Review of Autoresponseplus

Autoresponseplus Autoresponder

Product: This is a program (an autoresponder script) that you purchase to install on your web site. This allows you to create an unlimited number of autoresponder messages for your site without a monthly fee.

Some autoresponder services are based on a monthly fee and can limit you to how many different autoresponse messages you can use. The autoresponseplus script does not involve a monthly fee.

Autoresponseplus does not install the script for you. You either have to do it yourself or hire someone to do it. They do recommend several people who will install for you for under $50. More on this in a bit!

Background on why I bought it:

I am a firm believer in using autoresponders for any web site. And I do mean ANY web site. In my opinion if you are not using them, you are losing a tremendous potential for extra money. I attribute approximately 40% of my business to the power of my autoresponders.

I have used several autoresponders over the years. I am up to my 5th one. The reason I have tried several is that I have narrowed them it down to the one that offers maximum flexibility at the most reasonable price.

The question is whether I am still using autoresponseplus or not....

The Good
Autoresponseplus came highly recommended from numerous sources. Ordering it was very easy and I was able to download it immediately.

I had done a little research before hand and decided to have it installed for me.

As I am a programmer, I could have probably worked my way through the installation but truthfully it was worth it to pay someone $40 to do it for me. I really don't like doing more elaborate installations of cgi programs. In particular configuring the correct directory paths and setting up CRON jobs wasn't worth the headache for me.

The programmer was able to get the script 99% installed within a day or so. Everything was working except for the portion where it automatically sends out the messages. I could do everything but send out things on schedule. The programmer worked away at the problem (which involved configuring the CRON jobs for all of you technical folks).

I was able to play with the program and found it very robust. Setting up new autoresponder accounts, sending broadcasts etc was all pretty easy.

There is an excellent support forum for the program and any questions I had could be quickly answered there.

I found the interface itself very professional. Basically you access your autoresponder by typing in the address where the file is located. It then opens a web page where you log in to control the autoresponders.

Excellent interface of Autoresponseplus

All in all, I was very impressed and eager to get it completed and underway.

The Bad
Unfortunately for me, Autoresponseplus could never get completely functional on my site. I would have to say it was my fault. When I was looking to buy the program, they highly recommended several web hosting companies to use for a site wanting to use ARP.

The sites listed were known to be "ARP friendly" and could allow for easy installation. If you site wasn't listed, it did not necessarily mean you couldn't install it. They listed some of the requirements for hosting accounts that would be required. I went through the list and my site appeared to fit all of the criteria. Unfortunately it didn't.

My hosting company for that particular site was very protective of what it could allow scripts to do on their servers. From a security standpoint that is fantastic. On the other hand it prohibited me from getting ARP fully functioning :(

It must have frustrated the heck out of the installer because he eventually stopped answering my emails for assistance! Anyways to make a long story short, I ended up writing ARP and was issued a very prompt refund.

Summary:
If you are going to get Autoresponseplus, you should DEFINITELY stick with the recommended hosting providers. I wanted this program so badly that I had actually considered switching but decided against it.

I was glad that I was able to use ARP in the limited capacity that I could. I was disappointed that it didn't work out for me because I could see that it was a very capable program.

Recommendation:
Can I give a conditional recommendation? Sure I can, it's my review :) I would not risk going through all of installation woes on a server that wasn't on their friendly list.

If I had a site hosted on a provider that was Autoresponseplus friendly, I would not hesitate to purchase it. Some hosting accounts integrate VERY nicely with ARP and make setting it up extremely easy.

I still feel the disappointment that it didn't work out for me!

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