good secure "mail to friend" type script?

March 30, 2007 11:48 AM

I've been asked to create a promotional type email for an event. Initially it is sent to people who signed up for these emails. If they can't receive html email there's a link to the page. For those who don't want to forward the email or don't know how to, there is a link in the message taking one to a form where you can enter up to 10 recipients and a personal message. I need a moderately secure way to do this. The page will only be online for a couple of weeks but the potential for abuse still worries me. Any suggestions on scripts to use?
posted by Grod to computers & internet (4 comments total)

I'm not sure I completely understand your requirements, but have you looked at www.evite.com? I've used it successfully for years.

Another option is www.meetup.com, which I am less familiar with.

Alternatively, you could start a Yahoo! Group specifically for the event. I hope this helps.
posted by doctorcurly at 1:18 PM on March 30, 2007

This is for a hospital event, I can't use evite, I have to make a newsletter type of mailing and give people a link to a page where they can enter an email address or three and send the same newsletter they just received. I know it's stupid, but that's what they want. Apparently the concept of forwarding is alien to some.
posted by Grod at 1:38 PM on March 30, 2007

The moment you have a page for "emailing this to ten people!" SOMEONE will abuse it, I guarantee it.

At the very least, you'll need to rate-limit the page in some fashion, to keep someone from sending nuisance mails -- and since you're allowing them to customize the message at all (ie "hey, look at this great thing!") you'd better screen out links and certain keywords, and rate limit even harder to keep people from using it for outright spam. Imagine, emails from your hospital email address, with ads for Viagra right at the top!

Sorry I don't have script suggestions, but (as you admit) this isn't a very good idea in the first place, not really the kind of thing I'd expect to find a ready-made script for.
posted by davejay at 6:37 PM on March 30, 2007

As an email, I would suggest checking out Campaign Monitor. It can do exactly what you want, and you would also get great statistics to back it up too.

They only cost $5 per Mailing, and $.01 per email.

Check them out, I think they may be what you are looking for (plus remove your headache of secure scripts too).
posted by punkrockrat at 7:35 PM on March 30, 2007