LetMeShop User Manual

Set Up Email Groups
Customer Search
Set Up Active Email List
Sending an Email

Email groups are a simple way to allow your customers to request specific types of information. There is a default "customer" group automatically added to your catalog software. Every customer who makes a purchase is automatically added to this list. Use the "Edit Email Groups" link to add, edit or delete groups from your catalog. Do NOT delete the "customer" group.

The link for your customers to update their opt-in email preferences is:
www.yourdomain.com/_store/opt_in.asp. The user must be logged in to the site to edit their email preferences.

When you choose the Edit Email Groups administration link a list of all current email groups will be listed. If the group is active users can choose to subscribe to the list.

To add a new group choose the Add New Email Group link.

• Email Group ID: This should be a unique ID that uses no special characters or spaces and should be less than 12 characters long.
• Display Sequence: Enter an integer. Indicates what order the email groups should be listed on the user administration page. Groups are listed from lowest to highest number in the display sequence.
• Short Description: Used to identify the group to you and your users.
• Email Description: This is listed on the user administration page and should include a short description of the email group.

The Customer Maintenance section allows you to locate a catalog user and manage their preferences. While the opt-in system allows the user to update their own information some of your customers will ask you to do it. This section allows you to provide that service.

You may search by a specific email address or any part of a customer name. For instance, entering a "B" in the contact name will return all customers with their first or last name starting with a "B".

The returning list gives you links to edit, activate, de-activate or delete a customers email preferences. This does NOT affect the customer record. It only affects their information in the opt-in email system.

Use "Edit Contact Info" to change the customer's name or email address. NOTE: the password is no longer used.

Use "Edit Email Groups" to manage which email groups the user wants to belong to.

To send an email to your customer list you must first build the "email send list". Use the "Set Email List" link.

There are two options for building an email send list. The first uses the email groups to create the send list. Choose from your email groups to build the list

This screen allows you to build an email send list based on your email group categories. You may choose one or more categories. If a user has opted to receive more than one category they will only receive one email even though they may be in multiple lists.

Your second email send list builder is based on users who have made a purchase within a date range.

This email send list wizard requires a date range. The range is used to pull information on products or categories of products purchased through your catalog. Please note that you may use EITHER a list of stock codes OR choose one or more categories of products to build this list. You cannot use both.

• Date Range: Start date and end date for purchases.
• Product List: Enter a comma delimited list of stock codes (SKU, or other stock code from the product child record). Please note that if you use spaces in your stock codes this email send list generator will not work properly.
• Category List: Choose one or more categories of products

Both of these email send list options will result in a page that indicates the total number of email addresses in the send list. You should also note that both of these processes deletes any existing list before building the new send list.

After you build your email list you can then send an email to everyone on that list by using the "Send Email" link.

• Test email - Checking the "Send a test email" box will send the test email to the email address you enter in the "Email From" text box. Use this option to test your email prior to sending it to a group or groups.
• Email From - Enter your return email address. This must be a valid email address email@yourdomain.com.
• Hello Text - If you enter a single space in this box the email will include the customers name at the top of the email. If you enter more than a single space, the text you enter will follow the customers name on the first line of the email. For instance, if you enter , don't miss out on our November specials! the first line of the email will read: Customer Name, don't miss out on our November specials!
  If the text box is left blank the customer name will not appear in the eamil.
• Subject - Appears in the subject line of the email.
• Body - Body of the email.
• Send as HTML - If you check this box the email will be sent as HTML. Un-checked your email will go out as plain text. NOTE: many people do not have HTML enabled email programs and will only see the source code of the HTML if you choose to send HTML format.
• Opt-Out Message - Every email you send through this system includes a link to your site where the customer can opt-out of future emails. 
  Use this box to enter a message concerning the opt-out link. You must enter an opt-out message indicating how the user can opt-out of your emails.
  
  IMPORTANT NOTE: If you encounter an error or problem while sending an email to the current email list, hit the back button on the browser and re-send the email. Our program is designed to enable you to hit the send button as many times as necessary WITHOUT duplicating emails to your clients.