If you've ever wanted a reliable way to send out professional html newsletters, instead of attaching a PDF file, here is your chance. UMW.EDU websites are equipped with plugins to help you create great looking html emails, to allow folks to subscribe/unsubscribe, and to manage your mailing lists all in one location. Using the Gravity Forms plugin, and a FREE online service called MailChimp, you can say goodbye to the PDF newsletter and hello to a better way. LEARN HOW> … [Read more...]
Gravity Forms Not Submitting? Check your “Spam” List
April 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment
We just heard from a department that was not receiving emails through its Gravity Forms, and a particular user was not getting a confirmation. It was then discovered that they wound up in the "spam" listing of their forms. If you are concerned about receiving ALL of the entries from your Gravity Forms, be sure to check the spam folder. Here's a tutorial > … [Read more...]
SPAM-BE-GONE! Akismet is Here!
February 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment
We have just installed Akismet on the Wordpress umw.edu server. What does this mean? Well, we have been using a free spam-filtering tool called TypePad Anti-Spam. While it works, its functionality left a lot to be desired: false positives and tons of emails in your inbox. At the time we launched the new UMW.EDU site, Akismet, the premier spam-fighting tool for Wordpress, was becoming prohibitively expensive. Thanks to a revolt by higher education institutions (our own Jim Groom being among the most vocal), Akismet lowered its costs to something we can all manage. Full disclosure: The fee for the University is now only $550/year. So, you should be receiving far fewer spams in your in-box. What reaches your in-box should be largely REAL emails. But, you'll still want to check your site to make sure you're not missing anything. To do so, simply check your Comments on the left-hand side of your site. This will give you a list of comments that have come in. Those in yellow are likely … [Read more...]
Making the UMW Web Site Easier to Use
October 18, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Based on input we've received about difficulties in adjusting to the new site, we have made the following enhancements: Resources Page Icon Toolbar is Back! The toolbar of icons on the "Resources for Students, Faculty, and Staff" page is back. It is still in the Helpful Links, but enough people let us know they missed it in this location, so, it's now restored. You can see it at: http://umw.edu/resources Directory is Back! The People Search directory is also back in its old location. You can get to it from the icon toolbar bar in the Helpful Links OR in the icon toolbar now on the Resources page. See it at: http://umw.edu/directory Two New Icons on Toolbar In both icon toolbar locations, we have added icons on the right, linking you to the Directory and to Forms and Documents in the Document Repository. The Document Repository is a new feature where you can search for all UMW forms in a single place without having to go to department sites to find them. This should … [Read more...]
