Step by Step Guide to Building an EmailOctopus API Integration in Ruby

Aug 16, 2024 • 4 minute read

Introduction

Hey there, fellow Ruby enthusiast! Ready to supercharge your email marketing game? Let's dive into integrating EmailOctopus API using the nifty email_octopus gem. This powerhouse combo will have you managing lists and campaigns like a pro in no time.

Prerequisites

Before we jump in, make sure you've got:

A Ruby environment that's good to go
An EmailOctopus account with an API key in hand

Got those? Great! Let's roll.

Installation

First things first, let's get that gem installed:

gem install email_octopus

Easy peasy, right?

Configuration

Now, let's set up our API client. It's as simple as:

require 'email_octopus'

client = EmailOctopus::Client.new(api_key: 'your_api_key_here')

Boom! You're connected and ready to rock.

Basic Operations

Creating a List

Let's start by creating a shiny new list:

new_list = client.lists.create(name: 'My Awesome List')

Adding a Contact

Got a list? Let's populate it:

client.lists.add_contact(
  list_id: new_list['id'],
  email_address: '[email protected]',
  fields: { FirstName: 'Awesome', LastName: 'Fan' }
)

Retrieving Contacts

Want to see who's on your list? No sweat:

contacts = client.lists.contacts(list_id: new_list['id'])

Advanced Operations

Updating Contact Info

People change, and so can their info:

client.lists.update_contact(
  list_id: new_list['id'],
  contact_id: 'contact_id_here',
  fields: { FirstName: 'Super', LastName: 'Fan' }
)

Removing Contacts

Sometimes you gotta say goodbye:

client.lists.remove_contact(list_id: new_list['id'], contact_id: 'contact_id_here')

Creating and Sending Campaigns

Time to spread the word:

campaign = client.campaigns.create(
  name: 'My First Campaign',
  subject: 'Check this out!',
  from: { name: 'Your Name', email_address: '[email protected]' },
  content: { html: '<h1>Hello, World!</h1>' }
)

client.campaigns.send(campaign_id: campaign['id'])

Error Handling

The API might throw a curveball, so be ready:

begin
  # Your API call here
rescue EmailOctopus::Error => e
  puts "Oops! #{e.message}"
end

Best Practices

Mind the rate limits! EmailOctopus isn't a fan of spam.
Batch operations are your friend for efficiency.

Testing

Don't forget to test your integration:

require 'minitest/autorun'

class TestEmailOctopusIntegration < Minitest::Test
  def test_create_list
    # Your test code here
  end
end

Conclusion

And there you have it! You're now an EmailOctopus wrangler. Remember, the official docs are your best friend for diving deeper.

Now go forth and conquer those email campaigns! 🐙📧