An autoresponder sends an automatic reply to everyone who writes to an address. Use it for holidays, out-of-hours notices and acknowledging enquiries.
CREATING ONE
- In cPanel open Autoresponders under Email.
- Click Add Autoresponder.
- Set the Interval in hours. This is how long before the same sender gets the reply again. 24 is sensible; 0 replies to every single message and looks robotic.
- Enter the email address and choose the domain.
- Set the From name and the Subject.
- Tick HTML if your message contains formatting, otherwise leave it as plain text.
- Write the body.
- Set a Start and Stop time, or choose Immediately and Never.
- Click Create.
WRITING A GOOD ONE
Say when you will reply, give an alternative contact for anything urgent, and keep it short. Do not include information you would not want a stranger to have, as anyone who emails you receives it, including spammers.
TURNING IT OFF
Return to the Autoresponders page and delete it, or set a Stop time when you create it so it expires by itself. Forgotten holiday autoresponders running in March are a common embarrassment.
