Script to reward X th visitor to our site

amax

Hi Everyone, we have recently launched a new website design and I am looking to reward say the 4000th new visitor to our site with a DVD. (we already have google analytics installed if that helps)
Ideally I would like some sort of javascript or PHP script that presents a pop up to the user when they are visitor number 4000 to enter their name, address and postal details. Can anyone help me with this. I have did a few googles but have no idea what this type of script is called. I have some basic PHP skills but sort of lost where to start after reading my PHP beginners book

bpat1434

Well, you could do it one of two ways.

Use a database
You could create a small mysql database just to keep a counter of the number of visitors that have been through your site. Just add a row with dummy data in it (like their IP). You can do a quick count of the rows to see how many have been there and if they would be #4000, then show the prompt.

Text Files
You could use text-files to do the counter as well. Except instead of storing the ips and counting the number of records, you could just keep a number in the file. Increment that number with each visitor. If you wanted to get really intricate, you could impose file locking so that multiple visitors don't see the pop-up.

amax

I love the idea of a text file, so so simple, thank you. I was playing about with cookies there the other day and got the prompt working for say when a user visited the site ten times from their own machine, but not for unique users.
Is there any thing out there that lets you hook into google analytics itself?

djjjozsi

its a better way to store the ip's into a database, its easier to make an auto increment field,
a field which is unique. When you ask from the winner the contact information, you can set in that database a field "email_sent", then the winner won't see the winner message after sent the email.

here you can find a code, which is very similar what you search. After you test that you really win, drop that table, and re create it.

http://phpcode.hu/winner/code.rar

hello,

jjozsi

bpat1434

I don't think there's an API for GA right now. ( GA FAQ )

But I did find this: No Google Analytics API? No Problem

amax

djjjozsi, thank you so much for the link, worked a treat. You guys are great.

Thats a very interesting write up on the no analytics API. My background is mainly design / multimedia, and for blogs I have become very proficient with Drupal, using Views to display most popular posts in a blog. Interesting seeing it done like that. Drupal is whats introduced me to PHP which im slowly learning to love, this being the first PHP forum I have ever joined. Thanks again for the help guys.