One of the most important tools for an Internet Marketer is the autoresponder.   This one inexpensive email marketing and list building tool will become the lifeline of your business.

An autoresponder is simply a contact collection system.  All of your prospects and customers will have their contact information stored in this system.  Without this, you cannot build a list.

Most auto responders are online so there is no software to keep on your system.  You create a simple web form that you then place on a web page.  The visitor can the enter their information, usually name and email address, and they are instantly added to your email list.

There are many autoresponders available but I recommend Aweber.  The cost is only $19.95 per month.  You do pay a little more as your list grows.  But if you do it right, you’ll also make more as your list grows so the trade-off is more than fair.

You can setup your list to be either single or double opted in.  A single opt-in is when they enter their email and contact info but take no other action.

The double opt-in is when they enter their contact info and then click a special link in a confirmation email.  Essentially they are double confirming that they want to be on your list.

I highly recommend only sending double opted in emails.  These are people who really want to be on your list and are much more likely to open your emails.  They are also far less likely to report you as a spammer.

The real power of your autoresponder is that it will allow you to create email campaigns that go out automatically to your list.  You type your email once and decide when in the sequence you wish for it to be sent and you’re done.  You never have to type that email again.

For example, your first email may simply be an email thanking them for joining your list.  You schedule this to go out immediately.  As soon as they enter their info in the form, the email is sent.  It doesn’t matter when they opt in.

The next email may be an offer for a product you’re selling.  You schedule that for 3 days later.  Then, three days after they opted in, that email goes out to them. 

You create the email once and you’re done.  The emails are sent automatically.

With some autoresponders you can segment your list.  For instance, you may have a list called ‘prospects’ where you send them an offer to buy something.  As soon as they buy, the autorsesponder removes them from the ‘Prospect’ list and ads them to the ‘Buyer’ list.

I hope this helps you understand what exactly an autoresponder is.  Keep your eyes peeled to the blog as I’ll be talking a lot more about autoresponders as well as posting videos on them.  I cannot imagine running an online business without one.

I highly recommend you use aweber.  It cannot be beat for the price.  Click the image below to check out Aweber:

NOTE: This link is an affiliate link to Aweber which means if you buy it I get a commission.  But you can certainly just go to their website.  I am telling you this because I want to make sure you understand I am recommending this because I have been a user of it for years and feel it’s the best, not because I could get paid for recommending it.