An auto-responder, simply stated, is a computer program that automatically answers all the emails sent to it. Auto-responders store messages that a sender of email receives immediately. Most individuals use auto-responders for holiday notices, informing email contacts that they are currently not available and will do follow up action eventually. In the business world, auto-responders are prolifically used as an e-mail marketing tool, to instantly respond to customers’ messages.
These types of follow-up auto-responders can be classified as:
- Outsourced ASP model — The auto-responders function on the provider's infrastructure and are usually configurable through a web-based control panel. The customer pays a monthly service fee.
- Server-side — This enables users to install the auto-responder system on their own server.
One thing that potential users must remember is that, without content, setting up an email auto-responder is not going to help the sales process. Indeed, it may hinder it as messages become classified as unsolicited commercial email, or spam.
Basic functions of the Autoresponder
The purpose of an auto-responder is:
