In this section you will add two follow-up message to an existing mailing list (see Mailing Lists); you do not want to send both these messages at once though! The first message in the sequence will go immediately after someone subscribes but the second one will not be sent until three days later.
Create or Choose Existing Mailing List
To create a new mailing list, click the "New" button on the main window toolbar, and click "Mailing List / Follow-up Machine". This opens the "Mailing List" window. Enter the name for the new mailing list in the "Name" text box; example: "My Customers".
Alternatively, you can open an existing mailing list by double-clicking its icon.
Set up Outgoing Mail Server
Skip this section if you are adding follow-up messages to an existing mailing list for which you have already selected an outgoing mail server.
To send your messages you need to choose an outgoing mail server on the "Mail Settings" tab ("Primary server" text box). By far the most reliable method is to use an SMTP server hosted by a third-party. If you plan to have a large mailing list, I recommend contacting the company to learn about their policies regarding bulk mailings before you send your messages.
To add a new server, click the "Outgoing Mail Servers" button, and click "Add". Then type the server name in the “SMTP server name” text box.
Note: If the SMTP server requires authorization, you can configure that using the same window (“My outgoing mail server requires me to log in” and “Authenticate by connecting to POP3 server” check boxes). For more information about autoresponder’s POP3 and SMTP configuration, read the Downloading and Sending Mail chapter.
You can test the server after you click "Test Server Settings".
Click “OK” to confirm the changes, and click "OK" again to go back to the “Mailing List” window. The program automatically pre-selects the newly added account and server.
First Follow-Up Message
Let's now add some messages to the follow-up sequence. After you click the “Follow-Up Messages” tab, click the “Add” button to create a new follow-up message. This brings up the “Follow-Up Message” window. Type Initial Follow-Up in the “Follow-up name” box. This message is to be sent immediately after a subscriber opts in so 0 hours is fine as the interval. Take a look at the picture below to see how the window should be filled out.
To edit the actual message, click “Message” to open the message editor. Type the email address you want to use as the sender's address in the “From” text box. Then enter Welcome in the “Subject” box, and type anything as the text of the email (the next screenshot shows you an example).
Click the “Save & Close” button to save your changes and to close the message editor.
Hint: To find out how to take advantage of the message editor’s all features, read the Composing Mail Messages chapter.
Click “OK” to close the “Follow-Up Message” window.
Second Follow-Up Message
Let’s move on to adding the second follow-up message. The program will send it three days after the first one.
Click the “Follow-Up Messages” tab if it is not already active, and click “Add”. Type Second Follow-Up in the “Follow-up name” text box. Then use the “Message” button to compose the follow-up message. Finally, type 3 in the “Time interval” text box, and select days using the drop-down list located next to the box.
Click “OK” to close the “Follow-Up Message” window.
Saving your Changes
Click “OK” to close the “Mailing List” window and save the changes you made.
Congratulations! Your follow-up messages are ready!
Testing the Follow-Up Messages
To see how it works, double-click the mailing list icon, and add yourself to the mailing list ("Subscribers" tab > "Add" button). Click "OK" to close the "Mailing List" window, and then click the "Send/Receive" toolbar button. After short time the first follow-up messages should arrive in your inbox. Obviously, the second message is not sent immediately and you probably do not want to wait three days!
You can preview the follow-up messages by sending them to your email address (as long as it is on the mailing list). Double-click the mailing list, switch to the “Follow-Up Messages” tab, select the messages you want to send, and click “Preview”. Type your email address, and click "OK". Check your inbox. Both messages should be there within a few minutes.
Note: If the messages are not there, check the "Status" > "Event Log" panel for error messages (see Monitoring Program Activity for more details).