs up to the next list in your subscription path, he/she will be automatically unsubscribed from your “main” or “general” list.

I most commonly see this employed by users to follow up with customers, but there are certainly other potential uses as well.

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7 Responses

David G
October 31st, 2006 at 8:55 pm

Guys - keep up the posting, I love it!

Would be great to see some posts on where you think email marketing is heading - What’s your predictions for the future?

Keep well,
Dave.
Vincent Wright
November 1st, 2006 at 12:43 am

Greetings,

here is how I used to segment the list into Prospects (those who use the free version) and customers (those who use the pro): I created a custom variable and then created two views: Free and Pro that segment the list depending on the value of this custom variable.

Now I face the problem that I cannot send different follow-ups to different views. I found that solution might be creating a new mailing list and "moving" some subscribers to the list.

Here is the problem again: I CANNOT move subscribers between lists manually. I learned this from online chat session with the support rep (btw, your online chat rocks!).

Is there a painless solution to this problem?

Thanks in advance.

P.S.

I know that one of the ways for users to switch from one list to the other is to re-subscribe to the other list. Since I’m using double opt-in process I have a question. Is confirmation email sent again in this case?
Justin Premick
November 3rd, 2006 at 9:27 am

Vincent,

To address your question in detail we need to know more specifics about how your subscribers are signing up to your lists. I have sent you an email with some questions to start addressing this issue.

For faster service, please send all questions regarding your account directly to our excellent Support Team.
Ranko Magami
November 4th, 2006 at 1:05 pm

Thanks for this. It was informative.
Stan smith
December 8th, 2006 at 9:32 pm

This is a powerful technique!

I am setting up my "Sub Lists" now. My gut tells me that this will help cut down on unsubscriptions while allowing me to better target my backend products.

Great post!
Sue Melin
December 14th, 2006 at 4:30 pm

I’ve always been frustrated with this–too many times, after subscribing to a newsletter and then opting in for a more advanced newsletter from the same company, I have received the redundant basic mailer in addition to the more advanced ezine they offered. I have always wondered how this could be corrected and automated. Now, if someone signs up for an online
brochure AND a mailer, I can simply send them my online travel-zine.
Cool.
Sue Melin
December 14th, 2006 at 4:34 pm

By the way, I think I’ll sign up for your service. I just hope that you don’t *automatically* quit sending these tips, once I do!