Overview


"Email Blaster" is functionality for a web site with a list of opt-in email addresses. It allows an administrator to craft a message and send it to a selected portion of the list.

Functional Requirements

Essential:
1. Administrator can compose an email message with
    o headings
      + subject
      + from
      + reply-to
      + special headers
    o body
      + text
      + HTML
      + attached image

2. Administrator can use placeholders (e.g., mail merge fields) in the
   message heading or body, including:
   + user email address
   + user name
   + current date

4. Administrator can create a query which generates a list of
   addresses.  The query can be given an identifying name, stored,
   edited, and used at a later date.  When the query is used, it
   generates a list of matches at the time it is used, not the time it
   is created.  The query can include these match fields:
   + List of topics users have opted in to

7. Administrator can send email to many users by selecting a query and
   message.

8. Administrator can see a preview of outgoing email as it will appear
   to one or more recipients.

10. Administrator can see the results of a sent message, including:
   + number of emails sent
   + number of emails not delivered
   + total time to send email

Non-essential:
3. Administrator can use a WYSIWIG to compose a message body,
   including:
   + fonts
   + colors
   + image attachment and placement

5. System can include one or more pre-build message templates.  When
   an administrator creates a new message, they may choose to begin
   with a copy of one of the templates.

6. Administrators can create new templates, edit templates, and delete
   templates.

9. After administrator sends an email, all failed deliveries are
   recorded in the system by user, so that an Administrator can
   inspect all failures individually or by type of failure, and
   disable email addresses individually or by type.

11. Conversion tracking - additional item for #10. An administrator
    can see the number of recipients who read or took action on an
    email.