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Ask Mr. Internet
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Dear Mr. Internet:

How can I automatically have E-mail sent to anyone who visits my Web site?

Sylvia Stallings
Prudential California Realty
Santa Barbara, Calif.

Dear Sylvia:

Most ISPs (Internet service providers, the folks who host your Web site) have something called an autoresponder
(sounds like a rookie salesperson learning how to handle objections!). This is a special program on your ISP's computer that will automatically and instantly reply to any E-mail sent to it--24 hours a day--with whatever message you want! The service is very inexpensive (from free to about $5 per month) and you can have several of them active on your site simultaneously.

Suppose your e-mail address is sally@sallyagent.com where sallyagent.com is your domain name. You can have your ISP set up several autoresponders, each with its own special and programmed to reply in the way you want. When someone visiting your site sends an E-mail to one of these addresses, your autoresponders replies. For example:

E-mail Address	Automatic Reply
relo@sallyagent.com	Message with a file attachment that you're prepared to assist them in relocating to your area
schools@sallyagent.com	Message with a list of hyperlinks to your local school Web sites punctuated with
sellertips@sallyagent.com	Message with a file attachment of a multimedia slide show that demonstrates how to best prepare their property for sale and choose the best listing salesperson (you, naturally!)
If your ISP provides autoresponder services, there are only four things you need to do to start using the magic of autoresponders: 1. Determine how many autoresponders you want to have and choose a unique, descriptive E-mail address for each one 2. Create the E-mail message and attachment file (if any) that each autoresponder will use 3. Contact your ISP to set up and activate the autoresponders using the addresses and messages you created 4. Have the person who maintains your Web site create the E-mail hyperlinks or E-mail forms on your site that, when submitted, will trigger the appropriate autoresponder reply. If you're still unsure about how to use this great tool, check with your ISP customer support people. One caveat: Autoresponders are really just E-mail robots (sometimes called mailbots), that reply mindlessly to received e-mail. They're not the best method to start an online relationship. That takes a real live human (you!). Use autoresponders to help you with your online marketing efforts, not replace you. Learn more about autoresponders by going to http://www.voron.com/at/report.htm and filling out a Web form that uses an autoresponder to instantly E-mail a free report to you. Mr. Internet's Tip Make it easy for people to send you E-mail from your Web site by turning your E-mail address (or your autoresponder's) into a hyperlink! Just add "mailto:" to the beginning of the address (for example, mailto:sally@sallyagent.com). When a visitor clicks on the resulting hyperlink it'll automatically open their E-mail message window with your address already inserted (for most E-mail software anyway). The easier you make it for people to contact you, the more likely they will. Mr. Internet is the alter-ego of Michael J. Russer, an internationally recognized Internet speaker, trainer, author, and strategic consultant to the real estate industry. He's dedicated to helping real estate professionals leverage their people skills into profit on the Internet. You'll see his column on Today's REALTOR® Onlineevery month and in the magazine quarterly. Send your Internet questions to help@askmrinternet.com
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