[FX.php List] [OFF] How to create a web bug

[Steve Winter]

Hi Jonathan,

You could try asking for a read receipt... in many mail clients when you
open an email which has requested a receipt a dialog automatically pops up,
which you can click send on... because it's 'In their face' more people
might be inclined to hit 'Send'...

Then if the reply-to address for the message was a mailbox specifically for
that purpose, you could have FMP gather that mail, match the email address
to the specific user, and create a new record saying 'they read the mail'...

(Have been there, have done very similar, though not with read receipts so
don't know what your specific take up would be...)

Cheers
Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: fx.php_list-bounces at mail.iviking.org
[mailto:fx.php_list-bounces at mail.iviking.org] On Behalf Of Jonathan Schwartz
Sent: 13 December 2007 16:22
To: alex at gandrpublishing.com; FX.php Discussion List
Subject: Re: [FX.php List] [OFF] How to create a web bug

Thanks Alex and Bob,

You've confirmed my suspicions about web bugs.

I can easily handle responses if they click the link.  However, we 
just have to guess that non-response equates to either approval, 
indifference or non-receipt of email.

Their loss. ;-)

J


At 10:02 AM -0600 12/13/07, Alex Gates wrote:
>A agree with Bob -
>I think the headache with spam blockers will outweigh the possible
benefits.
>Perhaps you could add a link to change information and also another 
>link that users could click on to indicate their information is 
>still current.
>
>
>Bob Patin wrote:
>>I'd avoid that... that's how a lot of spammers work, and I'm 
>>wondering whether your emails might get flagged because they're 
>>sending something back.
>>
>>I think that the easiest method would be to put a confirm link in 
>>the email itself.
>>
>>http://domain.com/confirm.php&r=123
>>
>>You could put the id# in the email by generating emails from 
>>FileMaker, and then when they click the link it'd write to the 
>>database and perhaps create a log file showing who read the email, 
>>and when.
>>
>>Just an idea,
>>
>>Bob Patin
>>Longterm Solutions
>>bob at longtermsolutions.com
>>615-333-6858
>>http://www.longtermsolutions.com
>>Member of FileMaker Business Alliance and FileMaker TechNet
>>
>>   CONTACT US VIA INSTANT MESSAGING:
>>      AIM or iChat: longterm1954
>>      Yahoo: longterm_solutions
>>      MSN: tech at longtermsolutions.com
>>      ICQ: 159333060
>>
>>--------------------------
>>Contact us for FileMaker hosting and programming for all versions 
>>of FileMaker
>>PHP * CDML * Full email services * Free DNS hosting * Colocation *
Consulting
>>
>>On Dec 13, 2007, at 9:03 AM, Jonathan Schwartz wrote:
>>
>>>Hi Folks,
>>>
>>>I'm about to launch a project that starts with an outbound email 
>>>requesting registrants to update their information.  The email 
>>>contains a personalized link that automatically logs the use in to 
>>>the web site.
>>>
>>>Experience shows, however, that many folks don't bother to respond 
>>>because their information has not changed.  In this case, we get 
>>>no response...and don't know whether the person has received the 
>>>email or not.
>>>
>>>Is there an easy way to incorporate a "web bug" that essentially 
>>>contacts a web server (fx.php?) to confirm that the email has been 
>>>viewed?  I know that this applies only to html mail...but it's 
>>>better than nothing.
>>>
>>>I'm also aware that there might be downsides to using a web bug.
>>>
>>>Anyone have experience in this area?
>>>
>>>Thx
>>>
>>>Jonathan
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>--
>>>Jonathan Schwartz
>>>Exit 445 Group
>>>jonathan at exit445.com
>>>http://www.exit445.com
>>>415-381-1852
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>FX.php_List mailing list
>>>FX.php_List at mail.iviking.org
>>>http://www.iviking.org/mailman/listinfo/fx.php_list
>>
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-- 
Jonathan Schwartz
Exit 445 Group
jonathan at exit445.com
http://www.exit445.com
415-381-1852
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