One of the most frequently asked questions of other website owners and clients that I get is how can increase my subscribers.
Seeing as Facebook keeps changing its sharing algorithms for those who once relied solely on Facebook to share their content, now we are seeing a trend for good old subscription services once again on the incline.
My first response is to make sure to have the ways for subscribers to subscribe clearly stated and in plain sight.
Nothing is worse or more of a turnoff, then having to search for a hidden or buried subscription signup form for potential subscribers.
So, how can you make signing up easier and more attractive for subscribers?
Well, one thing that website owners can do is to use a subscription service like MailChimp for their newsletters and post updates. Once you have a subscription service account, then you will want to be able to send newsletters/new article updates out to your subscribers. I know this could be overwhelming for some to setup and do offer services to help with this if you are indeed unsure.
But if you are able to setup your own subscription account or have one setup already, then the next step would be to have clearcut ways for readers to subscribe to your updates.
In this vain, I recently found a WordPress plugin (yes you have to be self-hosting on WordPress to use this), created by MailMunch that gives website owners a few different options to increase subscribers. If you have and/or use MailChimp, Constant Contact, AWeber, Infusionsoft, GetResponse, or Campaign Monitor, you can easily integrate this plugin to your WordPress site.
I tried a few others before I happily settled on this subscription signup form plugin and wanted to share more about it here.
It is honestly so easy to install and setup (However, if you are having any trouble, you can totally reach out to me and can hire me to help). Once the plugin is indeed installed though, you will be walked through the setup process and asked to login into your e-mail subscription service account, such as MailChimp, so that your account can be accessed by the plugin.
They have different account plan levels, but I have found that using the FREE version works perfectly fine and haven’t had any need to upgrade to a paid account.
This subscription plugin allows you to 5 different optin forms to use on your site. You can use one, two, three, four or all five, if you choose. But still each is unique in its own way and truly can help further increase your subscribers count.
The 5 Ways to Increase Subscribers with MailMunch:
1. Topbar Subscription Optin for Subscribers:
This is a toolbar that is located at the very top of your website and the first piece of information that can be seen by your readers. So, it is truly the first order of business when a reader finds your site.
2. Embedded Subscription Optin for Subscribers:
The embedded optin allows you to showcase a subscription signup form below each and every article post content. So in essence, as the TopBar was the first call to action this is the last, before the comments section on your site. This is a great option, because if a new reader does indeed like what they just read, they can signup once they have just finished reading your article.
3. PopOver Subscription Optin for Subscribers:
The PopOver displays for readers even before they can access your content. So, this call to action is truly the strongest (in my eyes) and gives the sign up option immediately before even entering your site on any device including, mobile and/or desktop/laptop.
4. Scrollbox Subscription Optin for Subscribers:
Like the PopOver, this appears right as your reader enters your site, but it stays put as they scroll down your site on the side of your site. You can decide the location that works best for you, but still it is to the side and essentially scrolls as the reader is reading your content. Another great option, in my opinion, and the call to subscribe is hard to forget when it is right there as they are reading along with your article.
5. Sidebar Subscription Optin for Subscribers:
The sidebar has become downplayed, since most sites have opted for mobile ready viewing, but still make no mistake having a signup in your sidebar is still valid on desktops/laptops and can still be viewed on mobile devices, as well. Might not be as noticeable or as high of a priority as the PopOver or Scrollbox, but still think it is always a plus to have a place for readers to opt in for your updates in your website sidebar and love that this MailMunch has this option.
So, there you have 5 surefire ways to help increase your subscribers on your WordPress self-hosted website, thanks to MailMunch plugin.
Popping over from the Pretty Pintastic Party. What an awesome article! It is full of great tips and useful information, thanks for sharing 🙂![My Profile](https://j9designs.net/wp-content/plugins/commentluv/images/littleheartplus.png)
Sharon Rowe recently posted…5 Tips For Choosing The Right Bank Account
Very happy to share and definitely have to tell you since starting to use have added quite a few new subscribers this way. So,I hope you can try this real soon 😉
Yes, I do. 🙂
Kim, I am so with you as you can tell and love getting more subscribers, too 😉
Slow and steady wins the race?? I feel like nothing is working right now… FB, subscriptions, guest posting… It’s okay though, I’ll keep slogging on.
Lauren, I know the feeling, but anything that I can do to help, I am still all for 😉
Yes! I think we are all always looking for more subscribers. Thanks for the tips!
My pleasure, Tracie 😉
Great tips! I pinned it!
Thank you so much for pinning 😉
I finally placed a pop-up to try and increase my email subscribers. 🙂 Better late, than never I guess. These are all great tips. I’ve probably neglected my e-mail subscription list way too much. I’m actually getting a few new email subscribers from my sign-up form on my FB page. I was pleasantly surprised. Thanks for sharing this wonderful info at the Pretty Pintastic Party.![My Profile](https://j9designs.net/wp-content/plugins/commentluv/images/littleheartplus.png)
Alli recently posted…Pretty Pintastic Party 46
So happy I could share and I totally neglected this for a bit myself, but so happy I could find a way to indeed help add subscribers 😉
Excellent ideas! I’ve found the pop up on our landing page to be the best so far!
Michelle, I totally agree and thank you
I moved my wordpress.com to a self hosted and now nothing… I used to get a reasonable amount….. wish I had not moved… cant’ wait to read!
Lisa, did you transfer your subscribers? If you didn’t that might be why you are having this issue.
yes… i have an email list….. I am missing the wordpress.com community that tends to read/like/comment…… My blogs are going out to my subscribers but hard to reach new people and now they are not getting any comments or likes……
You may want to try a service like Mailchimp and send out newsletters even weekly to remind your subscribers, too.
yes, I use mailchimp….. perhaps I have to check the settings and see if “liking” or commeting is easy enough…. maybe they are reading the post in email and never actually make it to my site??? I still have a free wordpress account for another blog topic and it gets new likes/commments etcc…… just by being in that community
On another note…. do you know if I can repost old blog posts on my new site… do I have to change title as to not aggrevate the SEO giants?????
Check to make sure that you are using post excerpts not full posts. And yes you can totally republish and even put a small not on top that it was originally published on this date, but republishing with edits or just as is.
thanks for your help!!!
Happy to help
Thanks, these are great!
Thanks Jennifer
Didn’t know I could do this on WordPress! 🙂
So glad I shared then and hope you try this out
Lol there is probably more I didn’t know I could do to be honest but I’m looking it over right now thanks to that article!
Yay and seriously so happy that you are learning a bit more from my article this morning!!
I can always use a few new tips!
Yay and happy to share some new tops with you!!
Great tips, Janine!
Thanks, Crystal!!
Thanks for sharing! My newsletter is totally slacking
My pleasure and totally happy to help
Good tips–I’m going to pin this one. 🙂
Thank you for pinning!!
Janine,
Your posts are always so helpful. I have been using MadMiMi for my newsletter and really like it. I am going to see if I can find a plugin popup that will work with it. I have been meaning to ask you if your popup has been helpful.
Thanks for sharing!
Diane Roark
Diane, again let me know and almost positive that Mail Munch itself is compatible with Mad Mimi. And thank you again 🙂
i’ve just started working on building my list. off to read these tips!
Awesome and hope this helps, Lindsay 😉
This is so incredibly helpful! I am just now working on mailchimp and trying to navigate subscribers. So 2 isn’t alot right?! Thank you!![My Profile](https://j9designs.net/wp-content/plugins/commentluv/images/littleheartplus.png)
Kristen recently posted…Why She Still Walks – And How To Protect Our Kids
Kristen, two is better than none and I love MailChimp. If you need any help, please feel free to ask me 😉
I need SOOOOO much help with this! Thank you!
So happy that I could help you, Kristen with this 😉
Newsletters are an untapped resource for many bloggers
Reesa, I couldn’t agree more!! 🙂
Great tips!
Thanks Robyn 🙂
Great tips!
Thanks Marci!! 😉
Bookmarking and pinning. I so don’t get the newsletter thing
Thank you for pinning and if you need any help, you can always ask me!! 😉
I’ve been trying Mad Mimi. I think I’m going to switch, b/c it only allows one style of form, unless you pay for it.![My Profile](https://j9designs.net/wp-content/plugins/commentluv/images/littleheartplus.png)
The Imp recently posted…Hands Off The Sweat Pants, Eva Mendes
I switched from Mad Mimi awhile back as I was getting a ton of spam subscribers and not true subscribers for some reason. I love MailChimp and think they really are one of the best subscription companies out there.
Which plugin do you use for the topbar and pop up?
I use Mail Munch for any and all of these 😉
I’ll totally keep that in mind. One day, I’ll hire someone to do this. Just as soon as I win lotto. *sigh*
When you do win the lotto, hire me and will totally hook you up!! 😉
Abso. Until then, I toil in obscurity. *cries*
LOL!! Trust me the lotto isn’t hitting here any day soon either!
I’ve been wondering how to get a topbar for subscriptions! I should have known to ask you. Thanks! 🙂
You are so welcome and so happy that this helped you, Denise!! 😉
GREAT post and terrific information Janine! Thank you for sharing your incredible knowledge with us. Carrie, A Mother’s Shadow
Thank you Carrie and totally my pleasure 😉
I think this plug in would actually be a better solution than what I am currently doing. So thank you!! Gonna try it out this weekend.
So happy and let me know how it works for you, Jill 🙂
I never really put much time or energy into worrying about an email list. Maybe I should?
Robin, I fought it for awhile myself, but now I am seeing the light so to speak on this 😉
I have something on my sidebar, but maybe I need to look into a better way to be more visible with this!! Thanks so much for sharing your expertise, my friend!!![My Profile](https://j9designs.net/wp-content/plugins/commentluv/images/littleheartplus.png)
Chris Carter recently posted…Preparing our Youth for the Online World
You are so welcome, Chris and truly so happy to help you!! 😉
You have very helpful posts here and we thank you for it!! 🙂![My Profile](https://j9designs.net/wp-content/plugins/commentluv/images/littleheartplus.png)
Christy Birmingham recently posted…25 Fascinating Facts about World Poetry Day 2015
Thank you Christy and totally my pleasure 😉
Thanks for the info. I’ve been struggling with this recently. Probably because I’m still on wordpress.com but I’m switching to self hosted, right now in fact. 🙂
Katrina, glad to pass the info along and if you need any help transferring, please feel free to reach out me.
Thanks so much for sharing! Pinning!![My Profile](https://j9designs.net/wp-content/plugins/commentluv/images/littleheartplus.png)
Heather @ My Overflowing Cup recently posted…How Our Lives Are Like Good Friday
Thank you, too!!
Thanks for this information! I just signed up with mail chimp this past week and I’m now working on getting subscribers. I’m a little concern though because when I signed up using my email it came back saying that with changes that yahoo has made that if using yahoo or Gmail your newsletters may go to spam folders.
Thanks again for the informations. Pinning!
Happy to pass this info along and if you have any other questions, please feel free to ask and would be more than happy to help!
I’ve moved my subscribe button around a lot but I don’t think I’ve ever had in the announcement bar. I’ve used the announcement bar to announce a special for The Christopher Chronicles and one time I think that’s what you could click to get to the home page but then I disabled it. I just put it back to see how it would look on the mobile device and it looks decent so we’ll see how that works. 😉![My Profile](https://j9designs.net/wp-content/plugins/commentluv/images/littleheartplus.png)
Kenya G. Johnson recently posted…That moment when you’re trying to read…
Yay and see glad you are trying this. Seriously, let me know how it goes for you! 😉
Great tips! I’m still fairly new to blogging so I learn so much from posts like these!
So glad that I could help you, Lisa 😉
Thanks Janine, This actually was so helpful. I have been wanting to have the pop-up subscribe show up when people come to my site, but had no idea how to do it nor had the time to try to figure it out. This is great.![My Profile](https://j9designs.net/wp-content/plugins/commentluv/images/littleheartplus.png)
The Pinterested Parent recently posted…10 Cute Owl Crafts For Kids
Aw, so glad this could help you Kim and if you have any other questions please ask and would be so happy to help you 😉
Thanks for sharing these tips on Sunday’s Best. Bloggers are always looking for ways to learn and grow their readers/following. Please feel free to share more. So many people are looking for information.![My Profile](https://j9designs.net/wp-content/plugins/commentluv/images/littleheartplus.png)
Rhonda Gales recently posted…Sunday’s Best – #17
My pleasure and so happy to share and help all out with this and more 😉