What is an Autoresponder? 

Simply put, an Autoresponder sends an automated response when someone sends a message to your email address. It can be just one message or it can trigger a series of email messages. Autoresponders can be personalized with people’s names and other information unique to that individual.

Autoresponders do not have to be impersonal, so banish that thought from your mind. You are likely a sole proprietor; think of autoresponders as your assistant that works for next to nothing.

How to Use Autoresponders in Your Online Business

-> Customer Follow-Up: When a customer makes a purchase through an online source, it’s easy to send an auto-reply that thanks them for their order.

But you can get more advanced than that and automate most of your customer service requirements. You can set up a whole series of follow up messages that show your customer that you are concerned with their satisfaction and even pave the way to further sales.

For example, send a thank you immediately after the sale, a day or two later to say the item was shipped and then a week later to ensure the item arrived in good condition. You can also send tips on how to use the product and subtly let them know about your complimentary products (more sales!).

Many Autoresponders are sophisticated enough that you can insert your customer’s name, what she bought and other information unique to that customer.

-> Support eMail Autoresponse: Many times people will email you to ask a question already found on your FAQ page, right? Include some of your frequently asked questions and answers automatically when someone tries to reach your support email. Often, her question will be answered before you even get a chance to look at the support request.

-> eCourses: Offer ecourses via email autoresponder. For example, set up an informative course on how to run a home business or how to create a baby scrapbook. Each day or each week (you decide frequency), your prospect receives a new informative lesson and is reminded of the business opportunity you have available.

You can put a sign up box on your website, offer the course in your email signature line or recommend that your downline sign up for the course. The possibilities are endless.

-> Potential Recruit Follow-up: When somebody requests more information from you about your business opportunity or affiliate program, what do you do? Call them, email them once and maybe follow up a few days later…if you remember? You can actually do better than that. Set up a whole series of messages to be delivered every few days for a couple of weeks giving your potential recruit more great information about your opportunity.

Your potential recruit is likely investigating a number of opportunities, make sure yours is always on her mind.

-> Automated Newsletter: When someone signs up for your mailing list, you can set them up to receive a series of pre-written emails. This means that "subscriber A" can sign up today and start receiving emails from the beginning of your series, while "subscriber B" and "subscriber C" can be elsewhere in the series.

By pre-writing your newsletter, you always have material to offer new subscribers and you can ensure all subscribers receive all of your great issues. Your newsletter doesn't need to be complicated, just some nice, short, sweet and to-the-point emails packed with some great tips (and of course topped off with some promotion of your company’s products) will do. When you have a sale or special announcement, you can easily send out special notices to your mailing list too.

How to Find a Good Autoresponder

Check with your company’s website hosting provider. They may already have some simple autoresponders available. Usually, these will allow you to send out a single autoresponse to incoming emails.

There are a number of good autoresponder products on the market that allow for sophisticated contact management and follow up. You can read autoreponder reviews on Internet Based Moms.
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About the Author: Alice Seba is an Internet Marketing Specialist that thrives on helping people build a profitable online businesses. Get Your Daily Internet Marketing Prescriptions.