Recommendation (Send 2 Friend)

Recommendation

To help you win new subscribers for your newsletters, BACKCLICK offers the “Send2Friend” function. This is also known as “recommend a friend.”

Winning subscribers this way will help you profit from the good reputation you have earned among your subscribers. The idea is that they will ask their family and friends to respond to your offers. If your subscribers do this, you may generate gifts for those who successfully recommended your offer. The gifts will be generated by you and sent by e-mail using BACKCLICK.

BACKCLICK will build and offer you the following workflow:

A subscriber to one or more newsletters can enter the e-mail addresses of family or friends by clicking on a form field inside a newsletter (HTML Form/Link), or by visiting your website (HTML Form/Link).
After they have finished entering the e-mail address(es), the subscriber may choose between one or more gifts.
An e-mail containing your offers will be sent out afterwards, to give the potential subscribers the option of subscribing to your newsletter.
By clicking on the encoded link that will be sent with this e-mail, the subscriber’s friends and family will see the subscription page where they may subscribe to one or more newsletter(s). Of course, they will need to enter some personal data there. This subscription may be programmed with the procedure of “opt-in” as well as with “double-opt-in.”
After a potential subscriber actually subscribes to one or more newsletter(s), the subscriber who recommended your offers will receive an e-mail with his or her gift (as an attachment). This gift may be a discount coupon or other special offer.

Abb. 8.4.9 - WebInterface Templates (Beispiel ID 9)

This method of recommendation may also be integrated into your website without the use of newsletters. All the messages for this workflow are defined in this template, and are divided into the following parts:

Step 1 (E-mail that shows the subscriber who would like to recommend a friend where he or she should enter the friends’ e-mail addresses and select the gift)
Step 2 (Subscription mask for the potential subscriber, “opt-in” or “double-opt-in”)
DOI Email (Asking for confirmation of the subscription )
Confirm Email (Confirmation of subscription for the new subscriber )
Send2Friend Email (Message for the potential new subscriber )
Werbeprämien Email (E-Mail with the gift as an attachment for the recommending subscriber )

The sample template here is template ID=9. The source code of the template may be found under WebInterface Template

Management.

Basics

The basic construction of the template should look like this:

<!--STEP1-->
  <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
  <HTML>
  <HEAD>
    <TITLE>Recommend your friends and family.</TITLE>
  </HEAD>
  <BODY bgcolor=#D9E1E8>
  </BODY>
  </HTML>
<!--/STEP1-->

<!--STEP2-->
  <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
  <HTML>
  <HEAD>
    <TITLE>Subscribe on NEWSLETTER XYZ</TITLE>
  </HEAD>
  <BODY bgcolor="#D9E1E8">
  </BODY>
  </HTML>
<!--/STEP2-->

<!--CONFIRM-EMAIL-->
<!--/CONFIRM-EMAIL-->


<!--SEND2FRIEND-EMAIL-->
<!--/SEND2FRIEND-EMAIL-->


<!--BONUS-EMAIL-->
<!--/BONUS-EMAIL-->

So that you can evaluate the data later, you may submit some of the data by inserting a form field or a link. The following data would be relevant to the statistical data:

Mailing List ID: This variable (NLL_ID) is needed to see which mailing list the recommendation came from.
Newsletter ID: The ID of a special campaign may be filled in here. (Variable = NL_ID)
Affiliate-ID: While using “Affiliate” ranges, the origin of the recommendation may be identified here. (Variable = AFFILIATE)

This information may be handed over to BACKCLICK while a subscriber is opening the recommendation template:

http://customerdomain.de/bc/servlet/web.send2friend?tid=9&NLL_ID=1&NL_ID=12345&AFFILIATE=kooperation01

You may also insert the information into your HTML form:

<INPUT type=hidden name="NLL_ID" value='1' >
<INPUT type=hidden name="NL_ID" value='12345' >
<INPUT type=hidden name="AFFILIATE" value='aktion001' >

The information that is passed on will be saved for every recommendation and may be evaluated.

Step 1: Entry of e-mail address and selection of gift

In Step 1 you define the layout for the subscriber who recommends a friend. He or she may enter one or more e-mail address(es) of friends and family, and may optionally select a gift in return for the recommendation. The one who recommends must not be a subscriber in your system. You have the option to use this template (Send2Friend) on your website as well, so that all the visitors to your site have the option to recommend your offers to others. The definition for the layout must be enclosed with this TAG:

<!--STEP1--> ...... <!--/STEP1-->

If you write  between the <HEAD>-</HEAD>-TAG the subscriber will always return to the page you defined in your template link after having subscribed successfully. The number “10” defines the number of seconds it will take until the subscriber is returned to the starting page. This is an optional TAG.

<!--REFRESH:10-->
<!--FILTER-COMMENTS-->

Within the HTML-template, you will now fill in a form field where all the necessary variables will be saved. All the required information for your system — such as introduction sentences, error or success messages, and the information for the input boxes — should be put in inserted between the <FORM>-</FORM>-TAGs. To create this form field, you will need to write the following code into your source code at the proper place.

To create this form field, you will need to add the following after the <BODY> TAG:

<FORM method="post" action="web.send2friend?tid=9" name="new_reader"></FORM>

You are able to add ERROR- and SUCCESS-Events to this template by using the following TAGs.

Incorrect e-mail address of the recommended person 1:

<!--ERROR:INCORRECT-RECOMMENDEMAIL_1--> ........... <!--/ERROR:INCORRECT-RECOMMENDEMAIL_1-->

Example template ID 9:

<!--ERROR:INCORRECT-RECOMMENDEMAIL_1-->
  <TR>
    <TD><FONT face="verdana" size="1">Please enter a correct e-mail address for recommendation.<BR>The e-mail address '<?GIS name="S2F_RECOMMENDEMAIL_1" content="form"?>'
    is incorrect.</FONT></TD>
  </TR>
<!--/ERROR:INCORRECT-RECOMMENDEMAIL_1-->

You may integrate more than one error message here, because there may be more than one e-mail address entered. For this reason, you only need to change the number at the end of the TAG.

To restrict the recommendation of e-mail addresses that are listed in the robinson database of BACKCLICK, the entries in this database will be checked. If an e-mail address that is entered by a subscriber is listed in the database, BACKCLICK willdisplay a message. The number at the end of the TAG refers to the position of the entered e-mail address.

<!--ERROR:ROBINSON-RECOMMENDEMAIL_1-->
  <TR>
    <TD><FONT face="verdana" size="1">The E-mail address '<?GIS name="S2F_RECOMMENDEMAIL_1" content="form"?>
    ' is listed in the robinson database!</FONT></TD>
  </TR>
<!--/ERROR:ROBINSON-RECOMMENDEMAIL_1-->

BACKCLICK also checks in this template to see if the e-mail addresses entered by the subscriber are written correctly. If one or more e-mail address(es) do not follow syntactical correctness and RFC compatibility, an error message will be displayed.

<!--ERROR:INCORRECT-EMAIL-->
  <TR>
    <TD><FONT face="verdana" size="1">Please enter a correct e-mail address.<BR>
    The e-mail address '<?GIS name="EMAIL" content="form"?>'
    'is incorrect.</FONT></TD>
  </TR>
<!--/ERROR:INCORRECT-EMAIL-->

If the recommending subscriber forgot to enter his or her own e-mail address, BACKCLICK will point it out.

<!--ERROR:NO-EMAIL-->
  <TR>
    <TD><FONT face="verdana" size="1"><STRONG>Please enter an e-mail address.</STRONG></FONT></TD>
  </TR>
<!--/ERROR:NO-EMAIL-->

If the recommending subscriber forgot to enter an e-mail address that the recommendation should be sent to, BACKCLICK will display an error message.

<!--ERROR:NO-SEND2FRIEND-EMAIL-->
<TR>
<TD><FONT face="verdana" size="1">Please enter an e-mail address the recommendation should be sent to!</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<!--/ERROR:NO-SEND2FRIEND-EMAIL-->

If all of the necessary e-mail addresses are entered correctly, BACKCLICK will display a success message.

<!--SUCCESS-->
  <TR>
    <TD><H2>
      Thank you!
      <BR><BR>
      The recommending e-mail has been sent!
      <BR><BR>
      As soon as one of the people you recommended subscribes, you will receive your gift!
      </H2></BR>
  </TR>
<!--/SUCCESS-->

After you have defined the error and success messages, you will need to limit the number of e-mail addresses the recommending subscriber may enter, and the gift(s) he or she may select. This will be done in the block .

<!--NEW-USER--> ..... <!--NEW-USER-->

Example template ID 9:

<!--NEW-USER-->
  <TR><TD><BR><FONT face="verdana" size="1">Gifts:</FONT><BR></TD></TR>
  <TR><TD><?GIS S2F_BONUSID 1?><FONT face="verdana" size="1"> Gift 1</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR><TD><?GIS S2F_BONUSID 2?><FONT face="verdana" size="1"> Gift 2</FONT></TD></TR>
  <TR><TD><?GIS S2F_BONUSID 3?><FONT face="verdana" size="1"> Gift 3</FONT><BR><BR></TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD><H2>Please enter your e-mail address:<BR><?GIS EMAIL?></H2></TD>
  </TR>
  <TR>
    <TD><H2>Please enter the e-mail adresses for recommendation: </H2></TD>
  </TR>
  <TR>
    <TD><H2>E-mail 1: <?GIS S2F_RECOMMENDEMAIL_1?></H2></TD>
  </TR>
  <TR>
    <TD><H2>E-mail 2: <?GIS S2F_RECOMMENDEMAIL_2?></H2></TD>
  </TR>
  <TR>
    <TD><H2>E-mail 3: <?GIS S2F_RECOMMENDEMAIL_3?></H2></TD>
  </TR>
  <TR>
    <TD><input type=image src="../images/web/submit_m.gif" border=0></TD>
  </TR>
<!--/NEW-USER-->

The gifts may be defined by using one of these TAGs:

<?GIS S2F_BONUSID 1?>

This field will be displayed as a radio button in the template. There is no way to change it into another type of button. The recommending subscriber gets the chance to choose a gift here. Therefore BACKCLICK currently offers attachments that will always have a unique ID. To integrate these attachments (such as a discount coupon), the corresponding ID for the attachment you want to send with the gift e-mail must be defined at the end of every TAG. Open the “Campaign Management” -> “Attachments & Images” in your menu. You may now enter the ID of the attachment in the BOUNUSID TAG that should be attached to the e-mail. The example shown above uses the attachment ID 1.

The entry of the e-mail address of the recommending subscriber is defined by the following TAG.

<?GIS EMAIL?>

Within the template, you may intend to use one or more input fields for the e-mail addresses of those who should be recommended. In our example, the recommending subscriber may enter three e-mail addresses with which to start the recommendation. The subscriber may, of course, fill out the form again and again, entering different e-mail addresses and marking different gifts.

<?GIS S2F_RECOMMENDEMAIL_1?>

At the end of the TAG you must change the IDs. This number/ID corresponds with the number/ID you predefined in your error messages.

Step 2: The selection of a newsletter by a potential subscriber

IThe design for the recommended person is defined in Step 2. He or she may select one or more newsletter(s) to subscribe to. The recommended person is not yet a member of your database and will only be saved in your system after the subscription has taken place. The TAGs that are used in this template are the same TAGs as described and used in the subscription templates.

The subscription may be done by following the “double-opt-in” or “confirmed-opt-in” principle. As soon as there is a DOI-EMAIL definition. BACKCLICK will expect the subscription to be done by using the “double-opt-in” procedure. Otherwise the subscription is done by using the “confirmed-opt-in” procedure. Depending on the procedure you have chosen for these subscriptions, you need to insert the corresponding ERROR, SUCCESS, and NEW-USER TAGs. These can be found in Chapter

“Subscription Templates” (subscription or unsubscription double-opt-in).

The whole definition of the subscription and all of the e-mails must be enclosed with this TAG:

<!--STEP2--> ...... <!--/STEP2-->

Construction of the DOI-EMAIL

This e-mail will be sent to the potential subscriber with an integrated confirmation link. Please read Chapter “Subscription DOI,” for further information.

Construction of the gift e-mail

The gift e-mail is the e-mail that will be sent to the recommending subscriber if the recommended person subscribes to one or more newsletter(s). The construction would look like this:

<!--BONUS-EMAIL-->
  Basic Informationen
<!--BODY-->
  Content of the e-mail
<!--/BODY-->
<!--/BONUS-EMAIL-->

The basic information includes the subject, the priority, and the sender name. The subject will be defined with this TAG:

<!--SUBJECT-->Subject<!--/SUBJECT-->

The sender name must be defined by using this TAG:

<!--SENDER-NAME-->Sender<!--SENDER-NAME-->

The priority is defined by using this TAG:

<!--PRIORTY-->Priority<!--/PRIORITY-->

You may define a priority for the e-mail here. Selectable values are: 1 (Highest Priority), 2 (High Priority), 3 (Normal Priority), 4 (Low Priority), 5 (Lowest Priority). If you do not define a priority here, BACKCLICK will choose the default value “Normal” (3).

The body of the e-mail may contain HTML text as well as only text messages. It is possible here to personalize the e-mail by using the variables defined in your system. That means you may write variables like $$FIRSTNAME$$ or $$EMAIL$$ into your e-mail, and BACKCLICK will then replace them with the corresponding content that has been saved in your database. You may of course also use gender-specific TAGs here, such as $$Mister$Misses$Mister/Misses$$. The layout of the e-mail may be designed freely. Now you will see the code of a sample gift e-mail:

The subject also may contain variables to personalize the subject. So, you should enter:

<!--SUBJECT-->A gift for $$FIRSTNAME$$ $$LASTNAME$$<!--/SUBJECT-->

Example of a gift e-mail:

<!--BONUS-EMAIL-->
<!--SENDER-NAME-->Your editorial team<!--/SENDER-NAME-->
<!--PRIORITY-->3<!--/PRIORITY-->
<!--SUBJECT-->You have received a gift for recommending a friend. <!--/SUBJECT-->
<!--BODY-->
$$Dear Reader$$, $$TITLE$$ $$LASTNAME$$,

You have recommended our newsletter to a friend of yours.
He or she is now registered in our system and has subscribed
to our newsletter. And so, you may look forward to receiving a free gift!

Sincerely yours,

The BACKCLICK Editorial Team
<!--/BODY-->
<!--/BONUS-EMAIL-->

Construction of the SEND2FRIEND e-mail

The Send2Friend-e-mail is the one that announces your offer to the potential subscriber. Within this e-mail, you will find a coded hyperlink that leads the potential subscriber to the registration page. The hyperlink must be defined in the BODY by using the variable $$SEND2FRIEND-LINK$$. If you plan to send the e-mail as a text e-mail without any HTML content, you only need to add this variable. For the HTML version you must enclose it with the <A>-TAG.

<A href"$$SEND2FRIEND-LINK$$">Please click here to get to know the advantages...</A>

The e-mail may be sent as a text or as an HTML e-mail. If the recommender is already registered in the system as a subscriber, the subject, sender name, and body will be personalized in the e-mail.

Example:

<!--SEND2FRIEND-EMAIL-->
<!--SENDER-NAME-->$$EMAIL$$<!--/SENDER-NAME-->
<!--TO--><!--/TO-->
<!--PRIORITY-->3<!--/PRIORITY-->
<!--SUBJECT-->-->$$TITLE$$ $$FIRSTNAME$$ $$LASTNAME$$ recommended us to you!<!--/SUBJECT-->
<!--BODY-->

To subscribe, you need to follow the link or copy it into your browser to open the registration page:

$$SEND2FRIEND-LINK$$

Disclaimer:
-----------
Please ignore this e-mail, if you did not ask to receive it.
<!--/BODY-->
<!--/SEND2FRIEND-EMAIL-->

Construction of a CONFIRM-EMAIL

The confirmation e-mail is an optional function. It will automatically confirm the subscription in the system to the new subscriber by sending out an e-mail. This e-mail may be personalized as well by using the predefined variables (also used for the layout of your newsletter). You may also add links here to offer subscribers the option to unsubscribe, or to change their profiles.

Here is an example of a confirmation e-mail:

<!--CONFIRM-EMAIL-->
<!--SENDER-NAME-->Your editorial team<!--/SENDER-NAME-->
<!--PRIORITY-->3<!--/PRIORITY-->
<!--TO-->$$FIRSTNAME$$ $$LASTNAME$$<!--/TO-->
<!--SUBJECT-->You have subscribed successfully!<!--/SUBJECT-->
<!--BODY-->
$$Dear$$, $$TITLE$$ $$LASTNAME$$,

You have successfully subscribed on to our newsletter. succesfully. You may ask for request your personal password here:

http://ww.ihredomain.de/bc/servlet/web.forgot_pw?tid=6&EMAIL=$$EMAIL$$

We wish you every success.
Sincerely yours,

The BACKCLICK Editorial Team

<!--/BODY-->
<!--/CONFIRM-EMAIL-->

Links

The Templates

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