Email list alternatives

[Paula]

I'm wondering if you can use services other than Constant Contact as an email service. I've never used them and so don't have anything to say about them either way, but have used Vertical Response for years and would like to stay with them, if possible.

I would like the customer to be able to check the box to sign up for my newsletter at checkout, but only see an option for Constant Contact. Am I missing something?

[Paula]

On a similar topic, do you offer any on-site blog hosting, or would I just need to go with Wordpress, Blogger, etc?

[Jim]

The only email service that is built into ShopSite is the Constant Contact. HOwever, there can be a check box on the checkout screen where the shopper can indicate they want to be added to an email list. The value of the checkbox is passed along with the order info so you could gather the list from your orders and then process them how ever you would like.

ShopSite is mainly a shopping cart although some merchant also use it for content by creating "products" that are the content and then modify a template to display the content like a blog.

Other merchant have a Wordpress or other blog along with their ShopSite store.

[Paula]

Perfect, thanks.

[Paula]

Do I find whether or not they clicked the box to receive my newsletter on the individual names under "View Orders"?

[ShopSite Nicole]

Yes, you can see as part of the order whether or not they checked that box. You can see it when you view the order or when you download the orders database. If they checked the box then it should say "Add me to your E-mailing list" in the Order. If they did not check the box, that text will not be there.