How to Add Email Subscription Widget to Blogger

Email subscription widgets are a powerful way to grow your audience by keeping them updated with your latest blog posts. Blogger makes it relatively simple to integrate email subscription features through tools like FeedBurner or third-party services. This guide will walk you through the process of adding an email subscription widget to your Blogger site step-by-step.

01. Why Add an Email Subscription Widget?

An email subscription widget offers several benefits:

Grow Your Audience: Collect email addresses to build a loyal reader base.
Drive Traffic: Notify subscribers whenever you publish new content, encouraging visits to your site.
Engage Directly: Maintain direct communication with your readers through email updates.

02. Setting Up FeedBurner for Blogger

FeedBurner is a free Google service that simplifies email subscriptions for blogs. Follow these steps to integrate FeedBurner with Blogger:

Step 1: Activate FeedBurner

Visit FeedBurner and log in with your Google account.
In the "Burn a feed right this instant" section, enter your blog’s RSS feed URL (e.g., http://yourblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default).
Click Next and follow the prompts to set up your feed.

Step 2: Enable Email Subscriptions

Go to your FeedBurner dashboard and select your feed.
Navigate to the Publicize tab and click Email Subscriptions.
Click Activate to enable email subscriptions for your feed.

Step 3: Copy the Subscription Code

In the Email Subscriptions section, scroll down to the HTML code snippet provided by FeedBurner.
Copy the code to use it in your Blogger widget.

03. Adding the Email Subscription Widget to Blogger

Once you have the code, follow these steps to add the widget to your Blogger site:

Step 1: Access the Blogger Layout

Log in to your Blogger account and go to the Layout section from the dashboard.
Choose the area where you want to display the widget (e.g., sidebar or footer).

Step 2: Add an HTML/JavaScript Gadget

Click Add a Gadget in your chosen area.
Select the HTML/JavaScript option.
Paste the FeedBurner subscription code into the content box.

Step 3: Save and Preview

Click Save to add the widget to your blog.
Visit your blog to ensure the subscription widget appears as expected.

04. Customizing the Subscription Widget

Make the widget more appealing by customizing it to match your blog’s theme:

Edit the HTML Code

Modify the FeedBurner code to adjust colors, fonts, or layout. For example:

<div class="subscription-widget">
  <h3>Subscribe to Our Newsletter</h3>
  <p>Stay updated with the latest posts and news.</p>
  <form action="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" target="popupwindow">
    <input type="text" name="email" placeholder="Enter your email" class="email-input" />
    <input type="submit" value="Subscribe" class="subscribe-btn" />
  </form>
</div>

Use CSS for Styling

Add CSS styles to enhance the appearance of your widget:

.subscription-widget {
   max-width: 400px;
   margin: 20px auto;
   padding: 20px;
   background-color: #f7f7f7;
   border: 1px solid #ddd;
   border-radius: 8px;
   text-align: center;
   font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
   box-shadow: 0 4px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
}

.subscription-widget h3 {
   margin: 0 0 10px;
   color: #333;
   font-size: 1.5em;
}

.subscription-widget p {
   margin: 0 0 15px;
   color: #666;
   font-size: 0.9em;
}

.email-input {
   width: calc(100%);
   padding: 10px;
   margin-bottom: 10px;
   border: 1px solid #ccc;
   border-radius: 4px;
   font-size: 1em;
   box-sizing: border-box;
}

.subscribe-btn {
   width: 100%;
   padding: 10px;
   background-color: #4CAF50;
   color: #fff;
   border: none;
   border-radius: 4px;
   font-size: 1em;
   cursor: pointer;
   transition: background-color 0.3s ease;
   box-sizing: border-box;
}

.subscribe-btn:hover {
   background-color: #45a049;
}

Output:

05. Third-Party Alternatives

If FeedBurner doesn’t meet your needs, consider these alternatives:

Mailchimp: Offers advanced features like automation and analytics.
ConvertKit: Popular among bloggers for its simplicity and effectiveness.
GetResponse: Includes a wide range of tools for email marketing.

Adding Third-Party Widgets

These services typically provide HTML embed codes similar to FeedBurner. Follow the same steps outlined in Section 03 to add the code to your Blogger layout.

06. Promoting Your Subscription Widget

Encourage visitors to subscribe by promoting the widget effectively:

Call-to-Action (CTA): Use compelling language like "Stay Updated!" or "Subscribe for Free."
Highlight Benefits: Explain what users will gain by subscribing, such as exclusive content or updates.
Social Media: Share your subscription link on platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

Conclusion

Adding an email subscription widget to your Blogger site is a straightforward process that can significantly enhance user engagement and grow your audience. Whether you use FeedBurner or a third-party service, an effective subscription system ensures your readers never miss your latest updates.