G&L and BBE email newsletters - need betamaxers

Hi guys,

We're going live soon - hopefully tomorrow - with a newsletter system where there are two different mail lists you can subscribe to, one for G&L and one for BBE. We'll have monthly drawings for free schtuff, so basically you're bribed to keep you arses on there. But hey, it'll be fun.

Now, I need some guys to betamax this thing. There's one on the BBE site and another on the G&L site. Either way, you get to select one or both BBE and G&L mail lists. The BBE one looks a little slicker (for now) but the functionality is the same. Either way, your end up in the same database.

http://www.glguitars.com/updatehotline

http://www.bbesound.com/updatehotline

We've added a Update Hotline Privacy Statement, and I'd like you guys to read it and tell me if you think it's OK. Basically it says we won't sell or rent your info to anyone except porn spammers in Eastern Bloc countries.

Tomorrow morning I want to send a quick test email. Then, I'd like you to try unsubscribing, see if it all goes smoothly. If you find anything jacked up or just too damned confusing for the average musician, post a reply in this thread. If it's all good, you might post that to bolster my delicate self-esteem.

Thanks, guys.

Dave

If you find anything jacked up or just too damned confusing for the average musician

Dave

If you find anything jacked up or just too damned confusing for the average musician

Dave

LOL That'd be me. I've been looking at it too long and just can't see it anymore.

Ok, I signed up, spam away

Ok, I signed up, spam away

Thanks, Marty. I'll shoot you a quick test email right now before I leave the orifice.

Dave

Just signed up! Fire away.

Ok, I got the confirmation of sign up e-mail,

Received first test "Testing 123. Is this thing on? [crickets chirp]"

Then unsubscribed, all worked except the close button on the unsubscribe window. I did receive my unsubscribe confirmation e-mail though.

I signed backup, changed around my preferences and it did fine as well.

I'm in,
I subscribed, unsubscribed, and resubscribed.
The only glitch was as Marty mentioned, the close window didn't work on the unsubscribe page.
The close window did work on the page after I resubscribed.

Kris

You guys are awesome. Thanks!

I'm a fool for a beta test. I've signed up. Bring it on!

Okay - I'm

Ken...

I'm in!

Tomorrow morning I want to send a quick test email. Then, I'd like you to try unsubscribing, see if it all goes smoothly. If you find anything jacked up or just too damned confusing for the average musician, post a reply in this thread. If it's all good, you might post that to bolster my delicate self-esteem.

Hi Dave,

This is pretty great. I'm a recent G&L fan but been programming for a *looong* time. I've got a good starting list of advice for you on improving this form, and I'd be willing to help you out more if you want. First, here's what I came up with from using this:

* Set the field type of the password field to be type=password so that it'll star out the user's password when they enter it.
* Give a second password field that is the same as first, but give it a different name=password_repeat. The user enters their password again so that the chance they get it wrong is reduced and you know they typed it right.
* Make sure to check that these two passwords match so the user got it right.
* Instead of an alert that drops down when they get the required fields wrong, have it turn the field red and focus there, with a little message to the right saying it's required. This actually isn't much more javascript than your alert, assuming you use something like jquery. If not it's a lot more javascript.
* It's not clear what the "login" is. I'm assuming it's the email address, but maybe mention it.
* Consider figuring out why you need the extra information you have, and then put a little blurb above. For example, why ask for phone number unless you plan on calling. Most people will see this Phone field and not fill out the rest at all. Put it at the end and people are more likely to fill out the other stuff. If the address information is for sending out a catalog periodically I know many G&L fans will fill it out very quick (I would).
* Have the State field just be an entry, maybe with an autocomplete. Most countries will either have a 2-3 character code or just not have anything for this.
* For countries, while it's nice to be equitable, the majority of your visitors will be from the US or Canada so put those at the top.
* Don't have the submit button open a new window. Just have it go to a new page like normal with options to go back to the site.

I signed up but didn't unsubscribe. If you want help with this kind of stuff in the future, feel free to ask me. I've been building websites for years and would love to help you.

Zed

Hi guys,

Thanks for signing up. I think we'll send the first email today.

Zedshaw - thanks for the detailed suggestions; we're looking into the script now. I may hit you on PM with a couple more questions.

Thanks again, guys.

Dave

I'm in and it looks OK to me!

I occasionally get emails from both that are promoting the same thing. That means I'm in, right?


Cheers,

Will

i got the eastern block porn. thanks dave. just watched my first porno a few minutes ago. i looked so much younger back then.