E-Magazine by Auto-responder

An auto-responder can be used as a publishing and distribution tool of e-zines or newsletters. One of the previously discussed functions of the auto-responder is sending out previously formatted e-mails as a response to certain specific events. In the case of newsletters or e-zines, the catalyst for sending them out would be time instead of an event.

For the auto-responder to function as an e-zine or newsletter distributor, the responder will need the broadcast feature. The e-zines or newsletters can be scheduled to go out on a certain day, which has no bearing on when the subscriber was actually added to the mailing list. Broadcast messages are 'one time' messages that are only sent to your current mailing list. People who sign up for your list after the broadcast has been sent do not receive it, unless they specifically request it with an autoresponder address. You must set up this "by request" feature also. Advanced auto-responder services will usually have the broadcast feature.

 

Using an auto-responder to maintain a mailing list and to distribute a newsletter is a wonderful idea. Your subscribers can easily opt-in, or opt-out, and all of the distribution is handled for you, based on the schedule that you set. List maintenance can become very difficult without the automation that autoresponders provide. You can write each issue of your e-zine or newsletter well in advance, and have it delivered to your mailing list, no matter where you are or what you are doing. That is the beauty of automation!

 

Since all past broadcast and auto-response messages are saved, you can easily refer back to old issues, or allow people to request past issues. You can also use the tracking feature throughout each issue of the newsletter to determine how many clicks you are getting for the various products or websites that you promote in your e-zine.

 

Before signing up for an auto-responder service or before buying one, be sure to check out the features one at a time. If you plan on sending out newsletters and e-zines, you'll definitely need the broadcast feature in the auto-responder package. Besides, you'll never know what else you'll need.