PHP: Easy newsletter system?

[c4s]

Hello, I'm searching an easy-to-use newsletter system which uses PHP (and if possible is free)... Do you have any recommendation?

I already took a look on phplist which really seems to have a lot of features I need. However, my only concern is that the admin interface isn't that intuitive for a non tech-savvy user. Even I am a little confused of the demo: http://demo.phplist.com/lists/admin/ (Name: admin, Password: phplist)

Is it possible to create newsletters in phplist much easier, without all the distractive options? Maybe plugins exist or hidden options to do so? Any other ideas?

[Zach]

It does have a lot of options in the control panel..

Have you tried googling for a tutorial or looking for a help/manual etc? Most things like this usually have a quickstart guide.

[c4s]

Yeah, the problem is that I need this for someone who really doesn't want to mess around with all those options. Sure I can set them up etc. but I would like to hide them somehow from the default interface.

[Zach]

Tough call, I guess.. Maybe it would be easier to whip up a quick PB Mailing List App instead?

[c4s]

Uhm, newsletter systems really aren't that simple:
- Double verification (email with "Please click this link to confirm")
- User management (add/remove from database)
- Integration into existing website (subscribe, unsubscribe)
- Automatical creation of archives
- etc.

My only idea right now is to install phplist and set it up on his server and then charge for every new letter... I know it's not the best solution (for him)!

[Danilo]

Uhm, newsletter systems really aren't that simple:
- Double verification (email with "Please click this link to confirm")
- User management (add/remove from database)
- Integration into existing website (subscribe, unsubscribe)
- Automatical creation of archives
- etc.

My only idea right now is to install phplist and set it up on his server and then charge for every new letter... I know it's not the best solution (for him)!

Maybe the user should do it without PHP.

I have High Impact eMail 5 Platinum for creating, managing, and sending
e-mail newsletters etc.

I just created a new list. I got some HTML code i pasted into a HTML site: http://danilo.purearea.net/eMail.htm
If you subscribe on this page, i get the new subscribers automatically listed in the software here.

You can also add new members manually, import from .dbf, Outlook contacts, CSV files, MS Access Databases etc.
You can manage many lists with the software, not only one.

Very easy to use, try it.

(I got this software for free as a bonus when i bought the Serif WebPlus X5 web designer)

[Nituvious]

I wrote a very simple emailer not too long ago to inform users that I had to discontinue a service out of lack of time. It basically just grabbed users account and email from the database and stored them in an array and then used mail() function to send the email.
If you would like to take a look at it, I can pm it to you.

[Zach]

I'm well aware of the complexity of newletters and other such useful scripts, but that doesn't change the fact that you could still do just about anything in PB you could with PHP.

[Kuron]

I'm well aware of the complexity of newletters and other such useful scripts, but that doesn't change the fact that you could still do just about anything in PB you could with PHP.

Only if you have a Windows server

[Zach]

Well, I don't develop on the Linux side of PB (yet), so I can't speak to that

[c4s]

I have High Impact eMail 5 Platinum for creating, managing, and sending
e-mail newsletters etc.

Is this a software I have to install on my PC? For the free trial I have to download a 270 MB setup file so I guess I'm right. The website isn't very clear about that...


Kuron is right. It has to be something that runs on the linux server. With a simple web admin interface, un-/subscribe functionality etc. Actually phplist would be my first choice. Too bad that the main purpose of setting up a letter is rather complicated... What I'd like is:
1) Login to the newsletter system
2) Click on "Create'n'Send newsletter"
3) Create newsletter by either importing a html file and/or by using a WYSIWYG editor
4) Press "send" - done!

I wrote a very simple emailer not too long ago to inform users that I had to discontinue a service out of lack of time. It basically just grabbed users account and email from the database and stored them in an array and then used mail() function to send the email.
If you would like to take a look at it, I can pm it to you.

Thanks, but I need a classic newsletter system with more features: http://www.purebasic.fr/english/viewtop ... 91#p368091

[Kuron]

I have High Impact eMail 5 Platinum for creating, managing, and sending
e-mail newsletters etc.

Is this a software I have to install on my PC? For the free trial I have to download a 270 MB setup file so I guess I'm right. The website isn't very clear about that...

270MB? WTF, is it made by Microsoft?

Kuron is right. It has to be something that runs on the linux server. With a simple web admin interface, un-/subscribe functionality etc. Actually phplist would be my first choice. Too bad that the main purpose of setting up a letter is rather complicated... What I'd like is:
1) Login to the newsletter system
2) Click on "Create'n'Send newsletter"
3) Create newsletter by either importing a html file and/or by using a WYSIWYG editor
4) Press "send" - done!

You are making it way more difficult to implement and manage than it needs to be, IMHO. Simple good, old-fashioned Perl based newsletter script that is only a few KB and easy to install. Sending a newsletter is simple because you only send an email to the correct address.

[Danilo]

I have High Impact eMail 5 Platinum for creating, managing, and sending
e-mail newsletters etc.

Is this a software I have to install on my PC? For the free trial I have to download a 270 MB setup file so I guess I'm right. The website isn't very clear about that...

Yes, it is a program. A complete package with Newsletter Designer, hundreds of Templates,
List managing, schedule sends or send with services etc...
No PHP or anything required. You get some HTML code that you paste into your HTML site
and the rest is managed by their servers. You are informed automatically about new
subscribers/unsubscribers when starting the software. You manage everything through the software.

I think it is good for small or medium-sized businesses. And as a wannabe-coder and
non-designer it can help me create and manage good looking newsletters.

Screenshots: 1, 2, 3, 4

[c4s]

Again: I don't need this for myself. I'm setting it up for someone who has a website for his business. He already has a very (!) simple newsletter system which I'm trying to update because it may look good to the visitor but the code of the whole website - including the newsletter stuff - is a huge mess.
Right know he would have to download the current list of activated subscribers and then import them into e.g. Thunderbird to send a letter. Only the subscribe/unsubscribe functionality is included right now, in one language. Things such as multilingualism, automatic sending, automatic archiving (making the letter public) etc. aren't included but needed...