Newsletter Campaign on Multiple Sites, part 2

byPastorTae

1.2K followers

Updated 9 years ago

SERIES: Using Mail Chimp to CONSOLIDATE the newsletter strategy on multiple sites, part 2

CAVEAT: This blog can be applied to those with ONE website

CLICK for part 1:https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/pastortae/blog/newsletter-campaign-on-multiple-sites-part-1#

Refer to part 1 for the situation of having multiple sites and the need for consolidating newsletter.

In part 2, I will talk more about the technical set up:

You have to sign up for a free MailChimp Account: www.mailchimp.com

You have to install a plugin: "MailChimp for WP"

TECH: so the tech trick is to paste the same API key into each plugin on all your sites. This makes the one master list processed on all sites. Now I see the difference - Mail Poet didn't have this option when I set it up.

Position Options:

1. On sidebar - this is nice so that it is visible no matter where you are clicking

2. Embedded INTO your post or page - this is also very nice, because it gives you the strategic option of placing it after a post or in your "about" page or where you think the reader will visit the most. And the embedding of the code is really simple. You DON'T have to go into your appearance-editor and work with crazy codes! Just copy and paste a short code right into your page or post.

Here it is: MailChimp Plugin > Forms - and you will see this line at the top of the page: To use the MailChimp sign-up form, configure the form below and then either paste [ short code given here ] in the content of a post or page * inside that bracket is a short code. Just copy and paste that code right into your post or page. That's it. I have placed it into my "About" page and into every post on all my sites going forward. And it doesn't look like overkill because it's really slimline - just one line.

To see an example, click the following "About" page on my site:
http://pastortae.com/about

And then look over to the sidebar at the top and you will see the same thing

CLEVER SETTING: MailChimp Plugin > Settings > Check Box settings
Check the box for comments. Then, if someone leaves a COMMENT, the box is already checked for "Sign me up for the Newsletter". Of course, they can uncheck it, but it's a proactive way to encourage them to sign up. And so, if they post a comment, they will automatically be subscribed. Now, they can still reject it when they get the email to confirm their subscription. But the chance are good that they will confirm it.

ANOTHER CLEVER SETTING: MailChimp Plugin > Settings > Check Box settings
If you have social media icons, it will use them WHEN someone is trying to subscribe. For me, I use the "AddToAny" social media plugin. If someone tries to subscribe, MailChimp brings those social media icons right next to the slot where the email is being typed. (not on desktop or laptop, but only on mobile devices).

This encourages the subscriber to SHARE by clicking one of the social media icons. By clicking, it goes to THEIR social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, etc. and it AUTOMATICALLY links at your entire page (where they are subscribing) to their social media. That's VERY NICE.

Speaking of social media.....

FACEBOOK

Now, this is very nice! MailChimp can take your email subscription and put it on your facebook account.

You can configure this online and it is definitely worth it, especially as WA emphasizes the importance of social media. Then it would be strategic to leverage the social media and get their emails (which is what we all want, right?)

So, this is what happens. It places the email signup in 2 places. From the desktop perspective, it appears on the lower left and it also appears in the tab bar. And you can name the tab. After you name it, go into the tag manager and move it closer to the "About" tab to make it more prominent. Mine says "Sign Up 4 PT's Newsletter". If you want to see an example, click the Facebook icon which will take to you one of my pages and look for it in 2 places.

Caveat: it does NOT appear on your personal page but only on your fan pages. Remember that this blog series is about having multiple sites. And so, it would be strategic to create fan pages for each one of your sites and then keep your personal page personal.