Newsletter Plugin vs FeedBurner
22. Jan, 2010 
19 Comments
Really it’s not a “versus”. Newsletter WordPress plugin is intended to be something different from FeedBurner (and any other feed by mail service).
Feed by mail are service that send an excerpt of blog feed to subscribers. There is no communication between the blog owner and the subscribers. Neither blog owner is sending something “extra” of blo content.
A newsletter, or better a subscribers list, is intende for punctual and manual communication between blog owner and his subscribers. What kind of communication? Usually offers, product launch, special news, and so on. Any kind of content that is not to be mixed within post excerpt but need an adequate copy writing.
I want to make such clarification to avoid misunderstanding with Newsletter plugin users.
Why I made such plugin? I have a number of italian sites. Target of such sites are users who are not interested in having every day and excerpt of blog posts and that blogs have not a flow of content to justify a feed by mail service.
Anyway those blogs have some premium contents very attractive and what I want is users to subscribe the newsletter to have such content. Here is where my plugin starts to make its work.
Not only: to avoid unsubscription I cannot “stress” my list with an email every time I post something, so I send them a newsletter when I have some of really interesting (and that can be converted in money).
Alternatives to Newsletter Plugin and FeedBurner
Aweber is one of the best mail marketing service, at least based on opinion of A-blogger. If you subscribe on any of that blogs, you’ll find mostly uses Aweber.
Aweber is not a free service, but on it you can create feed by mail services and newsletter in the classic ways. It have autoresponders, statistics and many other feature.
FeedMailPro is a valid alternative to Aweber. Simpler it’s really easy to use and configure and can made “feed by mail” and classic newsletter service. It’s a paid service with a free entry level account option.
Why to used paid services?
Because they are managed by professionals, have reliable mail delivery service, have surely more features than a plugin. But you have to pay. Simple.
I'm Stefano Lissa. Ten years ago I was building web sites for pleasure. Blogs didn't exist, web content systems were ugly, hosting was really expensive... and my student pocket was empty.
Ciao ,
ho un problema nel creare un tema custom sul tuo plugin newsletter.
Ho creato la directory newsletter-custom, i permessi sono Ok ma il composer non legge la directory.
hai idea di dove potrei sbagliare?
Grazie in anticipo.
MC
Hai creato all’interno la cartella themes con dentro ulteriori cartelle con dentro un theme.php? La newsletter-custom è nella cartella “plugins” di WordPress?
Is this plugin ready for production in WordPress 2.9? Cheers
On failed name or email this sounds more friendly: “Invalid email address.” “Please provide your name.” It would be nice to have this customizable. I would like to make “go back” go to my [newsletter] page.
I’m currently using it in 2.9.1. I only tested it by signing up to newsletter. I’m not actually using it in the real world yet. I do not like that I can repeatedly sign up and it sends me opt-in email. It should say I’m already subscribed or something. It also repeatedly sends to the admin.
Thanks for the plugin! Here are some corrections to your English:
* and so one: and so on
* Any kind of content that has not to be mixed: Any kind of content that is not to be mixed
* I want to made: I want to make
* Target of such site: Target of such sites
Thanks!!!
I’m missing something. Customization of the outgoing subscription emails is not possible without using the paid “extended” version of this, and subscribers cannot verify their subscriptions via email? Would have been nice to know this in advance, perhaps you could send out a newsletter. Not pleased.
??? Have you installed newsletter and tried it? In free version subscription process, confirmation and so on is completely customizable. What you get with extras (and membership) is described in newsletter extras page.
I recently installed your plugin on a site (www.healthybuildingsusa.com) that operates a small design-build business. I was very impressed with the ease of setting up the subscription management system, and ‘auto-composing’ newsletters that copied some simple html formatting elements from my blog – excellent work! I have used constant contact, directmailpro, icontact and a host of other systems and frankly, for a free double-opt-in solution and mailer – I will be using this plugin on all future sites that I do.
I presume that the ‘Newsletter Extras’ are available until you fully transition to ‘Newsletter Pro’ – and that the cost for the extras is $20 – which is worth it for the scheduling functions – as I usually host blogs on dreamhost – which has hourly mailer limits.
Have you considered a hosted mailer service like what ethree.com provide for their direct mail product?
I basically wanted to write to say that I have spent the better part of 3 days looking at feedburner hacks, etc. to cobble together a free ‘blog-a-zine’ type newsletter mailer – and your plugin does the trick and was A JOY TO USE – which is far more than I can say about many of the plugins I experiment with! EVERYTHING WORKED on the FIRST TRY! Bravo!
Andy
Hello, i´m trying the plugin in the free version and i have a question, is there any limits of sending newsletters(i mean in the free version)? The admin of the blog told me that he had a message that the limit had been exceed.
Likely It’s a limit your provider. Check with them.
another alternative for subscription management other than aweber that was mentioned is a product call emanager from viasubscription. I have heard some good feedback from users.
Can someone please help for some reason there is not a subscribe button on my page if someone could please help thank you i am having the same problem with another plugin site is http://www.streetwisedrift.com thank you
Tell us where is the subsc ription page with the missing button.
Hi,
I haven’t tried the plugin – yet. But will do so today and let you know how it goes.
While I’m here: some English help for you!
Change this sentence . . .
Anyway those blogs have some premium contents very attractive and what I want is users to subscribe the newsletter to have such content. Here is where my plugin starts to make its work.
to this sentence . . .
Anyway, those blogs have some very attractive premium content. What I want is users to be able to read this content when they subscribe to the newsletter. Here is where my plugin starts to work.
Cheers
Hi,
Is there anyway I call function to embed newsletter sign-up form somewhere (ie. footer, header) besides on content area or sidebar?
Thanks,
As far as it seems to me the widget would have to be in use for any hackery. But then you would have double.
If the widget was upgraded to use the new Widget_API you can call an arbitrary instance without having use it in a sidebar first.
http://codex.wordpress.org/Widgets_API
would be simple as:
the_widget(‘NewsletterClassName’,'title=Newsletter Signup’);
http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/the_widget
Hei
Verry easy to install and I as verry nybeginner am very thankfull for that.
I have a problem with unsuscribtion , it doesn’t work and coming side with “The requested URL /wordpress/{unsubscription_confirm_url} was not found on this server.”
Can somebody give advice about that?
Thanks in advance
Jolita