How to configure SMS Newsletter in Joomla! with Ozeki NG SMS Gateway
After reading the benefits of using
SMS functionality in Joomla you are prepared for adopting the SMS Newsletter
solution. This page provides you details on how to insert the SMS Newsletter
solution on your website with the help of Ozeki NG SMS Gateway. This configuration
guide will instruct you how to build up your own "Ozeki SMS Newsletter" module
with Ozeki NG SMS Gateway to start SMS newsletter service on your website. Read
on to learn more about the SMS Newsletter solution which includes a requirements
list, step by step setup instructions and video tutorials.
Prerequisites
To setup this solution you need to connect your system to the
mobile network. There are two ways to this. You can create either an Internet
connection or a wireless connection by attaching a GSM phone/GSM modem to your
computer. To help you in coming to decision, we have prepared a webpage
for you:
Internet based SMS connections vs. GSM modem based (wireless) SMS connections.
The following prerequisites are needed to be set when you have come to a decision.
Prerequisites for Internet based connection to the
Mobile network
If you decided to connect your system to an SMS service
provider over the Internet you need the following components:
Figure 1/a - Prerequisites for Ozeki NG SMS
Gateway IP SMS connection
You need to find an SMS service provider who can reach the
mobile handsets in your location. Your system will only function if the SMS
service is provided through the Internet. To find the suitable provider, check
our website with a list of them:
SMPP SMS Service providers.
As soon as you have found such a provider, sign up for their service to get
access to connection parameters. With these parameters you can configure Ozeki
NG SMS Gateway software.
Prerequisites for wireless (GSM modem) connection
to the Mobile network
If you decided on connecting to the mobile network
wirelessly, you need a GSM/GPRS modem or GSM phone, that you
can attach to your computer. In this case your Ozeki NG SMS Gateway
software can operate this phone and can send and receive SMS messages
through wireless connection. To setup this solution, you need the
following components:
Figure 1/b - Prerequisites for Ozeki NG SMS
Gateway GSM modem connection
Your checklist (for GSM modem connection):
*The SIM card will come with a plan, that will
determine how much money you will spend on each SMS.
System architecture
How to configure SMS Newsletter in Joomla
To subscribe for SMS Newsletter,the users have to fill in the subscription form
on a Joomla website and select the "Subscribe" option on it. By clicking on the "Save" button
Joomla sends a message to the subscriber's number through Ozeki NG SMS Gateway.
The message sent by Joomla is a welcome message which can be set during the
configuration. Figure 2 demonstrates the process of subscription.
Figure 2 - How to subscribe for SMS Newsletter on Joomla websites
From this time on, the users can subscribe for newsletters in SMS.
If the administrator (or a person who has access to the back-end) enters and
creates a newsletter the Joomla sends out the created newsletters through Ozeki
NG SMS Gateway. The sending process is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3 - How SMS Newsletters are sent to subscribers
Configuration of this solution
To be able to send SMS Newsletters from Joomla with SMS newsletter
component and module please follow the installation steps in this guide and watch
the video tutorial for help.
Installation Steps
Joomla is a CMS (Content Management System) which is used
for web designing by many users. Using Joomla enables you to install and use modules
and components which can help you attracting visitors to your Joomla website. You
can provide services to customers such as SMS Newsletter. With the help of this
SMS Newsletter you can inform your subscibers about recent events, discounts,
sales and news. The SMS Newsletter is a great help to keep in touch with your
clients via sending SMS.
You can configure the SMS Newsletter component and module in
Joomla, by following the installation steps. You are supposed to have installed
both Ozeki NG SMS Gateway (you can find the installer on this page) and Joomla (
it is not necessary to have both installed on the same computer). To install them, you need to log into the
Administrator back-end of Joomla. You can edit and manage your Joomla website
from the back-end. Enter your user name and password and click on the "Login"
button as the example shows in Figure 4.
Figure 4 - Administrator Back-end log in
After entering into the Back-end of Joomla click on the
Extensions menu and select the Install/Uninstall option on the menu. In this
option you can add new modules or remove the ones which you
do not need anymore. You can follow this step in Figure 5.
Figure 5 - Entering the Install/Uninstall option
In the Extension Manager, under the Install tab click on the
"Browse" button on in the Upload Package file section. You can browse among the
files on your computer when you click on it. Find and select the
com_smsnewsletter file on
your computer. This is a component
file which supplements the functioning of Joomla with the SMS Newsletter module.
After selecting it click on the "Upload file & Install" button. You can see the
steps in Figure 6.
Figure 6 - Upload and Install the com_smsnewsletter file
Another file is needed to be installed in the same way as you
have read above. This time browse for the
mod_smsnewsletter module on
your computer as shown in Figure 7. This file is
responsible for displaying the SMS Newsletter subscription form in the front-end.
Figure 7 - Upload and Install the mod_smsnewsletter file
The next step is to click on the Extension Manager and enter the
Manager module as shown in Figure 8. The user can manage the modules and components
in the Module Manager.
Figure 8 - Entering the Manager module option
In the Manager module you can enable other modules as well. To
enable SMS Newsletter Subscription module click on the red cross to turn it into
a green pipe which indicates that the module is enabled (see Figure 9).
Figure 9 - Enabling the SMS Newsletter Subscription module
To configure the module parameters click on the module's name to
edit them. Here you can set Ozeki NG SMS Gateway settings, including the IP address, the HTTP Server port,
the username and the password. Also you can set the parameters for the SMS Newsletter
subscription module such as enabling and disabling subscription and unsubscription
messages and the text of these messages as you can see Figure 10.
Figure 10 - Editing the SMS Newsletter Subscription module
As a result of configuring the SMS Newsletter Subscription
module in the back-end of the Joomla website, the subscribers are enabled to use
a form on the front-end of the Joomla where they can subscribe for the SMS
Newsletter. In the subscription process they need to give their phone number
select the "Subscribe" option and finally click on the "Save settings" button.
The form and the course of subscription can be seen in Figure 11, below.
Figure 11 - Subscribing to SMS Newsletter
Once the subscriber subscribed and the subscription message is
enabled, the preset welcome message is sent automatically by the Ozeki NG SMS
Gateway as shown in Figure 12.
Figure 12 - Automatic response to subscription
The subscribers can unsubscribe similarly as during the subscription
process. They type again their phone numbers but this time they select the
"Unsubscribe" option as you can see in Figure 13.
Figure 13 - Unsubscribing from SMS Newsletter
Again, the Ozeki NG SMS Gateway sends a response SMS (if enabled)
to the phone number acknowledging the unsubscription (see Figure 14).
Figure 14 - Automatic response to unsubscription
You can check the subscribers and unsubscribed users according
to their phone numbers in the Subscriber Management menu, see in Figure 15. To
enter the menu select the Manage Subscribers in the SMS Newsletter menu which you
can find in the Components dropdown menu.
Figure 15 - Subscriber Management
To create a Newsletter click on Manage Newsletter then click on
the "Create" button on the top right side of the menu as shown in Figure 16.
Figure 16 - Create an SMS Newsletter
The content of the message can be given in the Message box
on the left side (see Figure 17), after clicking on the "Create"
button. After entering the Newsletter click on the "Send" button on the top right side of
the menu.
Figure 17 - SMS Newsletter content
After clicking on the "Send" button the SMS Newsletter will appear
in the Manage Newsletter page and the Newsletter will be automatically sent out
to the subscribed users (Figure 18).
Figure 18 - Sent SMS Newsletter in Joomla
The sent SMS Newsletters can also be viewed in your account in Ozeki NG SMS
Gateway (see Figure 19).
Figure 19 - Sent SMS Newsletters in Ozeki NG SMS Gateway
As you have seen, SMS Newsletter component and module are very simple to
configure and use. This guide provided all the necessary information, instructions
to start operating your own SMS Newsletter feature in Joomla. This solution is
suitable for marketing and advertising processes as well as keeping contact with
customers. For further information visit the Related pages and Further readings
below. Thank you for your attention.
Related pages:
Further readings:
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