Author Topic: Link tracking forward NEEDS a 'click here'... (Read 20319 times)

BGSWebDesign · « **Reply #15 on:** June 21, 2006, 10:52:36 am »

Hi DW,

Quote

I'm sorry to hear you are not satisfied with the pace of development...

You are really (REALLY) missing the point here, it is the fact that you do not listen to the help that others are offering you here - such as placing a simple name/email collection form on your Online Demo that I am not satisfied with...

The pace of development is 'ok', but I know it could be so much better if you would do some of the things we suggest - WHY - because then you wouldn't be so distracted chasing down $1/Google ad revenues, and instead would really focus on LMP... maybe that's never possible with you, I'm not sure.... in the meantime - you do have me curious about the benefits of setting up/running a Blog and adding items to it and then pointing to them from a Social Networking Site, if that alone can generate several dollars in a day or so, it's interesting to me what that could do for a high conversion website!

Quote

call it stage fright, perfectionism, organization, or just not being sure of what I'm talking about - but I'm working up to it! I

You're not working up to anything, because if you were you would post the form, you don't need the sequence to post the form - why can't you post a simple collection form - you WROTE the @#$@$#@@ software, what's the big deal -

It's really more like you're afraid to use your own software - now that I don't understand, because you REALLY need to use it, to know how to update it - and I've mentioned this to you before as well!

Also, I've offered to write it for you, either look at having someone do it for you, or get it started by putting up the form. THAT would be working up to it, you're not doing either.

Quote

If you do decide to leave us it will be a loss for ListMail but it may be better for you depending on your needs.

I've got to go WHERE the biggest benefit lies for what I want to do, I need DETAILED tracking into the order system so I can determine which clicks are leading to $$ for my business - you've not even started in that area yet, so I don't see it coming anytime soon - I do like your built in tracking system - BUT, not having it tied to an Order (and $$) will not help me as much... I've mentioned this to you before as well, I know this is a big task, but if you take months to put up a 5 minute form on your website - what am I to expect? That 6 months, 1 year, 2 years from now you'll still be busy posting to your blog - instead of fixing the bugs / updates that you may create during that time?

I think you can see my point - but maybe not - as you seem to have done nothing about putting that form up when it was suggested over 1 month ago (if I remember correctly).

I may be here hanging around, and I may still have other uses for LMP, but as far as using it to track what I want - INTO a shopping cart, I can't see it doing that anytime in the near future...

Thanks again for an excellent product, I hope you can get everything moving the way you want - someday...

mr.trevor · « **Reply #16 on:** June 21, 2006, 01:26:43 pm »

What can I say? ... OK... DW, from your reply to Brett, I am guessing that you are wrong...!

How can you accept the possibility that Brett would feel the need to try something else.

Reading on here, and I read just about everything posted, Brett would seem to be a serious professional marketer. Lets consider that a bit... ListMailPro is aimed at the serious professional marketers in the world. It is not portrayed as a cheap hobby script. It is, or should be, aimed at the demanding professional end of the market, the backbone of many of your customers businesses.

It has to be your number one objective to keep ListMailPro current with marketers needs otherwise it will quickly get overtaken by your competitors.

It is strange that you can write articles on your blog and not think that in some form you could use them to your list. Oh, sorry, you don't have a list. You managed to get INSANE exposure and a few bucks a day from Adsence, that will have pushed you list numbers up. Oh, no list.

You could stick with the Adsence income and not bother marketing ListMailPro to the interested visitors to your site etc.. Oh, you are doing that, letting them go elsewhere.

You are excited about ListMail's future but the future should be supporting people like Brett who have a need for a secure professional base to market from.

The other things you have been doing are great especially if they give you a break and are fun but they should be generating leads for you to market ListMailPro to as the top mailing solution that it is.

Just think how many sales it would take to get that 500% increase and how much money that would generate. If it comes to that point you could afford to pay support staff and run this as a business...!

Take ListMailPro to the next level that you say you are ready for.
Collect the names of interested prospects and stop sending them to your competition who DO mail them back with offers, help and advice regularly. All your competitors have Mailing lists with prospects names you did not bother with when they visited your site first...!

Some even have live chat for questions...!

Sorry if this has gone on a bit but you really need a good mailing system for your business. Who are YOU going to call....?

All the best... :wink:

DW · « **Reply #17 on:** June 21, 2006, 11:40:54 pm »

Got it loud & clear, guys - we have repeatedly gone over this topic with no action and it's become frustrating. You see how much it could benefit me in "so little" time and I'm not doing it. All I can say is please have patience... I am working on about a dozen things at once and I tackle them in the order my head can handle. When the followup idea was first recommended I tried to sit down and do some writing but just didn't have any creative spark... I was second guessing everything. It had been so long since I had written anything not support-related. I wasn't ready. I was then convinced against your recommendations that automated backups should be done first. Of course, my counsel (kind of like me) didn't realize first-hand how powerful followup email marketing can be.

I'm excited about the prospects of both ideas, of course, but I also _really_ need to get an update out. The update, I think, takes priority above all and with my motivation where it was I decided to include the backup service.

I don't want to rush the followup email or even a single "welcome" message... I'd like to spend at least a couple hours on it - you know?

Despite what could have been interpreted as a hopeless situation please know that I am surviving quite decently and the future of ListMail is not in jeopardy - quite the contrary - business is steadily increasing. I'm making more sales, have more sales questions, have more support orders, am adding more and more hosting clients, am performing server setups and also do some monthly server management for a number of clients.

Anyways... All I can say is please bear with me for a few more days while I get the update and backup service rolled out and am ready to write. It's already waited 4 years - why not a few more days... :roll:

I'm prepping for the update, going through suggestions and bug reports, and it brought me back to the original topic of this thread.

Quote

From time to time I get subscribers who click on the link and see the forward page - which ONLY shows the link such as:
Linking to http://mydomain.com/blahblah.htm yet they do NOT get forwarded and so they close the page, that's it, lost sale!

I suggest that you INCLUDE a better 'forward page' here, in my experience it is always best to show the user an option, AND give them an option to click here - just in case their browser doesn't forward them

Showing the user a link to click was my intention from the get-go, but I must have implemented the redirection wrong. I'm not sure what the problem was... the former code is below:

Code: [Select]

  // show the redirect page
  echo "<html>
<head>
<title>Linking to $title... Please stand by...</title>
<noscript>
<meta http-equiv=\"refresh\" content=\"3; URL=$http\">
</noscript>
<script language=\"JavaScript\">
<!--
var sTargetURL = \"$http\";

function doRedirect()
{
    setTimeout( \"window.location.href = sTargetURL\", 2*1000 );
}

//-->
</script>

<script language=\"JavaScript1.1\">
<!--
function doRedirect()
{
    window.location.replace( sTargetURL );
}

doRedirect();

//-->
</script>
</head>
<body onload=\"doRedirect()\">
If you're seeing this, either the link doesn't exist, or you need to <a href=$http>click here</a>.
<script language=javascript>window.status='$logtxt';</script>
</body>
</html>";

I think the problem was with doRedirect() appearing in the HEAD section... however, why would the non-JavaScript user not be caught by the META-refresh in 3 seconds... and why would the user not see the text...

I've changed the code to as follows which, when I commented out the doRedirect(); line, seemed to have the desired result.

Code: [Select]

  // show the redirect page
  echo "<html>
<head>
<title>Linking to $title... Please stand by...</title>
<noscript>
<meta http-equiv=\"refresh\" content=\"3; URL=$http\">
</noscript>
<script language=\"JavaScript\"><!--
var sTargetURL = \"$http\";
function doRedirect(){
    setTimeout( \"window.location.href = sTargetURL\", 2*1000 );
}
//--></script>

<script language=\"JavaScript\"><!--
function doRedirect(){
    window.location.replace(sTargetURL);
}
//--></script>
</head>
<body>
<br>
<div align=center style=\"font: 12pt san-serif\">Please <a href=\"$http\">Click Here</a> if you are not forwarded automatically.</div>
<script language=\"JavaScript\"><!--
doRedirect();
//--></script>
</body>
</html>";

This will appear in v1.87+. If it continues to be an issue please let me know.

BGSWebDesign · « **Reply #18 on:** June 22, 2006, 04:28:59 am »

Dw,

Quote

I think the problem was with doRedirect() appearing in the HEAD section... however, why would the non-JavaScript user not be caught by the META-refresh in 3 seconds... and why would the user not see the text

I think you may have 'over-thought' this one.... it probably DID work for the non-Javascript user. I believe your doRedirect is fine, where it did NOT work is for the few users who saw the message 'linking to blahblah' and never got forwarded, why? Not sure, maybe their browser farted that day...

Anyway, I think you SHOULD leave the doRedirect in, just make sure that the link you display when you display the link as 'Linking to blahblah' is an actual 'clickable link', and is NOT plain text, that's all I ask, I think you'll create MORE of a problem commenting out the doRedirect, but that's just in reading it, if you've tested it and all works fine, then it's probably ok, just reassure me that when you display the text: Linking to blabhblah that you've made that into a clickable link? AND that you put text somewhere on the page that says - "if you are not forwarded in the next few seconds please click the link above... "

Got it?

BTW - I still think you're missing the picture on the auto-responder series you MUST setup, we only asked that you put up a form, a 5 minute job, WHY can't you do that?

You're continuing to argue ON AND ON about this - do you see how ridiculous it is - it would be like one of your clients asked you to fix something that takes 5 minutes, and about 2 months later you still keep telling them - I'm too busy to fix that right now, I'll fix that later -
DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU WOULD KEEP THAT CUSTOMER?

mr.trevor · « **Reply #19 on:** June 22, 2006, 09:09:33 am »

Oh dear... I wasn't going to mention this again but DW always apeals to my twisted sense of the ridiculous.

DW... Don't think about a follow up series. Take a couple of minutes to stand back and think 'why would anyone buy my software?'

If you come to the conclusion that it is very powerful and drives many businesses then take the other three minutes to put the registration page where your demo is on your website.

The first reply after confirmation is:

+++
Thank you for visiting ListMailPro.
Login to the free demo at www-etc...
user: user
password: demo
+++

Thats all you need for now... in a month or so when you think about it again you will have a list of prospects that may not have found as good a system and still be interested.

Please stop my suffering NOW.

Regards, :?

DW · « **Reply #20 on:** June 26, 2006, 06:06:09 pm »

I agree a lot of time has been wasted talking about this - that's why I didn't check back on this thread for a couple days. I finally did and, well, the backlash wasn't as bad as I thought...

Inspired, I actually did some work on this today... I set up the installation I'm going to use for this and got the welcome and confirmation emails started.

Quote

Hi !fname,

Thank you for your interest in ListMailPRO!

The list you are subscribing to is certifiably 100% OPT-IN. We will only send you messages related to ListMailPRO such as benefits, new features, promotions and free internet/email marketing information. Should you choose to stop receiving our messages you can opt-out at ANY time, PERMANENTLY, by using the "Remove Link" at the bottom of any message.

!confirm

Thanks again for your interest in ListMailPRO!

Dean Wiebe
ListMailPRO Developer

Got a question? We love to help!
http://contact.listmailpro.com

Quote

Hi !fname,

Thank you for your interest in ListMailPRO!

The list you have just subscribed to is certifiably 100% OPT-IN. We will only send you messages related to ListMailPRO such as benefits, new features, promotions and free internet/email marketing information. Should you choose to stop receiving our messages you can opt-out at ANY time, PERMANENTLY, by using the "Remove Link" at the bottom of any message (Including this one).

As promised you will now get to try a hands-on interactive ListMailPRO administration demo of the latest version! Click the link below to get started.

http://listmailpro.com/demo

Don't forget to come back to our main site where you can view benefits and features and order ListMailPRO!
http://listmailpro.com

Thanks again for your interest in ListMailPRO!

Dean Wiebe
ListMailPRO Developer

Got a question? We'd love to help!
http://contact.listmailpro.com

!remove

Of course these are just the first draft copies, but even in this state it's better than nothing... Now it's just a matter of integrating the Custom HTML into the site in a reasonable-looking fashion. I am excited to finish and do believe you are both right in that it can be done quickly and successfully... especially with my level of energy right now (despite the record heat!).

Update out soon (pushing for tomorrow), followup "sales-news" out soon (day or two after probably), and after that maybe I'll finish LM2 and get those yearly subscriptions going... or at least start using those new FAQs!

Thanks for all your input and patience with my rationalizations :roll:

mr.trevor · « **Reply #21 on:** June 27, 2006, 12:16:56 pm »

Good for you DW.

You must admit that if YOU don't think it helps you to use 'the best mailing system on the market', why would anyone believe it will help them to use ListMailPro.

Your drafts look good to me and are an example of how anyone with a business interest can give 'hands free' help and advise to prospects and customers.

I am sure that you won't object if your new customers 'crib' your wording to kick start their own work setting up their mailing lists.

I look forward to any reports YOU have about how using YOUR system benefit your own sales and business.

It follows that you will maybe realise other features that you would find beneficial using ListMailPro to further your own sales that will get included for the benefit of all your happy customers.

Even you can now relax a little now that you have ListMailPro driving your sales forward for you.

Regards.

DW · « **Reply #22 on:** June 28, 2006, 08:45:09 pm »

I've started collecting emails as of a few minutes ago! I also took the time to revamp some of my sales copy to try to grab more attention.... http://listmailpro.com. Lets see how this works out overnight - I'll be back at it tomorrow to polish up, and more!

DW

DW · « **Reply #23 on:** June 29, 2006, 03:27:17 pm »

3 sales over the last 16 hours or so. 6 signups to the 'demo newsletter' who all haven't removed themselves.

Maybe that was due to this line in the Welcome message

:

Quote

Stay subscribed to this list to receive ListMailPRO information, promotions, discounts and (soon) a prize drawing for a free copy of ListMailPRO worth $195!

I have made more than that number of sales in a day before but it is still encouraging knowing that my site changes haven't hurt and may have, in fact (we'll see how it goes), helped quite a bit. I am excited to start writing a followup sequence to use with these subscribers.. !

Regards

mr.trevor · « **Reply #24 on:** June 29, 2006, 06:41:01 pm »

....when I read the home page with the signup box... I almost signed up myself... :wink:

DW · « **Reply #25 on:** June 30, 2006, 02:47:05 pm »

Okay... I did it... I found a free articles site and scoured it for high quality email marketing articles... I now have a grand total of 21 templated (with custom text codes) followup messages ready and queued for subscribers!!

I'm focusing on informing the client, not just selling.

There is very little ListMail "sales copy" in each message. Of course, I do prominently mention ListMail and encourage the subscriber to contact me. Sign up to see...

What can you guys recommend as far as timing? I think mailing EVERY day could be a bit much - what has been your experience?

I was thinking only on weekdays would be best, which I can do by limiting my dailymail cron task (seems to be the only way to do it successfully)...

A few things in ListMailPRO have annoyed me when setting up my followups... For example the custom text codes not working in Previews... Surely I can process GLOBAL codes at least, and the LIST codes, too, when available... It seems impossible to test followups properly with existing active followup lists. I better get this in the next update - that or provide a way to "run dailymail" for a single test list...

I also noticed that message codes are not always processed as expected in Custom Text codes.

What else.. Oh, when clicking "New Followup" on a followup editing page the alert is somewhat annoying. This may not be avoidable due to the fact that a JavaScript "onChange" would have to run at EVERY keypress to detect unsaved changes in the message input boxes... What do you think? Safety or speed?

mr.trevor · « **Reply #26 on:** June 30, 2006, 03:14:41 pm »

This sounds like maybe the best thing that has happened in the development of ListMailPro, DW using it and not just testing it out.

This is the only way to get the kinks out that look fine when testing.

I know there are plans for improvements far above the competition but this will ensure a smooth ride for all users.

Thanks again DW for keeping ahead of the game.

don1 · « **Reply #27 on:** June 30, 2006, 03:48:32 pm »

This is great news..and I hope you do extremely well.

This is not only going to help you but the overall improvement and progress of the program. Full steam ahead!

Keep us up to date on how your sales are going and how by using "ListMailPro" has helped your business...I think just about everyone will be interested.

Look forward to some great news from you!

~Don

terriz · « **Reply #28 on:** July 11, 2006, 08:05:41 am »

I've just finished reading this fascinating thread. I have a few questions for Dean -- not for you to answer for all of us, but just for yourself.

--How perfect does a welcome message, a followup, a web page, need to be before you release it? What is the risk of releasing something less than perfect?

--How much is an hour of your time worth?

--How many hours do you think you spent *just* responding to this thread?

--What tasks do you dread/fear/just don't want to do that could be done by a virtual assistant, a copywriter, a less-experience code writer?

--How rare is it, do you think, that you would have customers willing to advise/coach/encourage you? What does that say about their faith in the product? How does your faith in the product compare?

Just something to chew on. And believe me, these questions come from personal experience :wink:

Peace,
Terri Z

It's not just about the business -- it's about the lifestyle!
www.Solo-E.com -- for Solo Entrepreneurs[/list]