Autoresponders are one of the most powerful marketing tools on the Internet, allowing you to send out sales letters to interested customers quickly and affordably.

The problem is, many marketers limit the effectiveness of their autoresponders by failing to vary their content.

Most of your prospects are unlikely to open an email message they know is a sales letter. But what if your autoresponder markets your product or service, while at the same time providing something your prospect desires?

Getting creative with your autoresponders is easy, once you realize all the forms email marketing can take. Here are a few creative variations on the email sales letter that can lead to profitable new business:

1. Offer a training series -

Knowledge and information are the most sought after products on the net, so one of the best incentives your prospect has to open and read your autoresponder is that they know it contains the information they requested.

Try providing a series of lessons over a period of time, each ending in a call to action, prompting the reader to visit your site again or check out a new product. Plus, showing your prospects that you are knowledgeable on a subject helps you build credibility.

2. Maintain Client Relationships -

One of the most difficult things for business owners to do is to keep in touch with past customers. Many people tend to focus too much on finding new prospects and leads, and don't spend enough time maintaining a valuable relationship with past customers and clients.

Autoresponders make those periodic greetings and updates easy. Instead of spending an hour on the phone, you build a long-term relationship with automatic email messages, reminding your customer that you are still out there, ready to do business.

3. Fight Buyers Remorse -

Guilt over spending too much money often leads to "buyers remorse." But you can combat this phase with emails reminding customers of the substantial benefits of the product or service they purchased.

They will not only feel better about their purchase, but also be more likely to recommend your product or service to friends, and buy again from you in the future.

4. Promote by educating about your product -

Let's say you sell ad writing services. Write an article on the use promoting your business using ezine articles. Present a new or special way for your prospect to use this service and extol the virtues of it. Be specific and tell them how it is works to make their life easier/better/more profitable.

Now, to close your article, mention that you have a special on this service and direct them to your sales page. You have brought to light a problem they have, and offered an immediate solution. You are the hero!

These are just a few of the most popular alternative uses for autoresponders. There are hundreds more.

Use a little creativity and figure out how to use your autoresponders to their maximum potential.