Graceful Resources

Online Scheduling and Web Design Help

Brent Peterson

WPForms Review (and a WPForms Discount)

by

WPForms is branded as the most beginner friendly WordPress contact form plugin in the market.

While that may be the case, WPForms (affiliate link) can do a lot more for your online lead generation strategy than a simple form for your website contact page.

(There is a lite version of the WP Forms plugin that allows you to set up a standard contact form on your site for free.)

WPForms Review

The full-featured WP Forms plugin is classified as a premium WordPress plugin and as such, it is not free.

To unlock the advanced lead generation features though, WP Forms plugin will likely cost you between $39 and $299 per year.

You can compare the features by pricing model via the WPForms website, and you may also determine the Pro level at $199/year is the smart strategic investment based on your online goals.

When visiting the WPForms website for the first time (or after clearing your browser cache), you are likely to see a WPForms discount for 50% off using coupon code (e.g. SAVE50) at the top of the page.

The Pro level is what is used and recommend by Graceful Resources. Six notable benefits of WPForms are noted below for your quick reference in this WPForms review.

wp-forms-logo

WPForms Review: 5 Praiseworthy Benefits

1. Form Templates (Pro Level)

WPForms includes a lot of standard forms out of the box, so to speak.

In addition to a simple contact form, there are templates for:

  • Donation Form
  • Billing/Order Form
  • Suggestion Form
  • Request a Quote Form
  • Newsletter Form
  • Blank Form

The new WPForms Templates Pack Addon also unlocks 100 new pre-built form templates, such as:

  • Girl Scout Cookie Order Form
  • Meeting Room Registration Form
  • Party Invitation RSVP Form
  • Conference Registration Form
  • Support Ticket Form

2. Conditional Logic (All Levels)

Conditional logic lets you hide or show fields in your form based on other user entries.

WPForms lacks the graceful conditional logic flow of Typeform (see 8 Typeform Examples and a Discount), but conditional logic comes in handy especially on longer surveys or forms.

3. Drag & Drop Form Builder (All Levels)

Like Typeform, WPForms lets you easily drag and drop entries into and out of your form.

All forms are then mobile responsive meaning the forms adjust automatically to the size of the user’s screen.

If this is the first time you are designing forms for your own WordPress site, the drag & drop feature is a welcome start to the entire form setup process.

4. Stripe Integration (Pro Level)

WPForm’s direct integration with Stripe lets you process individual credit card transactions (or recurring payments) directly through your website form.

A SSL Certificate is required on your site to process credit card, but as a best practice today, your entire site should be SSL encrypted.

Stripe integration is not difficult to set up and once in place, WPForms offers an efficient way to process customer credit card orders on your website.

5. Multiple Addons (Varies by Level)

WPForms is a WordPress plugin that has available plugin addons to enhance the capabilities of the software.

If you are on the Pro plan, all the addons are available at no additional cost.

Here are some available addons:

  • Direct MailChimp, AWeber, and GetResponse Addons (unfortunately there is not a ConvertKit addon at this time – see ConvertKit Discount: Free Month or More (Plus 8 Benefits) if you would like to try out ConvertKit – the email service used and recommended by Graceful Resources).
  • Zapier Addon (Zapier does allow you to create a WPForms and ConvertKit connection).
  • Blog Post Submissions Addon (creates a pending draft of blog post without the need to set up a guest author on your WordPress site).
  • Form Abandonment Addon (captures partial entries from your forms).
  • Signature Addon (lets users sign forms with their mouse or a touchscreen).
  • Survey Plugin (easily creates surveys and polls within WPForms)

6. Great Customer Service

WPForms is run by the same company that runs OptinMonster (see OptinMonster Review: 10 Reasons to Give OptinMonster a Try).

The company provides great video tutorials and when you get stuck, you can submit a support ticket.

Response time – in my experience – is same day (including weekends) and always helpful.

WPForms Review – In Summary

WPForms isn’t the only WordPress form creator on the market.

But it is arguably the most user-friendly and flexible.

If your business goal is to process online leads and transactions through your website, WPForms is worth a close look (you can try it out risk-free for 14 days).

An investment of $199/year (and potentially less with a new customer WPForms discount) will hopefully lead to a clear return on investment for you.

You will quickly discover you can do a lot more with WordPress forms than a simple contact form.

Other Resources for Your Lead Generation

  1. Lead Magnet Guide (5 essential characteristics of a lead magnet)
  2. Lead Magnet Survey (share your own opinion about email sign up incentives and discover what other entrepreneurs recommend)
  3. Lead Magnet Examples (Graceful Resources email subscribers can add their own web address for free)
  4. Recommended Website and Email Software Resources (you’ll also discover why these resources are recommended)

Cheering for your online success – one project step at a time!

Brent

ConvertKit Black Friday Deal – Plus Other Cyber Monday Sales

by

Special deals on website resources (like a ConvertKit Discount) vary throughout the year and extra savings on technology – especially around Thanksgiving – allow you to save money while expanding your business reach online throughout the year. 

So included for your quick use below is a ConvertKit Black Friday / ConvertKit Cyber Monday Deal available through Tuesday 11/27 (along with a ConvertKit 30 Day Free Trial – available for use year-round) plus current discounts on five other website resources used and recommended by this website.

ConvertKit Black Friday / ConvertKit Cyber Monday Deal

Are you just starting out (or starting over) with your email marketing?

This year the ConvertKit Black Friday deal (also recognized as a ConvertKit Cyber Monday Deal) is a Starter Kit valued at $1400 on sale for $289.

The ConvertKit Starter Kit includes:

  1. 12 months of ConvertKit for up to 1000 subscribers
  2. Creator Pass Pro – a suite of education and resources for creators
  3. 90 day trial of the Teachable course platform
  4. Six plug-and-play visual automation templates that can be copied directly into a ConvertKit account
  5. Ebook of Authority: A step-by-step guide to self publishing written by Nathan Barry, CEO and Founder of ConvertKit
  6. I Am A Blogger coffee table book (a physical copy) – link to book

This is the first time ConvertKit has offered a promotion like this, and it is worth checking out if you are seeking a more comprehensive starter kit for your online business.

ConvertKit Black Friday Deal (expired 11/27/18)

ConvertKit 30 Day Trial

As you already know, ConvertKit is a feature-rich (and easy-to-learn) email marketing service that is used by this website and it is recommended for any online entrepreneur – even if you are not a blogger.

It’s definitely worth trying out for free.

You can take advantage of a ConvertKit 30 Day Trial for up to 1000 subscribers via this ConvertKit link:

ConvertKit 30 Day Trial

If you already have over 1000 subscribers (or you know ConvertKit is right for you), you can lock in two months of ConvertKit for free today by selecting the Pricing tab on the ConvertKit website and then click on the Annual Billing button:

Then click TRY IT FOR FREE in the ConvertKit column that fits your subscriber list size.

If you are not sure yet whether ConvertKit is right for you, no worries. Here’s a ConvertKit Review for your quick reference.

5 Other Discounts on Website Resources

Good website resources are not free, but thankfully the cost to get started is nominal.

Special offers from these companies make the resources even more attractive.

  1. WP Engine

    1. Resource Summary:  WP Engine is the largest fully managed WordPress (WP) platform provider in the world. Tech support is available 24×7 and all staff are subject matter experts in WordPress installations.
    2. Resource Review:  Why I Switched from Bluehost to GoDaddy to WP Engine
    3. Promotion: Get 5 months free with WP Engine’s Cyber Weekend Special
    4. Promotional Link: WP Engine Discount
    5. Pro Tip: Sign up for an annual subscription with the WP Engine discount link to get the extra savings when you pre-pay for the first year!

  2. StudioPress

    1. Resource Summary: The award-winning Genesis Framework for WordPress (WP) powers the professionally designed StudioPress WP child themes. Genesis is fully customizable with proven security and performance, and it is now available as a packed WordPress hosted solution.
    2. Resource Review:  10 Reasons StudioPress Offers the Best WordPress Themes
    3. Promotion:  20% of  all themes
    4. Sponsorship Link: StudioPress Themes
    5. Pro Tip: Sign up for a StudioPress Pro Plus Pack with the StudioPress link to lock in access to all current and future themes for life!

  3. OptinMonster

    1. Resource Summary: OptinMonster is a premium lead generation software that seamlessly integrates email opt-in forms into your website so that you can grow your email marketing list with site visitors.
    2. Resource Review:  10 Reasons OptinMonster is the Best Lead Generation Software
    3. Promotion:  35% off entire OptinMonster purchase
    4. Promotional Link: OptinMonster Discount
    5. Pro Tip:  Sign up for the OptinMonster Pro Plan with the OptinMonster discount link to lock in bigger savings on the feature-rich pro license – includes exit-intent technology.

  4. WPForms

    1. Resource Summary: WPForms is a premium form creator plugin for WordPress and it is branded as the most beginner friendly WordPress contact form plugin in the market. But it can do a lot more than contact forms.
    2. Resource Review:  WP Forms Review (and a WPForms Discount)
    3. Promotion:  60% off new plans
    4. Promotional Link: WPForms Discount (wait 5 seconds for promo to appear at top of pricing page)
    5. Pro Tip: Sign up for the WPForms Pro Plan with the WPForms discount link to lock in bigger savings on the feature-rich pro license – includes integration with PayPal and Stripe to accept online payments without your forms.

  5. Typeform

    1. Resource Summary: Typeform is a professional online form design tool that allows you to connect with page visitors via engaging and conversational online forms, surveys, quizzes, and landing pages.
    2. Resource Review:  8 Typeform Examples and a Typeform Discount
    3. Promotion:  New customers get 10% off Typeform subscriptions.
    4. Promotional Link: Typeform Discount
    5. Pro Tip: Sign up for the Typeform annual pro plan via the Typeform discount link to lock in 10% off plus two months for free.

*

Full Transparency about Recommended Website and Email Resources

Promotional links on this page are sponsorship (affiliate) links. There is no extra cost to you.  If you start using any of these website resources, you are encouraged to become affiliates for them as well. You’ll want to spread the word too. These website resources are that good, and I would use and recommend them even if there were no affiliate programs.

Thanks!

Brent

3 Occasions Email List Building is a Poor Use of Your Time

by

Many online entrepreneurs have an obsession with email list building.

Thousands of websites (this one included) strive to inspire you to submit your email address to a mailing list – often with an email opt-in incentive – also called a lead magnet (see what is a lead magnet).

Depending on your surfing habits, your Facebook feed may already be inundated with sponsored ads to sell you a course to teach you the secrets of email list building.

FYI: Did you know when you keep Facebook open in a browser tab, Facebook tracks the pages you visit on other tabs (to then share this information with its advertisers)?

While this site does not pay for Facebook sponsored ads at this time, it did throw a lead magnet project into the mix of email list building schemes.

LeadMagnetProject

Email List Building isn’t Necessarily Bad

Email list building is a legitimate online business strategy – and with good search engine optimized content on your site, email list building can be on autopilot to a degree.

As the old adage goes, it’s a numbers game.

The more people you add to your email list, the greater chance you have to sell your products or services to people on your email list.

But what if email list building is the wrong current strategy for your online business?

Here are three notable occasions email list building may not be your best marketing strategy.

3 Occasions Email List Building is a Poor Use of Your Time

1. Client Work to Do

The most valuable form of marketing you will ever have is word of mouth.

You have probably heard this adage too: People prefer to do business with people they know, like, and trust.

If someone doesn’t already know about your business, they will lean on the advice of a friend they do know, like, and trust.

That friend may be your client.

Before you invest more time in email list building schemes, don’t overlook the marketing power of an existing client.

But that marketing influence is lost if you do not follow through on agreed-upon commitments to that client.

2. Your Service is High-End Work

If your market niche is more service-oriented (e.g. consulting, project management, technical design) for only a few clients at a time, you don’t need to focus on building a big email mailing list.

You need to focus on attracting your target client through lead generation forms on your website.

Two lead generation forms used and recommended by this site are Typeform (see 8 Typeform Examples and a Typeform Discount) and WP Forms (see WP Forms and a WPForms Discount).

These two lead generation web tools allow you to create customized experiences for your site visitors.

After all, if you can make online forms or surveys kind of cool, you stand a good chance of getting a response from your target client.

3. You Have Products or Services to Create

It’s a catch-22 with email list building if the purpose of your email list building is to sell a product or service that you don’t yet have available to sell.

You need an email list to help communicate your product or service, but you need to actually create a product or service. Your offering doesn’t have to be perfect, but it has to be at least as good as the expectations you are setting.

In the end, email list building takes time.

Blogging is a sound strategy to generate organic traffic to your site, but the results happen through repetition not one-time inspiration.

If you find yourself focusing more of your available time on your email list building and not on your unfinished product, email list building is a poor use of your time.

 

Resources for Email List Building (if email list building is a good use of your time)

  1. Lead Magnet Guide (5 essential characteristics of a lead magnet)
  2. Lead Magnet Survey (share your own opinion about email sign up incentives and discover what other entrepreneurs recommend)
  3. Lead Magnet Project (an interactive online project for professionals building email lists)
  4. Lead Magnet Examples (Graceful Resources email subscribers can add their own web address for free)
  5. Recommended Website and Email Software Resources (you’ll also discover why these resources are recommended)

Cheering for your online success – one project step at a time!

Brent

One of the Best Lead Generation Ideas

by

Generating online leads for your business or non-profit cause requires some creativity.

There are countless lead generation ideas and it takes time to figure out the best strategy.

If your goal is to build an email list, you need to inspire people to sign up for your list (here are 10 different opt-in email marketing offers to help you decide on a creative lead magnet).  Once leads are on your email list, you can then guide them through a journey of new discoveries and resources.

If your goal is to inspire your website visitors to directly inquire about your products or services, you need a creative lead generation form (the next post on this site will add a second form software product review to the Graceful Resources recommended website resources to help you out).

The Story of Notch, the Rescued Dolphin

Martina S. Wing is a manta ray and marine life advocate, educator, author, and underwater photographer.

Her work is based on the Kona coast on the big island of Hawaii.

MartinaWing

In January 2013, she recorded underwater the true story of a wild dolphin in need and the humans who helped it.

Here’s the spectacular video itself of the dolphin (named Notch) rescue:

If you would like to watch the complete (10 minute) film festival edit of Notch’s rescue and opt-in for free to Martina Wing’s mailing list, you can do so via this film festival video landing page.

Martina is a very gifted storyteller and educator, and her email newsletter is an absolute treat to read every other Sunday.

You can sign up for her email list via this same video landing page.

One of the Best Lead Generation Ideas

Inspired by her video with over 30 million YouTube views, Martina is now sharing the amazing story of the rescued dolphin Notch with children around the world through a new children’s book (planned release later this year).

To build her email list in support of the book and all of her inspirational work, Martina’s free lead magnet is a downloadable coloring book.

The coloring book is one of the best lead generation ideas you will encounter. This lead generation idea aligns with her children’s book project, and the coloring book is just as popular with adults as it is with kids.

To date, her active email list is now over 1,600 subscribers.

Free Lead Magnet Guide

Martina is a client of Graceful Resources, and you can preview the Marine Life Coloring Book via this link.

If you are equally inspired by her team’s work, you are encouraged to directly opt-in to her list and coloring book via this book announcement landing page as well.

For more information on her children’s book project – which recently exceeded its Kickstarter campaign goal by 20% – please reference the following video and campaign-funding link.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/martinawing/notch-the-rescued-dolphin

What are the Best Lead Generation Ideas?

As Martina Wing’s lead magnet demonstrates, the best lead generation ideas don’t have to be the most sophisticated.

But lead generation ideas do have to be creative.

And when in doubt for your next lead generation ideas, never forget that we are all kids at heart.

That’s where inspiration begins!

Other Resources for Your Lead Generation Ideas

  1. Lead Magnet Guide (5 essential characteristics of a lead magnet)
  2. Lead Magnet Survey (share your own opinion about email sign up incentives and discover what other entrepreneurs recommend)
  3. Lead Magnet Project (an interactive online project for professionals building email lists)
  4. Lead Magnet Examples (Graceful Resources email subscribers can add their own web address for free)
  5. Recommended Website and Email Software Resources (you’ll also discover why these resources are recommended)

Cheering for your online success – one project step at a time!

Brent

How to Create a Winning Title for Your Free Email Offer

by

There is an old adage in writing that goes:

When the tension is lost, the audience’s attention is lost.

Authors are advised to withhold information in their works so the audience will keep reading until the very end.

Anytime you’ve kept reading another chapter, it is because the author maintained tension in the story.

Headlines on your business or community website should be designed with this adage in mind (for additional guidance, see the Online Lead Generation Guide and the free eBook below).

free email offer

The same advice also applies to public speakers to keep live audiences engaged in presentations – whether they are trying to persuade or enable the audience.

That’s why good speeches often begin with titles such as “3 Reasons to…” or “4 Steps to…”

Nobody likes tension in their lives and humans strive every day to release tension by discovering answers and solving problems.

Your free email offer (i.e. lead magnet) and blog post headlines should also be titled with this advice in mind.

Otherwise, the audience’s attention is lost the moment they see a free email offer that creates no tension.

Additional Resource to Help You Create a Winning Title for Your Free Email Offer

This additional resource is available to you free of charge with permission from Copyblogger (Rainmaker Digital, LLC).

Title: How to Write Magnetic Headlines

eBook Length: 56 Pages

View / Download:  How to Write Magnetic Headlines

eBook Summary © 2016 Rainmaker Digital, LLC:

Your headline is the first, and perhaps only, impression you make on a prospective reader.

Without a compelling promise that turns a browser of your content into a reader of your content, the rest of your words may as well not even exist. So, from a copywriting and content marketing standpoint, writing great headlines is a critical skill. Here are some interesting statistics:

On average, 8 out of 10 people will read your headline copy, but only 2 out of 10 will read the rest. This is the secret to the power of your headline, and why it so highly determines the effectiveness of the entire piece. Remember, every element of compelling copy has just one purpose — to get the next sentence read.

And then the sentence after that, and so on, all the way down to your call to action. So it’s fairly obvious that if people stop at the headline, you’re already dead in the water.

The better your headline, the better your odds of beating the averages and getting what you’ve written read by a larger percentage of people.

This ebook will provide you with concrete guidance that’ll have you writing better headlines in no time.

Other Resources for Your Free Email Offer

  1. Lead Magnet Guide (5 essential characteristics of a lead magnet)
  2. Lead Magnet Survey (share your own opinion about email sign up incentives and discover what other entrepreneurs recommend)
  3. Lead Magnet Project (an interactive online project for professionals building relevant email lists)
  4. Lead Magnet Examples (Graceful Resources email subscribers can add their own web address for free)
  5. Recommended Website and Email Software Resources (you’ll also discover why these resources are recommended)

Cheering for your online success – one project step at a time!

Brent

Discovered: Great Online Lead Generation Guide

by Leave a Comment

Online lead generation refers to the automatic processes in place on your website, landing page, or advertisement to attract relevant leads to your business.

For many entrepreneurs, online lead generation represents an email list opt-in and this online lead generation guide from Typeform is a treasure.

Online Lead Generation Guide Title:
Lead Generation: Nearly Everything You Need to Know

Online Lead Generation Guide Outline:

  1. Build Your Funnel
  2. Hack H.E.R. Brain Maps *
  3. Swap Value for Email
  4. Optimize Landing Page
  5. Approach Your Audience
  6. Track Led Gen Metrics
  7. Parting Words

* H.E.R. refers to three influencers or systems in your brain:

  1. Habit System (The Searchlight for Stimuli)
  2. Executive System (The Project Manager)
  3. Reward System (Where Feelings are Born)

The article was written by Eric Johnson, a cognitive psychologist and a member of Typeform’s Marketing and Growth team.

But don’t let the brain lingo deter you from this 16-minute online lead generation guide.

It is a fun and engaging read.

Lead-Generation-Guide

Section 3 (Swap Value for Email) of the online lead generation guide is all about the importance of lead magnets to grow a relevant email list.

Free Lead Magnet Guide

Typeform Online Lead Generation Guide

Typeform is an online software company, based in Barcelona, that allows customers to create engaging and conversational online forms, surveys, quizzes, and landing pages called typeforms.

While the Typeform Online Lead Generation Guide is technically a long blog post, it reinforces the company’s creativity.

Typeforms make data collection kind of a cool experience for users – which says a lot when you consider the bland experience most of us run into with Survey Monkey or Google Forms.

If you can make data collection seamless and fun for your leads and customers, you will set yourself apart from the competition in the digital economy.

Typeform_Cover

8 Typeform Examples and a Typeform Discount

Typeform is used on this site and will be taught as an online lead generation tool in the Lead Magnet Project if there is interest from participants.

If you would like to discover several examples of Typeform (plus a Typeform discount link), please reference 8 Typeform Examples and a Typeform Discount.

For your immediate reference, the Lead Magnet Survey was created in Typeform and it is the most successful online lead generation tool on this site.

Discovered: Great Online Lead Generation Guide

Whether you decide to add Typeform to your online lead generation toolkit or not, the company’s Online Lead Generation Guide is worth bookmarking.

Other Resources for Your Online Lead Generation

  1. Lead Magnet Project (an interactive online project for professionals building relevant email lists)
  2. Lead Magnet Guide (5 essential characteristics of a lead magnet)
  3. Lead Magnet Examples (Graceful Resources email subscribers can add their own web address for free)
  4. Recommended Website and Email Software Resources (you’ll also discover why these resources are recommended – includes Typeform)

Cheering for your online success – one project step at a time!

Brent