5 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
5 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Email list but no autoresponder

by webmonopoly
4 replies
If I am collecting visitor emails but don't yet have an autoresponder, can I plug my list into an autoresponder in the future? Or do the visitors need to opt in from my site?
#autoresponder #email #list
  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by webmonopoly View Post

    If I am collecting visitor emails but don't yet have an autoresponder, can I plug my list into an autoresponder in the future?
    You can certainly put them into a self-hosted autoresponder, if you're willing to risk it.

    Some commercial autoresponder companies may allow you to import the list if you can prove to them that they're people who opted in to your list, knowing that you'll send them email, but they'll probably still require a confirmation request only to be sent out, in the first instance. This may vary slightly from company to company. In reality, it'll depend on whether they see what you're doing as genuine, honest, permission-based emailing.

    Personally, I would subscribe to an autoresponder company as soon as possible, if I were you, and use the opt-in on your site to build your list "formally and correctly". It solves a lot of problems, in the long run.

    The email addresses of people who opt in and don't hear from you immediately, and regularly, are really of very limited value to you, anyway. "Worthless" would perhaps be too strong a word to use, but I suspect that your current situation is "distinctly second-best", even as a temporary plan, and that's putting it mildly.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7831706].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author webmonopoly
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      You can certainly put them into a self-hosted autoresponder, if you're willing to risk it.

      Some commercial autoresponder companies may allow you to import the list if you can prove to them that they're people who opted in to your list, knowing that you'll send them email, but they'll probably still require a confirmation request only to be sent out, in the first instance. This may vary slightly from company to company. In reality, it'll depend on whether they see what you're doing as genuine, honest, permission-based emailing.

      Personally, I would subscribe to an autoresponder company as soon as possible, if I were you, and use the opt-in on your site to build your list "formally and correctly". It solves a lot of problems, in the long run.

      The email addresses of people who opt in and don't hear from you immediately, and regularly, are really of very limited value to you, anyway. "Worthless" would perhaps be too strong a word to use, but I suspect that your current situation is "distinctly second-best", even as a temporary plan, and that's putting it mildly.
      Wow, did not think it would be that difficult... Are those auto responders on hostgator any good?
      Signature
      Want To Make Real Passive Income? InvestorChamp.com
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7832036].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by webmonopoly View Post

        Wow, did not think it would be that difficult...
        There are reasons it is. They're understandable reasons, if you think about it: the problem is that if people haven't had immediate and regular emails from you, they'll forget who you are, and then some will "report spam" when you do send them an email. An autoresponder company simply can't afford for that to happen, much, because when there are spam complaints, ISP's stop delivering their emails, and that means all their other customers suffer and they go out of business.

        Similarly, if you do that using a self-hosted one, then it's your internet connection (and maybe domain registration and maybe hosting) that you're putting in jeopardy instead, if people complain.

        The bottom line here is that when you build a list, people who opt in to it need to hear from you on that day and regularly afterwards. You need to set and fulfil their expectations, otherwise the list won't be worth anything to you anyway: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ml#post6123982

        Originally Posted by webmonopoly View Post

        Are those auto responders on hostgator any good?
        Sorry, have never used a self-hosted autoresponder, myself.

        Originally Posted by webmonopoly View Post

        And I'm building my list from my website members, not just an opt in form for a newsletter... If that makes any difference?
        I'm not for a moment suggesting that you're doing anything wrong by building such a list, of course, if people are giving you their email addresses voluntarily. But one way or another you really do need an automated system of contacting them promptly and regularly, otherwise this list won't be worth anything much to you, later on.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7832063].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author webmonopoly
    And I'm building my list from my website members, not just an opt in form for a newsletter... If that makes any difference?
    Signature
    Want To Make Real Passive Income? InvestorChamp.com
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7832061].message }}

Trending Topics