120 lines
3.8 KiB
Markdown
120 lines
3.8 KiB
Markdown
# Email Signup Options for Category-Based Subscriptions
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## Overview
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For category-based email subscriptions (Programming, Family), you'll need a third-party email service provider since Hugo is a static site generator and can't handle server-side functionality.
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## Recommended Services
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### Option 1: ConvertKit (Recommended)
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**Best for:** Creator-focused email marketing with automation
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- **Pros:**
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- Excellent automation workflows
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- Tag-based subscriber management (perfect for categories)
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- Good free tier (up to 1,000 subscribers)
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- Easy integration with static sites
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- **Setup:**
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1. Create ConvertKit forms for "Programming" and "Family" categories
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2. Add forms to blog with JavaScript embeds
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3. Set up automation to tag subscribers by category
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4. Create category-specific broadcasts
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- **Cost:** Free up to 1K subscribers, then $29/month
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### Option 2: Mailchimp
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**Best for:** Established service with good free tier
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- **Pros:**
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- Well-known and trusted
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- Good free tier (2,000 contacts, 10,000 emails/month)
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- Audience segmentation by interests/tags
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- **Setup:**
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1. Create signup forms with category selection
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2. Use Mailchimp's embedded forms or API
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3. Set up audience segments by category
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4. Create targeted campaigns
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- **Cost:** Free up to 2K contacts, then $10/month
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### Option 3: Buttondown
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**Best for:** Simple, newsletter-focused approach
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- **Pros:**
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- Built for newsletters and blogs
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- Markdown support
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- Good API for automation
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- Clean, simple interface
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- **Setup:**
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1. Create subscription forms
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2. Use tags for category management
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3. Send category-specific newsletters
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- **Cost:** Free up to 1K subscribers, then $5/month
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### Option 4: EmailOctopus
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**Best for:** Budget-conscious option
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- **Pros:**
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- Very affordable
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- Good API
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- Amazon SES integration for deliverability
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- **Cost:** Free up to 2.5K subscribers, then $8/month
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## Implementation Approaches
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### Approach 1: Category Selection Form
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Create a single form where users choose which categories they want:
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```html
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<form action="[SERVICE_URL]" method="post">
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<input type="email" name="email" placeholder="your@email.com" required>
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<label><input type="checkbox" name="tags" value="programming"> Programming</label>
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<label><input type="checkbox" name="tags" value="family"> Family</label>
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<button type="submit">Subscribe</button>
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</form>
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```
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### Approach 2: Separate Category Forms
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Create separate signup forms for each category:
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- "Subscribe to Programming Posts"
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- "Subscribe to Family Posts"
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- "Subscribe to All Posts"
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### Approach 3: RSS-to-Email Services
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Alternative approach using existing RSS feeds:
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- **Kill the Newsletter**: Converts RSS to email automatically
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- **Blogtrottr**: RSS to email service
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- **FeedBurner**: Google's RSS-to-email (being phased out)
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## Recommended Implementation Plan
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1. **Start Simple**: Begin with ConvertKit or Mailchimp
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2. **Create Two Forms**:
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- One for Programming category
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- One for Family category
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- Option for "All Posts"
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3. **Add to Site**: Place signup forms in:
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- Footer of each post
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- Sidebar (if added later)
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- Dedicated subscription page
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4. **Automation**: Set up welcome emails and category-specific sending
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## Code Integration Example (ConvertKit)
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Add to your Hugo layouts where you want signup forms:
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```html
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<!-- Programming Signup -->
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<div class="email-signup">
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<h3>Get Programming Updates</h3>
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<script src="https://convertkit.com/[FORM_ID].js"></script>
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</div>
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<!-- Family Signup -->
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<div class="email-signup">
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<h3>Get Family Updates</h3>
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<script src="https://convertkit.com/[FORM_ID].js"></script>
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</div>
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```
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## Next Steps
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1. Choose a service (ConvertKit recommended)
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2. Create account and forms
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3. Add forms to your blog templates
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4. Test the subscription flow
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5. Set up automated category-based sending
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The RSS feed is already working, so email-preferring users can use RSS-to-email services as an alternative. |