Email Autoresponder - Is this Tool in YOUR Tool Chest?

If you are new to the web, are not sure how an Autoresponder can help you, or not sure which direction to go, this article may be exactly what you are searching for.

Without Autoresponders in your Tool Chest, you can be severely handicapped in your online business.

You might be asking; "What is an Autoresponder?" "What makes an Autoresponder an extremely powerful marketing tool?" "Why should I use Autoresponders in my on-line business?"

Those are some very important questions and I will attempt to clarify the muddy waters.

1. What is an Autoresponder?

An Autoresponder is an e-mail program located on a mail server, set up with single or multiple pre-programmed messages. It is designed to automatically send a pre-programmed message back to the person requesting e-mail be sent to them from the Autoresponder's e-mail address. You may have heard them called mailbots, infobots, autobots, automailers, e-mail-on-demand, or responders.

2. How do they work?

Any place that you can put an e-mail address (ads in ezines, a signature file, on your website, or in articles such as this) and the reader wants more information will be a good place for an Autoresponder Address.

When a person clicks on the Autoresponder's Address, a blank e-mail message can be sent and within minutes the requested information will be in the In Box of the sender.

3. Why should I use Autoresponders in my on-line business?

One of the major assets of using an Autoresponder is the 24 hour-7 days a week feature of being on-line and able to respond to any type of request for information.

Some ideas for using Autoresponder are: You can make an Autoresponder for FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions) If you publish a newsletter, people can read a copy before subscribing. Training Courses are real popular today. Once you set it up, it just runs automatically without any hands on input from you. Price lists, sales, discounted items, are some of the Information Autoresponders you can have on your website. If you publish your own newsletter and have paid advertising, you can create a media pack with pricing and ad format information. Free Reports or any free information of that nature will be good for an Autoresponder.


4. What makes an Autoresponder an Extremely Powerful Marketing Tool?

One of the best ways to get traffic to your website, besides the Search Engines, is to place ads or articles in newsletters.

With a paid ad, you are really limited to the amount of information you can place in the ad. One common type of ad is the "Teaser" ad. What this means is that you place an ad that will capture the persons interest and have an Autoresponder set up as a sales letter to provide more information

Articles are an excellent way to build traffic and sales. While writing an article, you must remember to not be blatant with your promotion. Articles are meant for information and your personal promotion should be saved for an Autoresponder. Just put your Autoresponder Address in appropriate place in the article or the signature file and you are home free.

5. Where can I find Autoresponders?

A quick and simple way to find Autoresponders is to go to your favorite Search Engine and enter the keyword: Autoresponder. You will come up with numerous results from the Search Engines.

Basically, there are three different types of Autoresponders;

A. Free - Comes with an advertisement on your responder page or you have to join their mailing list. Most offer a paid yearly package if you don't want their advertising on your responder page.

B. Web Host - Some hosting packages have Autoresponders included in their hosting package. Some are very limited in what you can do.

C. Paid - If you are looking for an Autoresponder and a way to make some money each and every month, the paid ones may be for you. Most of these type of Autoresponders also include an Associate Program that will pay you a percentage of the monthly cost for referrals on two levels. With a little work and advertising, you can end up with a really nice monthly check. 

6. What should I look for in an Autoresponder?

A. Size - Some Autoresponders limit you on the size of your message. That can severely handicap your marketing program.

B. Personalize - The newer type of Autoresponder will capture the Sender's Name and E-mail Address and insert the name in the Autoresponder message. That will make it look as though it is a personal message from you.

C. Traffic Log - You must be able to have a daily traffic log to enable you to track your advertising endeavors. With out a log you will not be able to see which ads work and which do not.

D. Multiple Messages - The paid Autoresponders are usually the only ones that will offer this benefit. It has been proven that the average sale will take 5-7 contacts. With Multiple Messages, you can provide that contact.

E. Free/Unlimited Updates - With all the changes that are happening on the Internet, you must have an Autoresponder that will allow you to make changes as you need to. Without the ability to update, you can't change prices, add new free content, add new information about yourself or your website. I hope that I have cleared the waters, maybe even a little bit, with this article. There is just so much that is happening and changing on the Internet, a Netpreneur must use every tool in his/her arsenal to lighten the workload. Autoresponders, once they are set up, will enable a person to concentrate on other aspects of their on-line business.