How it Works
The standard method of implementing Quick Subscribe links, per GovDelivery’s setup guidelines, has been to place a colorful graphic advertising the service in a prime location on each page. The graphic is a link that spawns a popup that begins the subscription process. A good example can be seen below:
This continues to be a viable option. There is another, complementary method that some of our clients are using today. We refer to it as direct sign up. It can be used as a lone subscription method or alongside existing subscription links. The benefit of using this approach is the likelihood of higher subscription rates. We have seen rates up to 80% higher once a client offers subscriptions via direct sign up.
When signing up via this method, the subscriber simply enters an email address in a form field located on the originating page, i.e. your website, and clicks a submit button to complete the subscription process. The subscription screens all spawn in the same window and, when done, the browser is redirected back to the originating page. The subscriber is then able to resume browsing your website.
Below are examples from current clients.
NASA
DisabilityInfo.gov
Implementing Direct Sign Up
Embedding the GovDelivery direct sign up form on your web pages is extremely easy. It requires one JavaScript file and the inclusion of an HTML form on the corresponding page. The parameters of both can be changed to allow site visitors to access the Quick Subscribe (QS) or their subscriber preferences page.
Following this paragraph is the JavaScript code. Each of our clients must modify this script to match their specific client data. An explanation on how this is done will follow.
function quicksubscribe() {
window.location = "http://service.govdelivery.com/service/multi_subscribe.html?code=GOVDELIVERY_CLIENT_CODE&login=" + document.govdelivery.email.value + "&origin=" + window.location.href;
}
function profile() {
window.location = "http:// service.govdelivery.com/service/user.html?code=GOVDELIVERY_CLIENT_CODE&login=" + document.govdelivery.email.value + "&origin=" + window.location.href;
}
The above code should be copied and pasted into a JavaScript file (ending in extension .js). Each instance of GOVDELIVERY_CLIENT_CODE will need to be replaced with your client code, as assigned by your client services representative at GovDelivery. If you are unsure of what that is, please contact GovDelivery Client Services at help@govdelivery.com or 800-314-0147.
Once the codes are replaced and the file is saved, you must link to it from every web page that includes a direct sign up form. For example, if the JavaScript file is named “govdelivery.js”, you would include the following code within the
tags of all your pages that include the direct sign up form:<script type=”javascript” language=”text/javascript” src=”govdelivery.js”></script>
The location to which the src attribute points for the file will depend on where it is stored on your web servers.
The last step is to embed the form on your pages. There are two different instances of the form, one for single topic subscriptions and one for accessing the subscriber preferences page.
As we recommend with any subscription links, good placement is key. The direct sign up form should be placed in a prominent location on each page, near the top. This “above the fold” placement is a GovDelivery best practice and will lead directly to a higher subscription rate.
The basic code for each of the forms follows.
Quick Subscribe Form
<form name="govdelivery" action="" onsubmit="quicksubscribe(); return false;">
<p><input type="text" id="Email" name="email" value="Enter Email" onfocus="this.value=''"></p>
<p><input type="submit" name="subscribe_button" value="Submit"></p>
</form>
Subscriber Preferences Page
<form name="govdelivery" action="" onsubmit="profile(); return false;">
<p><input type="text" id="Email" name="email" value="Enter Email" onfocus="this.value=''"></p>
<p><input type="submit" name="subscribe_button" value="Submit"></p>
</form>
The code above is a very basic implementation with no styling applied. These versions will render very similarly to the DisabilityInfo.gov example earlier. Feel free to modify the code to match the style of your website, as NASA did on theirs.
Conclusion
Direct sign up is easy to implement and nicely complements the traditional GovDelivery subscription model. Integrating these forms should take no more time or effort than posting the standard GovDelivery subscription links and graphics. However, if you do require any assistance in this process, please feel free to contact GovDelivery Client Services at help@govdelivery.com or 800-314-0147.
