Gains Machine Blog

How to Make AutoResponders Work For You

What is Autoresponder?

An autoresponder is a computer program that automatically answers e-mail sent to it. They can be very simple or quite complex.

The first autoresponders were created within mail transfer agents that found they could not deliver an e-mail to a given address. These create bounce messages such as “your e-mail could not be delivered because…” type responses. Today’s autoresponders need to be careful to not generate e-mail backscatter, which can result in the autoresponses being considered E-mail spam.

Autoresponders are often used as e-mail marketing tools, to immediately provide information to their prospective customers and then follow-up with them at preset time intervals.

Such follow-up autoresponders can be divided into two categories:

* Outsourced ASP model — these autoresponders operate on the provider’s infrastructure and are usually configurable via a web-based control panel. The customer pays a monthly usage fee. This is easiest to implement for the end-user.

* Server-side — enables users to install the autoresponder system on their own server. This requires technical skills.

Autoresponders are also incorporated into electronic mailing list software, to confirm subscriptions, unsubscriptions, posts, and other list activities.

Where to Get Autoresponders

If your autoresponder needs are simple, such as merely sending a single message reassuring your customers that you’ll get back to them, you can probably use the free autoresponders that usually come as part of your web hosting package. The procedure to set up these autoresponders vary from web host to web host, but it is usually trivial, involving a visit to your web host’s control panel to activate it.

If you need an autoresponder to send more than one message, or if you need to schedule messages to be sent at certain intervals over a period of time, you will either need to program your mail system on your domain, or use one of the free (or commercial) autoresponder systems around (some of which are listed below).

The free autoresponder services listed below are third party services: that is, I do not run them nor do I have any control over them. In general, the services are provided free in exchange for advertising - that is, many of them place advertisements in your autoresponders (usually at the beginning). Visit the sites listed below to find out more details.

Aweber

Professional autoresponder solution with unlimited follow-up messages, HTML/plain text options, a web form generator, a wide range of HTML email templates, the ability to customize emails with up to 25 fields, and much more. Automated tools to help ensure your emails get delivered and comply with all relevant legislation.

FollowingUp

The free service level is limited to a single autoresponder, 2 messages, and a maximum of 100 subscribers. Several paid upgrades are available that remove these restrictions.

FreeAutoBot

This free autoresponder service lets you send out one or several followup messages at intervals you specify. No ads are added to your outgoing messages; the site makes money off ads on the main site, and by sending advertising messages to registered users.

Get Response

Free autoresponder service that offers unlimited autoresponders, no maximum mail length, automatic multiple messages sent over a period of time and much more. While the service is free, a short ad is included at the top of every message you send out. You can upgrade to remove the ads, and gain access to more sophisticated, advanced features.

Responders.net

Free autoresponder and form for collecting information on your site. You can set up an information request form easily, and specify what message you would like to send automatically to the people who fill in the form.

SendFree

Autoresponder service with an interesting twist: SendFree also acts like an advertising exchange service. How it works: you sign up for a SendFree account and set up your autoresponder service. At the top of every automatic reply your autoresponder sends out is a short text advertisement. Half of these are for other members’ sites. The other half are reserved for SendFree’s advertisers. In turn, your advertisement will appear at the top of messages sent out by other members.