Ok, guys, this is a quesiton someone has aksed me so I am passing this along to you and hope you can help.

I thought it would be easier to paste the question here:


What I want to do is called "step leads." That requires an ad piece to get people to respond to a 1-800 number where names are collected, or for people to go to a web site to collect names then you have a lead list to build interest for an informational product.

What I would like to do is have these responses automatically answered via auto-email, and then perhaps if they pursue the information by paying for the program, that it is automatically sent to them via email. I know it is possible, but don't know how to set up something like this. They tell me some web hosting sites allow it, others use software.

I know outlook can do autoresponder but I am not sure if this is exactly how he would want to do it. Any suggestions?

There are lots of options for autoresponders, their ISP/Mail account may also offer this service.
Here's a quick Google for some (http://www.google.co.uk/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial_s&hl=en&q=autoresponder&meta=&btnG=Google+Search)

These should give you some ideas to think about.

Ok, guys, this is a quesiton someone has aksed me so I am passing this along to you and hope you can help.

I thought it would be easier to paste the question here:



I know outlook can do autoresponder but I am not sure if this is exactly how he would want to do it. Any suggestions?

Have him talk to his e-mail provider. Internet e-mail consists of 2 parts, the server and the client. When someone sends an e-mail its first received by a server operated by the e-mail service. The mail sits there until an e-mail client polls the server and downloads it.

Therefore ANY autoresponder needs to operate on the SERVER level, or the e-mail client needs to constantly be polling the server. Ergo, the best place to get this service is from the e-mail provider.

In Outlook 2003 you can set a rule to reply to emails containing specific conditions (such as keywords, etc.) and have the server reply with an email template that you specify. In Outlook 2003: Tools > Rules and Alerts

In Outlook 2003 you can set a rule to reply to emails containing specific conditions (such as keywords, etc.) and have the server reply with an email template that you specify. In Outlook 2003: Tools > Rules and Alerts

The problem with that, as I noted, is that its not the server that replies, but the e-mail client. Before a rule can be processed, the mail has to be downloaded from the server. Then Outlook can respond according to whatever rule is setup.

I really appreciate your responses. I didn't even think about his ISP providing something like that. I will send this along for him to look at and consider. Between the ISP and the link Curlyben gave this should give him a start. Thanks guys.