If You’ve Got A Date, You Can Automate

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By: Ceci Dadisman

Automating emails can be a huge time-saver, not to mention provide more relevant messages to the recipients. In addition to the standard automated emails sent when people sign up for your list or after a transaction, you can use date-based emails to reach your audience at the right time with the right message without having to lift a finger.

Let’s take a look at 3 date-based automated emails you can set up today:

Membership Renewals

If your organization has memberships, you should be automating your renewal emails. All you need to do is be sure you import the membership expiration date as a custom field so that you can use it as a criteria for the automation.

This will allow you to set up an automated email series that will send emails before the expiration date as well as after. Make sure you have clear calls to action in the email providing an easy way for recipients to take action.

Lapsed Donors

If you already send emails to LYBUNTS and SYBUNTS, why not automate them? As long as you are importing donors and their last contribution date into your email software, you can easily set up a series of emails to deploy when they lapse.

Make a compelling case for support and provide an easy way to make a contribution to drive email engagement.

Lapsed Visitors

Whether you’re a museum that has visitors or a performing arts organization that has ticket buyers, you can automate emails to patrons who haven’t attended in a while.  Content for these emails could include links to upcoming events or programs, or even a discount or other incentive to come back. (Anyone who knows me knows that I am generally anti-discount, but this is one of those times where it would be targeted and useful.)

Each email software handles date-based automations slightly differently, so you may need to consult the support docs to get everything set up, but you’ll be glad you did!

Pro Tip: If you use MailChimp, take a look at this quick tutorial post about how to set up a date-based automation. 

Ceci Dadisman
Author
Ceci Dadisman
Ceci Dadisman is a marketing professional with more than 15 years of experience creating effective communications campaigns utilizing innovative, forward thinking methods. She is nationally recognized as a leader in digital marketing and specializes in multichannel communications campaigns. A frequent public speaker, Ceci’s recent and upcoming engagements feature national conference appearances at NTEN, Museums and the Web, National Arts Marketing Project, Arts Midwest, American Alliance of Museums, OPERA America, Midwest Museums Association, and Chorus America in addition to many other local and regional events. Known for her easy-going and vernacular style, she creates open learning environments with an emphasis on information sharing and useful takeaways. She is a member of the National Arts Marketing Project Advisory Committee and the West Virginia University College of Creative Arts Visiting Committee, and is a mentor in West Virginia University’s Creative Consultant program. She also teaches the arts marketing course at West Virginia University’s College of Creative Arts and is on the faculty of Chorus America’s Chorus Management Institute. Ceci was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from West Virginia University’s College of Creative Arts. She currently lives in Cleveland, Ohio.
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