This week I tried yet again to alter this website and failed in the attempt. Monday I spent over twelve hours trying to do something with my site I see so many writers do: provide a free ebook download to new subscribers. After reading this, if any of you have a solution you can break down into step-by-step instructions, please go to the contact form and clue me in. Please.
Here is what I did.
First, I researched an email marketing provider. I read reviews on MailerLite, MailChimp, and others. In the end I went with MailChimp’s free service.
Second, I discovered that a MailChimp account requires a physical address and that this address will show up on all emails sent out using MailChimp. Well, that sucks, and nobody filled me in on this little anti-privacy detail.
On to step three: learning how to circumvent the address requirement. BLUF, you can’t. It’s the law. Thus I started exploring virtual addresses and P.O. Boxes and other options, all of which cost money. Grrrr.
Effort the fourth, find the best virtual address deal. I looked through three or four options then picked one and signed up for it, biting the bullet on having to pay for something when my book sales aren’t enough (yet) to cover this recurring cost.
Lucky for me, I have a good friend who called the moment I clicked Submit on this virtual no thank you and offered to let me use his business address. Eureka! I solved a problem I didn’t know existed when I woke up that morning. Oh, and I immediately cancelled the virtual address subscription.
Five hours in and I’d gotten nowhere
I hadn’t moved the needle at all on offering a lead magnet (which is what the marketing pros call providing a free gift to draw visitors like you to my site). Still, I persisted.
So I have MailChimp. I watch a YouTube video on how to create a sign-up form in MailChimp and import it into my WordPress site. Done. Only it shows up without a Submit button. Grrraaah! (See any hair-pulling GIF out there).
Before ending the day (what are we on, step ten?) I went down the rabbit hole of maybe what I really need is a landing page (learned what that was during my tribulations) and not a specific Welcome email.
Nope, need both.
That day drained me. Sucked all the vibrant life juice straight out of me and reminded me of why I’d set aside dealing with my website the last time it stole a day from me.
But, I didn’t give up.
On Tuesday, I tried again, using a WordPress plugin called Notification to make the email. Felt much smoother. But…it didn’t work. I followed the video instructions to the tee. Still, when I ran a test subscription, no Welcome email arrived.
Dammit, I will get this right.
Now here I am, asking for your help. If you are skilled with WordPress (.com, not .org) and MailChimp drop me a line via my Contact Page. Show me what to do. I want to give stuff away to you, I really do. I have presents with your name on them.
Help me.
Please.
