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Embedding tracking codes, invisible counters... Cookies, spy-wares, etc. into HTML email messages to monitor and track recipients click through rate, email client, browser, country, etc. -- is a popular method used by many emailers --usually without the recipient consent. How to embed your HTML email with tracker code? The first step is to sign-up for a few free counter trackers (see below listings of free tracker and counters). Different tracker for tracking different email message, you can rotate and reuse the same tracker for different weekly newsletter. When you sign-up, you will be given some some kind of tracker script to track visitors by their (bottom of this page) for example: PHP scripts JavaScript or CGI/Perl Second step is to create a webpage for each of your tracker script, to track different email message and then reuse or rotate different webpage tracker for different email message. It is recommended to have some contents on your tracker webpage, just incase a search engine or visitor stumble onto it, the contents does not affect the tracking ability. Third step is to "input" your given tracking script into your webpage and upload it. Normally, when you sign-up the tracking script is given together with some instructions on how to "input" it into your webpage. Here is an example:
Normally the instructions are to input the codes, scripts etc. between the webpage HTML body
like this sample below: |
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<html> <script
language=javascript1.2>
<script><!--function pr(n) |
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Advantage and disadvantage of tracking your customers The advantage - Able to gather lots of information from recipients that is viewing your tracked HTML formatted message.
Disadvantages are: Recipients distrust the sender or company that includes tracker without permission. Recipients are aware that HTML email are not secure and that even in preview mode all kinds of "bugs" from "pop-up" annoying Ads, connect their browser to sites which they don't want to go, cookies, viruses tracking scripts and all kinds of embedded bugs and gadgets. To prevent virus from spreading, many corporations system delivers HTML email as text only or are constrained by policy to disperse HTML emails as text message and your HTML email will look like goobegook. America Online (AOL) users also cannot read HTML enabled email (except for those using AOL 6.0) because AOL uses a proprietary format and non standard HTML Recipients retaliate by viewing emails off-line and have the pleasure of knowing that they can't be tracked or having to download all kinds embedded web bugs gadgets. MS Outlook users don't even need to disconnect their always-on Internet connection, they simple double click on the icon at the taskbar to be off-line. |
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Listings of free tracker www.fxweb.com/tracker/ Free tracker, allowed for sites with more that 500 visitors per day, very reliable, track browser version, busiest times, day, visitors etc. www.clickxchange.com Free visitor tracker features custom counters styles, creates dynamic charts showing visitors, page views, country maps, visit durations and much more! http://usa.nedstat.net/index.html Free for personal websites with complete list of info about your site, last 20 referrers, requires no banner ads. http://service.bfast.com Hourly statistics with graph, daily statistics, monthly statistics and statistics for the whole year. The counter has many different styles and colors to choose from and each member ID can have 3 counters www.sitegadgets.com Standard website counter and Website Monitor to let you know when your site goes down plus free Download Tracker that tracks the number of times each of your files are downloaded. www.fastcounter.com Very reliable counter at website, receive statistics via email. |
www.resources.htibox.com
Free for up to 500 statistics and multiple page tracking www.sitestatz.com Free webpage tracker that gives complete statistics, including referring links, browser version and more. www.thecounter.com Free counter, choice of private or public statistics, receive free visitors count via email, no ads are required to be placed on your website www.showstat.com Free for non-commercial sites only. www.webtrendslive.com Tracker gives statistics for unlimited number of pages, total page views, unique visitors, returning visitors, average visit length, average time spent on pages, referring domains, urls, search engines, search phrases, operating system, plugins, screen resolution, colors etc. www.extreme-dm.com/tracking/ Tracker gives statistics, including referring links, hits received and more. www.sitetracker.com Complete statistics, including average load time of your site, average length of stay, referring pages and more. Required a banner for the free version. |
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What
are JavaScript?
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http://javaboutique.internet.com
- Cool collection of free Java applets for download and tutorials. http://java-scripts.net/ Lots of cool stuff, free javascripts with easy instructions and how to tutorials. www.scriptarchive.com/ Check out Matt's Script Archive for free CGI Scripts that you can install on your web sites that comes with with detailed installation instructions |
What is PHP?
.
PHP
is an alternative to Perl
and the cgi-bin, it is a scripting language used to process data from a web browser and then return the data in the form of a web page.
For more info. visit
www.php.net
CGI (Common Gateway Interface): A protocol for gathering data from a Form and sending it to a program or Script such as Perl (a transfer interface) method for processing a Form. You use CGI scripts when you want 2-way communication with your readers.
CGI scripts are often written
in the following languages:
Perl, C/C++, Visual Basic - Scripts written in
the above languages are called server-side scripts as they are located on the
server and are executed only when a user clicks 'submit' on a fill-out form.
And JavaScript, VBScript - are known as
client-side scripting languages and are located in HTML documents and are
executed by your browser.
| Have a look at Jacqueline D. Hamilton's on-line tutorial "CGI Programming 101." In it, she teaches you the basics of writing Perl CGI Scripts, step-by-step www.cgi101.com/class/ |
Perl
(Practical Extraction and Report Language):
The most common scripting language for processing Form data.
CGI scripts are programs that act as gateways between web
servers, other applications and your website visitors.
