One of the things you should seriously consider when you're starting out is the use of an autoresponder.  VermiCo will set you up with a couple of autoresponders to get you started.  We use them to let people know they will be receiving a catalog in the mail shortly and to thank them for their interest.  We also use them to confirm orders.  

Autoresponders are simply email addresses that automatically answer requests with a message that you create.

Your autoresponder would automatically answer the email with the message you previously created -- and without any additional effort from you! Not only that, but your visitor also gets the information he or she wants right away -- no waiting for you to answer your email.

Autoresponders also have the potential of generating more interest in your message.  Put up an autoresponder on your website, add a catchy headline, and you'll attract more requests for information than you otherwise would have.

Free autoresponders are a popular choice, but the vast majority of them have one big drawback: They're offered free because other advertisers pay to have their own message added to each message YOU send out. That means in addition to seeing YOUR sales message, the recipient also sees an advertisement for someone else's product or service.

Look for these following features you will receive with your autoresponder:

No size limit.

There's nothing worse than coming up with a great sales letter, only to have to edit it down.

Quick response.

Your autoresponder should reply to a request within a few minutes.

Instant access to your message.

You should be able to change your autoresponder message any time, and have it take effect immediately.

No charges for changes to your message.

Success on the Internet depends in large part on experimentation, testing, testing, and more testing. That means you'll be continuously trying to improve your autoresponder message; you shouldn't have to pay for it.

Ability to send unlimited follow-up messages.

Ideally, you want an autoresponder that will let you send follow-up messages to your prospects. It usually takes 7 or more exposures to a message before you can close a sale. For example, your main message is sent out immediately. Three days later, a follow-up message could be mailed out automatically, and two days after that a third message could be mailed out.

No limit on the number of requests.

If someone requests a message from your autoresponder, then they should receive it.  Period.

Immediate notification.

It's best if you can receive immediate notification whenever someone requests your autoresponder message (instead of receiving a weekly or monthly summary report). That way you can place your autoresponder in various spots on your website, or promote your autoresponder using different methods and immediately know how well each is working.

Ability for people to opt-out.

Every autoresponder you use should give the recipient the option of removing himself or herself from your mailing list. If you don't provide for this, you could very well be accused of spamming and end up with a whole lot of trouble!

Your autoresponder should handle this automatically for you -- the recipient of your mailing should be able to send an email to a specified address and your autoresponder immediately removes their address from your mailing list.

No special subject required.

When someone sends an email to your autoresponder, whether it's by filling out a form or by sending an email, they should get your message regardless of what's in the 'Subject' line of their email. Some autoresponders require that the sender put a specific 'code' in the subject line in order to receive certain information.

Don't require these; people make typos or forget or don't follow instructions. Make it easy for your visitor to get the information he or she wants.

No long-term commitment.

This is usually only applicable to paid autoresponders. If you're paying for an autoresponder, you don't want to commit to any long-term contract; businesses come and go all the time on the Internet, and there's no guarantee that the autoresponder you've chosen will be around in the long term.

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