You can’t be everywhere at once – fact. But as the boss of your own electrical contracting business, you need to respond to all manner of enquiries in a timely manner. That’s where automated email sequences come in.
Running your own show comes with a lot of responsibility. Employees, clients and a bucketload of emails are coming at you daily. It’s the whole shebang and with it comes A LOT of questions.
Since cloning yourself isn’t a thing yet, you’re going to need a system in place to help ease the load. That’s where automated emails come in – the kind that welcome email sign-ups, follow-up requests and even politely ask for feedback to nurture new customer relationships automatically. Sounds like the work of a magician right? Here’s how you can make that magic work for an electrical contractor.
Welcome sequences
Step 1 – someone signs up to your email list. Step 2 – celebrate. Step 3 – strike while the iron’s hot! This right here is your peak window of engagement, so you’ve got to give the people what they want. Four to six emails is a general rule of thumb when it comes to a welcome series; long enough to build trust, and showcase yourself, your business and your services, without bombarding your new friend. In each of these emails be sure to use:
- A clear, engaging subject line.
- The person’s actual name, none of this ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ malarkey.
- Some stellar information – that means content that informs (tell them who you are), educates (tell them what you do) and inspires (tell them why you do it). This is your opportunity to share your brand story, encourage people to explore your website, provide genuinely useful information and even ask for feedback.
- A ‘call to action’ (or CTA) – a note at the end of the email to drive people to take action, whether that’s scheduling an appointment or requesting a quote.
Follow-up emails
Automated follow-up emails are a necessity. Done well, these cleverly crafted helpers become a direct line of communication between you and your client. A customer retention tool with measurable results to boot, these emails are best used to:
- Remind customers about an unaccepted quote.
- Confirm accepted quotes and outline next steps.
- Send a thank you note following an enquiry, again outlining next steps.
- Send a thank you note once a job has been completed, because manners matter.
- Share helpful tips at the end of a visit and even offer future services.
Feedback requests
Automated emails also give you the opportunity to ask for feedback, which is pure gold when running your own business. After all, when you know what your customers like/don’t like, you can tailor your offering accordingly. So when creating your automated ‘thank you’ email at the end of a job, consider adding in a link to a feedback survey. It doesn’t have to be a thesis, just a few simple questions for you to gauge client satisfaction, pinpoint areas for improvement and ultimately help your business grow.
Choosing an email marketing platform
Now you know what to write, you need to know where to write it and how to send it. Luckily, there are a number of email marketing platforms available to help all your automated email sequence dreams come true. When doing your research, be sure to check out the following.
- Mailchimp – an all-in-one platform that helps you create impactful marketing campaigns. It’s web-based, which means you don’t need to download or install any new software on your computer, and it comes with a whole range of guides and tutorials. They offer a free 14-day trial, with essentials, standard and premium packages available from there.
- Brevo – another all-in-one platform, Brevo invites you to work smarter, not harder. With top features including email marketing and automation, the easy-to-embed custom forms and AI content support is on hand to make the process as smooth as possible. You can sign up for free before progressing to a starter package for just $10 a month.
- Tradiemate – feel like you need an extra helping hand? Tradie Mate offers comprehensive email and digital marketing services specifically designed for tradies. The 100% Australian-owned and operated company is there to help curate automated email sequences to establish trust, generate high-quality leads and grow your business.
