We are looking to put the newsletter email service back on our own server.
We have been looking at the commercial offerings eg
Mailchimp
Aweber
Constant Contact
They are starting to have feature bloat or not offer what we want.
We have designers in-house and have no need for lots of pre-done designs.
We are looking for a clean easy to use system that doesList management
Load email list - csv format
Use column headings as Merge Tags, for both subject line and body copy
Graphs of opens, bounces etc
Track the campaign's performance
Who opened your messages (who didn't)
Which links were clicked (and by whom)
How many people unsubscribed
Csv output of bounces, unsubscribes to allow management of main databaseCampain Management
Campaign Archives
Autoresponders to create and schedule automated messages
Use new or existing list
Template controlled by paste in code or previous template code (automatically generate text ver from html)
Preview of email newsletter in browser and send test email to manual email address
Control of email fields:- subject line, from field, reply email field etc
Check outgoing emails for bad email format, duplicates, suppress bad and duplicates and report in statsCampaign Archives
Structure to manage lists, templates, and email campaigns, basic search by name, date etc
Software to be web based control panel with basic security, password login
Will be run on standard LAMP linux hosting, the email delivery will need to be controlled so as not to degrade server bandwidth, either automatic monitoring, or campaign delivered in 500 email batches every 5min in the background.
Requirements Interview Answers:
To help you bid more accurately, the employer was interviewed about the requirements for this project. Below are their answers.
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Project Type:
What kind of work do you need done?Software related (Includes desktop applications and internet websites)
Project Parts:
What do you want the worker to do on this project?
Requirements:
The worker will analyze the problem and propose a software-based solution to the problem.
Programming:
The worker will take the requirements and translate them into the language of the computer (and test it).
User installation:
The installer will move the software from the place it was created (which is called the development or QC environment) to where you will use it (which is called the production environment). The installer then tests the software to make sure that the installation was done properly and completely.
Req. Doc. Type:
What kind of documentation do you want for this project?Formal documentation - After talking back and forth, the worker creates a formal document and/or prototype, as follows:Requirements Document: The analyst will create a document describing everything the final software will do (other than what is documented in the prototype...if the employer required one).
Program Type:
What kind of software should the worker create (and/or install)?An internet web-site: This software runs on a web server and users will access it using their internet browser.
Internet web-site info
Design and functionality:
What does the programming of this project involve?Design: Create the layout of the pages (or modify the layout of existing pages).Program Functionality: Making the website "work".
Modeling another site:
Do you wish to model another site? Yes: http://mailchimp.com/
http://www.aweber.com/
http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp
We want a simple to use version of these, without all the social media bells and whistles, or split testing etc
Core functions:-
List management
Template management
Email sending, instant and schedule (our larger lists are 3000+ so limiting the send rate in the background to not strain the server resources is required)
preview and send of test email
Delivery stats, graphical and csv export to enable main database update, and further action of results, eg list cleaning of bounces, further campaigns for opens etc
Size of website:
How many pages need to be created/edited in this website?I don't know. Other info:Basic password protection of site
As it is for internal company use a tab for each function
Include basic html editor for the template area eg tinyMCE.
We do the design for our templates in full editors so paste in code is all that is required
Programming Language:
What programming language(s) do you want your website written in?I don't know what language (and need the worker's assistance to suggest it).Other info:I have usually seen this as a php / mySQL combo with pear packages
However if you have another preference that runs on standard linux hosting
We will probably take a hostmonster / hostgater package as these are std configurations and you know what you are dealing with.
Database:
Will this project include a database?Yes, it does include a database.Details:MySQL -- version(s): version 5+
Browser Type(s)/Version(s):
Which browser/version combinations must this website support?IE 8.0Firefox 3.6Other. Details: chrome, there shouldn't be anything in something this basic that causes browser problems
Server Hosting Environment:
What is your server hosting environment?I don't know and need the worker to suggest a 3rd party hosting company server.Details:I am thinking of a basic hosting package on Hostmonster / Hostgater
unless you have experience with an inexpensive host you want to recommend.
Server Hosting Environment:
Will the worker develop "live" on your server?No. The worker is responsible for creating their own development and/or qc environment.
Physical installation:
Who will perform the physical installation?The worker will perform the physical installation, and will be given all necessary permissions to do so.
Legal:
1) I require complete and fully-functional working program(s) in executable form as well as complete source code of all work done (so that I may modify it in the future).
2) Deliverables must be in ready-to-run condition as follows (depending on the nature of the deliverables):
2b) Any website server-side deliverables must be installed in ready-to-run condition in the employer's environment (unless overridden otherwise by the employer elsewhere in this contract.
2c) If there are any server-side deliverables (intended to only exist in one place in the employer's environment) then they must be installed by the winning worker in ready-to-run condition (unless specified elsewhere by the employer).
2d) All other software (including but not limited to any desktop software or software the employer intends to distribute) must include a software installation package that will install the software in ready-to-run condition on the platform(s) specified in this project (unless specified elsewhere by the employer).
3) Employer will receive exclusive and complete copyrights to all work paid for. All paid for deliverables will be considered 'work made for hire' under U.S. Copyright law.
3b) No part of the deliverable may contain any copyright restricted 3rd party components (including GPL, GNU, Copyleft, etc.) unless all copyright ramifications are explained AND AGREED TO by the employer on the site per the worker's 'Worker Legal Agreement'.
