e-Commerce Internet Success | BEMM™ PHP eMailer Bulk e-Mail Mailing PHP Script User Doc

Introduction
What is Provided
What You Have to Provide
Set-Up
    One Time
    Initially and as Required
    Each Time
Running the Scripts
    Enter "From" Name and Other Information
    Verify "From" Name and Other Information
    Test e-Mailing
    Actual e-Mailing

Plain Text and HTML e-Mail Messages
Security
Warning and Disclaimer
System Requirements
Your Requirements
Functions NOT Supported

HTML eMail Mailing -- BEMM™ Example 1

If you e-mail occasionally to small e-mail lists that you manage yourself, the BEMM™ (Bulk e-Mail Mailing PHP Scripts) are for you.  I originally developed them for my own use and find them very useful.  It's likely you will, too.  My mailing lists are too large to be conveniently mailed to using an e-mail program (such as Microsoft Outlook... or Mozilla Thunderbird) on my machine.  My lists are too small and used too infrequently for it to be economically feasible to use a mailing service (such as aweber.com).

How BEMM came about is that I have several e-mail lists, each with a few hundred to a thousand or so names each.  My hosting account limits me to 99 e-mails at a time, using the standard mailing method through an e-mail manager program on my computer.  That limitation meant that, for a typical mailing, I would have to break a list into several parts ("sub-lists").  Furthermore, I e-mail to the lists only occasionally.  This means that usually there are one or more e-mail addresses that turn out to have discontinued domain names.  That would bring the submission procedure to a screeching halt, and none of the e-mails would be sent.  I would have to correct the sub-list and then START OVER with that sub-list.  That could happen SEVERAL TIMES per sub-list, before the e-mails finally get sent.

With this typical conventional mailing method, your list(s) and your e-mail messages reside on YOUR machine.

With PHP mailing, your list(s) and your e-mail messages reside on your HOST server machines (after you have uploaded them to a directory on your website).  That solves both problems above.  You can mail several hundred e-mails at a time.  (I have no idea of what the upper limit might be -- I haven't wanted to "push the envelope", and my lists are not that huge, either.)  Secondly, the server sends to all on your list without attempting to verify each address in advance and halting processing if bad addresses are encountered.  E-mails that are attempted to be sent to any bad addresses are later returned to an e-mail address you specify in your scripts, so that you can clean your lists.  The PHP script e-mailing solves the two problems and makes the whole process go much faster and conveniently.

BTW, another advantage of using the BEMM scripts is that each e-mail sent using them is sent as an INDIVIDUAL "To:" message.  Using your regular e-mailing program, you have three options as to how to send messages to your recipients:  "To:", "Cc:", and "Bcc:"  Using your regular e-mailing program, each of those options leads to some problems.  Using "To:" and "Cc:" exposes each recipient's e-mail address to all the other recipients.  Using "Bcc:" does provide each recipient with privacy, hiding his e-mail address from all the others, but many of the recipient's mail receiving set-ups block "Bcc:" mail.  As the BEMM sending script sends individual "To:" messages, those problems are eliminated.

Furthermore, you have the advantage of flexibility in the "From:" and "Reply-to:" e-mail addresses you use when sending your e-mail messages.  (Note: Do not abuse this capability -- see "Warning and Disclaimer" below.)

What you receive are two PHP scripts ("bemm-enter.php" and "bemm-send.php"), four graphics files for the screens you see when running the scripts, and some sample "data" text and HTML files.  The sample files include at least one each of text and html sample message, signature, and removal instruction (opt-out) files.

You have to provide the text of the e-mail(s) you want to send, edited text for opt-out mailing list removal instructions, optional signature files, and your mailing list(s).  These can be plain text if you want to just send text messages, or HTML coded text if you want to send HTML messages

One Time

1)  Set up a directory, a "data" subdirectory, and a "graphics" subdirectory both locally and on your host server.  The directory can be anywhere, and named anything.  For all the discussion below, the directory will be called "bemm" and it will be a main directory on your site.
So, the URL will be "http://www.yoursite.com/bemm/".

2)  FTP upload "bemm-enter.php" and "bemm-send.php" to the directory "bemm".
    Upload using "ASCII" (text) mode.

3)  FTP upload the four graphics (gif) files to the "graphics" subdirectory.
    Upload using "binary" mode.

4)  FTP upload the sample data files (txt and htm) to the "data" subdirectory.
    Upload using "ASCII" (text) mode.

Initially and as Required

1)  Write with a text editor and FTP upload your "signature" files (text and/or HTML).  These are files that will be appended to all of your e-mail messages, containing general comments and links independent of the message itself.  These files are OPTIONAL.

Basic example files are included as variations on the names "signature.txt" and "signature.htm".  They are included for illustrative purposes only.

Write and save the files as a text files, NOT Word or other "doc" files.
If used, they MUST be named "signature.txt" and "signature.htm".
Upload them to the "data" subdirectory, using "ASCII" (text) mode.

2)  Write with a text editor and FTP upload the "removal instructions" files (text and/or HTML).  These are files that will be appended to all of your e-mail messages, instructing recipients on how to get removed from your e-mail list if they don't want to hear from you anymore.

Basic example files are included as variations on the names "remove.txt" and "remove.htm".  They are included for illustrative purposes only.  Because of different host and ISP requirements, and constantly changing and arbitrary laws, those examples may or may not be appropriate for you to actually use at any given time and so you will very likely want to create and upload your own versions.

Write and save the files as text files, NOT Word or other "doc" files.
They MUST be named "remove.txt" and "remove.htm".
Upload them to the "data" subdirectory, using "ASCII" (text) mode.

3)  Create with a text editor and FTP upload your test e-mail list.  This is a list of just a few e-mail address, ALL TO YOURSELF, that you use to mail your e-mail message to yourself, so you can verify that the headers, the subject, the message, the signature, and the removal instructions are all correct and being sent correctly.  A sample would be:

me@mysite.com
me@mysite.com
me@mysite.com

Write and save the file as a "txt/csv" file, NOT a Word or other "doc" file.
It MUST be named "list-test-email.csv".
Upload that to the "data" subdirectory, using "ASCII" (text) mode.

Each Time

1)  Create and FTP upload an actual mailing list.  Create it with a text editor, or export and edit it from elsewhere.  A sample of one acceptable format would be:

johndoe@somesite.com
marysmith@anothersite.com
joesixpack@beerdrinker.com
. . .

A sample of another acceptable format would be:

"John Doe" <johndoe@somesite.com>
"Mary Smith" <marysmith@anothersite.com>
"Joe" <joesixpack@beerdrinker.com>
. . .

You may want to add one of your own e-mail addresses to the end of your mailing list(s), just to verify that that all have been sent to, in addition to the indication the script counter indication gives you.

Write and save the file as a "txt/csv" file, NOT a Word or other "doc" file.
It MUST be named "list-actual-email.csv".
You may want to save a copy under a different name elsewhere if you are using different lists from time-to-time.  The list you are currently using MUST be named "list-actual-email.csv".
Upload that to the "data" subdirectory, using "ASCII" (text) mode.

2)  Write with a text editor and FTP upload your e-mail message texts (plain text and/or HTML coded text).  You could write them in Word or Open Office Writer, but when done, they MUST be saved as plain text documents, with the proper extension (.txt or .htm).

Write and save the file as text files, NOT Word or other "doc" files.
A plain text message MUST be named "message.txt".
A HTML text message MUST be named "message.htm".
You may want to save backup copies under different names elsewhere, as the messages you are currently using MUST be named as above.
Upload the file(s) to the "data" subdirectory, using "ASCII" (text) mode.

There are three basic steps to sending your e-mails.  The first is to use "bemm-enter.php" to enter your "From" information, the e-mail "Subject" line, and choose text or HTML mode.  The next step is to use "bemm-send.php" to send test e-mails to yourself and verify that they are OK.  The final step is to actually mail out to your list, also using "bemm-send.php".

Enter "From" Name and Other Information

Open your web browser and go to your site and call up the script "bemm-enter.php", from wherever you have uploaded it to.
The example URL is "http://www.yoursite.com/bemm/bemm-enter.php".

1)  From Name:  Enter your name into the text box.

2)  From e-Mail Address:  Enter your e-Mail address into the text box.

3)  Reply-To:  Enter your e-Mail address to which you want e-mails to come to when (if) a recipient replies to your e-mail.  This can be the same as your "From e-Mail Address".

4)  Return-Path:  Enter your e-Mail address.  Unless you have some special need, just use your "From e-Mail Address" or "Reply-To" e-Mail address.

5)  Subject Line:  Enter the Subject line for your e-Mail message.  This will be what the recipient first sees when he checks his e-mail for new messages.  It should be something specific to the recipients' interests AND describe in a few words what your e-mail message is actually about.  A Subject line is required.  I personally immediately delete all e-mails sent to me without subject lines or that have "cutesy" or non-specific subject lines such as "Hi...", "Whazzup...", "Great Opportunity...", "Ground Floor...", etc.

6)  Include Signature File:  Check if you want the text from a "signature file" included at the bottom of your e-mail message.  The signature file can include links to other of your web pages, event notices, etc., not necessarily related to your e-mail message.  It should not be "excessively" long.  If you check "Yes", you will need to have previously uploaded to your site the file "signature.txt" if you are sending a plain-text message, and the file "signature.htm" if you are sending a HTML message.

7)  Message Type:  Check if you are sending a plain-text e-Mail message or if it is an HTML message.  Note that if you are sending plain text, you need to have uploaded files "message.txt", "remove.txt", and (optionally) "signature.txt".  If sending HTML, you need to have uploaded files "message.htm", "remove.htm", and (optionally) "signature.htm".

8)  SAVE ENTRIES:  Click on the "SAVE ENTRIES" button.  What you have entered should appear below that button in the "SAVED VALUES" area.  If that looks OK, you are done with the entries step.  Go down the page and click on the link to the "Send e-Mail Form".  But, if what is displayed is not correct, click on the browser "Back" button, enter the correct information, click "SAVE ENTRIES" and check again.  The information you entered will have been saved to a file "data/header.txt" on the SERVER, not on your local hard-drive.

Verify "From" Name and Other Information

Now, assuming you have previously uploaded your test e-mail address list, your actual e-mail address list, your e-mail message, your signature file (optional) and your removal instructions to the server, as instructed above, you are ready to do a test.

You then go to the the script "bemm-send.php" by clicking the link on "bemm-enter.php".  That gets you to the URL on your site.
The example URL is "http://www.yoursite.com/bemm/bemm-send.php".

You should see the same name, email and subject line information you previously entered and saved on the entry form.  If you don't, or if it is incorrect, you will have to go back to "bemm-enter.php" and re-enter it.

If you are sending a text message you will also see a snippet of the first line (more or less) of your e-mail message, so you can ensure you are really sending the message you want to.  If the snippet is incorrect, you will have to upload the correct e-mail message, with the proper name ("message.txt") as instructed above.  Showing a snippet is not applicable for HTML messages.  You will have to verify that the correct message is going to be sent after doing the test mailing mentioned below.

Test e-Mailing

Click "TEST MAILING" to send a few test e-mails to yourself (your test e-mail list).  Go to your e-mail program and get those e-mails and look them over to see it they are OK.  Verify the header information, the subject line, the message content and format, and the signature and removal instructions content and format.

Actual e-Mailing

Assuming the test mailing was OK, go ahead and click on "ACTUAL MAILING" to mail to your actual list.  This may take some time, and that depends on your host server speed, time of day, etc.  You may want to get a cup of coffee or do your laundry.  To verify that something is actually happening, progress is updated on your screen after each 20 e-mails are sent.  When done, that and the number of e-mails sent will be displayed on your screen.

Using this script method, all e-mails will be sent out, whether or not they turn out to have good e-mail addresses or not.  "Undeliverables" will be sent back to you -- some immediately, and some after a few days.  If you clean your list, it will take less time next time, and reduce the server load.

The BEMM scripts support the sending of HTML formatted e-mail messages.  There are some things you need to be aware of.

If sending plain text messages there can be NO HTML tags in the messages.  If there are any HMTL tags, the "bemm-send.php" script will just sit there and ignore your click on the "TEST MAILING" or "ACTUAL MAILING" buttons.

Plain text messages will be sent just as they are in the "message.txt" file, line for line.  How they will be displayed on a recipient's machine will depend on their e-mail receiving setup -- line length wrapping, fonts, whatever.

If sending an HTML coded message, you MUST have <html> . . . </html> tags enclosing the entire message.  If those tags are not present, and there are other HTML tags in the message, the "bemm-send.php" script will just sit there and ignore your click on the "TEST MAILING" or "ACTUAL MAILING" buttons.

There may be HTML tags the "bemm-send.php" script does not like.  If your screen does not display properly, or it the mailing buttons ignore you, take out the <head> . . . </head> tags and all metatags and other stuff between them.  Take out all comments <!-- . . . -->.

Links to other URLs work fine.  You can also include images with your messages; they must be encoded with <img src = . . . /> with complete URLs.

If you send a message with the <html> . . . </html> tags enclosing it, but with no other HTML tags, what is sent will be displayed on a recipient's machine as one huge run-on paragraph with no preservation of any formatting.  You will have to ensure that you have <p> . . . </p>, <br /> and any other formatting tags necessary to make the message display as you desire.  That is one reason for the inclusion of the "TEST MAILING" button to enable you to do a mailto test e-mail to yourself, using your test email list.

For best security, do not leave the scripts and data on your site when not in use .  Keep the scripts and your mailing list on your local machine and upload them only when ready to use them.  When done, delete them from the server.  This is the most secure method of preventing others from accessing your scripts and data.  If you leave scripts and data on your site, unprotected, be aware that anyone who can access the scripts by typing in the correct URLs on your site can send your message with a different headline to your list.  Besides annoying those on your list by getting repeat copies of your message, the headline may be something you or your list may not want to see.

Granted, you could put "disallows" in your site "robots.txt" file, but only legitimate crawlers honor those instructions.  Or you could set permissions on the data subdirectory (right click on the data directory, then "Properties", when logged into your server for upload, and click all nine attributes).  Or you could password protect the directory.  Me, I just upload as necessary, because the text and lists change all the time, anyway.

Don't abuse these scripts.  They are powerful, and you can send a lot of e-mail messages with them.  If you use them to spam, complaints will reach your ISP and/or web host.  They will likely suspend your account and possibly report you to higher authorities.  They will know who you are even if you use a "From:" e-mail address not connected with your website.  They will know who you are even if you use the e-mail to promote the recipients to go to some other website.  I assume no responsibility for your use of this script, as ISP, web host, and legal restrictions are capricious and subject to change at any time.

You must have your own website with your own domain name.  Your website host must support PHP scripting.  Your host must support e-mailing using PHP scripting.   You must have control of the site so that you can set up a directory on your site for your mailing scripts and data.  You must be able to FTP upload files to it, and to delete files from it.  You must know how to do that.

Even though you have your own hosted domain, some hosts do not support e-mailing using PHP scripting, especially some low-cost or "free" hosting services.  You need to verify if that service is available to you.

PHP scripting is plain text, so your computer is immaterial; it can be a PC or Mac.

You must use the free Firefox browser (http://www.mozilla.com/) to access the scripts and data that you upload to your website.   Microsucks Internet Explorer (IE) does NOT "render" PHP coded web pages with server instructions well.

If you do not already have Firefox as your default browser, what is the matter with you?  Bottom line:  If you do not have Firefox installed, and are unwilling to do so, these scripts are not for you. 

You must enable JavaScript on the machine you work with in running the scripts on your host server, for the site you are running the BEMM scripts from.  There is some JavaScript in "bemm-enter.php" which does some checking of your entries for proper format.  You can enable JavaScript on a selective basis (for your site and other specific trusted sites) if you are using the Firefox browser with the NoScript (http://noscript.net/) addon installed.

You don't have to be a guru to install and use these scripts.  However, you do have to know how to set up directories on both your local hard drive and on your host server, and to create and upload files from your local hard drive to corresponding directories on your server.  Sorry, but for the minimal price I am charging, there is no hand-holding provided.  However, I do welcome "bug reports" and will provide free upgrades to those reporting issues that I think need correcting.  If you need instruction or consulting, that is available at $50 per half-hour, one hour minimum.  Contact me from the contact page on the website if that is something you are interested in.

BEMM does not support attachments.
BEMM displays graphics linked to as URLs in HTML messages only, not embedded.
BEMM does not support using Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE).  The free Firefox browser is required.

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