If you’ve ever Gmail’s Email Template Responses can be a lifesaver for any sister site owner. Not only does it save you from retyping the same email over and over, but your business will grow faster when you’re able to respond quickly to inquiries.
If you haven’t use Template Responses yet, it’s simple! Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Click the “Gear” on the top right corner of your Gmail. (Located directly underneath where you see your email account.) Select Settings.
Step 2: Once inside settings, select the “Labs” Tab. You’ll “Search for a Lab” by typing “Canned Response“.
Step 3: Select “Enable” when the “Canned Response by Chad P” appears and make sure you SAVE SETTINGS!
You’re all set to create a new canned response!
Step 4: Open a new email and compose your canned response.
NOTE: The canned response copies anything in this email, so if you plan to change web stats or the recipient’s name, this might be a good place to put a ______ to remind you that it can’t be sent until this is filled in.
ALSO NOTE: A saved canned response will also copy any footer or signature that appears when you start a new email. To not duplicate the signature when you reuse your response, remove the footer BEFORE saving your canned response.
Step 5: Once you’re satisfied with your canned response template, scroll to the bottom right of the email where you’ll see a downward arrow that allows you to select from a dropdown menu. Select “Canned Response” –> Save. Label your Canned Response email so that you can easily reference it the next time.
When you’re ready to use the canned response, you’ll compose a new email –> Select from the Canned Response from the dropdown menu –> Insert selected Canned response.
For your use, the following sister sites have provided the following Generic Canned Responses for various situations. Enjoy!
Incoming Inquiries:
General Media Kit Inquiry:
SAMPLE #1
Subject Line: Information you requested from {City} Mom/Moms/Mom Collective
_________,
Thanks for your request! I have attached our quick information sheet that will give you some additional information about who we are, what we do, and how to get involved. As the blog is growing rapidly, we’re excited to promote products and services that our readers will love, so we’re definitely interested in chatting.
Take a look at the attached, and when you are ready to partner please reach out to our (Sales Manager/Owner/etc): [email protected]. She can answer all your questions and work with you to create a package that will best meet your needs!
Looking forward to promoting your business!
SAMPLE #2
Thank you so much for your interest in {City} Moms. We would love to hear a bit more about your goals and the type of exposure you’re looking for, and learn more about your business. If you could provide more information, we will be able to provide more information and strategize about how we can partner together.
We look forward to hearing from you,
Received a Press Release about a New Product/Service:
SAMPLE #1
Hi there!
Thank you so much for reaching out to {City} Moms and sharing a little bit about this great product! This is absolutely something that would be of interest to both our contributing writers and target market — {city} moms, and we would love to help spread the word to our large and growing readership base (almost ____K uniques in the past 30 days).
That said, as you can imagine, we receive dozens of inbound inquiries about products and services geared towards moms. In order to remain equitable to our other paying advertisers and cover our overhead, we do charge for social media and advertising on our platform though. I’d love the opportunity to tell you more about how you can utilize some of your marketing budget via our site. Or if you are only exploring press at this time, then I would still be happy to see if anyone from our team is interested in trying out your brand – just please know that we cannot guarantee social media/advertising without a contract in place. I hope you can understand how that wouldn’t be fair to others who pay for the services.
In either case, we are so excited for all that your brand has in store for local {City} moms – and whether we try it out just for fun or if we establish a more formal business relationship, we can’t wait to watch your brand grow!
SAMPLE #3 {Courtesy of Alamo City Moms}
Good afternoon ____,
Thank you so much for reaching out! _____ would be a wonderful brand for us to partner with here in {City} and we have a strong readership base in the areas where your stores/products/services are located (or something applicable). I’ve attached our Fast Facts sheet to give you an idea of our reach. As {City}‘s top parenting website, our efforts to connect with local parents are intentional, well thought out, and strategic.
We do have a number of paid marketing opportunities available to connect with our audience and would love to set up a time to discuss what a partnership might look like in more detail. Our opportunities range from budget-friendly giveaways to multi-level partnerships. We also host events for our readers on a regular basis and I could see an event like _____( specific to their brand) being a fun attraction.
Please let me know what type of budget you might have available for partnering with us and I’d be happy to talk with you and put together a custom proposal.
Many thanks,
Received a Press Release/Invitation for a Local Event:
SAMPLE #1 {Courtesy of Houston Moms}
Hi there!
Thank you so much for reaching out to {City} Moms and including us in this exciting event! This is absolutely something that would be of interest to both our contributing writers and target market — {City} moms, and we would love to help spread the word to our large and growing readership base (almost _____K uniques in the past 30 days).
That said, as you can imagine, we receive dozens of inbound inquiries to cover local events around town. In order to remain equitable to our other paying advertisers and cover our overhead, we do charge for social media and advertising on our platform though. I’d love the opportunity to tell you more about how you can utilize some of your marketing budget via our site. Or if you are only exploring press at this time, then I would still be happy to see if anyone from our team is interested in attending for fun – just please know that we cannot guarantee social media/advertising without a contract in place. I hope you can understand how that wouldn’t be fair to others who pay for the services.
In either case, we are so excited for all that your brand has in store for local {City} moms – and whether we attend just for fun or if we establish a more formal business relationship, we can’t wait to watch your brand grow!
SAMPLE #2 {Courtesy of Twin Cities Mom Collective}
Thank you so very much for reaching out to {City} Moms and including us about this exciting event. We are absolutely positive that this is something that would be of interest to both our contributing writers and target market:: {City} moms. That said, as you can imagine, we receive dozens of inbound inquiries to cover local events around town. In order to remain equitable to our other paying advertisers and cover our overhead, we do charge for social media and advertising on our platform. I’d love the opportunity to tell you more about how you could utilize some of your marketing budget via our site.
If you are only exploring press at this time, we understand — and I would still be happy to see if anyone from our team is interested in attending for fun, but we cannot guarantee social media/advertising without a contract in place. I hope you can understand how that wouldn’t be fair to others who pay for the services. In either case, we are excited to see your business find a permanent place in {City} – and whether we attend just for fun or if we establish a more formal business relationship, we can’t wait to watch your client grow!
SAMPLE #3 {Courtesy of Cincinnati Mom Collective}
Thanks so much for thinking of us. {City} Moms Blog is all about supporting moms in our community with resources and information, so this is right up our alley! We receive a high volume of these types of requests and unfortunately, we won’t be able to make this one with our other commitments, but please keep us informed about future events.
Even though we can’t be there in person we’d be happy to do a Facebook “shout out” about the event. We charge $___ for this type of quick promotion and that includes a “boost” to increase the reach of the post – which is typically _____+. If you’re interested in this or reaching the moms in our network another way, please let me know – we’d love to put together a custom package for you.
I’ve attached our partnership information for you to keep on file as you plan your next events.
Thanks again,
More Generic Sample Response Emails can be seen HERE on the Resource Website under Email Marketing!
Replies After Initial Email:
Business Response when only Looking for Trade:
SAMPLE #1 {Courtesy of Houston Moms}
Hi there!
Thanks so much for your swift reply. Unfortunately, though we are not accepting any trades at this time.
Unlike your typical mommy blog, we are not just one person writing – but a full-fledged parenting website and a resource that publishes content seven days a week hosts major events, and wears a number of other hats within the community. It takes several of us just to run the business to the standards that we have set, so while individual bloggers may be more amenable to trade – it doesn’t fit our particular model very well.
We certainly hope you understand, and we hope to find ways to get you on board as a sponsor soon!
Business Response when only Looking for Giveaway:
SAMPLE #1 {Courtesy of Dallas Moms}
We’d love to partner with you, and have a variety of ways we can help your brand reach our audience!
Here are just a few of the standard options we have:
– Facebook Flash Giveaway ($___)
– Social Media Giveaway ($___)
– Sponsored Review & Giveaway ($___)
In detail, a Facebook Flash Giveaway is exactly what it sounds like! We’ll promote a giveaway to our readers using Facebook only and lasting for 24 hours. 1 Winner will be randomly selected from within the Likes and Comments of a Facebook Post describing your business, linking to your FB page, and details of the giveaway. (Notes about this type of Giveaway: 1) We must disclose that you’re a sponsor on all Facebook-related promotions. 2) We Highly Highly encourage businesses to add additional Facebook Boosting to their Facebook Giveaways as Facebook is, unfortunately, a “pay to play”. 3) Any photos used in the Facebook promotion must contain less than 20% text in order to be “boosted”)
A Social Media Giveaway is a good middle between a Facebook Flash Giveaway and a Sponsored Review/Giveaway. We’ll provide a short bio of your business with a website link and photos on our Giveaway Page and promote the giveaway through all of our social media channels throughout the 5-7 day live giveaway. We use Gleam to ensure that all giveaway requirements are met and valid. We can also choose from a wide variety of options on how you’d like our readers to enter. (Visiting a FB page, Following on Twitter, Pinning an image, etc.) At the end of the run, a winner is chosen and announced. Once the giveaway ends, the promotion is removed.
Finally, a Sponsored Review & Giveaway is a sponsored post with your own dedicated day on our site. A review is a 500-850 word review with images about your business. The post is promoted on all social media channels and will be sent out to our Mailing List of _____. We use Gleam to ensure that all giveaway requirements are met and valid. We can also choose from a wide variety of options on how you’d like our readers to enter. (Visiting a FB page, Following on Twitter, Pinning an image, etc.) At the end of the run, a winner is chosen and announced. The sponsored review remains on our website indefinitely for searches.
We also work with businesses on creating custom packages. Please let us know what specifically you’re marketing needs are, and we’d love to help you further and share our full media kit with you. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Cold Pitch Pursuits:
SAMPLE #1 {Courtesy of Cincinnati Moms Blog}
Hello ________,
My name is ______ and I manage business development for {City} Moms Blog. We create a community for {City} moms (and kids of course!) on and offline through our blog and in-person events. We’re written by moms for moms, and we’re looking to connect our readers with resources in our area. __(Insert Business Name)__ came across my desk as something our readers might have interest in because __________________.
I have attached a quick information sheet that shares more about who we are, our community of ___________+ readers, and some of the ways we partner with local businesses to bring great products and services to them. If you are interested in growing your business and connecting directly with a powerful segment of buyers (moms!), we’d love to partner with you.
Please take a look at some of our partnership options and let me know how we can help.
More Cold Pitch Emails can be seen HERE on the Resource Website under Advertising!
Current Advertisers:
Image Ad Stats Report to Current Advertisers:
SAMPLE #1 {Courtesy of Dallas Moms Blog}
Good Afternoon,
Attached you’ll find a screenshot of the previous month’s ad results. The top line is how your ad has done overall (or since your last renewal). The graph shows your ad for the current month. Blue is clicks and orange is impressions.
As a reminder:: All sidebar ads are placed on our daily newsletter. Currently, our newsletter open rate is at ____% of ______ subscribers. Unfortunately, we’re unable to easily track these CTR’s and impressions. So be aware there are impressions and click-throughs that aren’t being tracked through that medium that won’t be shown on your monthly report!
Please take a look and let me know if you have questions!
Contributor Responses:
Contributors Moving On:
SAMPLE #1 {Courtesy of RGV Moms}
Thank you so much for being a writer for the {City} Moms. We have been truly blessed to have you as a contributor and really appreciate all that you did to share with and help the moms in our community. There is no doubt that you have made a difference in our community.
If in the future you ever have something to share on the blog, we invite you to do so as a guest contributor. Once a {City}Moms Contributor, always a {City} Moms Contributor!
Best wishes and know that we love and appreciate you!
Sincerely,
Contributors Not Following Through With Commitments:
SAMPLE #1 {Courtesy of RGV Moms}
I hope all is well! We are coming up on the third month of posts and want to reach out to see if we can be of assistance. If you are having trouble with WordPress or brainstorming for a topic, we can help you out with this.
We have a policy about missing three posts and completely understand if you are not able to fulfill the role of being a contributor at this time. If this is the case please let us know this week. As mothers, we know how full our cup can get and how quickly.
___MB always has the option of guest contributor for those moms that have written with us for a season or still have something to say but just not on a regular basis. If a post is not ready this week, and you are not able to be a regular contributor, this is something to consider down the line.