If you want to know how to setup a subscriber list and configure AWeber to send Blog Broadcasts you can click here to read the article. That article will walk you through the whole process step-by-step and show you how to setup the opt-in form using a WordPress Text Widget.
If you’re using the Genesis Framework by StudioPress you have a great alternative when it comes to installing the opt-in form on your site – use the Genesis eNews Extended plugin.
If you choose this approach, there’s no need to spend time styling the AWeber opt-in form, just pick anything and the Genesis eNews Extended plugin will do the rest for you. All you need to decide, is whether you want to capture the subscribers full name in a single field or split up their first name and last names. Either way the Genesis eNews Extended plugin can handle it!
Setting up the Genesis eNews Extended Plugin
Here’s what you need to do…
For the Genesis eNews Extended plugin you will need the raw HTML Version instead of the Javascript Snippet. If you’re unclear how to obtain the code from AWeber read the article on how to configure AWeber to send Blog Broadcast emails article for help.
You don’t need all the HTML code though, just the lines that start with <input type=”hidden”, highlight these lines and copy them.
The screen capture below highlights the text you’ll need:
In the WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Widgets. Drag the Genesis eNews Extended widget into the sidebar where you want the opt-in form to be displayed. I’ve gone for the Primary Sidebar.
Here are the following settings:
- Title – Give the form a title. This will be displayed on the site and should be something that grabs the visitors attention
- Text To Show Before Form – This is essentially the subheading for the form. Again it should be something that compels the visitor to want to sign-up for your blog broadcast or newsletter
- Text To Show After Form – Here you could put a link to your email privacy page, or whatever other footer text you feel appropriate
- Form Action – Paste this URL into the box: http://www.aweber.com/scripts/addlead.pl
- Email Field – I’ve circled the fields in blue in the diagram above. Type “email” in this field
- First Name Field – type “name (awf_first)” in this field box. If you’ve chosen to capture only the subscribers full name in a single field then enter “name” in this field and leave the Last Name field blank
- Last Name Field – type “name (awf_last)” in this field box
- Hidden Fields – Paste in the HTML code you copied a moment ago that starts with <input type=”hidden”
- First Name Input Text / Last Name Input Text / Email Input Text – The text you enter in these three fields appear inside the input boxes on the opt-in form. They tell the subscriber what they should be entering. If you’re capturing the full name change the text accordingly
- Button Text – This the text that is displayed on the button the subscriber clicks and should be a call to action
Decide whether you want the confirmation page to be displayed in the same window or a new one – check the “Open confirmation box in same window?” box as required.
Click Save and you’re all done.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
All that remains is a bit of testing to ensure everything works as expected – don’t skip this step!
This is a really easy to configure plugin that allows a nice email opt-in form to be displayed on your sidebar, or wherever else you’d like on your website. The form will take on the formatting on the underlying Genesis Child Theme, so there’s no need to style and design things if you don’t want to. However, if you want to style it beyond the default then you’ll have to change some code, or install the Design Palette Pro plugin.
Did you find the information in this article useful? I’d be interested to read about your experiences with the Genesis eNews Extended plugin. Have you found alternatives that were more useful or easier to customize, maybe even going with a premium plugin like Hybrid Connect or something similar? Please leave your comments and feedback below.
The post Using the Genesis eNews Extended Plugin with AWeber appeared first on The The Smart Business Journey Blog Blog.
Click here to subscriber to the Smart Business Journey newsletter and download a copy of The Smart Internet Profits Blueprint eBook for FREE!
In it you'll discover the secrets on how to make money blogging and generate huge profits online each month on autopilot!
