Autoresponder
Etiquette
By Shelley Lowery
Autoresponders are one of the most widely used promotional tools on the Internet.
They're also known as mailbots, automatic email and email on demand. They
were derived from the very popular fax on demand and designed to automatically
respond to any email message sent to it with an automatic response.
Autoresponder programs vary from autoresponse messages set-up within an email
program to a script that runs on a server. This script may run a web-based
autoresponder system that utilizes a web page form or it may run with a pop
email account on a server. It's programmed to automatically send out a pre-
determined message when a message is received to a specified script address
or email address.
Not only are autoresponders one of the most widely used promotional tools,
but are becoming one of the most widely abused. While using autoresponders
will enable you to put a lot of your daily tasks on autopilot, autoresponders
can also wreak havoc on innocent individuals who may cross their path.
Autoresponder addresses should NEVER be used when submitting your website
to Search Engines, Directories, Free For All sites, or in Classified Ad contact
forms. Many of these types of websites use autoresponders to send thank you
or welcome messages to their users. When their autoresponder sends a message
to your autoresponder, this creates what is known as a loop. Each autoresponder
will continue to respond to the other.
When subscribing to an ezine or email discussion group, always use a real
email address and NEVER subscribe with an autoresponder address. Subscribing
to these types of publications with an autoresponder address will get you
immediately unsubscribed. Why? For example; If you're a member of a discussion
group and receive many messages each day, your autoresponder will respond
to every message it receives. Not only will the list owner receive a mailbox
full of complaints, but they will also receive all of your autoresponse
messages.
Another problem ezine publishers encounter with autoresponder subscribers
is locating the perpetrator. Many times, the "reply to" and "from" address
of an autoresponse message aren't the same as the address they subscribed
under. It takes a great deal of time and effort to track the address, which
is time that could have been better spent elsewhere.
Another unethical use of autoresponders is autoresponders. Let me explain...
There are many Internet Marketers now using unethical techniques to subscribe
innocent individuals to their junk mailing lists. They will send a message
to an autoresponder address using their subscription address. When the
autoresponder answers the message, the "from" address on the autoresponder
will be instantly subscribed. This technique is not only unethical, but also
unprofessional.
Autoresponders can be a wonderful tool for Internet Marketers and can save
you hours of valuable time. However, if not used in a professional manner,
can wreak havoc on the Internet community. Don't be tempted to tarnish your
professional reputation by indulging in the abuse of our autoresponder system.
It's just not worth the price.
Copyright © Shelley Lowery
About the Author:
Shelley Lowery is the author of the acclaimed web design course, Web Design
Mastery. http://www.webdesignmastery.com
And, Ebook Starter - Give Your Ebooks the look and feel of a REAL book. http://www.ebookstarter.com
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