The success of your business website depends on converting casual visitors into engaged customers, but a stunning 75 percent of visitors who browse your site without taking some kind of action never come back. That’s why lead generation is a key component of any successful marketing campaign – and why a WordPress website that is equipped with tools for opening channels of communication with new website visitors can convert those visitors into fans, clients, or customers.
To boost traffic and increase conversions, WordPress website runners can choose from a variety of WordPress plugins for building email lists, creating opt-in forms, and more.
Here’s a look at 10 of the most versatile and effective WordPress plugins for lead generation.
Who Needs Lead Generation?
Lead generation is a broad marketing term for a variety of strategies that do just one thing: attract people who are interested in whatever product or service you’re offering, with the hope of turning them into buyers. Successful lead generation usually involves a combination of these strategies, which can include things like building an email list, offering a lead magnet – a free item in exchange for an email address, and adding contact forms and landing pages to the site.
If you’re selling something, offering a service, or simply hoping to raise awareness of your site and your brand, you need some form of lead generation to draw website visitors in and keep a connection with them.
Choosing a Lead Generation Plugin
Thousands of WordPress plugins for carrying out various kinds of lead generation tasks are available from the WordPress plugin directory and from third-party developers around the world. Some are free, some are paid, and some offer a combination of free and paid options that unlock more features. In some cases, the WordPress plugin is a means of connecting your site with the plugin’s web application, where most of its lead generation features can be managed.
The plugins you select for handling your site’s lead generation depend on your goals and the purpose of your site. Some plugins are dedicated to providing just one specific kind of functionality, such as a landing page or contact form, while others include a range of features that can all be managed from a single dashboard. Some are dedicated WordPress plugins, too, but others are fully functional web applications that are accessed through a plugin that you install on your WordPress site. These and other factors, such as cost and compatibility with your version of WordPress, will play a role in choosing the right lead generation plugins for your site. But in general, a robust WordPress lead generation plugin should have a few essential features, including:
Mobile responsiveness. Look for plugins that are optimized for mobile devices – the source of over half the web traffic in the world. You need a mobile responsive website if you want your site to be able to rank and appear on search results.
Integration with email services. The most popular lead generation plugins can integrate with most of the web’s leading email marketing services, such as AWeber and MailChimp. This makes it easy to create and send forms, newsletters, and lead magnet content.
Customization options. The best plugins include options for customizing lead generation items, such as forms and landing pages to match the look of the parent site, including a collection of templates for each function.
With these considerations in mind, here is a rundown of the most popular and efficient lead generation plugins for your WordPress site.
Optin Monster
Optin Monster is a fully functioning web-based app that operates from its own dashboard via a plugin that connects with your WordPress site. Optin Monster includes a long list of templates for a variety of lead generation tasks, such as creating opt-in and contact forms, building email lists, and offering digital content. Optin Monster is also a leader in “exit intent,” technology, which triggers a popup or other form that appears when a visitor is about to leave the site. Optin Monster is available by subscription, with multiple plans available for business and personal use.
Thrive
Thrive is a premium lead generation application plugin for WordPress that features a variety of tools for specific tasks within the main application. Thrive Architect builds landing pages with a drag and drop editor and multiple customizable templates. Thrive Leads focuses on creating and deploying an opt-in box for collecting email addresses, and for managing lead magnets, while Thrive Ultimatum creates Calls to Action (CTAs), with buttons, countdown managers, and more. Thrive’s lead generation tools are available by subscription from Thrive Themes.
Sumo (formerly SumoMe)
Sumo is a popular plugin for WordPress that helps with creating sign-up forms and managing email lists. Available in both free and premium versions, Sumo includes a variety of templates for creating scroll boxes, welcome mats, and other kinds of opt-in forms, and integrates with leading email managers such as AWeber and MailChimp for WordPress hosting.
WP Forms
From the creators of Optin Monster, WP Forms is a premium WordPress plugin that is dedicated to creating forms of all kinds, including contact forms, subscription forms, and payment forms. With multiple templates and a drag and drop editor, WP Forms integrates with multiple email providers and offers built-in spam protection and security features.
LeadPages
LeadPages is a web-based application that is integrated into your WordPress site via a plugin. LeadPages features a range of page building templates for creating landing pages, squeeze pages, sales pages and more, along with tools for delivering digital assets as lead magnets. LeadPages integrates with most email providers and is available on a variety of monthly plans.
Bloom
Bloom from Elegant Themes is a premium opt-in form builder for collecting email addresses and offering lead magnets. Completely mobile responsive, Bloom includes more than 100 customizable templates for creating sign-up forms and can connect forms on your site with 16 email providers including AWeber and MailChimp for WordPress.
Optimize Press
Optimize Press is a landing page plugin that also has a WordPress theme version. Optimize Press includes multiple templates, a drag and drop editor, and more for building landing pages, squeeze pages and sales pages. Available as a yearly subscription, this plugin also includes an array of additional elements and button styles for more customization.
Caldera Forms
Caldera Forms is a completely free WordPress plugin that does just one thing: create forms, including payment, login, registration, subscription forms, and more. With a drag and drop editor, multiple templates and an array of premium add-ons, Caldera integrates with several email providers for building and managing email lists.
Optin Forms
Optin Forms is another free plugin to help you quickly and easily create a variety of one and two step opt-in forms. Optin Forms includes five pre-designed templates with options for customizing fonts, colors, and other elements, and works with leading email providers to collect email addresses and conduct email campaigns.
Successful lead generation strategies can build brand awareness and create ways to communicate with your site’s visitors even after they leave. With tools for designing an opt-in box, collecting email addresses and more, the best WordPress lead generation plugins can help turn your site’s “lookers” into “buyers.”
Comments