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.
About the Author:
Shelley Lowery is the Webmistress of Web Source - Your Guide to Professional Website Design and Development. Join The Syndicator, our new, free article syndication program and display complete articles w/photographs on your website that are automatically updated each week. http://www.web-source.net
You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your ebook or on your web site, free of charge, as long as the author bylines are included.
| DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this article is not warranted or guaranteed by Developer Shed, Inc. The content provided is intended for entertainment and/or educational purposes in order to introduce to the reader key ideas, concepts, and/or product reviews. As such it is incumbent upon the reader to employ real-world tactics for security and implementation of best practices. We are not liable for any negative consequences that may result from implementing any information covered in our articles or tutorials. If this is a hardware review, it is not recommended to open and/or modify your hardware. |
More Website Marketing Articles
More By Developer Shed  developerWorks - FREE Tools!
|
This demonstration gives you an overview of IBM® Rational® Build Forge Express Edition, a global offering that provides a framework to automate and execute software processes. Rational Build Forge provides a software assembly line that can support all of your tools, technologies, and platforms so you can achieve a repeatable, reliable, and traceable build and release process.
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
The IBM DB2 Deep Compression ROI tool is designed for DBA’s and IT management personnel to perform a clinical analysis of the cost savings gained from the Storage Optimization feature of DB2 9 for Linux, UNIX and Windows. The feature, also known as Deep Compression, compresses data that lies within a database by up to 80% at times.
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
This whitepaper presents the benefits of successfully introducing static analysis into your organization using IBM Rational Software Analyzer. Additionally, it identifies some common pitfalls that can hinder the effective use of static analysis tooling as well as presents 10 simple strategies designed to help you quickly realize the value of static analysis using Rational Software Analyzer.
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
Learn how Rational Build Forge can extend a simple compile and package build process by adding customization and deployment capability. Go from a manual method to automating: checking for code changes; getting the latest source; compiling and packaging; customizing; copying to and restarting a deployment server; and sending e-mail notification that a new version is available.
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
Learn how to do more with your reusable assets with the free Rational Asset Manager eKit. The eKit includes demos on how Rational Asset Manager tracks and audits your assets in order to utilize them for reuse. Plus you’ll find white papers and a Webcast that discuss the challenges of a Service Oriented Architecture and how Rational Asset Manager can provide quick and effective solutions.
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
Join this Rational Talks to You teleconference on December 4 at 1:00 pm ET to discuss how Rational Method Composer can help meet your compliance objectives. Get your questions answered!
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
Get a free trial download of IBM Lotus Forms V3.0 (formerly Workplace Forms), which provides a zero-footprint eForms solution to help you automate and move forms-based business processes off the desktop and onto the Web. With Lotus Forms, you can extend applications beyond the firewall by creating a single electronic form document ready for use in both thick and Web 2.0 thin client format.
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
Attend this launch webcast with Scott Hebner, Vice President of IBM Rational Marketing and Strategy, where he will overview Rational’s new offerings and programs to help customers accelerate software innovation on System z. He will discuss how these solutions help organizations extend their core business processes toward modern architectures such as SOA and web technologies to deliver business improvements that stand the test of time.
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
IBM Lotus Notes 8 provides a wide range of developers the ability to provide customized, integrated user interfaces via composite applications and via custom sidebar and toolbar plug-ins. This webcast provides you with tips and techniques to use with out-of-the-box capabilities of Lotus Notes 8, and survey how you can share useful components within your own company and within a larger community.
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
Explore how Rational and WebSphere software enable enterprise documentation in SOA environments. Specifically, a new integration between IBM WebSphere® Business Modeler and IBM Rational® Method Composer software can help technical writers more easily keep enterprise operations manuals in sync with changes that are made to business processes, resulting in more accurate and timely documentation that benefits the entire enterprise.
FREE! Go There Now!
| | | |
All FREE IBM® developerWorks Tools!
| |
