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[Selroth]

It shouldn't be that hard to put together.

I was planning on a simple HTML email.

[Rocangus]

I was planning on a simple HTML email.

Or maybe plain text to make it even easier to put together?

[Selroth]

HTML allows formatting, so I'd prefer that.  WOuldn't use it to make anything super-fancy.  Probably wont even use images.  Just colors, bold, italic, bullets, links, etc.

[Rocangus]

HTML allows formatting, so I'd prefer that.  WOuldn't use it to make anything super-fancy.  Probably wont even use images.  Just colors, bold, italic, bullets, links, etc.

Sounds good. Go ahead, I look forward to getting it.

[Selroth]

I've updated the Original Post to have a summary of the features we want in it.

I suppose it's time for an update on why this thing has been delayed so much.  It puts me to shame, really.

Currently, we have the ability to email everyone who has signed up to the forum.  However, there is a critical flaw - we have no intuitive way for people to unsubscribe from the newsletter or set their preference.  This ability will come with the site upgrade, which I have been working on for the past several weeks but hit a major roadblock - there's a bug in the scripts I need to use for the site upgrade.  As of a few days ago, there has been a new release - I just haven't had the time to try it out yet. 

So, in summary, I'm still trying, I certainly haven't forgotten. 

[Rossenod]

Well, as long as you're doing your best, I don't suppose anyone can really complain.  I mean, you do have an awful lot on your plate, so to speak.

[Xenorosth]

Is there anything that I could do to help? I am sure I could come up with a good set of interview questions and a few articles in my spare time. Its better then me just mashing buttons for stepmania.

[Rossenod]

What about fiction, Selroth?  I noticed that's not in the OP, but some of us (myself included) do enjoy taking a jab at fiction.  Maybe that could be an option as well.


In any case, it's good to see the newsletter in the works again.  Blessed Be. 

[Aurelia]

Yeah I think having a short story every so often in there could be a good idea.  Might be something to introduce after we've got into a system of actually producing the main continual parts of the newsletter rather than right away and then run out of stories?

Sel is still on his way to New Mexico right now, after a pretty horrendous trip back to the states yesterday and over last night, then having to get a connecting flight rebooked, etc etc he may not be on here for a while.  Especially as he's visiting his family for a week.

Feel free to ask any questions here still though because I'm still around and after today I'll have finalised the date for our wedding and can actually relax and focus on the site again!  Sorry I've been a bit absent lately, but the wedding venue search took up so much time and effort.

Xenorosth: articles would be good, we could do with a few different topics to again maybe have sporadically like the short story idea - maybe they can alternate between each other in each newsletter edition.  Interview questions would be good too, I think when Sel is back and this venue stuff is sorted out I'll get a thread started so that people can suggest interview questions in there.  Or even if there's a set of questions someone has always wanted to ask one of the staff, or to the other members.

[Rossenod]

Cool. 


And on a side note, Aurelia, congratulations again on your soon-to-be marriage.  I hope you and Selroth have a wonderful life together. 

Blessed Be.

[Xenorosth]

Very well ^^ When I get offline I will be sure to make a set of questions.

Do you think that I could be in charge of giving the interviews as well? I come on everyday, so I should have time.

[TyrantWurm]

Re: the unsubscribe thing:

What were you planning to use to actually distribute the newsletter? I've been looking at http://www.mailchimp.com/, which is rather easy to use, free, depending on your list size (dunno how big the active list here is, but if it's less than 501, it's free, anyhow), and has a high level of redundant opt-in/out stuff to avoid being classified as spam.

As far as content goes, I think that the "popular topics" idea is especially good. I liek the "reader questions" idea too, as it can promote a bit of discussion without having to feel like your'e necroposting, or have no real topic on your mind (Talk amongst yourselves! I'll give you a topic!). :P

Personally, I don't know if I'd be that interestred in fiction. Maybe very short fiction (like 500 words or so), and that might be pushing it. The interview idea sounds like a good one too; there could be "Editor's Choice" interviews, people that the mods/newsletter staff feel are valuable to this community and should be spotlighted, and "Dragon's Choice" interviews, with folks that the community at large chooses to be interviewed.

Going further from there, every X issues or so, you could ask some or all of the interviewees a question, and use their responses as content. I dunno. Just throwing out ideas at this point. 

I don't know what I'd be able to contribute to it, if anything, but I'd be excited to see it when it comes out.

[Aurelia]

As far as distribution goes, we can send it via pm on the site and members get an email notification that it has been sent to them and they can opt out of that in their profile if they wish to.  SMF seems pretty good with stuff like that :)

[Daariv]

SMF seems pretty good with stuff like that :)

Yap, SMForums are pretty cool, easy and... somehow complex

As far as distribution goes, we can send it via pm on the site and members get an email notification that it has been sent to them and they can opt out of that in their profile if they wish to.

Yap, would be cool in this way

[Rocangus]

But... I am aware of that this might sound kinda selfish, but why weren't I on the newsletter image stuff on the lower part of the thing? I mean, I'm an active member, a very active member, although I do post quite a lot into the spam threads...