#wordpresspopup

Table of Contents

Introduction to Popup Forms

Choosing the Best Popup Plugin for WordPress

Installing and Activating the Plugin

Creating Your First Popup Form

Customizing Your Popup Form

Setting Display Rules

Integrating with Email Marketing Services

Testing Your Popup Form

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Conclusion

1. Introduction to Popup Forms

What is a Popup Form?

A popup form is a small window that appears on top of the webpage you’re viewing. It can pop up for various reasons, like when you first visit a site, when you scroll down, or when you're about to leave the page. Popups usually ask visitors to enter their email address or other information.

Why Use Popup Forms?

Increase Subscriptions: Popups are effective in getting visitors to subscribe to your newsletter.

Promote Offers: You can highlight special deals or discounts.

Gather Feedback: Use popups to collect opinions and improve your site.

2. Choosing the Best Popup Plugin for WordPress

To add a popup form to your WordPress site, you need a plugin. A plugin is like an app for your website. There are many free plugins available that can help you create popup forms easily.

Recommended Free Popup Plugins

Popup Maker: A popular and easy-to-use free popup maker.

WP Popups: Another great option with a lot of customization features.

Icegram: Offers good functionality and is user-friendly.

For this guide, we’ll use Popup Maker because it’s the best popup plugin for WordPress, being beginner-friendly and highly rated.

3. Installing and Activating the Plugin

Step-by-Step Installation

Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.

Go to Plugins > Add New.

Search for "Popup Maker" in the search bar.

Click on the "Install Now" button next to Popup Maker.

After installation, click on "Activate."

You now have Popup Maker installed and activated on your WordPress site.

4. Creating Your First Popup Form

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Popup

Go to the Popup Maker menu in your WordPress Dashboard.

Click on "Add Popup."

Give your popup a name. This is for your reference only.

Add a title and content for your popup. This is what visitors will see.

Adding a Form to Your Popup

Click on the "Add Form" button within the content area.

Select the type of form you want. You can use the built-in form builder or integrate with other form plugins like Contact Form 7.

Customize the form fields. Add fields for name, email, or any other information you need.

5. Customizing Your Popup Form

Basic Customization

Design the Popup: Use the visual editor to change the look of your popup. You can change colors, fonts, and sizes.

Set the Size and Position: Choose where and how big your popup will be on the screen.

Add Images or Videos: Make your popup more engaging by adding media.

Advanced Customization

CSS and JavaScript: For those comfortable with coding, you can add custom CSS or JavaScript for more control over your popup’s appearance and behavior.

Triggers and Cookies: Decide what will trigger your popup (e.g., time delay, scroll percentage) and how often it should appear to the same visitor.

6. Setting Display Rules

When Should Your Popup Appear?

Time Delay: Show the popup after a visitor has been on the site for a certain number of seconds.

Scroll Percentage: Show the popup after the visitor has scrolled a certain percentage of the page.

Exit Intent: Show the popup when the visitor is about to leave the page.

Who Should See Your Popup?

Targeting Options: Show the popup to all visitors or only to those on certain pages, posts, or categories.

Device Targeting: Show the popup only on desktop or mobile devices.

7. Integrating with Email Marketing Services

To make the most of your popup form, you can integrate it with an email marketing service. This allows you to automatically add new subscribers to your email list.

Popular Email Marketing Services

Mailchimp

AWeber

Constant Contact

How to Integrate

Go to the Integrations or Settings page of Popup Maker.

Select your email marketing service from the list.

Follow the instructions to connect your account.

8. Testing Your Popup Form

Before you go live, it's important to test your popup form to make sure it works correctly.

How to Test

Preview the Popup: Use the preview option in Popup Maker to see how your popup will look and behave.

Test on Different Devices: Check the popup on both desktop and mobile devices to ensure it looks good and functions properly.

Test the Form: Submit the form to make sure it correctly captures and sends the information.

9. Troubleshooting Common Issues

Popup Not Showing Up

Check Your Triggers: Make sure the trigger settings are correctly configured.

Clear Cache: Sometimes cached pages can prevent the popup from appearing.

Form Submissions Not Working

Check Integration: Ensure your email marketing service is correctly integrated.

Check Form Settings: Make sure all required fields are set up and there are no validation errors.

Conclusion

Adding a popup form to your WordPress site is a powerful way to engage with your visitors and grow your audience. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create and customize a popup form for free using the best WordPress popup plugin, Popup Maker. Remember to test your popup thoroughly and monitor its performance to make sure it’s effective.

Creating a successful popup form is all about finding the right balance between engagement and user experience. With a well-designed popup form, you can increase subscriptions, promote offers, and gather valuable feedback from your visitors.