Subscriber functionality is provided by the Subscribe2 Plugin. It includes functions to build a list of subscriber email addresses, allow users to subscribe to, and unsubscribe from the email list, and distribute notifications of Posts to subscribers.

Go to Dashboard Subscribe2 – Settings to manage the Subscribe2 settings. There are a number of tabs, and the current settings are as follows:

Email Settings: These settings control the sending of emails by the system. They are set so it will send you a notification whenever anyone subscribes or unsubscribes. Email notifications of new posts are sent twice daily (if there are new posts), and are from the Post Author. This will be the Display name publicly as name set up by each author in his Profile.

Templates: These templates define the emails that are sent by the system to notify a new post, request confirmation of a subscription request, and a reminder to unconfirmed users. The only change to the default format is to hardwire the URL of Standard Template into the notification email. This will need to be updated to your site URL. You are free to amend the rest of the text if you wish.

Registered Users: A list of your current Registered subscribers can be obtained from Dashboard – Subscribe2 – Subscribers, and selecting the Registered Subscribers tab. The only option of interest on this page is the second from last option, to place a subscribe option on the Comment form. This set to Yes, Before the Comment Submit Button.

Appearance: These settings control where the Subscribe tools appear. The three that are checked are: 

• Show the Subscribe2 button on the Write toolbar. This gives the option, when writing a Post, to suppress the sending of an email.
• Enable Subscribe2 widget. This widget is then placed in the sidebar where it provides a Subscribe / Unsubscribe interface.
• Enable Subscribe2 Counter widget. This widget can then be placed in the sidebar where it displays the number of subscribed users.

Miscellaneous: This area has some useful links, and an area to enter domains you wish to bar for public subscriptions.

In addition to Settings the Subscribe2 submenu has three other items:

Your Subscriptions: This allows you to manage your own subscriptions. If you continue with the preset option to send notifications emails twice daily, you only have the option to turn them on and off. However if emails are sent for individual Posts then you can control what is received by Post Category. Only one Post Category is defined in the initial setup. This is called Post, and is the default category for all Posts. New Categories can be added from Dashboard Post – Categories.

Subscribers: This page provides lists of your Registered and Public Subscribers. Initially you and the gbp-team will be the only Registered Users listed, but if you allow users to register and login to your site, or you appoint a co-administrator, or additional Post authors, this list will grow. 

You can perform bulk actions such as add and delete subscribers, and for public subscribers you can toggle between confirmed and unconfirmed.

Send Email: Here you can compose an email and send it to any combination of public and registered subscribers, and users.