How to Choose an Autoresponder Service
An email list manager is your most important business expense.
If you have an online business, you need an email list. I don’t think there is anyone out there who would dispute this. But there are a lot of people out there who are reluctant to commit to a monthly fee, or who are looking for free or low cost alternatives.
First, let me just say that if you aren’t willing to commit to a small monthly fee on behalf of your business, then you aren’t running a business. You have a hobby. There is nothing wrong with having a hobby, just don’t confuse your hobbies and your business.
Okay, now that I’ve got that off my chest…what should you be looking for in an autoresponder service?
The number one thing you need to consider is deliverability. No matter how little or how much you pay for your autoresponder service, if the emails continually get caught up in your customers’ spam filters – or worse, are not delivered at all – then that money is wasted.
Choose a service that has a proven record of reliability, has a good reputation, and enforces CAN-SPAM compliance.
Next you should consider your email marketing needs. Will you be sending a “blast” every once in a while to a small group of people, or will you be sending a weekly newsletter that you want to schedule ahead of time? Not all email list management systems will handle both, so make sure before you sign up.
Keep in mind, though, that just because you might not need autoresponder functionality now, you may want it in the future. Changing services once you’ve got a substantial list is a hassle, and will cost you a large percentage of your subscribers, so plan ahead.
Make sure the service you choose can handle both plain text and HTML formatted email. As with the autoresponder versus blast emails, you might not have a need for both, but when you do it will be handy to have the option.
One last must have item is the ability to manage multiple lists. You don’t want to end up paying a monthly fee for each list you have, and most marketers have more than one. I have six, and I’m just a little fish! Make sure your service bills by total number of subscribers, not by the number of lists you have.
So what can you expect to pay for this fabulous service that is reliable, trustworthy, lets you have an unlimited number of lists and follow-up emails, and performs in both color and black and white? Generally, about $20 a month. That’s less than you spend on pizza every week, so I think it’s a no brainer, don’t you?
P.S. For my email list management, I use Aweber. I think they’re the best in the business. I’ve never had a spam complaint, I have a phenomenal open rate (about 50%) and their customer service is outstanding. They’re so sure you’ll love their service that they offer a free test drive, so you get to check them out risk free for a month. You can sign up here, and then if you need help with your list, come back and check out my autoresponder series special.
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