nuevo Campaign Scheduler is an add-on for nuevoMailer
Uses the Cron feature of Linux (found also in other flavors of Unix-like operating systems like Mac OS X).
Also possible to use on Windows servers (check the requirements).
Administration is done from the admin panel of nuevoMailer.
Besides scheduling campaigns to run in the future it facilitates features of nuevoMailer (like automatic sending of birthday newsletters, follow-ups and more).
It supports recurrentcampaigns. This is a unique concept pioneered in the scheduler of Newsletter Manager Pro. It means that as soon as a campaign is completed, a new one is created automatically to be executed in the future after the period you specify.
Very easy: you only set one cron job. The script then checks and prioritizes the campaigns. It can "see" if the sending is still in progress and stop and wait. In case of failure it will start again on the next cron hit.
It creates a log file where every step about its operation is documented.
Host server considerations
Shared hosting environment
Most Linux shared hosting plans provide cron access and a user friendly interface to set up cron jobs (control panels like Cpanel).
Some hosts however may limit you on the number of cron jobs you can set-up. So depending on your needs (frequency of mailings etc) you may want to ask your host for details.
if you are running your own dedicated server then you are fine.
For Windows servers we provide an application that works as a Windows service. You can read more in the requirements.
You want to send a newsletter/campaign once at a given date/time in the future.
Create a new campaign
Create a scheduler task for this campaign and set the activation date/time that you want the sending to start
You may use the batch sending option: select "Send in batches and repeat until completed". Example: send 1000, wait 1 hour and so on.
Or use the "Send all messages at once” option.
Periodic or recurrent mailings
You regularly send a newsletter to your list(s). Suppose that you send a weekly newsletter to a list and you want to schedule this activity.
Create a new campaign
Create a scheduler task for this campaign and set the activation date/time that you want the sending to start
Under recurrence settings, you check the "Recurrent event” checkbox and you say for example: repeat every week (1 / week).
You may also use batch settings for this task if you need to do so.
Send Birthday newsletters automatically
With nuevoMailer you can create a custom sign-up form that asks subscribers to enter their birthday. You may also import this info from another database when importing your subscribers. The steps are:
Create a newsletter.
Create a birthday filter: Menu > Filters > Create new > Create a birthday filter.
Create a new campaign that uses the birthday filter and the birthday newsletter.
Schedule this campaign and make the task recurrent (to repeat every day).
Let the cron take care of the rest. It will execute the campaign, automatically create a new campaign for the next day and so on.
Automatic follow-ups by subscription dates (auto-responders)
This is the classic scenario when a subscriber signs-up for your newsletter and you want to follow-up with ongoing newsletters at specific dates after the subscription. You can fully automate this process in the following way.
Suppose you want to send a newsletter on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, Xth day after the day one subscribed.
Create 3 newsletters each one for a specific day.
Create 3 filters for these days: Menu > Filter+ > Follow-up by date subscribed.
Create 3 campaigns that use these newsletters and filters.
Schedule these campaigns and make the tasks recurrent (to repeat every day in this case).
The scheduler will execute these campaigns daily and it will send the newsletters only to the subscribers that match the filter criterion (example Xth day after subscription).
Since these tasks are recurrent the scheduler will automatically create new campaigns to run the next day and so on.
This is much more than a simple trigger or an auto-responder => you have complete campaigns with statistics and reports.
Benefits
By setting a cron job and scheduling your campaigns you don’t have to be in front of your computer to start a new mailing.
Even if the sending fails or the server is re-started it will start again next time the cron ticks and continue from where it stopped.
You can put your periodic mailings in auto-pilot. You create a recurrent scheduler task and then you can work on your newsletter and have it ready just before the sending date.
By applying batch settings for a task you ease the load on the server and spread the mailing over time.
Features & Operation
There is a set up guide included in the download package. Basically it involves two tasks; upload some files, set a cron job at your server.
The steps for a scheduled mailing are shown in the pictures below.
- In your nuevoMailer create a new campaign.
- Then create a "scheduler task": Menu > Tools > Campaign scheduler > Create a new task.
- This is the screen you will see:
You select a campaign as well as the date and time that you want the sending to start.
When you want to send your newsletters in batches you must also define the number of messages in the batch and the pause period. The batch settings that you define for the scheduler task are completely independent from the ones used in manual mailings (which you set in your nuevoMailer configuration page).
Recurrence settings: you may set the task as recurrent. Meaning that it is repeated at regular intervals. In this case the scheduler will automatically create a new campaign (after the first completes).
This picture shows all your "Scheduler tasks". When the scheduler runs it automatically updates the values "Date last completed" and "Last execution from scheduler". Your campaigns table is automatically updated in real time.
Support, Installation & Updates
We can provide a free installation for you if needed. Installation means uploading a few files. By having access to your control panel we can also set up a cron job.
