Newsletter functionality

[Brewhaus]

We would like to maintain a list of customers for newsletters, and although I see that there is an option in AC for this, I do not see how a customer can simply sign up by entering their e-mail address into a text box on the site. I guess that would be question one- how is this done?

Question two- given that the newsletter funtion in AC seems to be rather week, how would using a separate piece of software be handled? Can it be set up to include all those who sign up for the newsletter when they go through the checkout process, or would we have to manually merge these two lists prior to sending a newsletter in order to ensure that there are not duplicates, and that nobody is missed?

[AbleMods]

Email lists are possible in AC7. Currently they are available on the Account page though, so they're not readily available AND the user must be registered with the site to even see the account page.

It sounds like you're really asking for two things; 1) visitors can just sign up and 2) people who have placed orders get an opportunity to sign up.

I use my own mail server software called MDaemon from Altn.com. It has some pretty strong opt-in/opt-out newsletter features. You can see how I implemented it on my site here: http://www.solunar.com/Solunar-signups.aspx.

What I did was make a simple user control. Each "subscribe" button just triggers a client send-email to the list server with the subject line already populated. This same technique would work with several of the outside mailing list services available on the internet. Feel free to play with it - you can sign up and unsubscribe automatically without any intervention on my part.

[Brewhaus]

I took a look and found the SQL table that holds the e-mail addresses for the newsletter list. Could you not simply add a box for a person to enter their e-mail address and when they submit, it is added to the table?

That is slightly beyond me, but I cannot imagine it would be a tremendous undertaking for someone with a better understanding of these things.

[AbleMods]

certainly. But there is more to it on the back end. Members need an easy way to opt-out. You will want a way to manage multiple lists and easily send emails to those list members from your favorite email client.

If everything (SQL db, email client) were installed on the same pc, yes it would be much easier. Most site admins aren't configured that way though.

Ac7 let's you create lists and sent HTML emails to those list members.

[Logan Rhodehamel]

I took a look and found the SQL table that holds the e-mail addresses for the newsletter list. Could you not simply add a box for a person to enter their e-mail address and when they submit, it is added to the table?

You could also use our API to add the user to an email list, and then you could take advantage of the opt-in confirmation which will keep you out of hot water with spam police.

[Will]

There's a control in AC7 that has the simple text box that allows anyone to enter their email address to subscribe to an email list:

[ConLib: SubscribeToEmailList]

We put it in our site's footer so it appears on every page.

For email list management and sending out newsletters, we're using a web-based service called Campaign Monitor (http://campaignmonitor.com). it's been great so far. They handle all of the spam-filtering issues, have pre-tested templates, solid marketing and analytics tools, and a reasonable fee structure.

They've also got a well-documented API, so we've engaged a programmer to integrate AC7 directly with Campaign Monitor.

[Brewhaus]

Great, I have added the signup box- thank you.

Now, in our other site, the software sends the e-mails directly from the server (our server also handles the e-mail for our businesses). I assume that AC7 does the same thing, which leaves only the opt-out option. Is there a way to set this up so that when a newsletter is sent, we can have a 'click here to opt out' type of option on it?

We tend to only maintain one newsletter list, so confusion over lists is not going to be an issue.

[kastnerd]

I thought i would add to this older post since its close to what im looking for.

I would like to have maybe 10 different email lists. Have use able to opt in and opt out with out having an account.
But also when users make an account, they have a check box to click opt in.

My host is using Plesk control panel. It has a Mailing list server built in.
I can also install phplist or other applications.

I also found this post
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=5997

[sdlong02]

There's a control in AC7 that has the simple text box that allows anyone to enter their email address to subscribe to an email list:

[ConLib: SubscribeToEmailList]

We put it in our site's footer so it appears on every page.

For email list management and sending out newsletters, we're using a web-based service called Campaign Monitor (http://campaignmonitor.com). it's been great so far. They handle all of the spam-filtering issues, have pre-tested templates, solid marketing and analytics tools, and a reasonable fee structure.

They've also got a well-documented API, so we've engaged a programmer to integrate AC7 directly with Campaign Monitor.

Does this ConLib not work anymore? Tried adding the

[[ConLib:SubscribeToEmailList]]
nothing is displayed

Used the ConLib reference and tried:

[[ConLib:SubscribeToEmailList Caption="Subscribe To Email List" EmailListId="0"]]
but still nothing

I tried implementing this in a Footer and a Sidebar

PLATFORM: ASP.NET
VERSION: 7.0.3
BUILD: 12458

[igavemybest]

Honestly, I just cant find a good solution for this if you want to do anything like constantcontact.com I am not one to pay someone else to do something I can do myself, so I got Email Marketing Director. Has all the features of a subscription service with tons of free templates, un-subscribe compliant, etc, but there is no subscription. Just one fee and you are done. Here is a link to the manufacturer if interested: http://www.arialsoftware.com/emailmarketingdirector.htm

[AbleMods]

If you look in the Email Templates (in AC 7.0.3 for sure, might be in others as well), you'll find there is an AC7 dynamic opt-out link possible as shown in the "Email List Signup Notification Only" template. Here is a sample html URL for one-click opt-out in AC7:

Code: Select all

Nobody likes unwanted email.&nbsp; If you would like to be instantly removed from our mailing list, just click <a href="${store.StoreUrl}Subscription.aspx?action=remove&list=${list.EmailListId}&email=${customer.email}">here</a> and we'll process your request immediately.

Just add that HTML code to the bottom of your email template and you'll be set. I create a separate email list with 3-4 test accounts so I can see the final email in various email clients. Once I'm satisfied with the email layout and content, I then send the same template to my actual customer list(s).

[sdlong02]

If you look in the Email Templates (in AC 7.0.3 for sure, might be in others as well), you'll find there is an AC7 dynamic opt-out link possible as shown in the "Email List Signup Notification Only" template. Here is a sample html URL for one-click opt-out in AC7:

Code: Select all

Nobody likes unwanted email.&nbsp; If you would like to be instantly removed from our mailing list, just click <a href="${store.StoreUrl}Subscription.aspx?action=remove&list=${list.EmailListId}&email=${customer.email}">here</a> and we'll process your request immediately.

Just add that HTML code to the bottom of your email template and you'll be set. I create a separate email list with 3-4 test accounts so I can see the final email in various email clients. Once I'm satisfied with the email layout and content, I then send the same template to my actual customer list(s).

Looking to use the "[[SubscribeToEmailList]]" for the users to opt-IN/Sign up, not to opt-out. If I'm correct in reading some of the previous posts, this is just a blank text box with a submit button allowing the user to sign up to the newsletter.

[butterscotch]

The easiest solution would be to try mailchimp.com or icontact.com. I was having problems with the functionality because the setup best works if a customer has an account. If a customer doesn't have an account then the optout issues gets complicated. In addition to using a third party Vendor you will get really cool stats so you can see what really happens when you sendout your newsletter.