Many newbies to Internet Marketing don't know that there is a immense difference between an autoresponder program and an autoresponder service. As they don't know the difference they often purchase the wrong type of autoresponder. Finally they discover that they wasted the money on a program that they can't use the way they want.
An autoresponder program is a program that is set up on your web server. Oftentimes this is a free autoresponder that comes together with your web hosting account. A lot of people don’t like to use autoresponder services. So they use an autoresponder program instead that they have more control. Other people don’t like the autoresponder programs that come with the web hosting accounts either and purchase autoresponder programs or scripts that have to be installed on their web server.
Again other people are rather happy with using an autoresponder service. This is a service that is usually paid for on a monthly or yearly basis. The fees are ongoing and everything is browser based. In other words, you can set up everything, load up your autoresponder messages and manage your opt-in list through your web browser. It is just as you can do with an autoresponder program that is installed on your own your web hosting account. The only difference is that the service doesn't run on your web server or your web hosts web server but on the autoresponder service’s web server.
In my humble opinion people are usually better off using an autoresponder service. These services are very easy to understand and to use, and no technical knowledge is needed to set things up. In case that there are some questions or problems the autoresponder services offer very good service and support. More than this the delivery rate of your messages send out is an aspect you want to have a look at as well. Paid autoresponder services offer a delivery rate of more than 99%. Nevertheless, as a newbie to the field you might be concerned about the costs of an autoresponder service. If this is the case, you have the option of signing up with a free autoresponder service. But, however, the use of free autoresponders can't be recommended.
Free services make their money by placing advertisements in each autoresponder message that is send out. In some cases these ads appear at the top of the messages, and in others they appear at the bottom. Some of the free services are simply a temptation to upgrade to the professional version, and have access to the more advanced features, like tracking, enabled. In any way, these advertisements are quite annoying and might give your customers the wrong idea.
More advanced users sometimes choose to use autoresponder programs, just because they like to have more control over the autoresponder, and they don’t have to follow some of the rules imposed by autoresponder services, such as sending confirmation to each and every person who is entered into the autoresponders list. It is up to you, but sending such a confirmation, also called double opt-in, is one way, not to end up as a spammer.
The autoresponder that you choose is absolutely up to you. But an autoresponder service should suit your needs. If you are unsure, look that you get offered a free test drive, with the option of upgrading to the professional paid version at a later date, or a money back guarantee.
I would recommend using aweber as a autoresponder service, which is the most used also within the Internet Marketing arena, followed by getresponse. You will be satisfied by the support and the delivery rate of this paid autoresponder service.
