The template my friend purchased has a contact page with the details a person can enter, name, email, etc., and a send and clear button. I'm helping him with the site (though it's kind of the blind leading the blind). Basically he wants it set up as a mailing list so the person enters their name, and email and hits send and is added to a mailing list. Below is the code for that portion of the contact page. I figured it would be as easy as adding an email address for the info to go to but it doesn't work.

I know this has to be super, super easy. I couldn't find any tutorials when I searched Google, none that I understood anyway.

  <form id="contacts-form" action="">
                           <div>
                              <label><input type="text" value="Name:"/></label>
                              <label><input type="text" value="E-mail:"/></label>
                              <label><input type="text" value="Fax:"/></label>
                              <textarea cols="" rows="">Message:</textarea>
                              <div class="wrapper"><a href="" class="button" onclick="document.getElementById('contacts-form').submit()">send</a><a href="" class="button" onclick="document.getElementById('contacts-form').reset()">clear</a></div>

Hi,

Creating a mailing list is much more involved that you think. You need a database to store user's information as long as an opt-out form. Then, you have to set up a secured admin area where the admin can send out the mailings. The functionality you include there is up to you and your friend. Anyways, I would take a form similar to yours and create some PHP scripts to handle the mailing list functionality. You'll need to setup a MySQL database on your server to store the details. If you don't know what I'm talking about it may be time to hire a developer.

You don't necessarily need to use a db, but to have a db for emails is like having your own address book to store your familys/friends addresses.

That code you posted will not work without having a another script to process the code.

You're going to need to store the data somewhere, and a database is usually the way to go.

• A solid mailing list is a lot more complicated than just storing the data though. For starters, you're going to want to consider all of the following:
• Validate the eMail address is in proper form,
• Test for a valid MX record on the address domain,
• Use Captcha (or similar human verification system) to dissuade automated bots
• Double opt-in (confirmation eMail to verify)
• A properly configured bounce back account/rule
• A script to periodically check for bounced addresses (IMAP/POP capable) and remove from your list
• In some cases, a permanent opt-out (black list) option
• A well-designed script to send your bulk eMail, possibly template driven.
• For large lists, you'll want to closely monitor bounces/mail-send-errors in case a domain has decided to block you.
• Again, for larger lists, setting up DKIM on your mail server may also be a good idea

Not to mention all of the other security considerations one would include in a standard mail form, and basic features one would typically want in a mailing list.

Unless you have to do this in-house, this is a case where I'd look for a good, proven commercial/open-source application rather than hiring a scripter.

First Google result I found: http://www.phplist.com/

Hey thanks so much to everyone for the detailed responses. It's given me a lot to go off, I'm making some pretty good progress.