How to create an automatic opt-in download in Squarespace
Every business owner wants to build their email list (well, they should). One of the best techniques for building your email list is to give away something for free, in exchange for someone signing up.
Starting email marketing can be really daunting when you’re just starting your business, because not only can be be pretty confusing, but it also can be hella expensive. You want to start building your list, but you don’t want to be spending hundreds on flashy email marketing platforms.
I recently wrote a post about how to get started with email marketing (the basics, for beginners!) and I talk about the different more affordable platforms you can use. If you haven’t decided on a platform yet, then I recommend checking this post out.
But if you haven’t decided yet, you can still start collecting email addresses! Squarespace is awesome because it lets you connect their built-in form with a Google Spreadsheet. So if you don’t have a specific email marketing software yet, at least start collecting addresses to a spreadsheet — then you can easily import them to your software later.
It usually works like this: Someone signs up for your email list to get the freebie > the freebie automatically goes to their email inbox.
The problem with some smaller, more affordable email marketing platforms is that they don’t have very robust features for organizing your email lists/addresses. So if you’re giving away more than one freebie, it can start to get really complicated.
And of course, if you’re saving email addresses to a Google Sheet, then you definitely won’t have the option to automatically send the freebie via email.
One awesome way around this situation is to have the download link available immediately after they enter their email and sign up. You can do this in WordPress by adding various Plugins, but I’ve been asked a lot how to do this in Squarespace: luckily, there’s a REALLY simple way to set this up in Squarespace!
Here’s an example of a Squarespace freebie form that gives you the download instantly and automatically:
Fill in the form below to download your free moodboard templates!
If you actually tested it out, you’ll see how simple it is! Here’s how to do it:
Step 1 — Add the Form
Add a Form Block (you can also use a Newsletter block if you prefer the look of that) and enter the details you want in the form. This would usually be Name and Email address. Make sure you make both of these required.
Step 2 — Connect the Form
Under Storage tab, Squarespace gives you the option of connecting:
Your email address — this option is simple but only good if you’re not getting many sign ups as you would have to manually take the information from each email and input it into your email marketing software.
A Mailchimp account — this is an email marketing platform that I don’t strongly recommend.
A Squarespace Campaigns account — this is a Squarespace owned email marketing platform that I don’t strongly recommend.
Google Drive — this is a great option if you don’t have an email marketing platform yet, this form can automatically sync with a Google Sheet (spreadsheet) in your Google Drive, keeping all of the information super organized.
Zapier — Zapier is a tool that connects services to each other. If you send this form data to Zapier, Zapier can then send it to almost any email marketing software. You would need to create a Zapier account and set this up. It’s a pretty awesome tool and they have a free plan. This is only needed if you are using an email marketing platform that doesn’t integrate well with Squarespace or doesn’t have many options for sending freebies.
Make sure you connect one form of storage before you move on.
Step 3 — Add your post-submit message
Click on the Advanced tab at the top
Then include a Post Submit Message to say “Thanks” and something like “Click here to download your freebie!” (I suggest making this part Bold so it stands out)
Step 4 — Link your freebie file
Highlight this text and click the link button to add a new link:
When the link panel pops up, click on the cog/wheel icon:
Then in the next panel, click file in the sidebar. This is your file library, and you can upload any flies here. This is where you will upload your Freebie file!
Click upload file to upload your freebie.
Once you've uploaded the file, make sure to click on it which will put a tick icon next to it to show it’s selected.
Then you can click save (top left) and apply, and the file link will now be applied as a link to the "Download your freebie here!" text!
Make sure to save the form box and then save your page.
You can then enter preview mode and test it out!
Now you can upload as many freebies as you like and have all of the subscribers go to the same place (email list, google sheet, your email, whatever you chose), without worrying about creating new lists for each freebie and sending each of the freebies via email. It's all contained on your website in a simple Squarespace form!
If you are with an email provider that has a double opt-in, just be aware that this technique could cause people to not confirm their email addresses, and just take the freebie! So we recommend turning the double opt-in off if you have the choice.
Good luck building your lists!
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