Hey there, WordPress site owner! Let me guess – you‘ve heard that building an email list is kind of a big deal, but you‘re not quite sure how to get started. Sound about right?
Well, you‘ve come to the right place. In this post, I‘m going to walk you through exactly how to connect Constant Contact – one of the world‘s leading email marketing platforms – to your WordPress site.
By the end of this guide, you‘ll be ready to start growing an email list of loyal subscribers who can‘t wait to hear from you. Let‘s get into it!
Why Every WordPress Site Needs an Email List
First things first – why is building an email list so important for your WordPress site? Here are a few eye-opening stats:
- There are over 4 billion email users worldwide (Statista)
- 99% of email users check their inbox every day (OptinMonster)
- Email has an average ROI of $42 for every $1 spent (DMA)
- 59% of marketers say email is their biggest source of ROI (Emma)
In other words, email gives you a direct line to your audience‘s undivided attention in a way no other channel can match. With email, you can:
- Drive repeat traffic to your WordPress site
- Promote new products, services, or content
- Build deeper relationships with your subscribers
- Encourage word-of-mouth referrals
- Generate sales and revenue on autopilot
If your WordPress site doesn‘t have an email list, you‘re missing out on one of the most powerful tools for growth. Fortunately, Constant Contact makes it super simple to get started.
How to Integrate Constant Contact with WordPress
There are three main ways to connect Constant Contact to your WordPress site:
- Install the Constant Contact WordPress plugin
- Manually embed Constant Contact forms in your pages or widgets
- Use the Constant Contact API for custom integrations
Let‘s go through each option step-by-step.
Option 1: Install the Constant Contact WordPress Plugin
The easiest way to add Constant Contact forms to WordPress is with the official Constant Contact Forms plugin. Here‘s how to set it up:
- Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard
- Go to Plugins → Add New
- Search for "Constant Contact"
- Install and activate the Constant Contact Forms plugin
- Click on the new Constant Contact menu item in your WordPress sidebar
- Click the "Connect" button and log in with your Constant Contact account
- Customize your form settings, fields, and styles
- Publish your form on any post or page using the provided shortcode
That‘s it! Your Constant Contact form will now appear on your WordPress site and automatically sync new sign ups to your email list.
Option 2: Manually Embed Constant Contact Forms
If you don‘t want to use a plugin, you can also generate your signup forms in Constant Contact and manually embed them in WordPress.
- Log into your Constant Contact account and go to Contacts → Sign-up Forms
- Choose a form type (inline, pop-up, or sticky)
- Customize the form fields, styles, and settings
- Click "Create Form"
- Copy the form embed code provided by Constant Contact
- In WordPress, paste the embed code into a page or text widget
The form will now appear wherever you pasted the embed code. Just keep in mind that going this route, you‘ll need to log into Constant Contact separately to manage your forms and contacts.
Option 3: Use the Constant Contact API
For more advanced users, Constant Contact also provides a full-featured API that allows you to create custom integrations with WordPress and other apps.
With the API, you can:
- Create and customize forms
- Add or update contacts in your account
- Pull in contact data to WordPress
- Trigger automated emails based on WordPress user activity
- Segment and target contacts based on custom criteria
To get started, log into your Constant Contact account, go to Profile → API Keys, and generate a new API key.
Then check out the Constant Contact API documentation for code samples and guides on connecting to WordPress.
Unless you have very specific integration requirements, I recommend sticking with the plugin or embed options. But it‘s great to know the API is there if you need it!
Configuring Your Constant Contact Signup Forms
Once you‘ve connected Constant Contact to WordPress, you‘ll want to pay close attention to your signup form settings. A well-optimized form can dramatically boost your conversion rates.
Here are some key settings to configure:
- Form fields: In addition to an email field, consider capturing a first name so you can personalize your emails. Just don‘t go overboard – too many fields can hurt conversions.
- List selection: If you have multiple lists in Constant Contact, make sure to specify which list your form is tied to.
- Form styles: Use fonts, colors, and styling that match your WordPress theme for a cohesive look. Constant Contact‘s real-time designer makes it easy to see your changes.
- Success message: Customize what users see after they submit the form. You could simply say thanks, or encourage them to check their inbox for a welcome email.
- Confirmation email: Make sure to send an automated confirmation email so subscribers know they‘ve signed up successfully. You can customize this email in Constant Contact.
Once your form is looking good, there‘s one more box I highly recommend checking: Enable a "Double Opt-in" process.
Double opt-in means new subscribers have to click a link in a confirmation email to be fully added to your list. While it does add some friction, there are some major benefits:
- Higher quality subscribers (no accidental or fake sign ups)
- Better email deliverability and sender reputation
- GDPR compliance (explicit consent)
In most cases, the pros of double opt-in outweigh the cons. But you can always A/B test it see how it impacts your specific conversion rates.
Constant Contact Signup Form Best Practices
The difference between a high-converting signup form and one that falls flat often comes down to a few key details.
Here are some Constant Contact signup form best practices to maximize your conversions:
1. Nail Your Positioning
A signup form is only effective if people see it. Make sure to place forms in high-visibility areas like:
- Your site header or navigation
- The top of your sidebar
- After your blog posts
- In a timed pop-up or slide-in
- Your site footer
You can use the Constant Contact shortcode to embed the same form in multiple locations. Just be careful not to overdo it – too many forms can turn people off.
2. Craft Compelling Calls-to-Action
No one signs up for an email list for fun. To get someone to take action, you need to clearly communicate what‘s in it for them.
Write a clear, specific, and benefit-driven call-to-action that tells people exactly what they‘ll get in exchange for their email, like:
- "Get weekly WordPress tips"
- "Become a VIP member"
- "Claim your 20% off coupon"
- "Download the ultimate WordPress checklist"
Avoid generic CTAs like "Sign up for updates" or "Join our list". Give people a compelling reason to hand over their information.
3. Prioritize Mobile-Friendliness
Did you know that nearly 50% of all emails are opened on mobile devices? That means if your signup forms aren‘t optimized for mobile screens, you could be missing out on a huge chunk of potential subscribers.
Constant Contact forms are mobile responsive out of the box, but there are still steps you can take to create a better mobile experience:
- Keep form fields to a minimum
- Make sure fields are large enough to tap easily
- Use a single column layout
- Choose an easily readable font size
Before publishing any new signup form, always test it out on a few different mobile devices to catch any issues.
4. Always Be Testing
One of the best things about email marketing is how measurable it is. Constant Contact provides built-in A/B testing functionality that lets you test different versions of key form elements, like:
- Form copy and headline
- Call-to-action text
- Number of form fields
- Button color
By A/B testing, you can confidently optimize your forms based on real data and user behavior. Just remember to test one variable at a time so you can accurately measure performance!
Advanced Constant Contact Features for WordPress Users
Integrating Constant Contact with WordPress is about a lot more than just adding a few signup forms to your site.
Constant Contact unlocks a suite of powerful email marketing features that can help you nurture leads and drive conversions, like:
Automated Email Sequences
Set up automated email series in Constant Contact that get triggered when someone joins your list from WordPress.
You could create an indoctrination series to welcome new subscribers, a lead nurturing series to warm up potential customers, or an onboarding series when someone purchases a product.
List Segmentation
As your email list grows, you‘ll want to segment your subscribers so you can send more relevant, targeted messages.
Constant Contact lets you group subscribers based on custom criteria, like:
- WordPress user role
- Form signed up through
- Interests or preferences
- Past email engagement
- Location
Segmentation is key for keeping your engagement rates high and ensuring subscribers stick around for the long haul.
Personalization and Dynamic Content
Did you know that personalizing your email subject lines can increase open rates by 26%?
Constant Contact makes it easy to add a personal touch to your emails by pulling in WordPress user data, like a first name. You can also use dynamic content blocks to show different email content to different segments.
Surveys and Polls
Want to gather feedback from your email subscribers? Constant Contact lets you quickly spin up a survey or poll and email it out to your list.
You could use surveys to:
- Crowdsource new content ideas
- Gather testimonials or case studies
- Measure customer satisfaction
- Learn more about your audience‘s goals and needs
Put simply, Constant Contact takes your basic email forms and puts them on steroids. With the right strategy, you can keep subscribers engaged and coming back to your WordPress site again and again.
Measuring Email Marketing Success with Constant Contact Analytics
Of course, none of these advanced features matter if you‘re not tracking your results. Fortunately, Constant Contact offers a robust analytics dashboard that shows you exactly how your emails are performing.
You‘ll get real-time metrics like:
- Open rate: The percentage of subscribers who open your emails
- Click-through rate: The percentage of subscribers who click a link in your emails
- Bounce rate: The percentage of emails that fail to deliver
- Unsubscribe rate: The percentage of subscribers who opt out of your emails
By keeping an eye on these metrics, you can spot trends and make data-driven optimizations, like:
- Deleting inactive subscribers to boost engagement
- A/B testing subject lines to improve open rates
- Segmenting your list to provide more relevant content
- Adjusting email frequency based on unsubscribe rates
Don‘t be afraid to experiment with different tactics until you find what works best for your unique audience. With Constant Contact, you‘ll never have to guess how your emails are performing.
Constant Contact Pricing and Plans for WordPress Users
So how much does all this cost? Constant Contact keeps pricing simple with two main plans:
- Email: Starting at $20/month for up to 500 contacts, this plan includes unlimited emails, signup forms, ecommerce features, and live support.
- Email Plus: Starting at $45/month for up to 500 contacts, this plan adds advanced features like automated email series, subject line A/B testing, dynamic content, and online surveys.
Both plans come with a free 60-day trial, so you can thoroughly test out the platform before committing.
Constant Contact also offers a 15% discount for nonprofits and charities. So if you‘re using WordPress for a cause, definitely take advantage of those savings!
Why I Recommend Constant Contact for WordPress (My Take)
By now, it should be clear that I‘m a big fan of using Constant Contact with WordPress. While there are other great email marketing tools out there, I believe Constant Contact is the best all-around fit for WordPress site owners.
A few specific reasons I recommend it:
- Ease of use: Constant Contact is extremely user-friendly, even for total email marketing beginners. The drag-and-drop email builder is intuitive and the WordPress plugin makes setup a snap.
- Deliverability: Constant Contact has one of the best email deliverability rates in the industry at 97%. That means your emails are actually reaching the inbox, not getting lost in spam folders.
- Support: With live chat and phone support, you can get expert help whenever you need it. Constant Contact also has an extensive knowledge base with guides, tutorials, and videos.
- Scalability: Constant Contact‘s pricing scales up gradually as your list grows, so you‘re never paying for more than you need. The platform can handle lists with hundreds of thousands of contacts.
Is Constant Contact right for everyone? Of course not. If you‘re an advanced marketer who needs enterprise-grade features and integrations, you might prefer a tool like Mailchimp, HubSpot, or ActiveCampaign.
But for the vast majority of WordPress site owners who just want a simple, effective way to grow an email list and send newsletters, Constant Contact is the perfect fit.
Now Go Grow Your Email List!
Whew, that was a lot of info! But now you‘re fully armed and ready to connect Constant Contact to your WordPress site and start building your email list.
Remember, email marketing is a long-term game. It‘s not about collecting the most subscribers the fastest – it‘s about growing an engaged, loyal community that loves hearing from you.
So take your time, focus on providing value, and always prioritize quality over quantity. With Constant Contact in your corner, you‘ve got everything you need to succeed.
Now go connect those accounts and start growing your list! You‘ve got this.
