My First Sale!!

[smurk75]

I'd like to know where my customer came from, other than emailing back 'processing' with "how did you hear about us?" is there an automatic method?

 

Also, how can I auto select the 'newsletter' checkbox in create_account.php?

 

Thanks,

 

Sam

[smurk75]

neverimind about the newsletter, I figured it out. I added the 'true' parameter in the tep_draw_newslettercheckbox() for 'checked=true'. But still need help on how to track my customers origins. Would really help to know. I've got a small budget on adwords, I've listed in froggle, and have been going full throttle on submitting to free directories with pr4 or higher.

[GraphicsGuy]

There are different approaches to answering the ultimate marketing question - where did they come from?

 

If you want to simply ask them, there is the How Did You Hear About Us contribution.

 

Creates a drop-down box populated by admin entered referral sources that prompts the

customer where they found out about the site. Admin can also make this required or not. Also includes ability to control whether or not an "Other" appears in the dropdown and if so, displays an additional text input box. Information is then stored in customers_info table and two new tables (sources, sources_other) for 1 included report and data mining.

 

Customers don't always answer them if they aren't required, and if you make them required some customers are irritated by it while others will simply hit the first item in the list whether it is true or not.

 

Another approach is to use a web analytics approach like the former urchin that is now Google Analytics. The osCommerce Google Analytics module contribution will help you install the Google code into your site, but you must first sign up for a Google Analytics account (it's free though).

 

Now a word of advice about the newsletter default. It is really not a good idea to default it to checked. It's a quick way to get your server's IP address added to email block lists, which is then a quick way to get booted by your web host (not to mention that your emails will get blocked by most major ISP's). Many organizations that send newsletters have had to resort to "double opt in" methods where the customer has to opt in and then reply to an email confirming that choice. All this is done to try to make sure the customer won't report the emails as spam and even then some do. I'm not saying you should use a double opt in system if your store is just starting out, but I would definately not default them into the mailing list. Just my 2?.

 

hth

[smurk75]

Thank you for your response Mike. I'll definitly consider your comments on the newsletter default option further since I do not want to be black listed. I currently have an adwords account and will activate the google analytics that is offered to me and see if that will help me answer my questions. Once again, thanks for your input.

 

Sam