e-Business-Formula Internet Marketing Discussion Forum

[Kevin Robb]

With the online marketplace ever changing I wonder if Autoresponders still have a place in maintaining communication with potential clients?

Many of us have used them and continue to do so today but with the advent of RSS and Blogs along with other new tools it is possible to reach your clients quickly.

The delivery of your message is often more reliable as well as you are less likely to have your message blocked by spam systems many have in place.

What are your thoughts on this?

Cheers

Kevin Robb

[Steve MacLellan]

Hi Kevin,

I don't think Email Marketing is dead yet. I don't think it is as effective as it once was, but still a tool you can use that doesn't cost a lot.

Best Regards,
Steve MacLellan

[Lynn Terry]

I think Autoresponders and Mailing Lists are still VERY important in regards to Online Marketing. In fact, your follow-up email as the forum admin is what brought my attention to this post!

People are busy, and have a gazillion bookmarks (that they rarely go back and look at)... but almost everyone checks email. I find that it is still a GREAT way to remind people about your site or product/service... and a great way to communicate with your target market.

Sure, some emails get filtered out - that's true. But I dont think we should replace our email marketing with blogs & rss just yet. On the contrary, I think those things should be used in conjunction with email marketing to expand on the reach that you have - and the options you offer your visitors.

[Rick Wilson]

[quote="Kevin Robb"]Many of us have used them and continue to do so today but with the advent of RSS and Blogs along with other new tools it is possible to reach your clients quickly.

The delivery of your message is often more reliable as well as you are less likely to have your message blocked by spam systems many have in place.
[/quote]

Why Not? Autoresponders are still the best way out there to manage your email lists. I think that for most people on these lists, email is still the easiest for them to use.

One thing I have learned, is that for me, I needed to have smaller and more targeted lists. It has become soooo much easier for me to manage getting the subscribers to "whitelist" my list addresses than with the older LARGE lists. So, my spam issues have gone waaay down.

I think those that are using the RSS pheeds and Blogs still need to educate others as to how to setup and use these communication tools. As the Internet population gets more educated then maybe these will become more "mainstream". As Lynn mentioned ... It's just more options allowing YOUR visitors to receive YOUR information.

Using Autoresponders to manage email lists is gonna be here to stay for awhile. Email ain't dead yet! [img]http://www.cashjunction.biz/images/rockroll.gif[/img]


Rick Wilson aka CorpRebel

[geline]

Auto responders really save time and for those who are into online marketing, it is a must. For those who have the time to answer/reply to inquiries, it is best to reply right away. Auto-responders minimizes the waiting time of the customers/clients and so they are helpful

[billbee31]

I would be dead in the water without one. Yes RSS gets around filters and such BUT...I am a marketer and a lot of my products, and articles are aimed at those that are new to internet marketing. Also I find that a lot of people are kind of computer challenged and have no idea what RSS is. I once email a newspaper that has an on-line edition and asked if that had a RSS. the reply was, "no how much does it cost to install it?" DUD?

Sometimes we in internet marketing forget that most people are not quite as computer savvy as we are. They don't spend 27 hours a day in front of a computer.

Bill

[Peter2]

Are they important?

You bet they are...

As I know Kevin rarely touts any products here (I will do it for him) here is link to a ebook that he offered in one of his recent newsletters, it is one of the best purchases I have made and I now know how important they are and more to the point how to use them!!!

All About Autoresponders

If by chance you are not receiving Kevin's Newsletter, eBF-News the link shown will take you to his signup page, it's Free and you will learn more than you might imagine!

Regards

Peter2

[tizzle]

If nothing else, and auto responder can let your new customer know that your website is up and functioning. When you sign up for a forum, but never receive that automatic e-mail from them, it just doesn't seem right. When I don't get it, it can be easy to forget about that forum, and never go back.

When we manage a large site, we can't do all the e-mail ourselves. An auto responder can really cut down on a work. It is true that it does have its risks, such as being caught in spam filters, but the amount of work it can save makes it worthwhile.

--Tizzle

[Keith Winton]

Hi Tizzle,

Often autoresponders get blamed for non delivery of mail when frequently the lack of response can be put down to subscribers who incorrectly list their email address and or provide a ficticious address.

And of course some IPs block messages as well, so autoresponders definitely have their place but their reliability of delivery is often handicapped by circumstances outside of the control of the user.

Regards

Keith Winton

[jimmys devoted]

I find that autoresponders at times seem impersonal.
But do the old style newsletters and user group newsletters still work?
what about topical style user newsletters?

[star123]

I think that auto responders still have their place, even though they are a bit antiquated. My thought is that anything that will help keep you and your site's name out there in front of people is a good thing. Since these people have signed up for your auto responder, they are definitely interested and maybe sometime your auto responder will lead them to buy something and heck who doesn't want another sale.