An autoresponder is a computer program that automatically answers e-mail sent to it. The email answer can also be a series of emails (instead of just one reply message).

Autoreponders allow you to automatically send back a message to the person emailing you with valuable information (or upsells) that a user might be interested in. Below are a few examples of how an autoresponder might help you:

• Help with technical support – You can create an autoresponder that gives the user information about where and how to get technical help. Your autoresponders can reply with links to common questions, links to help pages or telephone numbers that a user might find helpful.
• Upselling – You could use an autoresponder to automatically send the person information about your latest products (maybe a ’sign up’ link?).
• Online courses – Many companies use autoresponders to send out a series of emails with different sections of a particular course. For example a web site might be offer a free 5-step course on Starting Your Own Business, which can be emailed out (in 5 separate emails) using autoresponders.

There are many benefits of setting up autoresponders and they can be very useful in developing revenue or leads.