Looking to grow your email list and generate more leads from your WordPress website? One of the most effective tactics is to add strategically placed opt-in forms that entice visitors to subscribe.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about creating opt-in forms in WordPress that are optimized to drive conversions. From selecting the right tool to designing an irresistible offer, you‘ll learn expert tips to supercharge your list building efforts.
But first, let‘s briefly discuss why building an email list is so critical for bloggers and businesses.
The Power of Email Marketing
Did you know that email marketing delivers an impressive ROI of $36 for every $1 spent? That‘s higher than any other digital marketing channel.
Growing an email list allows you to:
- Drive repeat traffic to your website
- Promote your latest content, products, services, and offers
- Build deeper relationships with your audience
- Own your contacts (unlike social media followers)
- Ultimately generate more leads and revenue
The key to unlocking these benefits is to consistently attract new email subscribers. That‘s where opt-in forms come into play.
An opt-in form is simply a sign-up form that promises to deliver something of value to the visitor, such as a newsletter, lead magnet, coupon code, webinar, or free trial. When used effectively, opt-in forms can dramatically boost your conversion rates.
Best WordPress Opt-In Form Plugins in 2024
To create opt-in forms in WordPress, you‘ll need a dedicated plugin. While there are dozens available, not all are equal in terms of features, ease of use, and performance.
Here are our top picks for the best opt-in form WordPress plugins as of 2023:
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Thrive Leads – This powerful conversion optimization toolkit makes it easy to create a variety of opt-in form types and run A/B tests to maximize sign-ups. It also integrates with most email marketing services.
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OptinMonster – Another top solution for creating high-converting opt-in forms and popups. It offers an intuitive drag and drop builder, advanced targeting and trigger options, and seamless integration with WordPress.
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ConvertPro – Provides a wide selection of customizable form templates along with robust testing, targeting, and personalization features to optimize lead generation.
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Mailchimp for WordPress – The official Mailchimp plugin allows you to easily add opt-in forms to your WordPress site and grow your Mailchimp lists.
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Sumo – This popular plugin offers an array of lead capture forms, including welcome mats, popups, and inline forms, plus ecommerce tools like coupons and discounts.
While we believe these are among the best options, the right choice for you will depend on your specific needs and budget. For this guide, we‘ll provide a step-by-step tutorial using Thrive Leads.
How to Create an Opt-In Form in WordPress with Thrive Leads
Follow these steps to quickly create a high-converting opt-in form on your WordPress site using Thrive Leads:
Step 1: Install and Activate Thrive Leads
First, purchase a Thrive Leads license and download the plugin. Then upload the plugin to your WordPress site and activate it under the "Plugins" menu.
Step 2: Create a New Opt-In Form
Navigate to the Thrive Leads dashboard and click "Add New Form." Choose a form type, such as an inline form, lightbox popup, ribbon, or screen filler. Next, select a template from the gallery and give your form a name.
Step 3: Customize Your Opt-In Form
Use the visual drag and drop editor to fully customize the look and copy of your form to match your brand and offer. You can modify the layout, colors, fonts, images, and more. Ensure your opt-in copy clearly articulates the value of your offer and includes a prominent call-to-action.
Step 4: Integrate with Your Email Marketing Service
Connect your form to your email marketing service of choice, such as Mailchimp, ConvertKit, AWeber, or ActiveCampaign. Thrive Leads supports direct integrations with dozens of popular providers. Simply enter your API key to start syncing new subscribers.
Step 5: Configure Form Targeting and Triggers
Set up targeting to control exactly where and when your forms will appear. You can display them on specific posts or pages, to certain categories of visitors, and based on time on site, scroll depth, and more. Use triggers like exit intent to capture visitors as they‘re about to leave.
Step 6: Monitor Your Conversion Rates
Keep an eye on your opt-in form conversion rates over time to see what‘s working. Thrive Leads provides detailed reporting and insights to help you track your lead generation efforts. Use this data to run A/B tests and optimize your highest performing forms.
By following these steps, you can create professional and effective opt-in forms in WordPress without any coding required.
9 Tips to Create Irresistible Opt-In Forms That Convert
Simply adding an opt-in form to your site isn‘t enough. To maximize sign-ups, you need to craft a compelling and valuable offer. Here are 9 tips to create opt-in forms that convert:
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Offer a specific, relevant and high-value incentive. Give visitors a reason to hand over their email, such as an ebook, checklist, discount code, template, or free course.
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Craft an attention-grabbing headline. Your opt-in form headline is like a mini-advertisement for your offer. Make sure it clearly communicates the benefit and inspires action.
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Keep the form fields minimal. Limit your form to 2-3 fields max, typically name and email. Asking for too much information too soon can hurt conversions.
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Use engaging visuals. Include an eye-catching image or video that complements your copy and illustrates your offer.
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Leverage social proof. Incorporate testimonials, big brands, or subscriber count to boost trust and credibility.
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Create urgency. Use scarcity and urgent language to motivate visitors to act now, such as "Only 100 spots available!"
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Remove distractions. Eliminate or minimize navigation links and competing calls-to-action around your form to keep visitors focused.
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Make it mobile-friendly. Ensure your forms look great and function seamlessly on smaller screens, as mobile traffic continues to climb.
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A/B test everything. From your copy to your design to your targeting, run split tests to see what resonates most with your unique audience.
Remember, what works for one site may not work for another. Continually experiment with your opt-in forms to find the highest converting combination for your business.
Beyond Opt-In Forms: More Ways to Grow Your Email List with WordPress
Adding opt-in forms to your site is an essential foundation for building your email list. But don‘t stop there. Here are other effective tactics to attract subscribers:
- Create a "Subscribe" page on your site to direct interested visitors
- Add a checkbox opt-in to your blog comment forms, account registrations or checkout pages
- Promote a contest or giveaway that requires an email to enter
- Host a free webinar or challenge and require an email to access
- Create shareable content upgrades, checklists or cheat sheets that capture emails
- Leverage paid ads to drive targeted leads to a dedicated landing page
- Partner with other businesses in your niche to promote your list
- Offer referral incentives and encourage existing subscribers to spread the word
The key to growing a thriving email list is to make subscribing an easy choice for your visitors. Once you have their email, you need to uphold your end of the bargain by providing valuable, relevant content that nurtures the relationship over time.
Final Thoughts
Building an engaged email list is one of the most valuable assets you can create for your business or blog. With a single broadcast, you can instantly drive traffic, generate leads, and make sales.
Opt-in forms are key to capturing emails from your website visitors. By using a tool like Thrive Leads and implementing the tips outlined in this guide, you can start growing your list from day one.
Remember, list building is a long-term strategy, not a one-time tactic. By focusing on providing a great experience for your subscribers, you can unlock the full potential of email marketing.
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