Can Your Business Use an AutoResponder?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Brian_Rooney]Brian Rooney

If you've been using email for any length of time, you are most likely familiar with the type of autoresponder that sends out those automated "I'm away" or "I'm on vacation" messages. Most web hosting and email providers refer to these types of autoresponders as "away" or "vacation" settings within their email programs. These are good for a quick one shot automated email reply to let someone know that you got their message or that you are away and will be returning to reply later.

Setting up this type of "one off" autoresponder is usually pretty straight forward. A quick glance through your email settings or your web hosting control panel are usually all that is required to activate it.

However, if your business email marketing needs go beyond simply sending a one-time message, it may be time to look in to what is known as a Sequential Followup AutoResponder.

This type of autoresponder is much more robust and includes a number of powerful features that are starting to be adopted by businesses and organizations around the world.

The simplest way to think of this type of autoresponder as like an email-on-demand system. Any time your autoresponder receives a request via email or a form, it can automatically respond with whatever information you have loaded in to it.

There are a number of ways your business can put autoresponders to work.

You could set up a series of pre-written sales letters.

You could create a mini-course that you schedule to go out every few days.

You could create a price list that would automatically be sent out to anyone that requests it.

You could create a newsletter or ezine that gets sent out to subscribers once a week.

You can also set up special offers that your autoresponder can broadcast out to your subscriber lists whenever you like.

Some of the important features you should look for are:

The ability to create, store, and send as many letters as you need.

The ability to personalize each message by inserting the reader's name and other personalization features.

The ability to send your messages in either plain text or html (preferably both).

The ability to track the response rate of each message.

There are basically two options for getting an autoresponder. One option is to purchase autoresponder software that you would install or have someone install on your server. If you are technically adept, enjoy messing with software installation, and are prepared to spend time managing bounces, changing email protocols, and various technical issues that will inevitably arise, this can be a good option.

If, however, you prefer to focus on the actual job of marketing, creating messages, and running your business, you may be better served by using a hosted autoresponder service where you pay a small monthly fee. When you go with a hosting autoresponder service, it is the job of the autoresponder company to make sure that hardware and software issues are kept up with, as well as manage the ever changing landscape of email marketing legislation. Most businesses prefer to pay a reasonable monthly hosting fee so that the technical wizards can focus on the technical requirements while they focus on their business.

Once you've decided on an autoresponder service, your next step is to create the messages that your autoresponder will send out. I recommend creating 5 to 7 followup messages since marketing studies have shown that it can take up to 7 contacts before your customer decides to purchase from you.

Effective use of a followup autoresponder can help any business maximize their profits by capturing visitor information and then helping to convert those visitors in to customers.

Many businesses, after using autoresponders, quickly wonder how they ever got along without them.

Brian Rooney has been using autoresponders to build, manage and profit from his own in-house lists since 2000. Brian operates TrafficWave.net LLC which provides autoresponders for businesses worldwide. Brian can be reached at http://www.trafficwave.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Rooney http://EzineArticles.com/?Can-Your-Business-Use-an-AutoResponder?&id=1392984