integrating a mailing list sign up form with constant contact

[Mattk1983]

I have a simple form (name, email address) that I would like to integrate with constant contact so that it automatically adds email addresses to my database.

how easy is this to do? ive tried using the constant contact "sign up boxes" but the designs are too limited

 

[Subbynet]

Can't you use the box code given to you and instead just change the design parts?

 

[Mattk1983]

thanks, Ive tried that, but perhaps I just dont have the technical knoweldge to get their form to look exactly how i want it!

 

[alphanumeric]

whats the code like that they give you? you should be able to style it yourself just using css.

this is a basic guide: http://www.sitepoint.com/article/style-web-forms-css/

 

[Mattk1983]

thanks for the link - thats how i have styled the form i have made myself. the code for the constant contact template form just looks like jibberish to me though!

i was hoping there would be some clever bit of code i could use so that when a customer clicks submit on the form i have designed, it sends the email info to my constant contact database.

perhaps i was hoping for the impossible...

 

[Subbynet]

i was hoping there would be some clever bit of code i could use so that when a customer clicks submit on the form i have designed, it sends the email info to my constant contact database.

There is some clever code to do it, and they have gave it to you!

Post it here and lets see what we have to play with...

 

[Dibs_h]

thanks for the link - thats how i have styled the form i have made myself. the code for the constant contact template form just looks like jibberish to me though!

i was hoping there would be some clever bit of code i could use so that when a customer clicks submit on the form i have designed, it sends the email info to my constant contact database.

perhaps i was hoping for the impossible...

The form is one thing - you seem to lacking the php (I'm assuming - you can do it with JS, but I prefer php) that actually does the validation\parsing when the Submit button is clicked. Returning one to a "thank you" page if all is successful or pointing out the relevant errors\issues.

Try this tutorial,

http://www.phpeasystep.com/phptu/8.html

Bear in mind that it's far from anything which should be used in a live environment.

p.s. The tutorial sends an email to an email address, but there is no reason why you couldn't do an INSERT into MySQL, etc. instead or as well as. Or have the other end import emails from a specific folder\sender and load the contacts into the DB.

 

[Mattk1983]

heres the page with the form in question.... it currently just sends the name and email info to my inbox

http://www.bmvpropertyinvestments.co.uk/index3.html

 

[Deleted member 35011]

Most of these services have an API. Here's the Constant Contact API.

The mailform.php script needs adjusted to "ping" Constant Contact with the email address of the subscriber when the email goes out to you. Not something you'll be able to do yourself in the HTML form.

It'd take just a couple of hours max to do this for you if you want help.

 

[Mattk1983]

great, what sort of fee do you charge for your help then? feel free to PM me

Matt

 

[alphanumeric]

post the code they gave you as it should be quite simple to do

 

[Mattk1983]

this is the code for their basic sign up box:

<!-- BEGIN: Constant Contact Basic Opt-in Email List Form -->
<div align="center">
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" bgcolor="#ffffcc" style="border:2px solid #000000;">
<tr>
<td align="center" style="font-weight: bold; font-family:Arial; font-size:12px; color:#000000;">Join Our Mailing List</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" style="border-top:2px solid #000000">
<form name="ccoptin" action="http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp" target="_blank" method="post" style="margin-bottom:2;">
<input type="hidden" name="m" value="1101842533090">
<input type="hidden" name="p" value="oi">
<font style="font-weight: normal; font-family:Arial; font-size:12px; color:#000000;">Email:</font> <input type="text" name="ea" size="20" value="" style="font-size:10pt; border:1px solid #999999;">
<input type="submit" name="go" value="Go" class="submit" style="font-family:Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:10pt;">
</form>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
<!-- END: Constant Contact Basic Opt-in Email List Form -->

 

[alphanumeric]

this should make it look like your current form:

<!-- BEGIN: Constant Contact Basic Opt-in Email List Form -->
<div id="formheader">Sign up now to receive out latest 25% BMV leads and deals direct to your inbox </div>
<div id="form">
<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="contentmain">
<tr>
<td>Join Our Mailing List</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" style="border-top:2px solid #000000">
<form name="ccoptin" action="http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp" target="_blank" method="post" >
<input type="hidden" name="m" value="1101842533090">
<input type="hidden" name="p" value="oi">
Email:<input type="text" name="ea" size="20" value="">
<input type="submit" name="go" value="Go" class="submit">
</form>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<!-- END: Constant Contact Basic Opt-in Email List Form -->

its alot more basic than your form, and you will need to change the table layout to match etc, but it should reference your current css styles.

 

[Deleted member 35011]

I thought the point was to insert the email into Constant Contact's database - have I missed something?

 

[Deleted member 35011]

Duh - I've misread this entire thread twice today.

I had assumed the details had to go to both the email box they're currently going to as well as the Constant Contact database, but now I see your needs are simpler.

More sleep required.