Newsletter

This is a very strong plugin that will greatly enhance marketing side of your new website. It will allow Admins to email users with specials and announcements in a clean HTML format. Users must subscribe to Newsletter to be included in mailing list.

You will first need to Install the Plug-in, if you have not already done so.

As spamming is a serious offense and our company has a zero tolerance stance on spamming, we require that you agree to our terms for Newsletter plugin use. 

Our company has a zero tolerance policy on sending SPAM. Spam is defined as: the sending of the same, or substantially similar, unsolicited electronic mail messages, whether commercial or not, to more than one recipient. A message is considered unsolicited if it is sent to a recipient who has not requested or invited the message.

Violations of our Spam policy will result in one the following actions depending on the seriousness of the breech:

Next, it is important to know that just installing a plug-in does not make it accessible to your website visitors. Once it has been installed, you will need to go to the Page Editor and 'set it up'. You will need to make it 'active', tell it where you wish the navigation link to display, and assign it the proper 'plug-in'. How to do this is explained below:

Setting Up Your Plugin
After clicking your Page Editor icon in your Admin Control Panel, you will need to click the text link for a New Page. In this example, we are going to set up the Newsletter plug-in. In the Page title I have inserted the page name. This title is also what will be displayed in your navigation menus. In the Link title I have entered Newsletter. Remember, this is the name file that will be created and must be one word or words connected by an underscore (ex: Real_Estate). Next decide where you wish the link to display. And finally, since this is a Plug-in, change the Page type from HTML, to Plug-in. Click the Create Page button to continue.
To complete the activation of your new Plug-in, you will need to change the Status from Hidden to Active. Next you will need to change the Plug-in to display from the default 'Business Directory' to the 'Newsletter', or whichever Plug-in you are actually installing. 

See left example of changes.

Finally select Update Page. Your page is now complete and ready to begin collecting signups from your users who wish to subscribe to your newsletter!

After you have completed these steps, you can return to the Control Panel. You will now be able to see and select the Newsletter icon in your Administrators menu!


Newsletter

 

Once you have clicked the icon, you will see a layout similar to the one below.  Please note: When your plugin is first installed, there will be no Newsletter contacts listed. We have inserted sample subscribers in our list here for demonstration purposes only.

This area contains a list of all users who are actively subscribed to your newsletter. It displays to you their name, their email address, their IP address for security purposes and the options to edit or delete the contact.

Below the active contacts is a list of any inactive contacts. Users listed in this area have completed the first step of the signup process but have yet to confirm their request by clicking on the activation Url within the confirmation email sent to them. We will go further into the actual sign up process a bit later.

The last row of options in this area allows you to add a newsletter contact manually, and to send a newsletter to all current active contacts. It is strongly suggested that you do not manually add any persons to the contact to the list unless one of the following occurs:

  Send Newsletter
Now the real fun begins! Creating and sending your first newsletter. When you are ready to begin, click the text link "Send Newsletter" below your list of Newsletter subscribers. 

The next page that opens will contain three WYSIWYG Editors for you to use to create your newsletter. Your template for your newsletter lays out over three columns, like this:

Sample Newsletter Title 

 Left Column

blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

  Center Column

blah blahblah blah blah blahblah blah blah blahblah blah blah blahblah blah  blah blah  blah blahblah blah blah blahblah blahblah blahblah blah blah blahblah blahblah blah blah blahblah blah blah blah blah blah

  Right Column

blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

The top WYSIWYG Editor creates what would be the left column of the newsletter, the center Editor creates the center column and the bottom Editor the right column. Add your content to the appropriate areas using the WYSIWYG Editor tools provided. You can apply formatting to text, insert images, and create hyperlinks within your newsletter all with the tools provided. Note: Flash and media files will not be supported in the newsletter. 

WYSIWYG Icons and what they do:

Fullscreen Mode
  To expand the active window to a full screen click on the 'Fullscreen Mode' Icon. Concurrent clicks on this icon will toggle this feature on and off.
Cut (Ctrl+X)
  To cut a portion of the document, highlight the desired portion and click the 'Cut' icon (keyboard shortcut - CTRL+X).
Copy (Ctrl+C)
  To copy a portion of the document, highlight the desired portion and click the 'Copy' icon (keyboard shortcut - CTRL+C).
Paste (Ctrl+V)
  To paste a portion that has already been cut (or copied), click where you want to place the desired portion on the page and click the 'Paste' icon (keyboard shortcut - CTRL+V).

To paste from Microsoft Word, click on the drop down icon next to the Paste Icon.
Paste from Microsoft Word (Ctrl + D)
  To Paste from Microsoft Word: Copy your desired text from Microsoft Word and click the drop down icon next to the paste icon. Select the 'Paste from MS Word Option'. This will remove the tags that Microsoft Word automatically places around your text. It will also remove most text formatting as well.
Paste Text
    To Paste Text
Search, Find and Replace
  To find and replace words or phrases within the text:
Select the search and replace feature. Enter the word or phrase you wish to replace and type it in the 'Find what' field

Select the new word or phrase you wish to replace the searched text with in the 'Replace with' field.

You can choose to 'find next' which allows you to manually replace instances of the searched text, or you can choose 'replace all' which allows you to replace all instances of the selected text.

Selecting the optional 'Match Case' tab allows you to search for a word or phrase with exactly the same upper or lower-case spelling of the word or phrase entered in 'Find What'. Not selecting this option means that a word entered in the 'Find what' field with upper case characters will return a search of upper and lower case matches of the same word.

Selecting the optional 'Match whole word only' tab allows the search to only display the words that are an exact match of the word or phrase entered in the 'Find What' field.
Undo (Ctrl+Z)
  To undo the last change, click the 'Undo' icon (keyboard shortcut - CTRL+Z). Each consecutive click will undo the previous change to the document.
Redo (Ctrl+Y)
  To redo the last change, click the 'Redo' icon (keyboard shortcut - CTRL+Y). Each consecutive click will repeat the last change to the document.
Check Spelling (F7)
  To check spelling, select the text you would like to spell check (if you do not select the text, then your whole document will be checked)

Click on the spell checker icon or right click on the mouse and scroll down to 'Check spelling'.

You will be taken to the first incorrectly spelled word. You can then choose to

- Change the incorrectly spelled word with the suggested words provided
- Ignore the incorrectly spelled word (i.e. not make any changes to it)

To check spelling of a single word, highlight the word and right click on the mouse to get a selection of suggested replacements. To replace the miss-spelt word with one of the suggested words, simple select one of the replacements.
Remove Text Formatting
  This command allows you to select a specific portion of text and remove any of the formatting which it contains. To remove any text formatting select the desired portion of text and Click the 'Remove Text Formatting' button.
Bold (Ctrl+B)
  To bold text, select the desired portion of text and click the 'Bold' icon (keyboard shortcut - CTRL+B). Each consecutive click will toggle this function on and off.
Underline (Ctrl+U)
  To underline text, select the desired portion of text and click the 'Underline' icon (keyboard shortcut - CTRL+U). Each consecutive click will toggle this function on and off.
Italic (Ctrl+I)
  To convert text to italic, select the desired portion of text and click the 'Italic' icon (keyboard shortcut - CTRL+I). Each consecutive click will toggle this function on and off.
Strikethrough
  To format text as strike through Select the text you want formatted by highlighting it and select the 'Strike through' icon. Each consecutive click will toggle this feature on and off
Insert Number List
  To start a numbered text list, click the 'Insert Numbered List' icon. If text has already been selected, the selection will be converted to a numbered list. Each consecutive click will toggle this function on and off.
Insert Bullet List
  To start a bullet text list, click the 'Insert Bullet List' icon. If text has already been selected, the selection will be converted to a bullet list. Each consecutive click will toggle this function on and off.
Decrease Indent
  To decrease indent of a paragraph, click the 'Decrease Indent' icon. Each consecutive click will move text further to the left.
Increase Indent
  To increase indent of a paragraph, click the 'Increase Indent' icon. Each consecutive click will move text further to the right.
Superscript
  To convert text to superscript (vertically aligned higher): Select the desired portion of text and click the 'Superscript' icon. Each consecutive click will toggle this function on and off.
Subscript
  To convert text to subscript (vertically aligned lower): Select the desired portion of text and click the 'Subscript' icon. Each consecutive click will toggle this function on and off.
Align Left
  To align to the left, make a selection in the document and click the 'Align Left' icon.
Align Center
  To align to the center, make a selection in the document and click the 'Align Center' icon.
Align Right
  To align to the right, make a selection in the document and click the 'Align Right' icon.
Justify
  To justify a paragraph or text, make a selection in the document and click the 'Justify' icon.
Insert Horizontal Line
  To insert a horizontal line, select the location to insert the line and click the 'Insert Horizontal Line' icon.
Create or Modify Link
  To create a hyperlink, select the text or image to create the link on, then click the 'Create or Modify Link' icon. if applicable, the popup window will contain existing link information. You can type the full URL of the page you want to link to in the URL text box. You can also enter the target window information (optional) and an anchor name (if linking to an anchor - optional).

For quick access to links, you can choose to insert a pre-defined link from the 'Pre-defined links' dropdown list.

When finished, click the 'Insert Link' button to insert the hyperLink you just created, or click 'Remove Link' to remove an existing link. Clicking 'Cancel' will close the window and take you back to the editor.
Insert / Modify Anchor
  To insert an anchor, select a desired spot on the web page you are editing and click the 'Insert / Modify Anchor' icon. In the dialogue box, type the name for the anchor.

When finished, click the 'OK' button to insert the anchor, or 'Cancel' to close the box.

To modify an anchor select the anchor (displayed as an anchor icon when guidelines are switched on) and click the 'Insert / Modify Anchor' icon. Make your changes and hit the 'OK' button or click 'Cancel' to close the window.
Font
  To change the font of text, select the desired portion of text and click the 'Font' drop-down menu.

Select the desired font (choose from Default - Times New Roman, Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, Courier New or Georgia).
Font Size
  To change the size of text, select the desired portion of text and click the 'Size' drop-down menu.

Select the desired size (text size 1-7).
Paragraph
  To change the format of text, select the desired portion of text and click the 'Format' drop-down menu.

Select the desired format (choose from Normal, Superscript, Subscript and H1-H6).
Styles & Formatting
  To change the style of text, images, form objects, tables, table cells etc select the desired element and click the 'Style' drop-down menu, which will display all styles defined in the style-sheet.

Select the desired style from the menu.

Note: this function will not work if there is no style-sheet applied to the page.
Font Color
  To change the color of text, select the desired portion of text and click the 'Color' drop-down menu.

Select the desired color from the large selection in the drop-down menu. To define your own custom color, click on the 'More Colors...' button at the bottom of the color picker.

This will launch the advanced color picker, where you can select a color from the color map, or specify your own color using RGB or hex values. You can also change the contrast of the color by clicking on the contrast gradient
Background Color
  To change the highlighted color of text, select the desired portion of text and click the 'Highlight' drop-down menu.

Select the desired color from the large selection in the drop-down menu. To define your own custom color, click on the 'More Colors...' button at the bottom of the color picker.

This will launch the advanced color picker, where you can select a color from the color map, or specify your own color using RGB or hex values. You can also change the contrast of the color by clicking on the contrast gradient
Insert Table
  To insert a table, select the desired location, then click the 'Insert Table' icon.

A new window will pop-up with the following fields: Rows - number of rows in table; Columns - number of columns in table; Width - width of table; BgColor - background color of table; Cell Padding - padding around cells; Cell Spacing - spacing between cells and Border - border around cells.

Fill in table details then click the 'OK' button to insert table, or click 'Cancel' to go back to the editor.
Edit Table Properties
  To modify table properties, select a table or click anywhere inside the table to modify, then click the 'Modify Table Properties' icon.

A pop-up window will appear with the table's properties. Click the 'OK' button to save your changes, or click 'Cancel' to go back to the editor.

Note: this function will not work if a table has not been selected.
Show / Hide Guidelines
  To show or hide guidelines, click the 'Show/Hide Guidelines' icon.

This will toggle between displaying table and form guidelines and not showing any guidelines at all.

Tables and cells will have a broken gray line around them, forms will have a broken red line around them, while hidden fields will be a pink square when showing guidelines.

Note that the status bar (at the bottom of the window) will reflect the guidelines mode currently in use.
Insert Row
  To insert row above, click inside cell above which to insert a row, then click the 'Insert Row Above' icon.

Each consecutive click will insert another row above the selected cell.

Note: this function will not work if a cell has not been selected.
Delete Row
  To delete a row, click inside cell which is in the row to be deleted, then click the 'Delete Row' icon.

Note: this function will not work if a cell has not been selected.
Delete Column
  To delete a column, click inside cell which is in the column to be deleted, then click the 'Delete Column' icon.

Note: this function will not work if a cell has not been selected.
Insert Column
  To insert a column, click inside cell which is in the column to be inserted, then click the 'Insert Column' icon.

Note: this function will not work if a cell has not been selected.
Increase / Decrease Column Span
  To increase / decrease column span, click inside cell who's span is to be decreased, select the Edit Tables / Cells icon and choose Edit Table from the dropdown menu.  then click the 'Decrease Column Span' icon.

Each consecutive click will further decrease the column span of the selected cell. Note: this function will not work if a cell has not been selected.
Insert / Modify Flash
  Not supported in Newsletter Plugin
Insert / Modify Media
  Not supported in Newsletter Plugin
Insert / Modify Image
  If an image is NOT selected, clicking this icon will open the Image Manager.

If an image IS selected, then clicking this icon will open the 'Modify Image Properties' popup window.

To modify the image properties of the selected image, set the required attributes and click the 'Modify' button.
Insert Special Characters
  To insert a special character, click the 'Insert Special Character' icon.

A pop-up window will appear with a list of special characters.

Click the icon of the character to insert into your web page.
Toggle Absolute Positioning
  To position a text box or image using absolute positioning, select the the textbox or image and select the 'absolute positioning' icon. You can now click and drag an image or text box to the location you would like it to reside within the active window.
Source Mode
  To switch to source code editing mode, click the 'Source' button at the bottom of the editor.

This will switch to HTML code editing mode.

To switch back to WYSIWYG Editing, click the 'Edit' button at the bottom of the editor.

This is recommended for advanced users only
Preview Mode
  To show a preview of the page being edited, click the 'Preview' button at the bottom of the editor.

This is useful in previewing a file to see how it will look exactly in your browser, before changes are saved.

To switch back to editing mode, click the 'Edit' button at the bottom of the editor.

Once you have completed creating your three newsletter columns, clicking the submit button at the bottom of the page will allow you to preview your newsletter before sending it. If you need to make changes to the content before sending, you can click the 'Return' button. If you are ready to send the newsletter, click the 'Confirm' button and the newsletter will be immediately sent.

The sending of the newsletter is handled internally through the software. It will send a copy to you, the administrator of the site and all other subscribers will be listed as BCC recipients to protect their identities from others. The only address they will see in the 'Sent To:' field will be your contact email address from your General Settings area in the Admin Control Panel.

Be sure to keep the Newsletter copy you receive to your mail account as a record of Newsletters you have sent. Currently our software does not archive newsletters automatically. 

Subscribing to your newsletter
Users can subscribe to your newsletter through one of two different means. Below is a brief explanation of the signup process.

Probably the best way your users will learn about your Newsletter is during the registration process to become a general user of other area within your site (Forums, Classifieds, Business Directory, etc). 

Once your Newsletter plugin has been installed a small check box inviting your users to subscribe will automatically display within the form on your site's registration page. If a user agrees to receive your newsletter, they need only click in the checkbox to enable this option. Once the activation Url within their confirmation email has been clicked, their account will become active and they will be automatically added to your Newsletter Contact list.

The page we created in the beginning of this tutorial is another way users can learn about and subscribe to your newsletter. 

This is also the page they will use if they wish to unsubscribe themselves. Each newsletter that is sent contains an unsubscribe link at the bottom to allow users to conveniently leave your mailing list. They will be brought to this page where they need only click the Unsubscribe link and insert the email address to which the newsletter is received. 

Note: If a user emails you directly requesting they be removed from your newsletter, please remove them without delay! You can either delete them from within the active contacts list in the Newsletter management area, or you can click the unsubscribe link within the newsletter page and enter their email address manually. Doing it this way will send them a confirmation email to verify they do indeed wish to leave your newsletter. 

FAQs

Please visit the Knowledge Base in our Support Center for many other FAQs and their answers.