How To Start A Newsletter In WordPress

Starting a newsletter is one of the best ways to stay connected with your audience. For instance, you might share valuable content or your latest offerings. But how do you integrate this service into your WordPress site?

Well, the process is easy. You can choose an email service that supports WordPress and connect it to your website. Many newsletter tools include features like opt-in forms and drag-and-drop email builders to help you get started.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at why you should start your own newsletter. We’ll then show you what you need and walk you through the setup process. Let’s dive right in!

A newsletter enables you to communicate directly with your followers. Unlike social media, where your content’s visibility is subject to algorithms, newsletters land straight in your subscribers’ inbox and get seen.

You can use newsletters to share blog posts, product updates, exclusive offers, and other valuable content. The goal is to keep subscribers engaged and encourage them to return to your site.

A well-crafted email can help drive conversions. For instance, you might offer special discounts or early access to new products to incentivize purchases and build customer loyalty.

If you’re a professional or blogger, a newsletter fosters a sense of community. You can nurture relationships with your followers and establish yourself as a trusted resource by sending them informative and helpful content.

What You Need to Get Started

Before you start creating your first newsletter, you’ll need a few things to set it up properly. We’ll assume you already have a WordPress site.

Here’s what else you’ll need.

An email newsletter service is essential for creating campaigns and managing your subscribers. Some popular options for WordPress include Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and Mailpoet.

These services offer powerful features like email automation, list segmentation, and detailed analytics. They also come with visual builders and templates to help you create beautiful newsletters.

2. Opt-In Form Builder

An opt-in form enables you to collect email addresses from people who want to receive your newsletter. You can embed these forms directly into your WordPress site, and there are many plugins available to help you create them.

Of course, you’ll need to connect these opt-in forms with your email newsletter service. If you’re using Mailchimp, you can install the Mailchimp List Subscribe Form.

Meanwhile, WPForms integrates with many email services, including Mailchimp, Constant Contact, MailPoet, and MailerLite.

3. A Professional Email Address

Ideally, you’ll have an email address that matches your domain, like [email protected]. You can use this as your sender address for your newsletter, which will make you look more professional.

Plus, recipients will be able to easily reply to your email if they have a question.

At NameHero, our WordPress hosting plans come with unlimited email accounts. This is ideal if you want to create different addresses for your domain, like [email protected], [email protected], etc.

4. A Compelling Offer

You’ll need to give people a good reason to sign up for your newsletter. What will they get out of it?

So, come up with a valuable offer. This could be a free eBook, a discount code, exclusive access to content, or other incentives.

Now that you’ve got the tools and resources in place, it’s time to create your newsletter. Here’s how to get started.

First, you’ll want to sign up for an email service provider. Many services offer free plans with limited features. For example, you can use Mailchimp for free for up to 500 contacts.

Once you create an account, you’ll need to connect it to your WordPress site. Some email marketing tools offer API keys that you can add to your website, while others have dedicated WordPress plugins.

2. Create Opt-In Forms

Next, you’ll need to create your opt-in form so visitors are able to subscribe to your newsletter. If your email service has a WordPress plugin, you can use it for your subscribe form.

If not, install a form builder. Just make sure that the tool you choose integrates with your chosen email service.

WPForms supports many newsletter providers like Mailchimp and Constant Contact.

Install the plugin and go to WPForms > Settings > Integrations to connect to your email service:

Once that’s done, navigate to WPForms > Add New to create your form:

As you can see, WPForms offers various templates to help you get started. Look for the Newsletter Signup Form option and click on Use Template:

Then, use the editor to customize the existing form fields or add new ones:

When you’re done, save the template and return to the WordPress dashboard. Open the page where you want to display the subscribe form, and add the WPForms block:

Use the dropdown menu to select the newsletter signup form you’ve just created. You can now customize the design of the form, using the settings on the right:

Remember to hit Publish when you’re ready. It’s a good idea to view the form on the front end and subscribe with your email address to ensure that everything is working properly.

If you’re wondering where to add your email subscription form, here are a few ideas:

Create a dedicated Subscribe page
On product landing pages
At the end of your posts
In the footer
In a pop-up

If you’re giving subscribers a freebie, you’ll want to mention it on your form. You can simply include a call-to-action like “Subscribe to grab my free pizza-making guide!”

Finally, you can design your first newsletter. You’ll want to keep the layout simple and clear, so it’s easy for subscribers to read your content on both desktop and mobile devices.

Also, make sure to include the following elements in your email:

A compelling subject line to boost the open rate
A clear call-to-action (CTA) at the end of the email, like “Check out the latest arrivals”
Personalization, like using the subscriber’s name

The newsletter creation process will depend on the email service provider you choose. However, many tools like Mailchimp have drag-and-drop builders and pre-made templates:

The visual builder enables you to design your newsletter using elements like text, images, buttons, and more:

Once you’ve designed the newsletter, you’ll want to choose your email list (your subscribers), then send the email straightaway or schedule it.

Many email services also offer automation features, enabling you to set up welcome emails that will be sent to new subscribers. If you’re offering a freebie, you’ll want to include it in your welcome email.

Once you start sending newsletters, it’s important to monitor their performance through the analytics tools in your email marketing account. You’ll want to track key performance indicators like open rates, click-through rates, and unsubscribes, and use this data to improve your email marketing strategy and make your content more engaging.

Conclusion

Starting a newsletter on your WordPress site is a fantastic way to build a dedicated audience. With the right tools and strategy, you can easily manage your subscriber list, create compelling content, and connect with your followers on a deeper level.

To get started, you’ll need to choose email marketing software and a form builder. It’s also a good idea to create an offer (like a freebie or discount) and include it in your welcome email.

Sending newsletters from a custom email address will make you look more professional. With NameHero hosting, you’ll get unlimited email accounts that match your domain name. Check out our plans today!

Sophia Lee

Sophia is a staff writer at WordCandy.co, where she produces quality blog content for WordPress plugin and theme developers, hosting providers, website development and design agencies, and other online businesses.