Subscription Forms and List Building
The essential ingredient for a successful email marketing programme is having an Subscription Form laid out effectively.
As you know, the subscription process starts when a user easily finds a subscription form on your website. Some locations where you can put a form are Landing Pages, Cart Checkouts, Sidebar widgets, inside posts, Contact Forms, etc.
Custom subscription forms can be created from List Building > Subscription and the form fields can be configured from Subscription Form Fields and Layout. Our support team will assist you to set up the first subscription form and generate HTML code that will be included on your webpage.
The subscription process is divided into three main parts:
1. Subscription form
This form can be used on your website to facilitate subscriptions to your mailing lists. You can configure the form with extra profile fields based on your preferences and target audience.
2. Activation phase
You can choose between two options:
- a contact can be subscribed instantly (single opt-in) or
- a contact must confirm his email address by clicking on an activation link (double opt-in), as recommended by GDPR
3. Welcome page and welcome message
The subscriber can be thanked with the welcome message for their interest and give the chance to modify their preferences and profile.
To configure subscription process, navigate to LIST BUILDING tab and select 'Subscription' option. There, you will enter a screen with tabs to set up the subscription process for the subscription form.
Please navigate to the LIST BUILDING tab and select ‘Subscription’ to access the Subscription Configuration. You will be able to configure the subscription process on this screen.
General settings
Opt-in: you may choose between single or double opt-in when you start to configure the subscription form. The first option simply collects emails and delivers a welcome message, whilst double opt-in also requires the user to confirm the email address.
Notifications: you may opt to receive notifications about new subscribers in this setting;
Click 'Save' after you configure the settings.
Subscription page: you can customise the message shown of the subscription page on this screen.
- Multiple subscriptions are not accepted (select 'Not allowed' setting): an error message is shown (the status of the subscriber does not matter). You can also set different behaviours depending on the opt-in mode you selected and other factors.
- Multiple subscriptions are accepted (select 'Allowed' setting): in this case, the subscription process works as for a normal subscription. When the process is complete, ePaper will merge the new data with the old one based on subscriber's email address.'Save' after you configure the settings.
Welcome settings
All text messages shown on screen or sent via email may be customised according to your needs. It is however important that you do not change the pre-built links if you intend to keep the functionally (such as the ‘like’ in profile page).
When a user activates his/her subscription (whether through the single opt-in or by clicking on the activation link), a user will be diverted to a Welcome Page and will receive a welcome message via email.
Alternatively, subscribers may be redirected to a dedicated page on your website after inserting the URL of the custom page.
'Save' after you customise the messages.
This section is relevant if you have chosen the double opt-in. In this case, you should configure the email and messages to be sent to your subscribers to enable activation of his/her subscription.
Activation message
The activation message is shown to the user after subscription is completed. It will contain a notice about the activation email he/she should find in their mailbox. Remind your users to check the spam folder when looking for the activation email. Alternatively, you can redirect subscribers to a dedicated page on your website by inserting the URL of the custom page.
Activation email
If you change the text of the activation email, remember that it MUST contain the activation link. This link is generated by ePaper automatically and inserted in the activation email. Do therefore please ensure that the link is not changed or erased.
'Save' after you customise the messages.
Advanced configurations
- Subscription-driven promotions
If you promoted the subscription via the newsletter inclusive of a reward (for example a discount code or a link to a free content), this must be included on the Welcome Page and within the Welcome Email message.
With the single opt-in, the promotional content should be inserted only on the Welcome Email, to induce the subscriber to insert a real address. If the double opt-in is selected, you can include your promotion content on both the Welcome Page and Welcome Email, once you ensure that the user has provided a real email address when clicking the activation link.
- Profile edit page and link
We recommend to add to the welcome email the profile edit link. The subscriber can manage his/her preferences and update all personal information by clicking on this link. This is particularly important if you have a complex subscriber’s profile and you want your user to insert optional information or to select among different newsletter preferences. This link is inserted in the Welcome Email automatically.