How can I make my autoresponder work?

[constantinesavva]

First, I am not an IT person but with a good amateur knowledge of how things are done, as long as clear and simple instructions are given to me. I have developed a site and uploaded it myself (not a big deal, isn't it?) I have even had an autoresponder installed on the server.

Unfortunately I cannot get in touch with the person who did the installation and as I have a few questions (hit a wall more likely!) I am appealing for help on the following matters and I should be greteful for any help:

There are more than one forms on the site (subscription to different services). Can the responder (cgi?) handle all forms or separate configuration is needed for each one? (I don't know if this makes sense to a technical person but basically the responder wasn't installed with handling different forms in mind - does it have to be so?)

My bottom line question is: How do I make sure that the responder works and sends the right messages to people sending a specific form? (in other words, how do I make sure that the subscribers are allocated to the responder's right group e.g. those that order the newsletter to the newsletetr group and so on).

I understand that each responder group has its own "account settings" to be set in the responder panels. But the guide is not so friendly for lay persons in the explanation of terms. For example:

Subscribing options
"from email": do I have to create an alias on my control panel's "email settings" e.g. info@?

"Reply to": is it the same as "from email"?

"redirect subscribers to": what do I put there?

"redirect removals to": what do I put there?

Other jargon that is Greek to me (despite being Greek!): double opt-in, double opt-in confirmation page, logging....

POP3 settings can also be set (according to the responder help) to get subscribers subscribe by clicking on email links. Does this mean that if choose POP3 settings as a subscription route, I do not fill in and use the subscribing options above? In other words, does one option preclude the other? (is it either one or the other?)

If I go through "subscribing options" does that mean that evertything is done automaticaaly and directly by sending form data to cgi bin and responder is updating automatically?

If I choose POP3 option, what's the difference?

What work do I have to do on the server administration panel to ensure that everything works?

I understand that this is a bit too log a question and I am aware of my own limitations describing the problem so I wouldnt mind if someone could recommend a suitable site where read how to although I have to confess that I have spent endless time searching for some clear and simple guidance at no success.

Thank you in anticipation.

[storevalley]

Sounds like you either need ...

• A reliable webmaster to set this up for you and be on hand to make changes when required.

• To subscribe to an autoresponder service. You will then have access to somebody to help with any technical issues you might have.
  

I am a professional programmer, but I still use an autoresponder service despite the (pretty paltry) yearly fee. This is because there are wider issues to consider when running a newsletter/electronic mailing list.

I trust them to smooth the way with various ISPs so that most of the mail sent is delivered. I also trust them to keep developing technology that makes (e.g.) anti-spam compliance straightforward.

TOS prevents me from making specific recommendations here, but if you want to know who I use, just sticky me.

[Saltminer]

It depends on the form mail script you're using. I use TFMail and you can specify the config file to use for each form. So for instance one form will use "<input type="hidden" name="_config" value="order_config">".
That config file will be set to autorespond or not, email address to send form results to, etc. Another form may use "<input type="hidden" name="_config" value="suggest_config"> which can be setup to provide completely different actions from the "order_config" form

See if you can determine what form mail script you're using and Google it to find out about setup and configuration options.

Jimmy