First Steps to Autoresponder Systems

What is permission-based marketing? You've probably heard the term, but you might not know what it means. The word permission has to do with authorizing or consenting to something. Some in the case of marketing, and specifically permission-based marketing, it's about obtaining permission to market to someone.

So how does an Autoresponder fit into all of this? An Autoresponder is a tool that allows you to automatically send emails to people who are in your database. The people are in your database, in the first place, because they opted-in to be on your list. That is, they gave their permission to have you retain their name and email address so that you could send them information.

How did they get on your list? To add someone to your list, you need a way for them to join or opt in. The most common way is to fill out a form on your website. Typically, you offer something of value in exchange for the visitor leaving their name and email address. You might offer a tip list, an ecourse, an audio or even a complimentary eBook. Many business owners still write weekly or monthly newsletters and offer than in exchange. Whatever you plan to offer is fine, as long as you get their email address at a minimum - the only required information you need to get them into your database so that you can utilize your Autoresponder to send them information.

The permission part of this arrangement comes into play because the people who sign up are giving you their permission to be marketed to by virtue of providing you with their information.