I have been using a autoresponder for my mailing list of and on for a year or so. I offer a free guide to my visitors if they subscribe. I have a bunch of other guide that I send out in follow up emails.
I also use it for member of my affiliate program. This allows me to contact all my affiliates and update them about new marketing tools.
If you need a free gift to reward your subscribers, I will be more than happy to help you out with it. It is rebrandable and can also earn you money by giving it away free.
If you need a autoresponder, I wrote a review of the one I use at http://thebettorguide.com/affiliates/autoresponders/