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Benchmark Email Lite Plugin for WordPress

Integrations Signup Forms Updated on May 4, 2023

The easiest way to get new sign-ups is to add a signup form directly to your WordPress site. We recommend installing the Benchmark Email Lite Plugin into your WordPress account.

You can also add your Benchmark signup form without installing the Benchmark Email Lite plugin. Click here to learn how.

Before getting started, consider the following.

  • Free plans have a limit of 75 signups per day.  
  • Paid accounts have no signup limits.
  • Please note that if you have a popup blocker on your browser, it could interfere with seeing popup signup forms.

If you prefer a video tutorial, watch this video.

SUGGESTION

  • To learn how to create and customize a Benchmark signup form, click here.
  • To learn how to retrieve your Benchmark API Key, click here.

Installing the Benchmark Email Lite Plugin

There are two options to install the Benchmark plugin. Both options are easy and fast.

  1. Log in to your WordPress account.
  2. On the dashboard menu, select Plugins and click on Add New.
  1. Search for Benchmark Email Lite.
  2. Click on the Install Now option.
  1. After a few seconds, you will see the Activate option. Click on it.
  1. Select Benchmark from the left sidebar menu.
  2. Add your Benchmark username and password. Then click the Connect to Benchmark button.
  1. Benchmark and WordPress are now connected. You will see more options for Benchmark in the sidebar aside from a list with your forms and an option to go to the Benchmark interface.
  1. Download the Benchmark Email Lite plugin here.
  1. Save the Zip file you will use later.
  2. Log in to your WordPress account.
  3. On the dashboard menu, select Plugins and click on Add New.
  4. At the top of the page, click on the Upload Plugin button.
  5. Click on the Choose File button and select the zip file you previously downloaded. 
  1. Click on the Install Now option.
  2. Select Activate.
  1. Benchmark and WordPress are now connected. You will see more options for Benchmark in the sidebar aside from a list with your forms and an option to go to the Benchmark interface.

SUGGESTION

Enable automatic updates of the Benchmark Email Lite plugin. From the plugins option in the dashboard, select Enable auto-updates for Benchmark plugin.

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Adding a Benchmark signup form using the Benchmark Email Lite Plugin

Once you have installed the Benchmark Email Lite plugin, you can add your Benchmark form to any post or page on your WordPress site.

Embedded or small embed forms are displayed within your post or page, but popup forms will display according to your Benchmark’s form settings. Depending on the block you choose, you may not see the signup form in the editor. We recommend you use the Preview option to see what your form looks like before updating or publishing.

Choose the option of your preference to add your Benchmark signup form:

You can easily add one of your Benchmark forms to a WordPress post using the Benchmark block. The Benchmark block is only available once you have installed the Benchmark Email Lite plugin.

Here is how:

  1. In your post, add a block using the plus icon.
  2. Type Benchmark in the search bar.
  1. Select the Benchmark Email Signup form block.
  2. Go to the block options on the right and select an existing form.

In the edit post page, you will see a blue banner with the message: Benchmark signup form will display here.

On your published page, you will see the form. However, pop-up forms will display according to your Benchmark’s form settings.

Shortcodes are an easy way to use any of your Benchmark forms in the WordPress block editor, classic editor, or a third-party page builder. You will find a list of your signup form’s shortcodes in the Shortcodes option.

To add a form via the Shortcode block in the WordPress block editor:

  1. Hover your mouse over the Benchmark option on the left sidebar menu and select Shortcodes.
  1. Using your keyboard, copy the signup form shortcode.
  2. Go to the post or page where you want to add the shortcode.
  3. Add a Shortcode block wherever you want to place your form.
  1. Paste the shortcode. 

IMPORTANT

Adding a shortcode may be different if you are not using the WordPress block editor.

Depending on your site’s WordPress theme, you may be able to add widgets in different site areas, like sidebar or footers.

CONSIDER

Some WordPress themes are not widget-aware, and will not have the option to add a signup form within a widget.

To change your WordPress theme, go to Appearance in the sidebar menu and select a new theme. Common themes with the widget option are ones containing sidebars or footers.

If you selected a theme with the widget options, follow these instructions to add a signup form in your sidebar or footer:

  1. log in to your WordPress account.
  2. Hover your mouse over the Benchmark option in the sidebar and select Signup Form Widgets.
  1. Depending on your theme, you will see different areas where you can add your form as a widget.
  2. Wherever you want to add your form, click on the Add block option.
  3. In the search bar, type Benchmark
  4. Select the Benchmark signup form block.
  1. Select an existing embedded, small embed, or popup signup form.

Popup forms will display according to your Benchmark form settings.

  1. You now have a signup form to add subscribers from your WordPress site.
  2. Continue editing your post, and hit publish or update when done. You will see the form on the published page.

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How to create an Email from WordPress post

You can create a post as a Benchmark email from your WordPress account. The plugin will use your post’s information to fill in your email details in Benchmark.

Follow these steps to create your first Benchmark email from a WordPress post:

  1. Log into your WordPress account.
  2. On the dashboard menu, select All Posts.
  3. Hover your mouse over the post you’d like to send as a new email campaign and click on the Create Email Campaign option.
  1. You will be prompted to the interface Benchmark option in WordPress. Click on the Open Benchmark Interface button.
  1. You’ll be directed to your new email Details page, the plugin will automatically fill in the following information.
    • Email Name
    • From Name & Reply Email Address
    • Email Subject Line
    • Contact list – before continuing, ensure you review the lists selected.
  2. Once done, the page proceeds to the email editor.
  3. Inside the Drag & Drop Editor, you can see the post previously selected. Continue customizing your email, and when you are ready, send it or schedule it.

SUGGESTION

To learn more about creating regular emails, click here. Additionally, discover how to get your real-time email reports here.

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Adding a Benchmark signup form without installing Benchmark Email Lite Plugin

If you can’t access WordPress plugins, there are other options to add your Benchmark forms to your WordPress posts or pages. You can add your Benchmark signup form using the custom HTML block or add the form as a link.

As a reminder, the Benchmark Email lite plugin is free, and its installation is simple. In addition, with the plugin, you can add embedded, small embed, and even popup forms.

Embedded and small embed codes can be placed in widgets, posts, or pages. However, popup forms can only be placed in widgets using the form’s Javascript code. Please note that widgets are only available in some WordPress themes.

Follow these instructions to add your form using a custom HTML block:

  1. log in to your Benchmark account.
  2. In the dashboard, click on Contacts and then select Signup Forms.
  1. Create a new signup form or select an existing one.
  2. When your form is ready to publish, click the Save & Publish button.
  3. Confirm the changes in the popup.
  4. Select one of the code options available and click on Copy. For Popups forms: Select the Javascript code.
  1. Log in to your WordPress account.
  2. Go to a post, page, or widget.
  3. Click on the plus icon to add a new block.
  4. Locate the Custom HTML block and click on it.
  1. Paste the signup form code previously copied.

You will see the HTML code. If you want to see the form, select Preview. If using a popup form, the form will appear blank in the editor. To see the popup form, you’ll need to preview the page, and the form will display according to the form’s settings.

You can add a Benchmark embedded or small embed signup form link directly in a post, page, or widget. Here is how:

  1. Select the text where your form will be linked and click on the link option.
  2. Paste the form URL form. Click here to learn how to access your signup form’s URL. 

Example:

When a user clicks on it will be redirected to the form. Toggle the Open in a new tab option if you want the user to keep open the post or page source. Otherwise, the form will be open in the same tab.

IMPORTANT

Only embedded forms can be shared as links. Click here to learn how to create an embedded form.

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If you have any questions, please contact our support team.