I’ve had a few clients ask me recently for newsletter functionality in their Drupal website. So that got me started on some research that took me a few hours before I finally came across a solution I could work with. I was particularly looking for a Newsletter functionality that would allow users and anonymous users to sign up. Much of what I was originally finding had to do with registered users only able to sign up for the newsletter. But for many that defeats the purpose. Most sites need a newsletter that is easy for all visitors of the site to join. That way, they can collect email addresses at a much quicker pace.
Simplenews – Module for Drupal
I came across the Simplenews module for Drupal. Installed it and configured it. It had good easy to read instructions for me to configure everything. It gave me the functionaity that I needed. Basically, I setup the Simplenews module and actived the “Newsletter Block” which allows visitors of the site to subscribe to my newsletter. Booyahh! Perfect! Everything setup exactly how I needed with no problems whatsoever. The Simplenews tool actually utilizes the Taxonomy module. Which means it basically creates a new category of content that you write in. That content of course, is sent via email through the newsletter to all subscribers.
Here is a list of the features:
Subscription
- Subscription to the newsletters is managed through blocks, and/or a subscription form, and/or a custom page
- Logged in users can manage their subscriptions in their account settings
- Anonymous (un)subscribers are offered a confirmation email
- Registered, logged in users can subscribe directly
- Subscription of registered, logged out users; and of unregistered users that register later, is managed
Creating and sending
- Newsletters can be sent as plain text or HTML. HTML newsletters require the Mime Mail module
- Newsletters can be managed through the taxonomy system
- Newsletters are stored in a “sent items” or “drafts” folder, depending on the send status
- Sending of mailings to large mailing lists is handled by cron (configurable)
- A single-copy test newsletter can be sent before the newsletter is sent to the mailing list
On-site display and RSS
- Links to taxonomy overview pages and RSS-feeds can be displayed in the block for published newsletters (both sent and unsent).
- Blocks are fully configurable. They can for example also show a list of recent issues of a particular newsletter
Administration
- Sent items folder, with: title, type (term), date, published, status (sent/cron/not sent), edit
- Drafts folders with the same options
- ‘Sent items’ and ‘Drafts’ view filter: view all newsletter issues, or filter by newsletter
- ‘Newsletters’ tab to create/edit newsletters (terms)
- Subscription list management: display email, username (or anonymous), status (active/inactive), delete, activate/inactivate, edit link to manage subscriptions
- Filter subscription list by newsletter and email address
- Subscription list management: import and export (active and/or inactive) subscriptions to and from the different newsletters
- Settings pages: general options page where standard settings can be set (such as a test e-mail address, from-name, from-address, cron), and settings pages for each newsletter to configure the newsletter’s block
Permissions
- administer newsletters, create newsletter, edit own newsletter, send newsletter, view links in block
Check out this module. I highly recommend it. It’s free and open source of course or else I would not praise it so much! It’s by far the best solution I could fine for a newsletter tool for a Drupal Content Management system install.
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Entries (RSS)
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:52 pm
This module is fantastic, it was fairly easy to implement scheduled, re-reoccuring newsletters
Check out the simplenews scheduler newsletter module
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Hey thanks for the tip on this module. I’ll check it out.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:34 am
Tried it out, not getting it to work thou.. pretty annoying that there’s no support for those that run on drupal 5.x either.. ;/
June 30th, 2008 at 9:16 am
What are you having trouble with? I might have an answer for you.
July 27th, 2008 at 9:12 am
I can’t seem to find where the “send” feature is on this simplenews module, do you know. I have enabled the simplenews block so that people can sign up for a newsletter but can’t seem to be able to send anything yet.
July 27th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
okay. what you do is go to Content >> Add Newsletter Issue. This is where you setup your new newsletter title, content etc. Before you hit submit there are 3 options at the bottom. “Don’t send now,
Send one test newsletter to the test address, and Send newsletter”. The last option being the one you would be looking for! hope that helps.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:26 pm
How does one check on bounced emails in simplenews. I have about 8000+ subscribers. Is this the right module to use for this purpose
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Hey.. thanks for the tips, but is there any other newsletter modules ?
February 10th, 2009 at 11:31 am
You can also use this with the RelatedContent module to generate a series of stories/articles that are then pulled together to create a newsletter issue. No active port to D6 yet, but there is a submitted patch in the issues queue.
April 6th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I’m looking for a good newsletter integration in my Drupal based website.
I’m not sure that Simplenews is the best solution to send thousand emails…
We’ve 21000 subscribers and I think it’s too much to send directly from our server. Am I Right ?
Do you know Mailchimp (www.mailchimp.com), it’s seems to be better for big maillinglists ?
By the way, A Drupal module already exists : http://drupal.org/project/mailchimp
April 20th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Do you know if these vulnerabilities have been sorted out?
http://www.juniper.net/security/auto/vulnerabilities/vuln31377.html
May 13th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
I need enewsletter module with templates in drupal 6.x. So pls send in my email address
May 19th, 2009 at 4:35 am
I need eNewsletter Module in Drupal6.
If You Have Then Pls send Me in my email address.
My Emal Address Is raj.c8887@gmail.com
June 7th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Thanks, I’ll check this module out. Nice clearly written post. Cheers,