Virtual Flowers.

Email collector.

[hyphen]

Greetings,
We are soon to start building a site for a local supermarket that wants to "niche" market. One product will be flowers and we'd like to be able to offer "virtual flowers" (as well as real ones) in exchange for the email address which will then go into the companies register for their weekly newsletter.

I'd appreciate it if someone could tell me which is the best programme to do this, where I can get it and what it costs.

[scberg]

I do not know of a program that will do this but I would be glad to provide my services. I am a very fluent ASP programmer, and as long as you could provide pictures of the flowers, this would definitely be something I can do. Let me know.

[Marcia]

>in exchange for the email address

hyphen, depending on the specific requirements of your client, you'll probably have to choose between custom programming or "ready-to-wear" services. Remote providers will most likely require that their advertising be included, which would probably not be acceptable to the supermarket.

One comment, however. While you'll be collecting their email addresses to send the virtual flowers, there will still need to be an opt-in, getting their approval to use the email address for anything further, including the newsletter, beyond that one time. Plus, a privacy policy and simple opt-out will have to be provided. They'll need to be given a choice.

I'm certain you've thought of these things, and have a much longer check-list. I just wanted to inject a brief note of reminder, since online and email privacy are such important issues.

[hyphen]

It has been suggested Dreamweaver UltraDev will do the job, what do you think?

[tedster]

Marcia, you're on the money with that opt-in reminder. Double opt-in provides the highest quality lists and is well worth the trouble.

We recently set up a double opt-in for a client, and designed it to be relatively painless for the visitor as well -- a one click confirmation step, with very clear and explicit copy, straightforward privacy statements, and so on. It's amazing how long we spent polishing just those few sentences!

Right now we feel we are only losing the most marginal sign-ups on the second step -- about 5% over four months, which is mighty good.

We custom coded and didn't use anything off the shelf. We felt that a pre-packaged solution would be too limiting as we go forward. This client takes retention marketing seriously, and a great newsletter is an important piece of that puzzle.

[Marcia]

>>We custom coded

OK...so then, once the procedure and the logic are in place, having done it once, a developer has a starting point for similar applications for future clients. Good thinking.

scberg, I know nothing whatsoever about asp. Am I correct or incorrect in thinking that the use of asp is restricted to NT only, and not applicable to Linux/Unix?

Thanks,
Marcia

[scberg]

Hyphen- DreamWeaver UltraDev MIGHT be able to do the trick, but for a virtual flowers site you are much better off programming a custom solution.

Marcia- You are correct. ASP is restricted to Microsoft servers.

[Drastic]

You can use asp on 'nix machines using chilisoft.

[chilisoft.com...]

[seth_wilde]

Ultradev is the equivalent of frontpage for asp, cfm, etc.... The code is pretty low quality.....your probably better off hiring a developer......

[scberg]

Couldn't have said it better myself. Of course thats easy for me to say, as I'm an ASP / Database developer!

Shawn Berg

[hyphen]

I appreciate all the comments it is most helpful.Those of you who recommend a specialised programme could you refer me to someone or get them to contact me at [e-mail] It is likely I will need to start this project in the next week or so.