I’m not usually a fan of pop-ups, especially ads. Or when a site is so full of them that it’s like running the gauntlet to get to the content. But WordPress.com has a new feature: subscriber pop-ups that don’t require a third-party service. So you don’t have to remember yet another username and password!
I’ll explain how to set this up in a moment. But first, let’s see why you might want to enable these email pop-up forms on your site.
Reasons to use the pop-ups
Six positive things about these pop-ups:
- They’re completely free.
- They require no additional services or passwords.
- They inform those who may not know they can subscribe.
- They work because they can be the gentle nudge some readers need.
- They’re effective at attracting both loyal readers and new visitors.
- They’re more visible than other subscription methods (sidebar or footer widgets), that readers may not notice or find.
Of course pop-ups have their drawbacks. They can be distracting, annoying, too numerous, and can seem spammy. But you can combat these negatives by not using too many pop-ups, and by making them less intrusive and flashy. And by making sure they’re easy to exit so readers can actually get to your content.
To enable the pop-ups:
- In the sidebar of your dashboard, find “Settings” and select “Newsletter Settings.”
- Scroll down to “Subscriptions” and check “Enable subscription pop-ups.”
- You can also check “Enable subscription pop-ups for commenters.”
Customize your “Email settings.”
On the same page, you can modify your Email Settings to make the emails you send to your subscribers more appealing.
- Enable “Featured Image” on the emails for your new posts.
- Choose whether to include the “full text” or just an “excerpt.”
- Finally, customize your “Welcome Email Message.”
Other languages
Good news for you, too, if you write in a language other than English. These popups also work seamlessly in whatever default language you have set for your site, and WordPress.com supports over 100 of them. Here’s an example of how one would work on our Italian church site: Chiesa Evangelica Sharon.
The WordPress.com pop-ups are quick and easy to implement. Unfortunately, the actual form that pops-up is not customizable (yet?), but then that adds to its simplicity. These pop-ups add an extra feature to your blog without a lot of work and hassle, so that you can spend your time doing what blogging is all about – writing, sharing your thoughts, and connecting with others! Happy blogging to you all!
📷 Image credit: tablet
Signora Sheila 