Jump to content

Newsletters


Recommended Posts

Installed Newsletters tonight and I'm ready to get going!  

General questions

  1. In my newsletter, I added manual content.  Where do I go to actually write the content?
  2. Can you explain who, by default, receives the newsletter?  For example, does it respect the user's "Send me news and information" or is it a separate setting where everyone, by default, is opted in?  For example, I agree with @andrewbiggs where I'd like to enable the Newsletters for all members by default.  

Suggestions

  • In Newsletters, when managing content and adding club content, it would be good to specify a specific club's content (eg. Club A and Club B, but not Club C). 
  • In club Newsletter, when managing content and adding club content, it would be good to specify types of content.  For example, I want Forum A and Gallery A but not Gallery B.  
Link to comment

Great, @Joel R had buyed the Application as well. So we‘ll get soon a fantastic Guide how to use it 😉 

Question. Is it possible to connect the Application to Mailchimp or any other E-Mail Marketing Service? Purpose would be to have different Lists for Groups. You would be able not only send automaticaly Mails as the Application does at this stage. You could go to your E-Mail Marketing Service and create E-Mail Funnels - Broadcasts e.g.

Think this is missing sadly in IPS...

Link to comment
On 10/26/2018 at 3:38 AM, Reto Bachofner said:

Great, @Joel R had buyed the Application as well. So we‘ll get soon a fantastic Guide how to use it 😉 

Question. Is it possible to connect the Application to Mailchimp or any other E-Mail Marketing Service? Purpose would be to have different Lists for Groups. You would be able not only send automaticaly Mails as the Application does at this stage. You could go to your E-Mail Marketing Service and create E-Mail Funnels - Broadcasts e.g.

Think this is missing sadly in IPS...

Check with @HeadStand but you should be able to connect with a SparkPost campaign

Suggestions

  • Add a menu option in ACP Menu Manager -- I know this is very minor since you can manually link to /newsletters, but for clients who don't know the URL, I think for the sake of completeness you should offer a built-in link
Link to comment
On 10/25/2018 at 12:51 AM, Joel R said:

In my newsletter, I added manual content.  Where do I go to actually write the content?

We did this privately, but I"ll put the answer here for others. There is an option to "Manage Issues", where you can enter manual content for a particular date.

On 10/25/2018 at 12:51 AM, Joel R said:

Can you explain who, by default, receives the newsletter?  For example, does it respect the user's "Send me news and information" or is it a separate setting where everyone, by default, is opted in?  For example, I agree with @andrewbiggs where I'd like to enable the Newsletters for all members by default.  

You can do either opt-in or opt-out, it's up to you. But it always respects the "Send me news and information" flag.

@Joel R I will add your other suggestions to my list.

On 10/26/2018 at 4:38 AM, Reto Bachofner said:

Great, @Joel R had buyed the Application as well. So we‘ll get soon a fantastic Guide how to use it 

I am pretty sure I provide very detailed documentation with every single one of my modifications. It should have been part of your download.

On 10/27/2018 at 1:53 PM, Joel R said:

Check with @HeadStand but you should be able to connect with a SparkPost campaign

Fact check: true.

22 hours ago, andavis said:

Is there any way to check the ACP of the plugin before we buy it?

No.

On 10/26/2018 at 4:38 AM, Reto Bachofner said:

Question. Is it possible to connect the Application to Mailchimp or any other E-Mail Marketing Service? Purpose would be to have different Lists for Groups. You would be able not only send automaticaly Mails as the Application does at this stage. You could go to your E-Mail Marketing Service and create E-Mail Funnels - Broadcasts e.g.

Think this is missing sadly in IPS.

Wait, I see what you're saying. No, it doesn't do that. It's an interesting suggestion and I'll put it on my list, but I'm not going to be adding anything that major in the near future. It will have to wait for the next feature sweep.

Link to comment

Hi all, we love this plugin, but would need some help with customize the template file.

1. Would like to have the headlines in a slighter bigger font size (see screenshot), the ones I want bigger is the lines  "Latest Andrew blogs", "Andrew's Daily Videos" etc.

2. I would like to add utm_parameters appended after each content link: 
Example: https://andrewbiggs.com/here-is-a-link-to-forum-topic/?utm_source=abc-newsletter&utm_medium=abc-newsletter&utm_campaign=abc-newsletter

Much appreciated if someone could help me out here! Below is my current template:

Cheers and many thanks!

<!DOCTYPE html>
	<html xml:lang="en" lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
	<head>
		<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />
		<title>*|title|*</title>
		<style type="text/css">
			body,div,dl,dt,dd,ul,ol,li,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6,pre,form,fieldset,input,textarea,p,blockquote,th,td { margin:0; padding:0; } 
			table {	border-collapse:collapse; border-spacing:0; }
			fieldset,img { border:0; }
			address,caption,cite,code,dfn,th,var { font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; }
			ol,ul { list-style:none; }
			caption,th { text-align:left; }
			h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { font-size:100%;	font-weight:normal; }
			q:before,q:after { content:''; }
			abbr,acronym { border:0; }
			address{ display: inline; }
			
			html, body {
				background-color: #d8dde8;
				color: #5a5a5a;
			}

			body {
				font: normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif;
				position: relative;
			}
			
			h3, strong { font-weight: bold; }
			em { font-style: italic; }
			img, .input_check, .input_radio { vertical-align: middle; }
			legend { display: none; }
			table { width: 100%; }
			td { padding: 3px; }
			
			a {
				color: #225985;
				text-decoration: none;
			}
			
			a:hover { color: #328586; }
			
			div.outer { margin: 0 auto; padding: 14px; }
			
			table.wrap { max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; }
			
			td.logo {
				background-color: #0f3854;
				padding: 8px;
			}
			
			td.content {
				background-color: #fff;
				font-size: 14px !important;
				color: black !important;
				line-height: 150% !important;
				padding: 8px;
			}
          h1 { 
    display: block;
    font-size: 2em;
    margin-top: 0.67em;
    margin-bottom: 0.67em;
    margin-left: 0;
    margin-right: 0;
    font-weight: bold;
}

		</style>
	</head>
	<body>
      
      <center><a href='https://forum.andrewbiggs.com/' style='text-decoration: none; color: #262e33; border: 0;'><img src='https://forum-cdn.andrewbiggs.com/monthly_2018_10/forum-logo-1029.jpg.39bfbd544ecae25e462134c64712e48d.jpg' alt="Andrew Biggs Forum" width='800' height='150' /><h1>Andrew Biggs Newsletter</h1></center>
						
	<div class='outer'>
	<table class='wrap'>
		<tr>
          <td calss='header'>*|header|*</td>
          <td class='content'>*|content|*</td>
		</tr>
	</table>
	</div>
	</body>
</html>

 

Screen Shot 2018-11-05 at 18.43.10.png

Link to comment

Hi, here are some suggestions for enhancements to the app:

  1. Show opt-ins for each newsletter in the ACP.
    -> Let administrators see how many and who is currently subscribed to an individual newsletter
    -> show the current sendout counts (how many emails have been sent?) and maybe a monthly history
     
  2. Implement additional sendout member filters / more filter options
    -> currently we can only filter for member groups (who will receive, who may opt-in....)
    -> requested is a functionality, where I can filter regular member groups AND ON TOP OF THIS ->

    # joined the community more than/equal/less than x days ago ("registration filter")
    # last visit newer than/equal/older than x days ("inactivity filter")
    # has reputation count higher than/equal/lower than ("quality filter")
    # custom member profile field value is/is not xxx ("custom filter")

     
  3. Upcoming birthdays / birthday list
    -> show the x upcoming birthdays or all in a day/week/month/year
    -> use the data from the member profile (birthday field)

 

Problems I am experiencing with the current version:

  1. The html previews don't look like the final versions
    -> line height and paragraphs are not honored correctly
     
  2. Test distribution doesn't convert the newsletter fields like "unsubscribe link" and others
     
  3. The time format of my topics, files, images in the newsletter is corrupt
    -> in my live community all time formats in topics, blog entries… are shown correctly and translated (foreign language set as community default)
    -> in the newsletter they are in english and not translated unfortunately (maybe due to different languages being turned on?)
    -> in the newsletter the entries show time with timezones, but I only use 1 timezone, where I live, it's confusing
     
  4. Images don't resize according to the device display size/dimensions
    -> I'm using the default template code, and if I import downloads files with their images to the newsletter, the images shown in the distributed newsletter extend the device size
    -> results: either images are moving out of sight on the right edge of the device OR images are shown correctly and the newsletter text becomes so small that I almost can't read it anymore (so I have to zoom in again)

Best regards

Edited by Cyboman
Link to comment

Error with the app when creating a club newsletter.  

SELECT * FROM `forums_topics` WHERE approved=1 AND moved_to is null AND pinned=0 AND =0 AND ( forum_id IN(60) ) AND start_date>= 1541796573 ORDER BY start_date desc LIMIT 0,5
IPS\Db\Exception: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MariaDB server version for the right syntax to use near '=? AND ( forum_id IN(60) ) AND start_date>= ? ORDER BY start_date desc LIMIT 0,5' at line 1 (1064)
#0 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/system/Db/Select.php(378): IPS\_Db->preparedQuery('/*IteratorItera...', Array, true)
#1 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/system/Db/Select.php(440): IPS\Db\_Select->runQuery()
#2 [internal function]: IPS\Db\_Select->rewind()
#3 [internal function]: IteratorIterator->rewind()
#4 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/applications/newsletters/extensions/newsletters/NewsletterContent/Core.php(474): iterator_to_array(Object(IPS\Patterns\ActiveRecordIterator))
#5 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/applications/newsletters/sources/Newsletter/Content.php(242): IPS\newsletters\extensions\newsletters\NewsletterContent\_Core->getData(Array)
#6 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/applications/newsletters/sources/Newsletter/Newsletter.php(775): IPS\newsletters\Newsletter\_Content->build('html', Array)
#7 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/applications/newsletters/modules/front/newsletters/newsletter.php(308): IPS\newsletters\_Newsletter->buildContent('html', Array)
#8 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/system/Dispatcher/Controller.php(85): IPS\newsletters\modules\front\newsletters\_newsletter->test()
#9 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/applications/newsletters/modules/front/newsletters/newsletter.php(32): IPS\Dispatcher\_Controller->execute()
#10 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/system/Dispatcher/Dispatcher.php(146): IPS\newsletters\modules\front\newsletters\_newsletter->execute()
#11 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/index.php(13): IPS\_Dispatcher->run()
#12 {main}

 

Link to comment
On 11/8/2018 at 3:38 PM, Cyboman said:

Show opt-ins for each newsletter in the ACP.
-> Let administrators see how many and who is currently subscribed to an individual newsletter
-> show the current sendout counts (how many emails have been sent?) and maybe a monthly history

Already present. You can "View Subscribers" for each newsletter. You can also "Manage Issues" for each newsletter, which shows distribution total. Please read the documentation that is provided with the modification; this is included.

On 11/8/2018 at 3:38 PM, Cyboman said:

Implement additional sendout member filters / more filter options
-> currently we can only filter for member groups (who will receive, who may opt-in....)
-> requested is a functionality, where I can filter regular member groups AND ON TOP OF THIS ->

# joined the community more than/equal/less than x days ago ("registration filter")
# last visit newer than/equal/older than x days ("inactivity filter")
# has reputation count higher than/equal/lower than ("quality filter")
# custom member profile field value is/is not xxx ("custom filter")

This has been requested before, but I'm not going to be doing this any time in the near future. It's going to make an already complicated mod a lot more complex, and I don't have the availability right now to support all the issues that will come along with it. I'd rather not build something I can't support properly.

On 11/8/2018 at 3:38 PM, Cyboman said:

Upcoming birthdays / birthday list
-> show the x upcoming birthdays or all in a day/week/month/year
-> use the data from the member profile (birthday field)

I like this suggestion. I'll add it to my list.

On 11/8/2018 at 3:38 PM, Cyboman said:

Problems I am experiencing with the current version:

  1.  

Again, please read the documentation. Some of these issues are explained and documented. Many of these others are due to the way that different email clients render your template. Not all clients support all HTML properties. This is just something you'll have to play with via trial and error. I don't provide support for the templates themselves; there are just too many variables at work. I suggest you start with this link: https://www.campaignmonitor.com/css/. This is from Campaign Monitor, and they provide a good guide for what is commonly supported.

21 hours ago, princeton said:

Does this provide the following stats?

Opens + Unique Opens + Open Rate

Clicks + Click Rate

Not at this time. If you integrated with SendGrid or SparkPost, they take care of that for you.

17 hours ago, Joel R said:

Error with the app when creating a club newsletter.  


SELECT * FROM `forums_topics` WHERE approved=1 AND moved_to is null AND pinned=0 AND =0 AND ( forum_id IN(60) ) AND start_date>= 1541796573 ORDER BY start_date desc LIMIT 0,5
IPS\Db\Exception: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MariaDB server version for the right syntax to use near '=? AND ( forum_id IN(60) ) AND start_date>= ? ORDER BY start_date desc LIMIT 0,5' at line 1 (1064)
#0 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/system/Db/Select.php(378): IPS\_Db->preparedQuery('/*IteratorItera...', Array, true)
#1 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/system/Db/Select.php(440): IPS\Db\_Select->runQuery()
#2 [internal function]: IPS\Db\_Select->rewind()
#3 [internal function]: IteratorIterator->rewind()
#4 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/applications/newsletters/extensions/newsletters/NewsletterContent/Core.php(474): iterator_to_array(Object(IPS\Patterns\ActiveRecordIterator))
#5 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/applications/newsletters/sources/Newsletter/Content.php(242): IPS\newsletters\extensions\newsletters\NewsletterContent\_Core->getData(Array)
#6 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/applications/newsletters/sources/Newsletter/Newsletter.php(775): IPS\newsletters\Newsletter\_Content->build('html', Array)
#7 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/applications/newsletters/modules/front/newsletters/newsletter.php(308): IPS\newsletters\_Newsletter->buildContent('html', Array)
#8 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/system/Dispatcher/Controller.php(85): IPS\newsletters\modules\front\newsletters\_newsletter->test()
#9 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/applications/newsletters/modules/front/newsletters/newsletter.php(32): IPS\Dispatcher\_Controller->execute()
#10 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/system/Dispatcher/Dispatcher.php(146): IPS\newsletters\modules\front\newsletters\_newsletter->execute()
#11 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/index.php(13): IPS\_Dispatcher->run()
#12 {main}

 

Thanks. I'll take a look.

Link to comment

I use Sendgrid (for internal emails) and Salesforce (for newsletters).

Sendgrid is awesome. I would love to drop Salesforce (Marketing Cloud). EXPENSIVE

REQUESTS

Definitely need  stats... (eg. Opens, Unique Opens, Open Rate, Clicks, Click Rate) They say a lot about each message sent. 

Need option NOT to create topic. I would like to disable this altogether.

(I'm open to pay for development.)

NOTE: I know I can get stats from Sendgrid but I'm not the only IPS admin/staff. But, I am the only one with access to Sendgrid. 

 

Edited by princeton
Link to comment
18 hours ago, princeton said:

Need option NOT to create topic. I would like to disable this altogether.

Topics are already optional. Just don't select a  forum, and no topic will be created.

5 hours ago, ibaker said:

With this addon can it be set to only send out the newsletter to users who have logged in within the last 30 days

No, sorry. Filters are only by member group.

Link to comment
  • 3 weeks later...

First error:

Error: Access to undeclared static property: IPS\newsletters\Newsletter::$contentItemClass (0)
#0 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/init.php(460) : eval()'d code(38): IPS\Member\hook4327->addMember(Object(IPS\Member), 'member', false)
#1 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/applications/core/modules/front/system/register.php(216): IPS\core\modules\front\system\hook4268::_createMember(Array, Array)
#2 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/applications/core/modules/front/system/register.php(75): IPS\core\modules\front\system\_register->_registrationForm()
#3 [internal function]: IPS\core\modules\front\system\_register->manage()
#4 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/init.php(460) : eval()'d code(27): call_user_func_array('parent::manage', Array)
#5 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/system/Dispatcher/Controller.php(96): IPS\core\modules\front\system\nexus_hook_register->manage()
#6 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/system/Dispatcher/Dispatcher.php(146): IPS\Dispatcher\_Controller->execute()
#7 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/index.php(13): IPS\_Dispatcher->run()
#8 {main}

Second error:

IPS\Db\Exception::1052

SELECT email FROM `core_members`  LEFT JOIN `core_clubs_memberships` AS `cl` ON core_members.member_id=cl.member_id WHERE allow_admin_mails=1 AND temp_ban=0 AND email != '' AND ( ! (`members_bitoptions` & 1 ) != 0 ) AND ( ! (`members_bitoptions` & 1073741824 ) != 0 ) AND ( member_id NOT IN(7303,7247) ) AND cl.club_id=1 AND ( cl.status IN('leader','member','moderator') )
Column 'member_id' in where clause is ambiguous
#0 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/system/Db/Select.php(378): IPS\_Db->preparedQuery('/*IPS\\newslette...', Array, true)
#1 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/system/Db/Select.php(440): IPS\Db\_Select->runQuery()
#2 [internal function]: IPS\Db\_Select->rewind()
#3 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/applications/newsletters/sources/Newsletter/Newsletter.php(1065): iterator_to_array(Object(IPS\Db\Select))
#4 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/applications/newsletters/sources/Newsletter/Newsletter.php(963): IPS\newsletters\_Newsletter->getSubscriberEmails()
#5 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/applications/newsletters/tasks/PublishNewsletters.php(65): IPS\newsletters\_Newsletter->publish()
#6 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/system/Task/Task.php(248): IPS\newsletters\tasks\_PublishNewsletters->execute()
#7 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/system/Task/Task.php(217): IPS\_Task->run()
#8 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/applications/core/interface/task/task.php(62): IPS\_Task->runAndLog()
#9 {main}

 

Edited by Joel R
Link to comment

Third error:

The URL of page the error occurred on was https://www.mycommunity.com/register/

Error: Access to undeclared static property: IPS\newsletters\Newsletter::$contentItemClass (0)
#0 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/init.php(460) : eval()'d code(38): IPS\Member\hook4327->addMember(Object(IPS\Member), 'member', false)
#1 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/applications/core/modules/front/system/register.php(216): IPS\core\modules\front\system\hook4268::_createMember(Array, Array)
#2 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/applications/core/modules/front/system/register.php(75): IPS\core\modules\front\system\_register->_registrationForm()
#3 [internal function]: IPS\core\modules\front\system\_register->manage()
#4 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/init.php(460) : eval()'d code(27): call_user_func_array('parent::manage', Array)
#5 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/system/Dispatcher/Controller.php(96): IPS\core\modules\front\system\nexus_hook_register->manage()
#6 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/system/Dispatcher/Dispatcher.php(146): IPS\Dispatcher\_Controller->execute()
#7 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/index.php(13): IPS\_Dispatcher->run()
#8 {main}

Backtrace

#0 /home/nginx/domains/mycommunity.com/public/init.php(537): IPS\_Log::log('Error: Access t...', 'uncaught_except...')
#1 [internal function]: IPS\IPS::exceptionHandler(Object(Error))
#2 {main}

 

These might be due to the version of Newsletters that I have, so let me know if you need me to help you troubleshoot anything.  

Link to comment
  • 1 month later...

The advertisement block isn't working for me. I have a banner created in the IPS advertisement section with an uploaded gif (also tested with png) banner size and one additional image for a smaller size (no medium size uploaded). When I add the block and preview it, the one banner (regular size shows up). When I send a test distribution to a few different email clients, I get the same banner 3 times (2 instances of the main uploaded image and one instance of the smaller uploaded image, used for smaller screens)

image.png.6b54b5d18203ba927fc192182c3a5567.png

How can I fix this output?

Same content types as when reported in this post:

 

Edited by AlexWebsites
Link to comment
9 hours ago, AlexWebsites said:

The advertisement block isn't working for me. I have a banner created in the IPS advertisement section with an uploaded gif (also tested with png) banner size and one additional image for a smaller size (no medium size uploaded). When I add the block and preview it, the one banner (regular size shows up). When I send a test distribution to a few different email clients, I get the same banner 3 times (2 instances of the main uploaded image and one instance of the smaller uploaded image, used for smaller screens)

image.png.6b54b5d18203ba927fc192182c3a5567.png

How can I fix this output?

Same content types as when reported in this post:

 

I have a fix for this issue already done in the next update. I'm out tonight but I will try to publish tomorrow. There were quite a few changes to the next release and I haven't had a chance to update the docs. 

Link to comment

A new version has been uploaded to the Marketplace. Changes include:

  • Option to show newsletters on the registration page, so users can subscribe (or opt-out) when signing up
  • Ability for club owners to manage upcoming issues for their newsletters
  • Support for comments - you can now set up a "comment feed" that will be displayed in your newsletter, instead of just the items
  • Issues when adding multiple advertising spots. Fixed;

 

Link to comment

I had an issue after updating to show a manually selected advertisement in the preview but then it magically started to show. However, problem still exists on testing the distribution send. I have an advertisement with one 468x60 image and a 234x60 under small version of the image for the same ad. It takes the 468x60 and doubles it and ads the smaller version with these bullets nest to them within the email.

image.png.f0a6ae278cf6cf8849de65e522a58af0.png

Link to comment

So just to test and make sure, I added an image into the medium slot for the advertisement so it's like so:

image.thumb.png.e2aafbf9df8dafd934b384fd6e90915e.png

 

I am doing this is a test newsletter and only have an advertisement block added. The preview shows the one image (the main image and not the smaller or medium), so it's easy to assume its working.

image.thumb.png.496ef957243155f3ff5ebacd4b34c80e.png

Then when I send the test distribution, I get:

image.png.dfbcd168f1c5dbcbd957013321a790c0.png

 

If I remove the smaller and medium images and just have one and then test the distribution, I still get triplets with bullet points...

image.png.531a196681c12b7af63a2ead3fd2fcfe.png

Something is very funky here and the update did not fix this issue.

Link to comment
19 hours ago, HeadStand said:

A new version has been uploaded to the Marketplace. Changes include:

  • Option to show newsletters on the registration page, so users can subscribe (or opt-out) when signing up
  • Ability for club owners to manage upcoming issues for their newsletters
  • Support for comments - you can now set up a "comment feed" that will be displayed in your newsletter, instead of just the items
  • Issues when adding multiple advertising spots. Fixed;

 

After the latest update I noticed this morning that the scheduled News Letter was not distributed. The Admincp had a warning about News Letters being "tasked locked". Obviously an issue?

Link to comment
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...