E-Mail Capture

Does anyone know of any software that will capture a website visitor's e-mail address when they visit your site, even if they do not sign up for a newsletter or anything ?

Thanks.

Without the user taking some type of action, you can't get a visitor's email address. They simply don't "carry" this information with them to the websites they visit.

However, there are a couple of websites that are using software that 'pops' up a window and says -- "do you want to subscribe to our newsletter"? If you click yes, a message is dropped in your outbox and send to the originator. The process has been around awhile, but it's a bit sneaky.

Ben Prater


BlueFoxLabs Web Development

> Does anyone know of any software that will
> capture a website visitor's e-mail address
> when they visit your site, even if they do
> not sign up for a newsletter or anything ?

> Thanks.
I don't know what the software or technology is, but I just received an email from someone thanking me for posting on his FFA page. I never did, though I remember looking at it and reading an offer or two.

Generally I surf with my email "despammed," that is, with obvious bogus information. Lately, however, because I have wanted to respond by email without firing up my normal client, I have it in my browser.

You could also grab it with a CGI program, and there are some out there that do this. HOWEVER -- some folks travel with their email info munged (I do also) and not every visitor is a real prospect. And some of those are active spamcoppers (me, for one.) Others may be angry at the "invasion of privacy" if they just snooped by and found it of no interest and left.

Safer bet is to give them the option of leaving their email.

Hmmm,

You're window shopping at your local mall and whenever you pass by a store, an invisible beam scans your drivers license info right out of your wallet, without your permission. All the stores then start sending promotional mailings right to your home on a regular basis. All because you "looked in their window".

Need I say more?

Paul

Hi Mel --

> You could also grab it with a CGI program,

I'm not aware of a CGI program that can capture email. Some older browsers offered it up but that has been a while. If you are aware of a program that does offer this I'd like to know about it - not to use it though! Due to certain jobs I've had we looked long and hard for a way to do this and it just doesn't exist. There are a couple of tricks - using an ftp call for a graphic, etc. that occasionally work but they ceased being reliable a long time ago.

The email also does not appear in server logs unless you have logged in with your email as your username - and if that is the case the site would already know your email and have no need to capture it.

> and there are some out there that do this.
> HOWEVER -- some folks travel with their
> email info munged (I do also) and not every
> visitor is a real prospect. And some of

This of course is a very good point to anyone thinking about building a list by capturing emails - make sure they are a real prospect.

A note to others who want to munge their email. Make sure you do it by munging the server name and not your username. i.e.:

[email protected] Others may be angry at the "invasion of
> privacy" if they just snooped by and
> found it of no interest and left.

As well they should.

> Safer bet is to give them the option of
> leaving their email.

And even better is to give them a good reason to leave their email. Make it worth their time - not by offering the same free stuff everyone else does - but your own unique perspectives and contributions. If you can't offer that then what reason do they have for leaving you any information. If you do offer that then you are building something that will last and set you apart from others.

I should mention that when I'm saying "you" above I'm speaking in general and not always to you specifically. I know you know most of what I wrote.

Have a good day!

-- Dan Butler
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/


Some the things I find useful...

Thanks to everyone for the information. This is an excellent forum. I just wanted everyone to know that it was not my intention to capture e-mails without anyone knowing about it. I was thinking more along the line of a small popup window that appears as they are leaving my site. It would simply ask them if they wanted to join my free newsletter, and if yes, to just enter their first name and email address in the space provided.

Along that line, does anyone know of the HTML for a pop up window. I looked at the source code for other sites that have popups and I tried it, but, it would not work on my site - yes, I know it doesn't make sense.

My website has Frame Buster Code built in. Is this the problem ?

Any comments or help is appreciated. Thanks.

Ken Black
http://www.golfrevelations.com

> Does anyone know of any software that will
> capture a website visitor's e-mail address
> when they visit your site, even if they do
> not sign up for a newsletter or anything ?

> Thanks.

Hi Ken!

Guess what worked?

I was intrigued by your URL and low and behold, a beautiful (and I loved the size!) pop up appeared...and I think you have a new subscriber! Now who could that be?!

With Purpose and Passion,

JULIE


Dare to Discover Your Passion!

Ken,
I use pop under windows and the information can be found at www.coachmaria.com/articles/popunder.html
For pop up's there is a format at www.webgrrls.com

Best of success,
Maria




Maria's Place