So just what is an autoresponder, anyway? Unfortunately, like so many things, the answer is “It depends.”

Technically speaking, an autoresponder is exactly what it says. It is a system that delivers an automated response. Your out of office message, for example, is an autoresponder. But when we are talking about marketing, an autoresponder is much more than that.

In many email/newsletter services, there are three basic types of autoresponders:

1. The confirmation message
2. The welcome message
3. The autoresponder series

When you sign up for something on a website (like the giveaway Kim has in the sidebar), clicking the submit button triggers a series of events.

First, the signup box itself is linked to a specific list inside the newsletter service account. Your name is added to that list.

The Confirmation Message

The list owner can choose to let you be added directly to the list (single opt-in), or to have a confirmation email sent (double opt-in). The double opt-in process does seem to eliminate a lot of spam email addresses, but it also may keep some real people off your list because they might not click the link in the confirmation email that they receive.

That confirmation email is technically an autoresponder, because it is sent out automatically, triggered by the sign-up process. And once the recipient clicks the link, they are added to the list.

The Welcome Message

The next type of autoresponder is what I call the welcome message. Most newsletter services will allow you to configure an email that is automatically sent when someone is added to the list (either directly or after clicking the confirmation link in the first email).

Many newsletter services will let you have several lists with a separate welcome message for each list. This is helpful if your niche has several different segments, or if you have different niches but want to use the same account.

Other services will allow you only one welcome message that must be used over all your lists. Do your research!

The Autoresponder Series

The third type of autoresponder is the series. And here’s how it works.

You prepare in advance a series of messages to be sent out at predetermined intervals. Maybe every day for five days. Or every other day for two weeks. Or once a week for six weeks. Or every day for a year.

When someone signs up, they begin to receive the messages, in order, at the intervals you set up. Once it is set up, you don’t have to do anything.

I like this because the possibilities are endless!

For example, instead of giving away an eBook as your free offer, you could give away an eCourse. Maybe something like “7 Steps from Overwhelmed to Overcomer.”

Or maybe you give a series of parenting workshops and have developed some materials. You could create an eCourse and sell it, having each lesson delivered through your autoresponder series.

Or maybe you’ve taught a Bible study and have the lessons recorded. Package them with your handouts and provide them weekly with your autoresponder series.

Or perhaps you want to set up a 30-Day Challenge and send an encouraging note or Scripture each day.

Your Assignment

And now I have two assignments for you…

First, if you haven’t signed up for Kim Avery’s Free eBook yet, do that now — at the top of the sidebar. Pay attention to the process and see what happens. Can you identify the autoresponder pieces?

And second, leave me a message in the comments section about how you are currently using an autoresponder series, or what ideas this post sparked. I need some fresh inspiration, too!