Attributes Of A Good Autoresponder
| Category: Autoresponders | Date: 2002-12-20 |
An autoresponder is a godsend to all webmasters, in that it allows promotional and other kinds of materials to be automated. This frees up the webmasters time to do other tasks, while still providing a two-way communication with site visitors.
Some good examples of autoresponder use include:
1. Simple acknowledgement - Any time a visitor leaves something at your web site, whether it be a guestbook entry or a joke, you want to be sure and send at least one (and usually only one in this case) autoresponder message thanking them. This acknowledges what they have done, and puts your site name and message in front of them one more time.
For this type of autoresponder, the best solution is to use a guestbook or form routine which allows for an acknowledging email.
2. Multi-part promotional materials - if you are selling a product, it's always wise to put that product in front of people as many times as you can. By allowing people to sign up for autoresponders you can automate this process and make it more likely that people will purchase your products.
This almost requires a paid autoresponder. Why paid? Because you probably would do best not to mix the advertisements from the autoresonder company in with your own message. Also, you probably want to make these message fancy, with HTML formatting and perhaps an ebook attachment.
3. Newsletters - If you have a newsletter which is not time-dependent, then setting it up as an autoresponder makes sense. Your visitors can subscribe and start at the beginning and receive issues on whatever basis you desire. All you need to do is make sure there are enough issues to keep the pipeline full.
Again, this is best done with a paid autoresponder. You will have to choose wisely and find an autoresponder which allows unlimited messages. If not, then the newsletter will eventually stop.
4. Training materials and tutorials - Autoresponders are excellent ways to send daily, weekly or periodic training and tutorials to visitors. Let them sign up for a short course in something, then put a dozen emails in front of them for several weeks or even months.
Free autoresponders (with advertisements) are fine for these types of things, as your sales pitch is probably not so obvious (although it should still be present).
5. Articles and other similar items - You can allow people to request articles or other information via autoresponder.
These autoresponders are best of the type provided by most paid hosts. In general, I've found that paid web hosts offer "unlimited autoresponders" as a feature of their hosting service. These are simple, one message autoresponders, but they are very useful for just an article or some such thing.
Some of the features that you should be looking for in a paid autoresponder include those listed below. When I am paying for an autoresponder, I look for ALL of these features even if I don't use them. I've found that autoresponders should be like web sites - they should be changed occasionally or they get stale. Thus, while you might not need HTML messages at the outset, you may find yourself changing over later.
Unlimited "free" autoresponders - When you purchase an autoresponder, you get one single email address on which you can define one or more messages to be sent to people by return mail. That's all you get for your purchase price. Many services also provide "free" (ad supported) autoresponders which are less functional. The advantage of using these autoresponders is, of course, that they are free. The disadvantage is, of course, they contain advertisements and are usually less functional.
Unlimited number of follow-up message - The best autoresponders allow you to defined as many follow-up messages as you want. They should allow at least 52 (one message per week for an entire year) for your payment amount.
Easily personalized - This is vital. You will want to personalize your autoresponder with any data entered by people who sign up. You should at least be able to insert their name and email address at any point.
Flexible scheduling - Once per day, every day. If you want to schedule 50 autoresponders for fifty days, then so be it. Once a week, every other week, or any odd schedule you want. This flexibility is essential.
Good web based interface - All management of your autoresponder should be done through an easy-to-use web interface. Don't settle for anything else. You need to be able to add, modify and delete subscribers, edit messages and schedules, and look at statistics. All from your browser wihout much effort on your part.
Changes made to messages effect all subscribers - If you make changes to the 3rd message, for example, then everyone who has not yet received the 3rd message should get the updated copy, not the copy that existed when they signed up.
Ability to send HTML or text and to mix them up as needed - You must be able to choose HTML or text messages as needed. Sometimes you may want to send all your messages in HTML, sometimes all in text, and sometimes you may, for whatever reason, want some in each format. This should be up to you.
Ability to add attachments - Attachments are a great feature in an autoresponder. You can then add things like a free ebook, for example, or a sample of wallpaper or something to that effect.
About the Author
Richard Lowe Jr. is the webmaster of Internet Tips And Secrets. This website includes over 1,000 free articles to improve your internet profits, enjoyment and knowledge.
Web Site Address: internet-tips.net
Weekly newsletter: http://www.internet-tips.net/joinlist.htm
Daily Tips: internet-tips@GetResponse.com
Claudia Arevalo-Lowe is the webmistress of Internet Tips And Secrets and Surviving Asthma. Visit her site at http://survivingasthma.com
List of articles available for reprint: article-list@internet-tips.net
articles@internet-tips.net
http://www.internet-tips.net
Some good examples of autoresponder use include:
1. Simple acknowledgement - Any time a visitor leaves something at your web site, whether it be a guestbook entry or a joke, you want to be sure and send at least one (and usually only one in this case) autoresponder message thanking them. This acknowledges what they have done, and puts your site name and message in front of them one more time.
For this type of autoresponder, the best solution is to use a guestbook or form routine which allows for an acknowledging email.
2. Multi-part promotional materials - if you are selling a product, it's always wise to put that product in front of people as many times as you can. By allowing people to sign up for autoresponders you can automate this process and make it more likely that people will purchase your products.
This almost requires a paid autoresponder. Why paid? Because you probably would do best not to mix the advertisements from the autoresonder company in with your own message. Also, you probably want to make these message fancy, with HTML formatting and perhaps an ebook attachment.
3. Newsletters - If you have a newsletter which is not time-dependent, then setting it up as an autoresponder makes sense. Your visitors can subscribe and start at the beginning and receive issues on whatever basis you desire. All you need to do is make sure there are enough issues to keep the pipeline full.
Again, this is best done with a paid autoresponder. You will have to choose wisely and find an autoresponder which allows unlimited messages. If not, then the newsletter will eventually stop.
4. Training materials and tutorials - Autoresponders are excellent ways to send daily, weekly or periodic training and tutorials to visitors. Let them sign up for a short course in something, then put a dozen emails in front of them for several weeks or even months.
Free autoresponders (with advertisements) are fine for these types of things, as your sales pitch is probably not so obvious (although it should still be present).
5. Articles and other similar items - You can allow people to request articles or other information via autoresponder.
These autoresponders are best of the type provided by most paid hosts. In general, I've found that paid web hosts offer "unlimited autoresponders" as a feature of their hosting service. These are simple, one message autoresponders, but they are very useful for just an article or some such thing.
Some of the features that you should be looking for in a paid autoresponder include those listed below. When I am paying for an autoresponder, I look for ALL of these features even if I don't use them. I've found that autoresponders should be like web sites - they should be changed occasionally or they get stale. Thus, while you might not need HTML messages at the outset, you may find yourself changing over later.
Unlimited "free" autoresponders - When you purchase an autoresponder, you get one single email address on which you can define one or more messages to be sent to people by return mail. That's all you get for your purchase price. Many services also provide "free" (ad supported) autoresponders which are less functional. The advantage of using these autoresponders is, of course, that they are free. The disadvantage is, of course, they contain advertisements and are usually less functional.
Unlimited number of follow-up message - The best autoresponders allow you to defined as many follow-up messages as you want. They should allow at least 52 (one message per week for an entire year) for your payment amount.
Easily personalized - This is vital. You will want to personalize your autoresponder with any data entered by people who sign up. You should at least be able to insert their name and email address at any point.
Flexible scheduling - Once per day, every day. If you want to schedule 50 autoresponders for fifty days, then so be it. Once a week, every other week, or any odd schedule you want. This flexibility is essential.
Good web based interface - All management of your autoresponder should be done through an easy-to-use web interface. Don't settle for anything else. You need to be able to add, modify and delete subscribers, edit messages and schedules, and look at statistics. All from your browser wihout much effort on your part.
Changes made to messages effect all subscribers - If you make changes to the 3rd message, for example, then everyone who has not yet received the 3rd message should get the updated copy, not the copy that existed when they signed up.
Ability to send HTML or text and to mix them up as needed - You must be able to choose HTML or text messages as needed. Sometimes you may want to send all your messages in HTML, sometimes all in text, and sometimes you may, for whatever reason, want some in each format. This should be up to you.
Ability to add attachments - Attachments are a great feature in an autoresponder. You can then add things like a free ebook, for example, or a sample of wallpaper or something to that effect.
About the Author
Richard Lowe Jr. is the webmaster of Internet Tips And Secrets. This website includes over 1,000 free articles to improve your internet profits, enjoyment and knowledge.
Web Site Address: internet-tips.net
Weekly newsletter: http://www.internet-tips.net/joinlist.htm
Daily Tips: internet-tips@GetResponse.com
Claudia Arevalo-Lowe is the webmistress of Internet Tips And Secrets and Surviving Asthma. Visit her site at http://survivingasthma.com
List of articles available for reprint: article-list@internet-tips.net
articles@internet-tips.net
http://www.internet-tips.net
Copyright © 2005-2006 Powered by Custom PHP Programming