CoachStrategies

Introduction to Autoresponders

An autoresponder is an application that can receive and send emails. Typically, you subscribe to an autoresponder service over the web. You then configure and manage your autoresponder at a website.

You can use an autoresponder to take care of the following:

• Build your email subscriber list—your primary permission marketing asset.
• Save time by automating responses to common inquiries or other events on your website.
• Build relationships with subscriber through a series emailing like an e-Course.
• Keep your name in front of subscribers by publishing value-packed email newsletters.
• Generate sales by broadcasting special offers to your subscriber list

This is possible because autoresponders go far beyond just sending an receiving email. Autoresponders are so powerful because they offer:

• Real-time statistics. See who received your emails, who opened and clicked through.
• Opt-in. Autoresponders provide the ability for users to opt-in, meaning that after they submit their email to you, they are sent an email with a link to verify they have signed up. This verifies that they are legitimate subscribers and helps ensure that your email won’t be classified as SPAM.
• Split-testing. You can use multiple versions of your email to your subscriber list for a specific mailing to see which gets a better response rate.
• Plain Text or HTML Format. Some users accept the richer HTML format for email but many people still prefer the quicker plain text format. An autoresponder sends your email such that users that accept HTML will see HTML and ones that accept plain text only will see a plain text version.
• Scheduling. Advanced scheduling features allow you to configure a series of emails to be sent to users over a period of time. This is the type of functionality used to publish free e-courses.

The basic thing an autoresponder does is automate communication. It allows you to establish and build relationships in a scalable way.

Two well-respected services are http://www.aweber.com/ and http://www.getresponse.com/. Both cost about $20/month, offer similar features and offer a 30 day, 100% money back guarantee.