Autoresponder Systems

If you are marketing anything online, you are probably already aware that autoresponder systems are the workhorse of your email marketing and list building efforts and learning to effectively use auto responders can dramatically increase your profits.

What you may or may not know is the different types of auto responders, how they differ, and what their advantages and disadvantages are.

Hopefully, this autoresponder article will answer those questions for you. 

Types Of Auto Responder Systems

There are three basic types of autoresponder systems We will go through each type below and talk about their advantages as well as their disadvantages. Having this knowledge of autoresponder systems will allow you to choose the follow up system that's right for you and your business.

• Web Based Autoresponder Systems.
  
  This type of autoresponder is normally offered as part of you web hosting plan. These are also called one-shot autoresponders and you set them up and configure them through your web hosting control panel.
  
  Web Based Autoresponder Advantages
  
  The main advantage of web based autoresponders is that there is no additional cost involved. They are normally included as part of your hosting package. They are also easy to set up and are great at handling business tasks such as answering FAQS.
  
  Web Based Autoresponder Disadvantages
  
  The two main disadvantages of  this type of autoresponder system are that you cannot normally personalize your messages (this is a very important autoresponder feature), and they don't allow you to use a pre-written follow-up sequence. These disadvantages alone make web based autoresponders unsuitable for anything but the most basic email task.
  
  
• Online Based Autoresponder Systems
  
  This type of autoresponder is normally a subscription type service where you pay monthly for use of the service. Aweber and GetResponse are some of the more well known offer some of the best online autoresponder services available and are used by many professional marketers.
  
  You will also find many free online based auto responders. I don't personally recommend that you use a free service unless absolutely necessary. The free services include ads in your messages which you have no control over and these ads
  can sometimes cause problems with your subscribers
  
  Advantages Of Online Based Auto Responders
  
  Online based autoresponder systems are easily accessible. Since the service is web-based you can access it from any computer.
  
  This type of autoresponder system also allows an unlimited number of autoresponders, the ability to personalize your messages, unlimited follow-up message capabilities, will automate your list maintenance tasks, and require very little to no maintenance requirements on the your part.
  
  Online based autoresponders providers such as Get Response and Aweber also work closely with ISPs to help improve delivery rates and avoid spam complaints.
  
  Disadvantages Of Online Based Auto Responders
  
  The primary disadvantage of a web based autoresponder system is the monthly fees required for the use of the service
  .
  The fees for an online based autoresponder service can vary greatly, so do your due diligence to make sure that you are getting the most bang for your buck. Make sure that you get the features and capabilities that you need for your business.
  
  
• Domain Based Auto Responder Systems
  
  Domain based systems are software scripts that you install or have installed on your web server. Most are easily installed, even by novice webmasters with little or no script installation experience.
  
  If you are not technically inclined you can use a script installation service for a very affordable one time fee. The money spent on installing and purchasing a quality domain based autoresponder system can offset the the monthly fees of a web based autoresponder system many times over in the long run.
  
  Advantages Of A Domain Based Autoresponder
  
  The main advantage that a domain based autoresponder system has is that you only pay once. There are no monthly fees once you have purchased the script and had it installed on your domain. All other features of a domain based autoresponder are essentially the same as a web based autoresponder system, although as with any purchase, do your due diligence to make sure you are getting the capabilities and features that you need.
  
  Disadvantages Of A Domain Based Autoresponder
  
  The primary disadvantage for this type of autoresponder system is that you or your webmaster is responsible for downtime and all maintenance. You will also have to deal with any deliverability problems or spam complaints that may occur. You should consider these factors carefully before purchasing any domain based autoresponder.

As you can see there are many factors to consider when choosing an autoresponder system for your business. I hope that this article has been informative and help you answer your questions when you choose an autoresponder system for your business.

No matter how you choose to solve your autoresponder needs, one fact is certain. If you are not using an autoresponder system in your business, you are not only working too hard, but also missing out on a lot of growth and development for your business.