Your Email List Building Toolbox

For your toolset, you will need the following:

• a list building/opt-in form plugin
• an email marketing provider
• and something to help you create a lead magnet

I will give you recommendations for the plugin. But for the other 2, they each have their own option (if you don't want to spend a dime, that is).

So let's check them out...

My 2 Recommended List Building Plugins

For basic lead generation, you will need at least 1 to 3 of the following:

• the popup (can be annoying, but there's a way around this)
• the widget (sidebar)
• the slide-in (slides in from the bottom right most of the time)
• the top bar (or Hello Bar)
• the in-content form (can appear before, after, or middle of your post)

There are many free plugins to use. But the 2 I recommend have the features you need.

The first one is OptinEngine.

It has all the signup features I listed above. The only thing it doesn't have is the exit-intent feature.

If you don't know what that is, it's "the way around" the annoying popup. So it only pops up when the visitor is about to exit your page.

Very useful.

OptinEngine has a nice selection of templates and customizable options. And it's easy to integrate with all the major email marketing providers. Including the one you're about to use.

The second plugin is MailMunch.

It's almost the same as the first one. But there are a few differences.

One, everything is done on the MailMunch site/server.

Two, it has the exit-intent feature. :D

Three, its free version does not support many customizations and templates.

And finally, it has a landing page creator.

Everything else is about the same.

Picking which one to go with will depend on you. But here's the way I see it:

If you want to use the exit-intent, which is highly effective, and you don't really care much about the number of templates/customizations, go with MailMunch.

But if you do want more templates/customizations and don't care for the exit-intent popup, then OptinEngine is your best choice.

Now, let's move onto the email marketing service...

MailChimp: Free For up to 2000 Subscribers

Yes. Free for your first 2K subs. This is great for starters.

It's probably the easiest to use, too. I mean, from my experience.

I've used Aweber, GetResponse, ConvertKit, and a few others. But MailChimp is the one I found the easiest. Maybe it's because it was also the first I used. But still. I love it.

There used to be confusion about whether or not MailChimp users being allowed to include affiliate links in their emails. But the MailChimp Team has stated they are fine, as long as they're not spam or blacklisted.

So there's nothing to worry about.

Moving on...

Canva: Free eBook Template

Canva is a graphic design software. Super easy-to-use, just drag and drop (literally). And they have dozens of templates.

One in particular is the eBook template.

This will let you create a cover for your lead magnet and add as many pages you want under/after it.

Your Budget-Friendly Email Marketing Toolbox:

• MailMunch or OptinEngine
• MailChimp
• Canva

Bookmark them.