How to use the convertkit free plan

Introduction: Getting Started with ConvertKit’s Free Plan

ConvertKit is a powerful email marketing platform known for its focus on creators, bloggers, and businesses that want to nurture their audience and sell products or services. While ConvertKit offers several paid plans with advanced features, its free plan is a fantastic way for beginners to dip their toes into email marketing and build a foundational audience without any financial commitment. This article will guide you through effectively using ConvertKit’s free plan, covering everything from setting up your account to creating your first forms and sending your initial broadcast.

Setting Up Your Free ConvertKit Account

The first step, of course, is to create a ConvertKit account. Luckily, this is a straightforward process. Here’s a breakdown:

Visit the ConvertKit Website: Go to ConvertKit.com and find the option to sign up for the free plan.
Enter Your Information: You’ll need to provide your name, email address, and a strong password.
Describe Your Audience: ConvertKit will ask about your current audience size and what type of content you create. This helps them personalize your experience and offer relevant advice.
Confirm Your Email Address: Check your inbox for a confirmation email from ConvertKit and click the link to verify your account.
Complete Onboarding: ConvertKit offers a quick onboarding process to guide you through the basics of the platform. Take advantage of this to familiarize yourself with the interface and key features.

Understanding the Limitations of the Free Plan

Before diving in, it’s crucial to understand the limitations of the free ConvertKit plan. Knowing these limitations will help you manage your expectations and strategize effectively.

Subscriber Limit: The free plan typically allows for up to 1,000 subscribers. This is a great starting point for building your initial audience.
Limited Email Sends: There might be a limit on the number of emails you can send per month. Keep an eye on your usage to avoid exceeding the limit.
Landing Pages & Forms: You can create unlimited landing pages and forms, which is a significant advantage for growing your subscriber list.
No Automations: The free plan doesn’t include access to ConvertKit’s powerful automation features. You’ll be limited to sending broadcasts.
No Sequences: Drip email sequences are unavailable in the free plan.
Community Support: While you’ll have access to ConvertKit’s extensive knowledge base, priority support is typically reserved for paid plans.

Creating Your First Landing Page or Form

One of the most important features included in the free plan is the ability to create unlimited landing pages and forms. These are essential for capturing email addresses and growing your subscriber list. Here’s how to create your first one:

Navigate to Landing Pages & Forms: In your ConvertKit dashboard, find the “Landing Pages & Forms” section.
Create a New Landing Page or Form: Click the “Create New” button.
Choose a Template: ConvertKit offers a variety of pre-designed templates to choose from. Select one that aligns with your brand and the type of offer you’re promoting. You can also start from scratch.
Customize Your Design: Use the drag-and-drop editor to customize the template. Change the colors, fonts, images, and text to match your branding.
Configure Form Settings:
- Success Message: Customize the message that subscribers see after they sign up.
- Redirect URL: Redirect subscribers to a thank-you page or a specific URL after they sign up.
- Incentive Email (Optional): While automations are limited, you can still set up a simple incentive email to deliver a lead magnet or freebie to new subscribers. This is crucial for encouraging sign-ups.
Embed Your Form: Once you’re happy with your design, grab the embed code and paste it into your website or share the landing page link on social media.

Crafting Compelling Lead Magnets

A lead magnet is a valuable freebie that you offer in exchange for someone’s email address. A strong lead magnet is crucial for attracting subscribers. Here are some ideas:

Checklists: Offer a step-by-step checklist to help your audience achieve a specific goal.
Ebooks: Create a short ebook that provides valuable information on a topic related to your niche.
Templates: Offer downloadable templates for spreadsheets, social media graphics, or other useful tools.
Webinars: Host a free webinar and offer access to the recording as a lead magnet.
Free Trials: If you offer a paid product or service, consider offering a free trial as a lead magnet.

Sending Your First Broadcast Email

Broadcast emails are one-off emails that you send to your entire subscriber list or a segment of your list. They’re perfect for sharing updates, promoting new content, or making announcements. Here’s how to send your first broadcast with ConvertKit’s free plan:

Navigate to Broadcasts: In your ConvertKit dashboard, find the “Broadcasts” section.
Create a New Broadcast: Click the “New Broadcast” button.
Choose Your Recipients: Select the list of subscribers you want to send the email to. Since the free plan limits automations, you’ll likely be sending to your entire list.
Write Your Email: Use the email editor to craft your message. Pay attention to your subject line, as it’s the first thing your subscribers will see.
Add a Personal Touch: Use personalization tags to address subscribers by name and make your email feel more personal.
Include a Call to Action: Tell your subscribers what you want them to do. Do you want them to read your latest blog post, buy your product, or sign up for a webinar?
Test Your Email: Send a test email to yourself to ensure that everything looks correct and that all links are working.
Schedule or Send Immediately: Choose whether to send your email immediately or schedule it for a later date and time.

Essential Email Marketing Best Practices

Regardless of the platform you’re using, adhering to email marketing best practices is essential for building a strong relationship with your subscribers and avoiding spam filters.

Obtain Explicit Consent: Always get explicit consent before adding someone to your email list. Don’t add people who haven’t specifically opted in.
Provide a Clear Unsubscribe Link: Make it easy for subscribers to unsubscribe from your list. This is required by law in many countries.
Segment Your Audience: As your list grows, segment your audience based on their interests, demographics, or behavior. This allows you to send more targeted emails. (While segmentation options are limited on the free plan, you can still use tags strategically).
Personalize Your Emails: Use personalization tags to address subscribers by name and tailor your content to their interests.
Provide Value: Focus on providing valuable content that your subscribers will find helpful and engaging.
Be Consistent: Maintain a consistent sending schedule to keep your audience engaged.
Monitor Your Metrics: Track your open rates, click-through rates, and unsubscribe rates to see what’s working and what’s not.

Utilizing Tags on the Free Plan (Strategic Segmentation)

Even though the ConvertKit free plan lacks full automation features, you can still leverage *tags* for basic segmentation. Here’s how:

Tagging Subscribers via Forms: You can assign specific tags to subscribers based on the forms they use to sign up. For example, if you have a form for a free ebook about “gardening,” you can automatically tag subscribers who use that form with “gardening_interest.”
Tagging Subscribers Manually: You can manually tag subscribers in your ConvertKit dashboard if you have specific information about their interests or behavior.
Using Tags for Broadcast Targeting: While you can’t create automated sequences based on tags, you can use tags to target your broadcast emails. For example, you can send an email only to subscribers who are tagged with “gardening_interest.”

Analyzing Your Results and Optimizing Your Strategy

Email marketing is an iterative process. It’s essential to track your results, analyze your data, and optimize your strategy based on what you learn. Here’s what to look for:

Open Rate: The percentage of subscribers who opened your email. A low open rate could indicate a problem with your subject line or sending time.
Click-Through Rate (CTR): The percentage of subscribers who clicked on a link in your email. A low CTR could indicate a problem with your content or call to action.
Unsubscribe Rate: The percentage of subscribers who unsubscribed from your list after receiving your email. A high unsubscribe rate could indicate that you’re sending too many emails, that your content is not relevant, or that you’re not providing enough value.
Conversion Rate: The percentage of subscribers who took the desired action, such as buying your product or signing up for a webinar.

Upgrading to a Paid Plan: When and Why?

While the ConvertKit free plan is a great starting point, you’ll eventually need to upgrade to a paid plan if you want to unlock its full potential. Here are some signs that it’s time to upgrade:

You’ve Reached Your Subscriber Limit: If you’ve reached the 1,000 subscriber limit on the free plan, you’ll need to upgrade to continue growing your list.
You Need Automation: If you’re spending too much time manually sending emails and managing your list, upgrading to a paid plan will give you access to ConvertKit’s powerful automation features, which can save you a lot of time and effort.
You Want to Create Sequences: Drip email sequences are essential for nurturing your audience and guiding them through your sales funnel. If you want to create automated sequences, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan.
You Need Advanced Reporting: If you want more detailed insights into your email marketing performance, upgrading to a paid plan will give you access to advanced reporting features.
You Need Priority Support: If you need more responsive and personalized support, upgrading to a paid plan will give you access to priority support channels.

Conclusion: Mastering Email Marketing with ConvertKit’s Free Tier

The ConvertKit free plan is an excellent way to begin your email marketing journey. By understanding its limitations and maximizing the features available – landing pages, forms, broadcasts, and strategic tagging – you can build a valuable subscriber list and start nurturing your audience. As your needs grow, you can then transition to a paid plan to unlock the full power of ConvertKit’s automation and segmentation capabilities. Remember to always prioritize providing value to your subscribers, adhering to best practices, and continuously analyzing your results to optimize your strategy.