Another powerful reason for making the switch from using the unlimited autoresponders that come free with your web hosting account to paying a monthly fee for an autoresponder service is improved legal protection.

Since all e-mails you send using a paid autoresponder service are hosted on their servers, you are insulated from false accusations of sending spam (unsolicited commercial e-mail).

Even if you send your paid autoresponder service your list of current newsletter subscribers, they will require confirmation from each subscriber.

A subscriber to my newsletter confirmed their subscription (with date, time, and IP address recorded) through my paid autoresponder service. Then, with the first issue sent her, she filed a spam complaint with AOL (America Online, Inc.). My autoresponder service terminated her subscription and notified me of what happened.

Now, had I still been using my free mailing list software (and the free autoresponders) that came with my web hosting, I might never had known what happened. I would have assumed that my subscriber was getting my newsletter and was happy about it. I would never have imagined that I was being accused of sending spam and at risk of being blacklisted!

As well, compliance with the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003, United States Public Law 108-187) is ensured by the paid autoresponder services. They make sure that legally required information is sent on each e-mail sent.

So, by paying a modest monthly fee, your autoresponder service can not only help increase your profits but it can help protect you legally as well.