Autoresponder question

by Cook08
10 replies
This is my first post so if it is in the wrong section I apologize. I am a programmer by trade and have been kicking around the idea of attempting to create a new autoresponder. I was wondering if there are any features that users would like to see in an autoresponder that haven't been addressed. Also I was hoping to see if there would be any room in the market for another autoresponder or if most marketers are loyal to one particular one and are unlikely to switch. Thanks for reading and any input you can provide is much appreciated.
#autoresponder #question
  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    Are you talking about a service or a script?

    I guess there is always room for a new service with good features.

    As for a script (as in a self-hosted script)... most IMers don't even want to hear about it because it involves a lot of work and technical knowledge - that's what they say, at least.
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    • Profile picture of the author Cook08
      I'm talking about a service. I could probably do a script but as you said there is a lot of work and technical knowledge if there were demand for a script I could see what I can do but for the purposes of this thread I'm looking for input on a service.
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      • Profile picture of the author DireStraits
        Originally Posted by Cook08 View Post

        I'm talking about a service. I could probably do a script but as you said there is a lot of work and technical knowledge if there were demand for a script I could see what I can do but for the purposes of this thread I'm looking for input on a service.
        Oh, in that case, I will make one suggestion.

        I'm using GetResponse right now, and whenever I want to rearrange my autoresponder series (to insert a new message in between those that already exist, for instance), I have to faff about entering numbers in the "day" column.

        I don't know if Aweber do this (but I'm not considering switching to them, anyway), but I keep wishing they'd implement some sort of AJAX script, so that I can simply "drag and drop" my autoresponder messages into the desired order.

        Does that make sense?
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  • Profile picture of the author DireStraits
    Originally Posted by Cook08 View Post

    This is my first post so if it is in the wrong section I apologize. I am a programmer by trade and have been kicking around the idea of attempting to create a new autoresponder. I was wondering if there are any features that users would like to see in an autoresponder that haven't been addressed. Also I was hoping to see if there would be any room in the market for another autoresponder or if most marketers are loyal to one particular one and are unlikely to switch. Thanks for reading and any input you can provide is much appreciated.
    I can't speak for everyone here, of course, but my own requirements for what an autoresponder needs to offer (by way of features) are really quite basic.

    What attracts me to an autoresponder service like GetResponse or Aweber - over a self-hosted option, for example - isn't so much any extra/unique features of the autoresponder itself, but in their positioning as a trusted, "white-listed" sender of emails, which allows for a good, high deliverability-rate.

    You simply cannot achieve this high level of deliverability by sending emails from an autoresponder script running on a regular web-host's servers, nor on your own computer (if your host and/or ISP even permits such activity, that is), because you cannot negotiate your way onto spam white-list databases and the like. A few "spam reports" from your email recipients, and suddenly the whole thing comes tumbling down.
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  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    OK for a service, we all like:
    - single or double optin per lists (not per account)
    - segmentation (e.g. to be able to send/resend to subscribers that didn't open the first msg)
    - good tracking and stats
    - scheduled follow-up and broadcast messages
    - import of verified list(s)
    - automation
    - parsers
    - (easy) integration with different marketing scripts

    And above all: high deliverability
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    • Profile picture of the author Cook08
      Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

      OK for a service, we all like:
      - single or double optin per lists (not per account)
      - segmentation (e.g. to be able to send/resend to subscribers that didn't open the first msg)
      - good tracking and stats
      - scheduled follow-up and broadcast messages
      - import of verified list(s)
      - automation
      - parsers
      - (easy) integration with different marketing scripts

      And above all: high deliverability
      When you say parsers what do you mean? I understand the concept of a parser but what does this mean in terms of an autoresponder service?
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  • Profile picture of the author RaptorGabe
    Trust is huge, as is usability. Remember, we are all incredibly lazy so the easier it is to do the more likely we are to use it . Also, the ability to customize is something I'm always looking for, as is the backroom. Aweber has a great platform, maybe model off of that.
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  • Profile picture of the author luma2
    You can consider multilanguage plataform, because I have heard about aweber, and many people is asking for spanish for example
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  • Profile picture of the author hseitz
    Originally Posted by Cook08 View Post

    This is my first post so if it is in the wrong section I apologize. I am a programmer by trade and have been kicking around the idea of attempting to create a new autoresponder. I was wondering if there are any features that users would like to see in an autoresponder that haven't been addressed. Also I was hoping to see if there would be any room in the market for another autoresponder or if most marketers are loyal to one particular one and are unlikely to switch. Thanks for reading and any input you can provide is much appreciated.
    I'd love to talk with you more about this. We actually work with a lot of clients that use self-hosted solutions and there are a LOT of things missing from what's on the market right now...

    And with more stringent restrictions and rules with the 3rd party providers (and lack of ACCURATE reporting on deliverability and bounces), more and more successful marketers are looking for their own solutions... provided they offer the features and functionality of the 3rd party providers.
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  • Profile picture of the author RentItNow
    I dont know about room for a service but there is room for a solid easy to install and run script for sure. I'm tired of paying $19/mn for a service I can be running on my own servers. I have actually been on a mission to eliminate all the monthly expenses with scripts so I would say there is a market to that niche (semi-coders that turned IMers or have IM clients).
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    I have no agenda but to help those in the same situation. This I feel will pay the bills.
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