Autoresponder Tips

An autoresponder is useful for, well, responding to people who send you inquiries through email. They are actually more than just merely useful - they are an essential tool in any webmaster's toolbox. Used properly, they can enhance your visitors experience and virtually guarantee that they will come back time after time. Used improperly, they annoy people and push them away from ever coming back.

What distinguishes proper from improper use? People should receive messages when they would normally expect to receive messages. Here are some examples:

• Proper: I expect to get a thank you message after signing a guestbook. I should only receive one message.
  
  Improper: adding my email to your mailing list because I sign your guestbook.
  

• Proper: I also expect to get a message if I use a form on a website to send a message to the webmaster. This verifies to me that it is indeed more than likely to get to the intended person.
  
  Improper: again, adding my email address to your mailing list.
  

• Proper: If I sign up for your newsletter I expect a thank you email and, of course, the newsletter.
  
  Improper: Adding my email to anything other than the mailing list which I asked to be added to. Also, sending anything other than the newsletter is generally improper although an occasional status email is acceptable. Never send separate advertisements unless it is clearly spelled out on the newsletter signup page.
  

• Proper: Following your written privacy policy to the letter in regards to how the email address (and other information) is to be used, and to summarize that information on the page where it is asked for. You should also have a link to the privacy policy on every single page of your web site.
  
  Improper: Not having a written privacy policy and asking for information. Not explaining how the information is to be used on the page where it is asked for. Not following your written policies.
  

• Proper: Including autoresponder links on your website to deliver articles and information to an email box.
  
  Improper: Using these links to add email addresses to your mailing list.
  

• Proper: If you make articles available for reprint, it is always a good idea to include autoresponder links to make it easy for publishers to get those articles in a suitable format.
  
  Improper: Using these autoresponder links to add people to your mailing list.
  

• Proper: Allow visitors to sign up for an email course using an autoresponder.
  
  Improper: Adding email addresses obtained in this manner to your mailing list.
  

• Proper: Follow up for an order or other communication. For example, a "did you receive your order okay?" message a few days after the order was taken is excellent customer service.
  
  Improper: Sending more than an acknowledgement and follow up message. The person ordered something, he did not ask to be on your mailing, advertisement or nag list.
  

I am sure you see a major common thread in all of this - don't add people to your mailing list unless (a) you tell them you are doing to, (b) you give them the chance to say "no", and (c) they explicitly give their permission. NEVER assume your visitor wants to be added to your mailing list - make him explicitly ask by filling out a form, checking a box (off by default) or some other similar means.

Autoresponders have some excellent uses:

• As an acknowledgement or thank you for something.
  

• As a way to get something delivered in email form (reprint publishers love this method of obtaining articles).
  

• As a way to deliver a series of something (like an email course) to someone.
  

One use of autoresponders that drives me crazy (and ensures that I will never return to that site) is common with contests. Let say I sign up to try and win a million dollars. I try and of course I don't win. Now I get these silly reminder messages for the rest of time, telling me in all manners that I've won, or almost won, or could win, or might win ... I usually hit delete a few times, then quickly unsubscribe.

All right, so now you know how to use and not to use autoresponders. So where do you get them? They are available all over the internet. If your site is hosted on a paid host (such as Addr.com), you may find that they offer unlimited autoresponders. If so, take advantage of them. These are generally single-message autoresponders.

GetResponse.com has an excellent autoresponder service. They offer a limited function free version, and one of the most functional paid versions that exist. Their prices are reasonable and the autoresponders always seem to work perfectly.

AWeber.Com has another excellent autoresponder service. Of course, any good guestbook package has the ability to send a customizable message to the signer. Good forms packages also include this ability.

Now, what do you put into an autoresponder messages? Whatever you said or implied you would, plus some ticklers to try and get your visitors to come back to your site.

Thus, if you send back a thank you message for signing a guestbook, you can also include a short list of some of the other features available on your website. Perhaps a small article or even a link to a "free gift" for signing the guestbook.

Remember, don't make the two mistakes of autoresponders. First, do not waste your opportunity. You are sending a person a message which he asked for or expects, so be sure to include more than just "thanks for signing my gustbook". At least put the URL of your site, and include a paragraph about it.

Second, do not abuse your opportunity, as that will just get the message deleted. I've found it is generally NOT a good idea to put blatant advertisements in these messages, especially for pay-to-surf, MLM or affiliates. Why not? I believe these things are best left to your website or to a newsletter or ezine specifically tailored for them. A major exception is in a newsletter itself, as, like magazines and newspapers, advertisements are expected in order to cover the costs of the publication.

In summary, autoresponders are an excellent tool which all webmasters would be wise to use to their advantage. Just be sure to use them properly.

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: http://www.internet-tips.net Weekly newsletter: http://www.internet-tips.net/joinlist.htm Claudia Arevalo-Lowe is the webmistress of Internet Tips And Secrets and Surviving Asthma. Visit her site at http://survivingasthma.com

How To Create An Automated Income Producer

One of my favorite net marketing tasks is creating a FREE report or e-course and watching it fill with subscribers on an autoresponder.

You might not realize that this is one of the easiest and best methods of selling your products or affiliate products because you develop a rapport or relationship with your subscribers by giving them quality information. Remember its quality not necessarily quantity that will endear or at least brand yourself as someone they come to know and respect.

So how do you create an e-course that, once its uploaded to your autoresponder, is a forget and walk away list builder?

Here's the way I do it, at least most of the time :o)

1. Pick a subject you know a little about and research it to see if there is a demand or need to know. The best way to research for a subject is to visit the discussion boards or forums. Do a search on Google for the subject, for instance, if you were interested in writing about poodles, you might search for "dog discussion groups". See what people are talking about and what concerns, problems and issues they have with poodles or maybe another type of dog.

Next, after determining their is a need for this information, you can start writing or do a search for other articles, reports on poodles to get ideas and content. You don't want to just copy/paste from an article as that is plagiarism or infringement of copyrights. You can rearrange or change the wording so that it is distinctly different and use that content. Or you can ask the author for permission to use his article, with or without any resource box.

2. Now that you have at least one message or lesson completed, you need to set up your autoresponder. If you don't have one, there are a lot of them online, and I've used many and can tell you that some are good and some Are bad and some so-so. One I use is IsoResponder and it has many good features like a 2,000 subscriber import per day, personalization, tracking how many many opened your email message, a very fast support system and much more.

Basically, you want one that allows unlimited lists, unlimited imports and double opt in subscription (that means the subscriber has to confirm their subscription before they are added. With the CAN-SPAM Act you must be very careful and protect yourself from being accused of spamming. By double opt ins you get the IP # and date they subscribe which will be enough evidence to counter any false accusation.

Because each a/r is set up differently, you will need to read the instructions on how to set it a new list.

Once you a/r has you first message uploaded, with personalization so that the subscribers first name is used in the message, you are ready to begin building your subscriber base.

3. Building Your List

Depending on your a/r you can build your subscriber base in three ways.

Create a form that you insert on your web page. Remember to create the thank you page which the subscriber will be re-directed to automatically after filling in the form. Make it simple, "Thank you for your subscription and look for the first lesson in your email box in the next minute or so" is all you need. Don’t try to sell them or they will probably be turned off and unsubscribe or just ignore your future ads. If the a/r has this feature, use the email link in your signatures, on your web pages, in your ads. The third way is to buy leads and import them into your a/r. This is a great way of quickly building your list, but you need to make sure the leads are fresh, come with an IP # and date of subscription.

I like to create a new lesson or report every day until I have at least 7. If its an e-course then you send out your lessons every day, but if its a report or other message, then space them out to every other day...at least. You don’t want them to think you are hammering them with ads.

4. Your Ads

I like to call my ad in each lesson, This Lesson Is Sponsored By. Most readers aren’t turned off by this one ad as they are with the lesson sprinkled with ads and your affiliate links. Make the sponsor something that is related to your topic. In the case of the poodle e-course you wouldn’t want to sell bird food :o) Dog biscuits, poodle trimming tools, or flea powder would be on target. If you don’t have a product to sell, go to Commission Junction, Linkshare or BeFree.com which lists 100s of affiliate products and its free to join. Or do a search on the search engines.

Keep building your e-courses and reports and watch your sales and income soar!

Copyright 2005 MHG Consulting

About The Author Dan Farrell is the owner of Affiliate Marketing Tips. You can find related articles and a free newsletter here. http://www.1st-affiliate-marketing.biz.