Community Forums › Forums › Archived Forums › General Discussion › Minimalist Email Subscription Solution?
- This topic has 12 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 9 months ago by MoodyRiviera.
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July 24, 2015 at 10:43 am #160308HawkeyeParticipant
A few weeks ago Feedburner stopped notifying subscribers of new posts on my site. I've done everything I can to solve the problem, but everything is configured correctly and it's still not working so I need to get rid of it. (I know that Google has been letting it languish.)
I just took a look at MailChimp and to be honest it's complete overkill. All I want to do is auto-send a single email when a new post is up. That's it. Not blast emails, no campaigns, no sales pitches.
Because I host my own site, and I have a bazillion free email accounts, and my ISP allows plenty of bandwidth, the ideal solution would be to set up my subscription through my own account (CPanel), but I'm not sure how to do that. Does anyone have experience doing this? Links? Horror stories? Plugins? (I'm currently using ENews Extended, but I can't see how to make that work.)
Ideally it would work like Feedburner, with a sign-up page and automatic unsubscribe, and simply send an email after each new post is posted. I know I can do it manually if I have to, but for now I'd like to see if I can automate the process.
Thanks.
July 24, 2015 at 10:58 am #160310ChristophMemberJuly 24, 2015 at 11:02 am #160312HawkeyeParticipantHi Christoph,
Thanks for the reply.
I looked at Jetpack a while back and it too was complete overkill. Even at a minimum it wanted to install all kinds of stuff that I don't need or want, and took a commensurate toll on my site's performance.
(This is a persistent problem with plugins -- W3 Total Cache, WordFence Security -- they all keep adding features until they become more like bloatware than anything else.)
July 24, 2015 at 11:19 am #160315ChristophMemberYou can deactivate modules you don't want to use.
You could also set up a RSS campaign on a free Mailchimp account. Whenever you publish a post your subscribers are automatically notified. You don't have to use any of the other features and you don't have to pay until you hit 2000 subscribers... No further action necessary on your part.
It seems a lot more work to setup your own database of subscribers, setting up an email account that is hooked up to the RSS feed of your website or that you have to go in and write an "I´ve published a new post" email... and keeping track of unsubscribers and the inevitable spam complaints...
July 24, 2015 at 11:29 am #160318MoodyRivieraMemberI'll second the MailChimp recommendation by @Christoph. MailChimp is the way to go. Pretty much free...lots of flexibility...works great.
*MoodyRiviera*
July 24, 2015 at 11:32 am #160319HawkeyeParticipantBelieve me, I tried Jetpack every way possible but it simply wanted to sink its hooks into too many aspects of my site.
I also did just look at MailChimp, but one of their terms of service was that I needed to include a physical address with each email for some regulatory reason, and there's no address I want or need publicized.
I agree that it seems like more work to do everything manually, but that's why I'm looking for an automated solution that handles basic subscribe/unsubscribe functionality in CPanel. It seems like something someone should have already dealt with (I can't be the only person with this particular interest) but who knows.
In any case, if this continues to be a problem I'll take the truly minimalist approach of junking the email list itself. I'm not sure it's even worth the trouble I'm putting into it now.
July 24, 2015 at 11:48 am #160322ChristophMemberThe regulatory reason is called CAN-SPAM Act (and almost every country has their version of it.)
https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/can-spam-act-compliance-guide-businessEven if you do it all manually, the rules and penalties still apply to you.
If you don't want to follow the provisions, you do so at your own risk.You can take a look at Mailman.
https://documentation.cpanel.net/display/ALD/Mailman+FAQ
http://www.twebman.com/list/
July 24, 2015 at 12:03 pm #160323HawkeyeParticipantYou know, the idea that I've got a regulatory cannon stuck in my face because of spammers is more than a little depressing. As is hearing the phrase "you do so at your own risk".
Fortunately, I'm the plucky sort and I don't let a lot of bureaucratic horse**** stand in my way. I'm more than happy to provide subscribe/unsubscribe links so no one perceives my infrequent emails as a violation of their personhood.
I did just find something 'like' Mailman in my Cpanel (It's not called that), so I'm going to see if I can get that to work, either with or without the ENews Extended plugin.
Thanks for all the info. If I get something working I'll follow up.
July 24, 2015 at 12:47 pm #160329MoodyRivieraMemberWhether you think it's all a "lot of bureaucratic horse****" won't matter if/when some litigious person gets one of your e-mails and turns you in.
Same as if I think the maximum speed limit on a highway is a load of ****, if I get caught exceeding the speed limit, I'll be in trouble...without regard to my personal philosophy on the matter.
You won't find any legitimate mailing service/system that will do your mass mailings outside the parameters of the CAN-SPAM act, and if you do it yourself, you are putting yourself at risk...and you will find yourself added to the list of people no one likes...spammers.....and it won't matter how much of a "plucky sort" you think you are.
Another thing you may not have thought of yet...your ISP and/or your web host will also be unhappy if they detect that you are working outside of the regulations, and are likely to totally shut you down.
Of course this all your choice...and your risk. Do you think it's really going to be worth it?
*MoodyRiviera*
July 24, 2015 at 12:56 pm #160330HawkeyeParticipantWow.
Okay.
So apparently I've struck a nerve with a concerned citizen.
Yes, I guess I was cavalierly suggesting that a regulation which almost everyone seems to flaunt -- and Feedburner has been apparently allowing me to circumvent for the last six years -- might not be my utmost concern. I stand corrected.
Not sure where you got 'mass mailings' from, since I didn't say that I wanted to 'mass email' anyone other than people who subscribed on my site, but far be it from me to suggest that a regulatory overlord such as yourself read the entire thread before replying.
And of course those earlier posts/replies also included my interest in doing all this through/with the support of my ISP, so I'm not sure your concern about me acting as a some sort of email terrorist is warranted either.
Still, thanks for dropping in, dashing off a reply, and setting me straight. The world definitely needs more angels like you.
July 24, 2015 at 1:25 pm #160335MoodyRivieraMemberYou're funny, man. I'm no more of a would-be "overlord" than you are a "plucky sort."
I would say that it's obvious you just realized what kind of problems you might be creating for yourself, thus the need to resort to name-calling.
The bottom line is: Flaunt the regulations at your own risk.
*MoodyRiviera*
July 24, 2015 at 1:33 pm #160338HawkeyeParticipantPerfect. So you're the last-word type, too - and the I-can't-admit-I-blew-it type.
Okay.
I obviously can't speak for anyone else, but I do now get the 'Moody' in your name.
As for flaunting regulations, nowhere did I say that I was going to flaunt any regulations. In fact, I actually said:
I’m more than happy to provide subscribe/unsubscribe links so no one perceives my infrequent emails as a violation of their personhood.
Which still doesn't explain how, by using Feedburner for six years, I've apparently been in non-compliance with these same strident regulations. Along with, apparently, millions of others.
July 24, 2015 at 4:07 pm #160367MoodyRivieraMemberWhatever you say, Mr. Hawkeye.
*MoodyRiviera*
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