In today's world of unsolicited email and spam laws, using autoreponder responsibly is one of the most important things that has to be accomplished by every online marketer. Moreover, it is also extremely important to use an atoresponder service, script or software which adheres spam laws by providing some useful features. If you find an autoresponder program which does not provide such features, just look for another one.

Here are some of the important features which can be very useful in protecting you from getting spam complaints:

1. Double Opt-In

You should choose an autoresponder with 'double opt-in' feature to avoid someone trying to accuse you as a spammer. By using this feature, a new subscriber will be added to your mailing list after he has confirmed that he is the person who requested the information. This is accomplished by instructing him to click a confirmation URL included in the first message. This way, it is nearly impossible for someone to subscribe to your newsletter by using an email address which is not his.

2. Link Removal

A good autoresponder service or software should include a link removal in every message sent out automatically. Clicking the link will make a subscriber to be removed from your mailing list instantly and he will never receive any further messages. It is also a good idea to ensure that the link works properly. You should pay attention about it especially if you use an autoresponder software or script that runs on your PC or web server. Without this link, you will be breaking the spam laws, and you risk having your web hosting or ISP account shut down.

3. Postal Address Inclusion

Besides a link removal, each of your message must also include your name and postal address. Reliable autoresponder progams today will enable you to do it automatically. That means you do not have to insert such information manually everytime you want to send out a newsletter or a follow-up email.

4. Vital Data Recording

The ability to record an IP address, date and time where each of your subscriber came from is another important feature that should exist in an autoresponder service or software. There may be a situation where one of your subscriber forgerts that he had ever made a confirmation to join your mailing list. Reliable autoresponder services usually also allow you to capture other information from you subscribers such as country and postal code that can be useful in market targeting or personalizing your messages.

In general there are three types of autoresponder: remotely hosted, locally hosted and desktop based. Although each has different advantages and disadvantages, many remotely hosted autoresponders always update their features to be in full compliance with spam laws without requiring extra payments. In addition, reliable services will also help you investigate any spam complaints.

Choosing the right autoresponder from the beginning is very important. There are a lot of choices available on the internet today. It can be a somewhat difficult and time consuming task to find the right autoresponder. Before you decide on what autoresponder service or software to purchase, you should make sure that it does not lack of important features. A good autoresponder program must be able to perform various marketing tasks and to protect you from getting into legal problems.