Easy way to "forward to a friend"?

[MktgPro]

Hi,

I'd like to put a Forward to a Friend function on my site.

I'm not a programming guru, but I know enough HTML to be dangerous.

Is there an easy way to do this? Basically, I want to generate an e-mail to a user-defined address, and include my URL in it, and maybe a note from the sender.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Kathleen

[paulhiles]

Hi Kathleen,

Some free PHP scripts (with instructions) below:

http://www.ibdjohn.com/sendurl/
http://www.onlyphp.com/onlytell.php
http://www.stadtaus.com/en/php_scrip...friend_script/
(Stadtaus require a link back to their site)

Paul

[MktgPro]

Paul,

Thanks for the links. I'll check them out.

Kathleen

[hommealone]

Hi.

I set mine up using just a 'fancy' <A href=mailto: ...>. No PHP, javascript, or anything other than simple HTML.

Here's the code for the one I used:

<a href="mailto:?subject=art%20panels%20website&amp;
body=Thought%20you%20might%20be%20interested%20in
%20a%20website%20about%20art%20panels.%20%20They
%20have%20wood%20panels,%20polymer%20panels,
%20pastel%20boards,%20and%20lots%20of%20info%20about
%20panel%20painting%20and%20art%20surfaces.
%20%20This%20is%20the%20website%20address:
%20www.hudsonhighland.com%20%20">
[img]HHimages/tellyourfriends.gif[/img]</a>

But first I had a link which opens a new window, where I explained to my visitor that I wouldn't be collecting the email address as a spam generator; a problem which I think might give people pause before "telling a friend" otherwise.

From that window, I use the A HREF mailto: to actually open the new email. My "schpiel" goes like this (I sell art supplies, but you'll get the idea):

Thanks! This will send an email, to anyone you choose, with the subject line and message:

Subject: art panels website
Thought you might be interested in a website about art panels. They have wood panels, polymer panels, pastel boards, and lots of info about panel painting and art surfaces. This is the website address: (*URL would go here*)

When the new email opens on your computer, just enter an email address. Feel free to add to, or change, any of the pre-filled portions, and then send.

It's completely private!
We don't collect your name, address, or any other personal information, or that of your friends. This is set up to use your own email – rather than a form for you to fill in – for just that reason! No spam will result from this action!

Your help is really appreciated!
Word of mouth is very important to us,
so thank you very much!

To send the email:

You can check out how it works on my website,if you'd like, (it's near the bottom of my home page) and feel free to lift any of the code or the gif images that I made to open the page and the email.

Hope this helps, and that it's not too late.
- Paul

[MktgPro]

Paul,

This looks great. I got tired of trying to figure out how to play with my cgi-bin, so you aren't too late. Paul Hiles, I really did try, and appreciate your input, too. I just don't have the time to really figure out how the more complicated stuff works.

I'm no HTML expert, evidently. Out of curiosity, what is the function of the %20 in between the words in the body?

Thanks so much for the post!

Kathleen

[cyanide]

This one is pretty good
http://drew-phillips.com/scripts/index.php
Fairly easy to install, it's in php and only one page

[paulhiles]

Originally Posted by MktgPro

Paul Hiles, I really did try, and appreciate your input

No problem Kathleen, I thought they were quite simple scripts with clear instructions. But if you've no experience at all with server-side programming, I guess they can appear a little daunting! :o)

Originally Posted by MktgPro

Out of curiosity, what is the function of the %20 in between the words in the body?

The %20 character simply displays a space when rendered by a browser. The character needs to be there as it's essentially part of one long text string.
The only problem with using the "mailto:" email link is you're relying on the end-user having an email client installed on their machine. If they're accessing from a library or other public location, chances are they won't be permitted to send an email.

Paul

[Gregse]

Dear Mtkpro,
Well, for me, forget the mailto: there is nothing so bad as having to close 30 browser windows if the mail client isnt installed.
That will loose you clients - Mktpro.
There are heaps of simple scripts using php that are out of the box and "cant", mostly - be spammed by harvesting your email from your code.
Cyanides and Paulhiles sugestions are good.
Unless you cover yourself from spammers etc and make it "userfriendly" for clients - you will not do yourself any favours in the long run except please all the lotto,begging and $14million deposit letter senders you WILL recieve.
Keep well.

[Faglork]

I second that. Forget "mailto:", you never know how your visitor's machine is set up. On machines in internet cafes etc. there may be no mail client installed at all - this might send the OS (especially windows) into agony. Not a good impression the visitor gets from your site.


To the forwarding itself. In Germany, this can be considered as an unsolicited commercial mailing. I do not know about the current situation in US (does this CAN SPAM act apply?), but you might want to use very careful wording. It might also get you on RBL lists, if considered as spam by the receivers.

Just my 2 cents,
Alex

[MktgPro]

OK, Guys, you convinced me!

Faglork, I don't think the emails could be banned here because there are too many of them and several companies that provide a service they host.

So, I have two questions. First, do you think it would be safer to use a service that hosts the script on their site?

Second, and this is really embarrasing, but, Cyanide, take the script you recommended. It does look pretty simple, but how is it installed? Just to see what it would do, I took the download and added the script to my website. Evidently, this didn't work. I just got the whole script showing up on the site. So, if there is an easy way to tell me what to do with it, without writing a book, I'd be happy to learn.

But, speak verry sloowwlly.

Thanks!

Kathleen

[Faglork]

Originally Posted by MktgPro

I just got the whole script showing up on the site.

Most likely your webspace is not set up to support php.
Just ask your hosting company.

Alex

[MktgPro]

Hey! I got it to work! Sorta. I even changed the font size! Now, I'm getting dangerous.

Well, I won't share with you why it wouldn't work, but I found the major problem. I'm using the script from: http://drew-phillips.com/scripts/index.php

Now, my only problem is that every time I send a message, it sends two emails, not one.

If anybody has time to take a look, the page is:

http://www.smallbusinessmarketingpro...ellafriend.php

I can't figure it out - could it have something to do with the fact that I embedded it in my site template? Does it have to be on a page by itself?

Thanks for all your help.

Kathleen

[cyanide]

Is the contents of the email exactly the same?

If I remember correctly there are 2 settings where you can put 2 different emails. But the contents are different. One has the actual email and the other is just a notification

[MktgPro]

Actually, I get 3 messages for each test. Two almost identical messages from the "visitor", except one has my contact at the bottom and one has the builder's email. Where it says if you think this is spam, notify:

Then, the third one is the notification that a referral was sent.

????

K

[MktgPro]

Well, the saga continues. Or, actually ends. :-0

There was one last glitch, which Drew helped me identify. So, now I have an official tell a friend script.

Y'all have been great to help out, and I appreciate it. I'm a transplanted Yank, but sometimes y'all just covers it, you know?

Thanks again,

Kathleen