In my last article titled, “Install Google Analytics on the WordPress Dashboard,” we installed
Google Analytics using a WordPress plugin called ExactMetrics (formerly Google
Analytics - GADWP). In this article we will setup MailChimp on the WordPress
website so that users can sign up to be on the website’s email list.
MailChimp is a poplar and free email list generating
service that is widely used and has been around for a long time. MailChimp is
beneficial to users because they can sign up for an email list to stay up to
date on the latest communications from the website. MailChimp is beneficial to
website owners because it allows them to regularly communicate with website
users that have opted-in to receive communications from the website.
The process for setting up MailChimp on a WordPress
website involves: Step One - Setup of a MailChimp account; Step Two - Setup of a
RSS-driven MailChimp campaign; and Step Three - Connecting the MailChimp
account to the WordPress website. While these steps may appear simple, there
are quite a few instructions required for each step. Therefore, in order to
manage the word-count for this article, we will only discuss Step one - Set up of
a MailChimp account. The next two articles will cover Steps Two and Three
respectively.
Set
Up a MailChimp Account
Follow the instructions below to set up MailChimp on a WordPress
website.
1.Type “mailchimp” into your browser’s search field or use
this MailChimp link.
2.If you already have a MailChimp account you will need to
sign in. If not, you will need to create a MailChimp account.
3.Next, you will create a MailChimp list. Click the “Stats”
dropdown button and then click the “Signup Forms.”
4.Scroll down to “Form Integration.”
5.Then click the WordPress symbol, and click “Learn More.”
You will have the option to use the WordPress List-Subscribe Plugin.
6.Login to your WordPress Dashboard, then click on “Plugins,”
and “Add New.’’
7.In the search bar on the upper right side of the “Plugins”
page, type “WordPress List Subscribe,” then select the plugin.
· Make sure that the plugin description states: “Compatible with your version of WordPress.”
8.Next, click “Install,” and then click “Activate.” The
plugin dialog box will appear where you will enter your FTP credentials. The
following is an example of what the FTP credentials will look like:
· Hostname: cpanel.yourwebhostcompany.com
· FTP Username: yourusername
· FTP Password: yourcpanelpassword
· Connection Type: FTP
· FTP Server: ftp.yourdomainname.com
9. Click Activate
10.Return to the “Plugins” page and scroll to the WordPress
List Subscribe plugin, then click the “Settings” link just below the plugin
name.
11.Fill in the “Content Options” form and click “Update
Subscribe Form Settings” button.
12.In the “Merge Variables Included” form select the
fields you want included in your form.
· Tip: Simple and personable forms get more signups.
13.From the WordPress Dashboard and select “Appearance,”
then select “Widgets.”
14.On the left side of the page find the “MailChimp”
widget and drag and drop it into a Sidebar section on the right side of the
Plugins page.
15.Click :Save,” then “Close.”
Congratulations! You have just added a MailChimp signup
form to your website. In my next article we will discuss setting up a
RSS-driven MailChimp campaign so that users that opt-in will automatically receive
your latest communications.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. If you
have any comments or questions, please feel free to use the comments section
below. We’d love to hear from you.
Diane Penny is a full-stack Web designer, author, content creator, and social media specialist.
Image Citation:
News-634808_640. Geralt. Pixabay.com. Web. 29 Aug. 2018.
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