[epub] The trouble with having your own autoresponder software - WAS RE: Autoresponders as a list hosting solution?

[Ravi Jayagopal <Ravi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

If you decide to use your own autoresponder software,
then I suggest that instead of paying $195 for Will
master's script, you can get the one at Autoresponseplus.com
for $99.

The script works great. I installed it for a client once.
It's the same as what Mani uses, just a $100 cheaper.

WARNING:
--------
It's not as simple as buying a script, pushing a button
and sending out hundreds of emails. There are many
pitfalls and drawbacks of such a solution, that you have to
think about carefully before you plunge into it.

Some of the things you've got to watch out for, if you
want to run your own follow-up autoresponder software,
are:

1. Make sure the software sends the emails out in batches
- and not in one shot (eg. at midnight). Your ISP may have
put restrictions on out going email, like only 500 per hour
(say), and if you try to send emails out to all
your subscribers - or to those in your autoresponder
series - in one go (like 5,000), most of the emails won't
get delivered.

2. These software require you to be able to run a 'cron job'
(a scheduler which triggers your autoresponder program at a
pre-set time). Not all web hosts offer this. Make sure yours
does.

3. Make sure that the software can also be triggered
manually - through a cgi program, through a web browser - in
case you can't run cron jobs on your web server.

4. System resources - these programs can really hog your
CPU and mail server resources as your list grows. Make sure
your host will not cut you off without warning - you could
end up losing money, time and your peace of mind.

5. Spam troubles - ISP's are so fed up of spammers, that they
shut you down first and question later. So, one of the biggest
risks of running such software on your main business web site,
is that if someone complains - whether it is a legitimate
complaint or not, your ISP will shut down your list, your
mail server and possibly even your web site, before asking
questioning you further. So nasty or forgetful subscribers
reporting your email to spamcop could bring down your entire
business.

6. Maintenance - These are database driven programs. If something
breaks or doesn't work as intended, including your data base,
unless you know how to fix it, you will end up spending substantial
amounts troubleshooting (like hiring a freelance programmer).

So, if you hate tinkering with stuff, or if you don't know
the difference between a cgi bin and a trash bin, then you are
better off running your list from your desktop (see my earlier
post on this a few days back), or outsourcing the service
[using free services like freeautobot.com or turbonotes.com, or
simply pay a little more and get rid of the ads
(aweber, getresponse)].

Also, some desktop mail-server programs come with a feature
called 'direct delivery'. Even though you are sending the email
from your desktop, they won't use your ISP's smtp or even your
domain name's smtp. Instead, they will directly deliver the email
to your recipient using *your recipient's* SMTP.

This means several things:

1. Since you are not using your ISP's or your web site's resources
for sending out emails, there will be no delivery problems (because
of a ceiling or email-sending limit).

2. Since it delivers directly, if the email address is bad,
or doesn't exist, or is a fake one, then it just won't be delivered.
So, you won't get *any* bounced messages (except for probably 'mail
box full' messages and such) because of bad addresses.

You can also configure your desktop mailing program to directly
remove all these 'bad' or 'fake' addresses from your list, so that
your list is the cleanest it could possibly be, at all times.

Phew...!

Well, I have lots more to say. But I'll save it for
another day :-)

Regards,

Ravi Jayagopal
Subscribe to my Internet Marketing & Web Site
Promotion Tip-of-the-Day Newsletter (TOTD)
Send a blank mailto:TOTD@CyberConneXions.com



Mani wrote:
<snip>
>A workable alternative is a server-based autoresponder
>script - and I prefer one that is under my control.  And
>recently I was privileged to beta-test Will Bontrager's
>latest creation - Master E-Responder.
</snip>
---------------------------------------------
Domains so CHEAP even your DOG will want one!
http://www.CheapDomains.ws


-----------------------April Co-Reg Special-----------------------

   All orders over 50,000 are 20% off! Offer good until 4/30/02.

----------- http://Opt-Influence.com/c/pl.cgi?ppsapr1  -----------

       EPUB archives: http://Ezine-Universe.com/archives/

........................ EPUB Discussion List .....................
Post:                                 mailto:epub@list-universe.com
To Join:                         mailto:join-epub@list-universe.com
To Remove:             mailto:leave-epub-721690Q@cool.sparklist.com
Digest Mode:             mailto:epub-digest@lists.list-universe.com
Comments:                    mailto:epub-feedback@list-universe.com