When was the last time you reviewed your sales auto-responder message to customers –(after they receive a product/service or your specific offering)? The typical auto response message normally contains the messages of “thanks for your business, feel free to check out our other products and services, etc.”. Does your post-sale auto response message list a phone number to improve connection with clients? The auto-responder message doesn’t have to be a sales pitch every time, but if it is memorable the result may be a closer connection to your customers.

It’s not much different than the exceptional customer service examples of Zappos. The stories of calling Zappos customer service representatives and asking for the best pizza restaurants are classic examples of sincerely going above and beyond with the unique corporate culture.

The classic auto responder message that set the stage of different way of thinking was the message from Derek Sivers, founder of CD Baby. This is what customers received with their auto responder message after a CD purchase:

“Your CD has been gently taken from our CD Baby shelves with sterilized contamination-free gloves and placed onto a satin pillow.“

“A team of 50 employees inspected your CD and polished it to make sure it was in the best possible condition before mailing.“

“Our packing specialist from Japan lit a candle and a hush fell over the crowd as he put your CD into the finest gold-lined box that money can buy.“

“We all had a wonderful celebration afterwards and the whole party marched down the street to the post office where the entire town of Portland waved “Bon Voyage!” to your package, on its way to you, in our private CD Baby jet on this day, Friday, June 6th.“

“I hope you had a wonderful time shopping at CD Baby. We sure did. Your picture is on our wall as “Customer of the Year“. We‘re all exhausted but can‘t wait for you to come back to The Largest Independent Music Store in the World!!“

It does make big business feel more personal by a sincere post sale auto response message. As we all look at new opportunities to build larger connections with our customers, consider writing a sincere message with your auto responder. Sure you can add a video, but a short story based auto-responder can build more following over time.

Consider checking out Sivers 2011 book, Anything You Want.

Blaze your own trail and be Memorable!