MailChimp AutoresponderCampaign Help?

Anyway, all this while I thought I wasn't getting any signups because I never got any email notifications. Yesterday I decided to log in just to see and to my surprise I had 14 emails on my Earthquake Preparedness niche site and 10 emails on my affiliate site!

Autoresponder for Free Account?

I'm new to the whole newsletter thing so I'm not sure where to start. Ideally I would like an autoresponder to be sent out to people who subscribe, thanking them for subscribing and giving them a short blurb about what they'll be getting but I don't see anything for that as I'm on a free MailChimp account. Do they have autoresponders for free accounts? If so, how do I set one up?

Campaigns

I would also like to setup some campaigns and looks like they have some instructions on how to get things setup which I will follow.

http://kb.mailchimp.com/campaigns/ways-to-build/ge...

Just not sure what should be in those campaigns and wondered if those of you who have experience with email campaigns can give me some suggestions. I don't want to keep spamming them with information so I want to space it out. As for content, do you send notifications every time you post a new blog? Do I just add it to the campaign or do you somehow to a one-off email blast? Am I able to create multiple campaigns on a free account or would I have to upgrade?

I will definitely be creating a campaign but just not sure what should be in it. Some direction or advice would be very helpful as I'm still learning. I'm sure others will benefit from your responses as well.

Thanks in advance!