Categories
WordPress Plugins

Bloom Plugin Review: The Best Email Opt-In Plugin for WordPress?

Email is one of the most effective ways of turning casual visitors into loyal readers and potential customers. Sure, getting likes, shares, and retweets is great, but all website owners should know that growing an email list is one of the most essential tasks for growing a business. Simms Jenkins, a proponent of email marketing interviewed by Forbes Magazine, notes that although social media allows for great customer engagement, it does not always drive sales.

And he is right.

Email is the number one activity people do on their phones. It is an activity that is permission-based. People have given you the okay to send them information via email and they want what you have to offer.

Building an email list comes with many challenges. Here to help ease those difficulties is Bloom, an email opt-in plugin for WordPress. Developed by Elegant Themes, Bloom will help you target readers of your website and turn them into loyal customers. By including this feature rich and easy to use plugin with your already existing email service provider, your email list will surely grow as you turn website visitors into email subscribers.

To find out if this is the best email opt-in form plugin for WordPress, keep reading for our hands on Bloom plugin review.

What Opt-in Form Types Does the Bloom Plugin have to Offer

After downloading and activating the Bloom plugin, you will have the chance to customize your email opt-in forms to fit the needs of your website.

Display Types

Bloom Plugin For WordPress Display Types

There are 6 different opt-in display types to choose from. Each website, page, and post may require different types and with 6 to choose from you will be able to customize easily:

Automatic Opt-In Pop-Up

This automatic pop-up that can be triggered by a time delay, when a person reaches the bottom of a post, when they comment, or even when they make a purchase.

Automatic Opt-In Fly-Ins

This unique feature, different than the normal pop-up one, slides up and onto the screen and is a great way to catch the attention of your readers.  It is also triggered by the same user interactions as the pop-ups.

Below Content Opt-In Forms

Place this form below your site’s post or page content to gain the attention of your readers without upsetting their reading experience.

Inline Opt-In Forms

Choosing a specific location on your website for your customized opt-in form is made possible using this inline opt-in feature.

Require Opt-In to Unlock Content

Offering premium content to your readers is an excellent marketing technique.  By having an email subscribing requirement special content can be made accessible to those readers willing to follow more loyally.

Widget Area Opt-In Forms

This form can go anywhere a widget can. Think sidebars and footers and don’t stop there.

Pop-Up and Fly-In Triggers

Based on user interaction, Bloom allows you to customize you opt-in forms even further by adding triggers to each one you utilize on your website.

Display Settings Bloom Plugin

 

  • Timed Delay – This triggers the pop-up or fly-in to appear after your reader has been on a page for a specific amount of time.
  • Bottom of Post – When your reader gets to the bottom of a page or post, Bloom will trigger a reminder opt-in form.
  • After Scrolling – This opt-in form is triggered when your reader scrolls a certain percentage of the way down your page.
  • After Commenting – Appearing after a comment is made is a sure-fire way to know your reader is engaged in your content and probably wants more.
  • After Purchasing – This is a way to offer more of your product and promotion information after the checkout process has completed.
  • After Inactivity – This is a way to recapture your reader’s attention after too much inactivity.

Email Marketing Integrations

One of the best features Bloom has is the ability to integrate with your already existing email service provider. Bloom easily integrates with twelve of the most popular email marketing systems in use today including Aweber, MailChimp, and MailPoet, to name a few.  You can even integrate Bloom with multiple email service providers on one website. When someone subscribes using the opt-in form you created for your website, they are simply added to your email list and can start receiving emails from you right away.

Bloom Plugin Marketing Integrations

Design Choices

With over 100 pre-made design templates to choose from you are in complete control of designing a unique opt-in form for your needs. Try changing the title, description, image, background colors, text colors, border, orientation, and even more!

Choose Opt-In Form Template

 

A/B Split Testing

In order to decide which opt-in form works best for your website you can create multiple versions of the same opt-in form to display to different visitors. Making changes to each opt-in form will allow you to compare and assess which form seems to be the most effective.

A/B Split Testing Bloom Plugin

Statistics Dashboard

This display will tell you information about how fast your email list is growing and which opt-in form is doing the most work for you. The statistics include your highest performing pages, a historical graph about your email list growth, and overall list growth stats.

Dashboard Statistics Bloom Plugin

Other Key Features of the Bloom Plugin:

  • Opt-in form orientation choices including the bottom, left, or right.
  • Customizable borders and edges with endless color combinations.
  • Image orientation options including to the left, right, above, or below your form’s content.
  • Display settings to control when and where your opt-in form will appear.
  • Easy to use dashboard for simple and extensive customization.
  • Unlimited account tracking.
  • Conversion and email list statistics.
  • Ability to import and export Bloom plugin to multiple sites after original activation.
  • Mobile ready opt-in form option with high resolution imaging.

Bloom Pricing Options

The Bloom plugin is included with the Elegant Themes Developer and Lifetime Access packages, which start at just $89. Packages include access to all of their premium WordPress themes (87+ themes), plugins, and technical support all for one low price.

Bloom Review Conclusion

Bloom, the newest email opt-in plugin for WordPress, is user friendly and will be a sure success in helping you to collect emails for your website. With its endless design options, split testing options to assess your site’s best results, and even its mobile readiness for readers on the go, Bloom is sure to become one of the most popular email opt-in plugins there is.

When it comes to the question of which is the best email opt-in form plugin for WordPress – Bloom vs OptinMonster – its a tough call that only you can decide. However, when it comes to value for money, Bloom looks like a great deal.

Click here to find out more about Bloom today

Which features are you looking for from an email sign-up form plugin? What email opt-in form plugin are you using on your website now? Have you used the new Bloom plugin for WordPress yet? We would love to hear from you in the comments below!

Categories
WordPress Plugins

10 of the Best E-Commerce Plugins for WordPress

People love to shop online. It is simple, convenient, and allows for quick price comparisons so the buyer gets the best deal every time. Near or far, products can be delivered to a buyer’s front doorstep with the click of a mouse.

Setting up an e-commerce website is the key to boosting sales and reaching a wider audience. Creating an e-store allows anyone with Internet access to step into your online store and buy your products with ease.

If you already have a WordPress website, or are even considering building one, using this popular blogging platform for your e-commerce business is the smart way to go. With thousands of plugins available, many of which are free to use, selling your products online will be straightforward and effortless.

Here is a list of the top 10 WordPress plugins that will help make your online business a success:

WooCommerce

WooCommerce WordPress Plugin

With over 1 million active installs and a striking 4.4/5 stars, WooCommerce is the most popular e-commerce plugin available.

This plugin offers the following features:

  • Fully compatible with all WordPress themes, including default themes (or customize your own with a WooTheme tailored for this plugin)
  • Payment ease using major gateways such as PayPal, BACS, and Cash on Delivery
  • Dashboard to watch sales reports, reviews, stock levels and other statistrics
  • Coupon codes and discounts
  • Complete shipping control
  • Tax conversion capability
  • And much more

WooCommerce is offered as a free plugin with hundreds of free extensions or, if you need a little extra, there are premium extensions for purchase.

If you want to know exactly how to start selling products online with WooCommerce, be sure to check out our guide to building an online shop for free with WordPress

Download WooCommerce

WP e-Commerce

WP ecommerce WordPress Plugin

As the original WordPress e-commerce plugin, WP e-Commerce has withstood the test of time.  Although this plugin is not the most popular around, it has been touted as “…one of the most relied upon open-source solutions for business owners across the globe.”

Some key features include:

  • A sell anything plugin (physical products, digital downloads, memberships, and subscriptions)
  • Customizable with CSS and HTML
  • Shipping control with access to external shipping methods such as UPS or USPS
  • Multiple payment options
  • Automated marketing – integration to systems like Google Base, Google Analytics, Share This, and more
  • Multi-functioning coupon management system
  • Quick response support staff for all your technical needs

Even though WP e-Commerce is not rated the highest compared to its ever popular competitor WooCommerce, it definitely has a lot of bang and can get you e-commerce store up and running in no time.

Download WP e-Commerce

Jigoshop

Jigoshop WordPress Plugin

Developed by those with years of experience, Jigoshop is another old-timer, but is an ever popular e-commerce plugin. With a 4.5/5 star rating, and close to ½ million downloads, Jigoshop offers a quick store setup with lots of fun settings.

This plugin’s impressive elements include:

  • Currency and country settings
  • Catalog options
  • Tax Settings
  • Multiple product types such as: physical products, virtual/downloadable products, affiliate products, and grouped products
  • Real-time shop performance insight
  • Stock and inventory management with alerts

Jigoshop also offers free and commercial plugins that add to the “…broad functionality, easy migration options and professional support packages.” If you are looking for a quick and simple set up for your e-commerce store, this is the way to go.

Download Jigoshop

Cart66 Lite :: WordPress E-commerce

Cartt66 WordPress ecommerce Plugin

Cart66 is a straightforward, hassle-free plugin making your e-commerce store simple and powerful. There are no fancy settings or designs, simply a plugin to allow you to “…put a product on a page and sell it.”

Do not let its simplicity fool you though. Cart66 offers a variety of unique features to get your store up and running:

  • Secure payment using the Mijireh checkout system
  • Ability to sell digitally using Amazon S3 integration
  • Manage orders easily and set currencies
  • Create customized email receipts
  • Integrate an affiliate platform
  • PCI compliant (no need for SSL certificate)
  • Sell from any page or post within website

While Cart66 is offered as a free plugin, if you feel you need a little more as far as features go, you can always upgrade to Cart66 Pro. Integrating with the popular Gravity Forms plugin, Cart66 Pro opens up a host of possibilities for your online business.

Download Cart66 Lite :: WordPress E-commerce

Shopp

Shopp WordPress Plugin

Introduced in 2008, Shopp was developed by Ingenesis Limited and is run by volunteers today. This plugin offers a wide variety of features. It is highly professional and designed with developers in mind; however it is also simple enough for the average shop owner to handle. “Not too much, and not too little.”

Here are the most important features included in the Shopp plugin:

  • Export to external accounting systems such as Quickbooks ®, Intuit ®, or other spreadsheet programs
  • Cart management for shoppers to control their purchases
  • Related products smart collection
  • Passing PCI vulnerability scans so you know your site is protected
  • Promotion system for coupons and discounts
  • And a whole lot more

This plugin offers business owners a simple and flexible way to manage their e-commerce shop. You can download this plugin for free or even take it one step further and purchase the Merchant Support package for additional features. Whichever way you choose to go, this plugin is sure to make your business a success.

Download Shopp

iThemes Exchange : Simple E-commerce

iThemes Exchange Simple WordPress ecommerce Plugin

If you are looking for a super simple plugin that allows you to simply add your products to your site and start selling, iThemes Exchange is the one for you. The idea behind this plugin is to create the user features as Add-ons that you activate in your dashboard. In fact, the developers of this plugin want you to imagine Add-ons “…as features you can turn on and off.” That way you only have what you need for your store and nothing more.

Here is a list of the Add-ons included in the free version of iThemes Exchange:

  • Ability to add digital downloads to your store
  • Easy to add shipping options
  • PayPal and Stripe payment options (as well as options for paying offline via check or cash)
  • Coupon generation
  • Simple tax conversions
  • Dashboard widget to view basic sales statistics
  • Multi-item Cart
  • Product Categories and Tags for easy grouping of products

Download iThemes Exchange : Simple E-commerce

Ecwid

Ecwid WordPress Plugin

Used as a shopping cart plugin, Ecwid comes packed with some unique features and boasts a 4.7/5 star rating.

Some of these cool features are:

  • Automatic embedding into your existing WordPress site with ease, adjusting to your page size and layout
  • Unlimited storage
  • Regular backups
  • Seamless upgrades and security updates
  • Secure checkout
  • Sell anywhere: websites, mobile phones, social media, Google Shopping/Yahoo/Shopping.com
  • And so much more

Ecwid is praised as being the “…#1 e-commerce app on Facebook with over 40,000 stores.” Reaching 175 countries, supporting over 45 languages, and incorporating over 40 international payment options, this plugin is truly your e-commerce site’s global solution.

Download Ecwid

eShop

eShop WordPress Plugin

One of the most accessible and feature-packed e-commerce plugins around is definitely eShop. Loaded with options to get your online business going, this free plugin will really do the job.

Here are just a few reasons why this plugin is so great:

  • Customer Signups
  • Product listing variations
  • Digital download capability
  • Automatic email system
  • Stock control
  • Multisite compatible
  • Tax conversions
  • Several payment gateways
  • Plenty of shipping options
  • Discount options
  • And that is just the start

Download eShop

Easy Digital Downloads

Easy Digital Downloads WordPress Plugin

No physical products to sell? Use Easy Digital Downloads as your complete e-commerce plugin for selling digital products only. Rather than include many of the same features the other e-commerce plugins have, Easy Digital Downloads contains only what you need to sell in the digital world, as well as the basics needed to run your store successfully.

Take a look:

  • Earning and sales charts
  • Bundled products
  • Popular payment options including PayPal and Stripe
  • Cart system to purchase numerous downloads at once
  • Ability to re-download files
  • Data export options for CSV and PDF
  • Multiple files per downloadable product
  • Complete promotional code system

Rated as a 4.9/5 stars, this highly favored plugin can be used to solve all your digital selling needs.

Download Easy Digital Downloads

MarketPress – WordPress e-Commerce

MarketPress WordPress ecommerce Plugin

Bringing the power of multiple plugins into one product, MarketPress makes setting up your online store easier than ever before.

This is what the plugin has to offer:

  • All major payment gateways accessible accepting all major currencies
  • Sell anything from physical products to digital downloads
  • Coupons and discounts available
  • AJAX cart ready
  • Multisite and BuddyPress compatible
  • Ability to set up an eBay or Etsy-style store
  • Google Universal Analytics for tracking
  • Works with any WordPress theme
  • Categories and Tags for easy grouping
  • Extensive inventory management system
  • And the list goes on and on

This all inclusive e-commerce plugin “…includes all the functionality out-of-the-box and requires no paid add-ons.”  If you are ready to have it all at your fingertips right now, MarketPress is the way to go.

Download MarketPress – WordPress e-Commerce

CONCLUSION

There are so many choices to make when deciding which plugins to add to your up-and-coming e-commerce website. Each individual store will have different requirements to make it successful in the online world. Use this list of some of the best plugins available and start building your business now. With the right theme, the right plugins, and the right kind of products, your e-commerce store will be booming in no time!

Have you ever used any of the above plugins? Which ones would you add to the list? Let us know in the comment section below!