Compiling data for mailing list?

Tapdance42

I'm using a FormSnap contact form to collect e-mail addresses from site visitors who want to be added to my mailing list. Right now the contact form sends a message to my e-mail, and then I have to go through my inbox and manually make a list of all of the e-list signups. Is there a way for me to streamline the process and have information go directly from the form to some kind of list or database? I know I could use a Google Doc to accomplish this, but I'm wondering if I can do it with my existing contact form.

FormSnap has a box that you're supposed to check if you want data submitted to a "MySQL database." However, I have no idea what this is or how it works. Even as an intermediate Rapidweaver user I've found FormSnap very difficult to use, and their help documents difficult to interpret. If anybody can offer some suggestions (in layman's terms) of how to set this up, I would appreciate it!

Tapdance42

Okay, update on my situation. Apparently setting up a MySQL database is a difficult process, and one for which my hosting company (Bluehost) does not provide support. Are there any other methods of compiling data for a mailing list? How about a plugin that does something like this?

Ideally, I would like the customer to submit their e-mail address via a form on my site (right now it's a FormSnap form, but that could change), and that information will automatically be added to a list. Then, when I want to send a message to everyone on my e-list, I can just click a button or select a list (or even copy/paste) and be able to send to everyone without manually entering the e-mail addresses. Surely there must be a way to do this, right?

fbartolom

I would say "wrong, to this moment. I have been looking for such a thing for more than a year without success. As a matter of fact I managed all the backoffice in php but I am still short of a way to compose the message in rapid weaver and export it in the body of my php script. Of course if someone is able to provide this part I would be very easy to contribute with mine to have an integrated product.

mitchellm

To the original poster: why not do this with a Google form and embed in your website? Easy to do. Google collates all info into a spreadsheet. Easy to subsequently transform into an email list.

You can go the mySQL route, but it seems you're making things needlessly complicated for yourself when there's an easy solution. I understand there may be a good reason you don't want to use Google forms, but it's not clear there's a good reason based on the info in your posts.

Peppermint

Excuse me for my ignorance.

Is it possible to use Joe Workman’s PostOffice stack in this setting?


Best

Tapdance42

Wow, I forgot I even started this thread. In the end, I decided to sign up for GetResponse, which not only compiles the data but also has the capability to send out mass mailings to everyone on the list. So far I'm just trying it on my Facebook fan page, but if it goes well I'll probably replace the FormSnap forms on my site with GetResponse forms. So far I've had a good experience with customer service and ease of use--definitely worth checking out if anybody is looking for market for a mailing list solution.

tafftastic

Peppermint
• May 4
•Flag
•Members
Excuse me for my ignorance.

Is it possible to use Joe Workman’s PostOffice stack in this setting?


Best

I have been trying to get this to work in post office for about 2 weeks, i have a MySQL database but no idea how to get the information out of the database in a manageable list. I would like to be able to set it up for a customer as well, but its the end result i need, getting the info out of a MySQL database. Any help appreciated.

cachemac

One thing you could do is use the KulerSQL stack to display it AND download it as a csv file.