Where can I find help items for sections of my Client Menu?
How do I change my 'From' email address?
Should I set my messages up first before adding or importing my list?
Can I use text messages in my HTML autoresponder or vice versa?
Is there a certain format for setting up messages?
How do I load my messages into my autoresponder?
Are the length of my outgoing messages limited?
How do I generate a sign up form for my website?
How do I use the sign up form redirects?
What does the message - is not in a valid format and was not added to your list - mean when I try to import a list?
How do I create a link in my message?
Is there a way I can create an email link that places the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject?
Do I have to place unsubscribe links in my messages?
How can I remove the ads included in my Free Service Messages?
Will I be able to use HTML in my messages?
When I use the "Import List" function, can I start them on a message other than from number 1?
I loaded my list through the Import List function and when I checked my subscriber listing there were no subscribers.
Will I be able to customize or personalize my messages?
How do I start a new subscriber and begin e-mails without starting them all over for the whole database?
Can the first autoresponse message be set to go out in 1 day instead of immediately?
Will I be able to send messages to my subscriber list?
How do people request information from my autoresponder?
How can I tell how many people have requested information?
What happens when someone asks a question when sending for my information?
What about using a 123Response.com autoresponder for SPAM?
Where can I find help items for sections of my Client Menu?
In addition to this page, when you log into your client menu there is a link in the lower right hand corner of your menu called "Tutorial Video's". In addition you will find specific instructions within each function to help you complete that task.
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How do I change my 'From' email address?
The email address that you entered when you signed up for your autoresponder is the address that will be shown in the "From" line of your messages and must be a valid address which requires confirmation when you first sign up for our service. If you find it necessary to change your "From" address you can log in to your autoresponder and click on the link in the lower center of the menu - "Edit this Autoresponders Name and From Settings". As indicated on the instructions for that function, if you change your email address you will receive an email with a confirmation link in it that you will have to click on before the email address is changed. This is a security function to insure that valid "From" email addresses are used.
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Should I set my messages up first before adding or importing my list?
Yes, this is a VERY IMPORTANT point... Please set up your message(s) FIRST before entering any names and/or email addresses into the system. If you do it the opposite way, you may finding yourself having to re-import them. You should prepare your messages first, set them up, test them and make sure they are formatted and look professional before sending any of them out to anyone.
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Can I use text messages in my HTML autoresponder or vice versa?
Yes, our updated system allows you to use either text or html in both the free service and the Deluxe service. I personally don't use the HTML option in the 25 or so autoresponders that I have in use around the clock since I believe that a lot of people around the world do not have the capability in their email browser software to read HTML documents and many have that feature turned off completely. But that is my own personal feeling.
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Is there a certain format for setting up messages?
Setting up your messages is not that difficult if you do it step by step. You should prepare your message or messages in a text editor such as NotePad or whatever text program you use. Do it on your computer before even attempting to load the message(s) into your autoresponder. This way you can save a copy of each locally in case you need to edit them or reload them in the future.
Here of some of the guidelines I use:
As far as formatting....
- I make each line only 55 to 60 characters long counting spaces. This length will normally look good in most email programs. If you use 60 to 75 characters, in many email programs it will cause the line to wrap around to the next line for one or two words which really looks bad.
- Place a hard return (use the "Enter" key on your keyboard) at the end of each line or it will continue to flow across the page until it hits either a hard return or the margin of the browser page and then it will wrap around to the next line depending on the browser being used. Also make sure there is a hard return at the end of each paragraph. If you just keep on typing with out any hard returns, your message will probably be emailed as one big paragraph.
- I email myself a copy of the message to check the spelling and format then make any necessary changes. It is important to send it to yourself before using it so that you know it looks pretty good. Sometimes you may miss a return at the end of one line and you will end up with this one line sticking out across the whole page and it really looks bad. Remember, the person receiving your first message may make a judgement as to your business professionalism and whether he or she wants to deal with you, so make it look good.
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How do I load my messages into my autoresponder?
Once you have your messages formatted the way you want them, checked the spelling and they really look professional, you need to load each into your autoresponder. Log into to your client menu and click on "View/Edit/Add Autoresponder Messages". Click on the "Message 1"
There are two things that you need to do with the first message. One is to enter the "Subject line" and two, enter the text of your message. You don't have to change the "Message Delay(Days Sent From Last Message):" line since the first message will go out immediately automatically. So just leave the "sent immediately" in there.
To enter your "Subject line", you can just type it in the "Subject line" box. TIP - Don't put your subject line in all caps. Many spam programs read this as a spam indicator and chances are your message will go directly to the junk file and the person will never see it. In fact I would stay away from using whole words in caps anywhere in the messages because the spam filters may catch them too.
Then copy your first message from where ever you saved it on your computer and paste it in the box below the "Subject line" you entered.
Note: Copy and paste is simply highlighting the text file that you created, using the copy function under the edit menu or "Control C" on your keyboard. This copies the text to your system Clipboard. Then place your cursor in the box at your autoresponder mentioned above, use the edit menu again and click paste or use "Control V" on your keyboard and the text will appear in the box.
When you have the subject and text in the first message, go down to the bottom of the page and check either "HTML Message( message must be HTML coded like a web page)" or "Plain Text Message" depending on which format your message is. Then click on "Save Message". THIS IS IMPORTANT TO DO - IF YOU DON"T AND YOU CLOSE OUT THE PAGE, YOUR MESSAGE WILL NOT BE SAVED. You need to do this anytime you add or change a message.
If you have a second and additional messages to load after the first, just go back to the message center and click on the next message number. You will see the entry box called " Message Delay(Days Sent From Last Message):". This is where you enter a number such as 1 if you want the second message to go out 1 day after the first or 2 for two days after the last message and so on. That is how you set up the sequence of the automatic messages that go out.
Then enter the "Subject line" and actual text message for each. AND as mentioned above, make sure you go down to the bottom of the entry page and click on that "Save Message" button to save it.
Once you have the messages loaded AND SAVED, I suggest that you go back to the your main menu page and under "Manage Messages" there is a section called "Test Messages" where you can send the messages to yourself so that you can see what they actually look like. All you need to do is click on the "Send Now" button and it will send all the messages you have loaded in the autoresponder to your email address. This way you can take a look at them to see how they look before you actually start sending them out. If they need editing, just go back in and make the changes and save them again.
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Are the length of my outgoing messages limited?
No there is no specific size limit for your messages. I suggest that you not make them too long and try not to write a novel. If they are too long, the reader may just trash the message. You should highlight enough information to get the reader to click on the link to your webpage where he or she can get the entire story. Besides, one of the advantages to using an autoresponder is that you can send a group of messages to your prospects, highlighting slightly different information in each. The primary purpose of your message should be to get the reader to go to the web site and get full details of your offer. So you should just put enough information in the message to "tease" them.
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How do I generate a sign up form for my website?
One of the most used ways to solicit subscribers is through the use of a form on your web site. In many cases there are only two items that the prospect is required to fill in, their first name and their email address. There is a one of these forms on our home page at 123response.com down towards the center of the page. You might have filled it in to test drive the 123response.com system just before you signed up for our service. Using a form like this is a great way to build an in house list of prospects and a sure way to capture your visitors name and email address.
There is a link on your main menu after you log in to your autoresponder that will make up the form coding that you need to place on your web page. It is under the section "Form Code:" and appears as "Get Sign-up Form Code". Just click on that link. The next page that comes up is where you can select the items you want in the form. If you just want the first name and email address then you do not have
to check any of the boxes since those two items are always included. So if that is all you want then just click on "Generate Form Code" at the bottom to make up the code.
The next page that comes up has the actual html code in it that needs to be inserted and uploaded to your webpage. You would just copy the code inside the box and paste it into your webpage where ever you wanted it to appear.
If you have a need to change the form code in any way, for example to make it smaller so it fits better on your web site, we have put up a sample form page with some instructions and changes to the coding that might help you. You can take a look at it by clicking here.
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How do I use the sign up form redirects?
As indicated above in the prior answer, you can create the html code for a form to place on your web pages so that new subscribers can sign up for the information in your autoresponder.
On your main menu under the section called "Form Code:" there are two other links besides "Get Sign-up Form Code". They are:
"Set Confirmation Redirect" and
"Set Sign-up Redirect"
The "Set Confirmation Redirect" function allows you to link to a custom page on your website that can thank them for subscribing and advise them that they will be receiving an email with a confirmation link in it which they will have to click on in order to be added to your list. You can see a sample of one of our own at Confirmation Redirect Sample. This is a page that you would have to create and be able to load up to your website. Once it is created and uploaded, then you can add the page URL in the "Set Confirmation Redirect" section. If you add a link in this section and don't upload the page to your website then an error page will come up instead. Of course the page layout would be customized with the look of your web site not ours. Yours could also be just a simple page that thanks them and advises them of the necessity of confirming their email address.
The "Set Sign-up Redirect" is where you can enter a link (URL) to redirect your subscribers to a thank you page after they confirm their email address. Like above, this is a custom page that you must create and upload to your website before you can link to it. Here is a sample of one of ours Sign Up Redirect Thank You Page
PLEASE NOTE: In order for either of the redirects to work, both must be entered in the system. If you only enter one or the other, the redirect URL will not work and they will be sent to the system's default redirect pages. The defaults will be entirely satisfactory for you to use if you do not have the ability to customize and upload pages to your own website or affiliate site.
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What does the message - is not in a valid format and was not added to your list - mean when I try to import a list?
This error message normally comes up when you are importing your list and when one or more of the email addresses are in the improper format or the entire list is in the wrong format. If one or more of the entries is in the wrong format, then that entry will not be imported.
Make sure that the format instructions are followed when loading the list. The proper format is:
John,Doe,Jdoe@yohoo.com (firstname,lastname,emailaddress) or
John,,Jdoe@yohoo.com (no lastname) or
,Doe,Jdoe@yohoo.com (no firstname) or
,,Jdoe@yohoo.com (no firstname or lastname)
There can only be one entry per line also. As long as the format is followed, it should load ok. Also, make sure that you click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page each time you enter a list or it will not be entered and saved. The format guidelines are listed at the top of the import page.
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How do I create a link in my message?
There is a standard format for creating links in your messages. You need to use a slightly different link for AOL and that is covered below. The two primary aspects of setting out the links are "http://" for a webpage address (URL) and "mailto:" for an email address.
A regular link for a webpage would look like this:
http://www.123response.com
and an email link would look like,
mailto:sales@123response.com
I always add separate links to our messages for AOL subscribers to click on. For some reason, the normal link - http://www.123response.com does not operate properly in the AOL email browsers.
The AOL tag should be set up as follows:
<a href="http://www.123response.com">AOL Link</a>
The AOL email tag should appear as follows:
<a href="mailto:info@123response.com">AOL Email Link</a>
Make sure that you replace the web page or email address in the examples above to the ones that that you need to use.
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Is there a way I can create an email link that places the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject?
There is a format that you can use that will make the email address a hot link in your advertising or on your website and it will automatically place the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line of the email. What I mean by a hotlink is that a prospect could just click on it and it would open up an email in their email program with your autoresponder address already in the "To" line and SUBSCRIBE in the "Subject" line. The format is as follows (remember that where ever I use "youname" in the first part of the email address
has to be changed to whatever you named your autoresponder) for a link you can use in a text message or advertisement:
mailto:youname@123response.com?subject=SUBSCRIBE
If you were going to use it on your web page then it would have a slightly different format:
<a href="mailto:youname@123response.com">youname@123response.com</a>
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Do I have to place unsubscribe links in my messages?
No, the system automatically places the removal/unsubscribe links at the end of each of the messages that go out. These cannot be removed or altered through your Main Menu. They are required by the new U.S. law on email solicitations.
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How can I remove the ads included in my Free Service Messages?
The ads can be removed by upgrading from the free autoresponder service to our Deluxe ad free unit. You can upgrade through the upgrade link at the bottom of your Main Menu.
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Will I be able to use HTML in my messages?
Yes. You can use either HTML or text in all of our autoresponders
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When I use the "Import List" function, can I start them on a message other than from number 1?
Yes you can. If you want to start people on let's say message 4 when you are using the import function, then all you have to do is make sure you enter a message number in the box at the bottom of the import page before you click on the "Submit" button.
All people who sign up through the use of your autoresponder email address or sign up form will start on message number one. The system is set up to have them start automatically on the first message, it can't be changed.
If you use the "Add Single Subscriber" function where you add one subscriber at a time, you can start it on any message you choose.
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I loaded my list through the Import List function and when I checked my subscriber listing there were no subscribers.
Normally when this occurs, it means that you either loaded the list in the wrong format or that you neglected to click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page and they were not saved. The system is very strict about the format. Check the formatting instructions above or on the import page of your Main Menu. After you click on the "Submit" button it will take you to another page and the addresses will scroll until it finishes. That is an indicator that they went out successfully.
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Will I be able to customize or personalize my messages?
Yes. You can personalize your autoresponder messages and/or subject line by including certain predetermined codes in your message and/or subject line. To personalize a message or subject line include the appropriate code in the place you would like your subscriber's information entered.
For instance, you can personalize each message by using the tags
[FIRSTNAME]
[LASTNAME]
[EMAIL]
[DATE]
in the SUBJECT line, or anywhere in the body of your TEXT message(s). There are a number of other tags that can also be used. There is a drop down box on your message page with the different tags you can use.
Example: If you type in, Hello [FIRSTNAME], as the salutation in the Body of your message(s)., the autoresponder system will replace the Tag [FIRSTNAME] with your prospect's First Name. It will look like "Hello John", assuming John's name was collected through the autoresponder system or a form we provide you, on your web site.
When the messages are sent out, the system automatically replaces the code with the appropriate information from your database. These codes are case sensitive so make sure you use them as they are indicated. If you should use(firstname) instead of [FIRSTNAME] the message will be sent out as "Hi (firstname), instead of "Hi Joe,"
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How do I start a new subscriber and begin e-mails without starting them all over for the whole database?
See the question above regarding the use of the "Import" function of your "Client Menu".
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Can the first autoresponse message be set to go out in 1 day instead of immediately?
No, the system is configured to send the first message out when someone puts in a request to your autoresponder or when you enter a new subscriber into the system. The only exception to this is with the Deluxe unit which allows you to import a list and you can set it to start the message sequence on whatever message number you choose.
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Will I be able to send messages to my subscriber list?
If you are using the free service, you do not have access to that function. In the Deluxe service you can mail a message to your entire subscriber base at any time regardless of whether they are still in the active message sequence or they are in the archives.
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How do people request information from my autoresponder?
There are three ways that a prospect can be added to your autoresponder subscriber list. Two of them involve the prospect taking the action themselves and the third is done manually by you.
Let's cover the prospect's actions first. Your autoresponder has a specific email address which you furnished the name for when you set it up, i.e. "yourautorespondername@123response.com". You can use this address in your advertising, on your web site or where ever you want (as long as it is not used in SPAM). When someone sends an email to your autoresponder address, with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject (it must be in caps), the system automatically adds them to your data base and sends them the system's confirmation email. When they confirm their email address by clicking on the link included in the confirmation email, your first message goes out immediately. They will then will receive follow up messages, if any, in the sequence you set up. If they do not confirm their email address they will go into a pending file and they will not receive your first message. The second option is to use a web page form where a prospect can enter their information, click on the submit button and the same process as just explained will occur.
The third option, if you have a our Deluxe service, is where you log in to your Main Menu and add a prospect/subscriber's name and/or email address to your autoresponder. You can do this either through the "Add Single Subscriber" function where you add one subscriber at a time or through the "Import" function.
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How can I tell how many people have requested information?
As far as knowing when people actually request information from your autoresponder, you will receive an email message each time a new person requests the information. It will be a short, even blank email that says that the so and so requested the information. The system send them to you automatically. So you know on an ongoing basis when it is activated.
As far as an ongoing or historical record, the "Manage Subscribers" area of your Main Menu has this type of information.
You also have a "Quick Stats" area which gives you a summary of the subscriber activity on your autoresponder.
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What happens when someone asks a question when sending for my information?
As mentioned in the "How can I tell how many people have requested information?" question above, you receive an email whenever a new person subscribes. If that person asks a question or makes a comment when they send the email to your autoresponder, the text of that question or comment will be included in the email you receive. Keep in mind, many people are unaware of what an autoresponder is and might think they are sending an email to a person who is going to answer them directly. So many times they may say something in their request like "please send me the information on...". Normally I wouldn't respond to something like this because by the time I even see the request, they will have received the information. Remember that when a request is made to your autoresponder the request is answered within minutes. This sometimes amazes people who request the information because they think you were sitting right in front of your computer and sent back the information when in fact you might have been sleeping or on vacation or you have this big staff who answers these requests around the clock. That is the beauty of using an autoresponder.
On the other hand if the person asks some specific question then I would follow up as soon as possible.
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What about using a 123Response.com autoresponder for SPAM?
Our policy is very simple - We will not tolerate SPAM.
If you are found to be using your account to SPAM, your account will be shut down immediately. Furthermore, under our Terms of Use, anyone sending out SPAM through our autoresponders will bear full liability for any losses which we incur as a result and you could end up in court as a result. We do not tolerate or use SPAM in our business nor does the company we host our service with. SPAM is very simply "Unsolicited Email".
Our system now has a Confirm/Opt in process which is used to insure that spam complaints are minimized. Whenever someone requests information from your autoresponder or you add someone to your autoresponder, they are sent a confirmation email. They are then required to click on the link in that email, which in turn activates their subscription/request and they are added to your list. If they do not confirm, they are left in your pending file and are not added.
If they didn't ask for your information, don't put them into the autoresponder system. We do not allow importing of mailing lists that may have been purchased because in most cases they are strictly SPAM. We also do not allow the use of lists obtained from FFA sites since approximately 50% of these are bad addresses. Click here to review our Terms of Use.
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