Hey everyone,
I’m trying to make it easier for people to share my website through email. The problem is, asking users to type in email addresses one by one is a real pain. Nobody wants to do that.
Does anyone know of a free tool I can add to my site that lets users connect to their email accounts like Yahoo, Hotmail, or Gmail? Ideally, it would allow them to pick contacts and send emails directly from my website.
Right now, I’ve got a basic email feature that only lets people enter addresses manually. It’s not very user-friendly.
Any suggestions would be super helpful! Thanks in advance.
hey charlottew, have u tried mailchimp? they got a free tier that might work 4 u. it lets ppl import contacts from diff email providers and send messages. not sure if it embeds on ur site tho. maybe worth checkin out? good luck with ur project!
I’ve actually implemented something similar using the Google People API. It’s free and relatively straightforward to set up if you’re comfortable with a bit of coding. You’ll need to register your app with Google and handle OAuth 2.0 authentication, but once that’s done, users can securely import their Gmail contacts.
One caveat: you’ll need to go through Google’s verification process if you want to make it available to all users, not just testers. This can take some time and effort, but it’s worth it for the seamless integration.
Remember to be transparent about data usage and provide clear opt-out options. Users are understandably cautious about granting access to their contacts, so building trust is crucial.
If you’re not keen on coding, some form builders like JotForm offer contact import features in their paid plans. Might be worth exploring as your project grows.
I’ve had success using OpenInviter for a similar project. It’s an open-source PHP script that allows users to import contacts from various email providers and social networks. While it requires some technical setup on your end, it’s free and can be integrated directly into your website. Just be aware that you’ll need to keep it updated to maintain compatibility with different email services, as their APIs can change. Also, make sure to clearly communicate to users how their data will be used and stored to comply with privacy regulations.