Track open rate for HTML emails?

[nelsonic]

As a data-driven product owner/manager/developer I want the ability to track open rates for emails So that I know that the emails I am sending are being read.

Todo

• [x] Repurpose the code from Hits https://github.com/dwyl/hits
• [x] Create endpoint for tracking
  • [x] Get request should include unique identifier
  • [x] Unique identifier should be stored in the DB and sent to Lambda so it can be included in the template that gets sent.

[nelsonic]

Possibly use Google Analytics: http://dyn.com/blog/tracking-email-opens-via-google-analytics/ ?

[nelsonic]

Solution: https://www.campaignmonitor.com/blog/email-marketing/2010/06/adding-background-images-to-your-email-in-two-simple-steps/

[nelsonic]

I acknowledge that email tracking can be seen as an erosion of privacy if the data ends up in the wrong hands or is used for nefarious purposes: https://www.wired.com/story/how-email-open-tracking-quietly-took-over-the-web

Our sole intention is to track if our communications are effective. Our objective is to build a great product and we need to know people are engaging in feedback. We definitely won't be sending pointless vanity emails the way most "social networks" do to force people to click to then spend hours on their irredeemable time suck.

If people aren't receiving our emails then we have no way of knowing if what we are doing is working. If people aren't opening our emails then we know we are either sending too many or they aren't relevant to the recipients.

[nelsonic]

Open rate tracking working:

[nelsonic]

Try it: https://phemail.herokuapp.com

Guess who person_id 2 is ... 😉

[nelsonic]

Made a quick video of the demo of open tracking working: https://youtu.be/yflPSotYd9Y

[nelsonic]