Last updated on August 1st, 2018 at 06:51 pm
We hear it all the time, you need an email list. Okay, fine, but how do you actually get someone to give you their email address? In this tutorial, I am going to show you how to create a free resource library on WordPress.
Not only that, but I’ll also explain what a resource library is and what you can put inside.
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Before we get into the tutorial, I first wanted to tell you my personal experience with growing an email list.
By now you know about my blogging journey.
I am blogging to move away from my freelancing business and more towards making money through passive income streams.
I currently work as a WordPress freelancer and while I do enjoy it. I want to stop trading hours for dollars.
While I still do offer my limited WordPress services.
My goal is to turn this blog into a full-time business so it can support me. It’s definitely been a challenge, but I’m always up for a challenge.
If you need help understanding WordPress, Iβve compiled a great list of WordPress tutorials on this blog that will make it easy for you to understand WordPress better. If youβre ready to rock your WordPress blog, then be sure to visit my easy to understand WordPress tutorials for beginners.
Donβt forget to pin it for later!
Have You Started Your Email List?
Ask any successful blogger, and they’ll tell you that you should start your email list from day one.
While I am NOT an expert at building an email list. I can only share what I’ve learned and what I am doing.
I currently use GetResponse as my email subscriber service. However, there are tons of email autoresponders you can use.
Some of the most popular ones for beginners are:
There are literally tons of different services you can join. So do your due diligence and find one that you want to get started with.
Don’t worry, you can always move your list later. I’ve personally never moved one, but I’ve read about people who have moved theirs.
Today we’re not going to focus on which email autoresponder service you should join. Nope, the choice is completely up to you.
Instead, I am going to focus on showing you how to create a free WordPress resource library on your blog, using the Thrive Content Builder.
Tools I Used to Build My Resource Library:
- Thrive Leads Plugin
- Thrive Architect
What Is A WordPress Resource Library?
We’ve seen those blogs that say, sign up for my free resource library. Heck, my blog has one and you can sign up for it here.
Once you get access to the library, you’ll get resources that you can use to help you grow your blog.
You can put pretty much anything you want inside of your resource library.
The important thing to remember is that you can to fill it with resources, worksheets, videos and etc… that will help your readers.
You have to it valuable enough to where someone wants to give you their email so they can access the library.
They won’t be able to access your resource library unless they give you their email.
Once they give you their email, they’ll get the password that unlocks their access.
Here’s a video that I created to show you exactly what I mean. I even go through and show you how to create the resource library using the Thrive Architect.
Video Tutorial On How To Create A Resource Library On WordPress
I know that some people would prefer to watch a video. Follow along as I show you step-by-step on how to create your resource library.
Grab your favorite beverage as this is going to be a long tutorial. However, by the time you finish, you’ll have your free resource library created on your blog.
So you can start building your email list.
Stay tuned as I’ll be creating another tutorial in a different post that will show you how to connect your resource library to your autoresponder service.
How To Create A Free Resource Library On WordPress
For this tutorial, I will be using the Thrive Architect formerly known as Thrive Content Builder. It is a paid plugin and you can pick it up here.
This is how I created my free resource library on my blog. So I can only show you what has worked for me and how I did mine.
We all know there are tons of ways to accomplish things on WordPress. So feel free to use a different method if you choose to.
Password Protect Your Page
First things first, you’re going to want to create a new page that is going to be your resources page. I created one in the video and I just called it Subscribers Resources.
Next, you’ll want to make sure that you give it a password. This is just to make sure that no one accesses the page without first opting in.
Scroll up on your newly created resource page until you see the publish tab.
You’ll see your visibility options.
As soon as you hit publish, it’s automatically available for the public to see.
You’ll want to click on the edit link right beside the public. As soon as you do you’ll get the option to password protect your page.
Click the radio button right beside password.
Enter your password and then click on Okay.
Now your page is password protected and no one can see it unless they have the password.
Two Types of Email Opt-ins to Create
Single Optin
I won’t really cover this in complete detail, in this tutorial. However, I cover it completely in the video above.
You can create a page that says “Thanks for Signing Up” and this page provides the subscriber with the password so they can automatically log into your resource library.
This method doesn’t require them to log into their email account and confirm their subscription.
Double Optin
In the video above, I created a page called Confirmation. This page has 3 steps that tell the subscriber what they need to do before they can get access to the resource library.
This page has a 3-step process that tells the subscriber what they need to do before they can get access to the resource library.
The subscriber will then have to log into their email and click on the confirmation link.
Once they click on the confirmation link, the password to the resource library will get emailed to them.
You Get To Choose
I won’t be covering which one is best or which one you should create. It’s up to you, that’s the best part about having a self-hosted blog.
If you need more help in deciding or want to see how I created both of the pages, watch the video above.
Using Thrive Content Builder
The main reason that I use the Thrive Content Builder is that it helps me create my library quickly and easily. Here’s how mine looks like on my blog.
As you can see, I’ve set up a 2 column page so I can add my resources side by side.
You don’t have to use the Thrive Content Builder to do this. However, it makes it easy for me to do this quickly.
Creating the Page In Content Builder
You’ll be creating the page in your WordPress text editor, however, you’ll need to make sure that you’re creating the page with the Thrive Content Builder.
Created 2 Columns
I drag and dropped the 2 column element on the page. Then I added a heading at the top of each column.
Next, drag an image element underneath your resources headings.
Image I Used
As you can see from my resource library picture above. I just used an image of the PDF file.
You can use whatever image you want.
After adding your image, it’s time to link it to your PDF that you created.
Linking Your Image
If you’ve closed out your page or saved the changes, click on the edit with Content Builder at the very top of the admin bar.
Once you’ve created your freebie for your resource library, it’s time to attach it to your image.
Click on the image and you’ll be prompted with several choices. You just want to add the link to your freebie so people can access it.
Click save and now you have your first freebie inside of your library. Awesome
You can now start inviting people to join your resource library.
The great thing is that you can always add more resources in your free library whenever you want.
Do I Need A Resource Library?
You might be wondering do I need to learn how to create a free resource library on WordPress?
No, you don’t have to.
However, if you’re trying to grow your email list, you need to provide something of value to get people to give you their email address.
It’ll be harder to get people to subscribe without providing anything.
Do I Need To Give Something Away For Free
We’ve all heard that we need to provide as much useful content to people to help build our blog community.
Quick Story
I was on a blog awhile back, I can’t remember the URL.
That blogger said she wasn’t giving her subscribers shit for free. (her words not mine π
Her basis was that she didn’t want a bunch of freebie seekers on her list.
I get that theory.
In fact, I almost went that route. However, after listening to one of Pat Flynn’s podcasts he says he gives away all his information for free because basically everything can be found online.
The great thing is that you get to decide how much you want to give away for free.
Why I Give Away So Much For Free
My goal is to make the techie side of blogging easier for you. I want to empower you to start your own blog.
The only way I know how to do that is to provide you with helpful tutorials and blogging tips. That’s what I’m good at.
Heck, I can’t sew and I can’t cook.
But when it comes to WordPress, I am pretty good with the basics π
In return, I am hoping that people will go through my affiliate links for sharing as much as I do. Yes, I do have a hidden agenda.
Yes, I will eventually put out a paid product. Sorry π
Right now, since my blog is still really new and I don’t have a lot of subscribers. I have no clue what type of product to create that would help you.
So I am waiting till later to start creating a real online course.
This means that I am not really sharing everything I know right?
What Should I Put In My Resource Library?
The great thing is that it’s your blog. Many bloggers put resource guides, worksheets, blog business plans, videos and etc…
I know that it can be confusing. The main thing that you want to consider when setting up your free resource library is what’s going to help your readers?
This means that you’ll need to know who your target audience is.
Take for instance my blog. I make the techie side of blogging easy by providing tips, tutorials, and resources to help you. I also share with you what I am doing go grow my blog.
When I created my resource library I put guides in it that would help beginners and bloggers who are new to WordPress.
The cool thing is that you can put videos, pdf’s, worksheets, cheatsheets or anything you want inside of your library.
I’ve seen bloggers in all different kind of blogging niches that have set up some type of password protected page on their blog for their subscriber.
So don’t worry about whether this will work in your niche because if you do it right, it can help you grow your email list.
What I Suggest
If you’re confused on what you should put inside of your resource library. I suggest that you sign up for a couple of bloggers resource libraries.
This will give you an idea of what they’re putting inside of theirs. I am not saying that you should copy them.
But this will give you an idea of what other bloggers are doing.
Ask yourself these questions:
- How do these resources help me in my niche?
- What can I learn from these resources?
- Why did I sign up for this blogger’s resource library?
- What’s in it for me?
- Is the blogger really trying to be helpful?
- Does the blogger provide easy to follow the advice I can use?
If you can answer those questions, those are the same questions your readers might be asking themselves.
Of course, there are probably other questions you can ask yourself. However, this will get your juices for creativity flowing.
Next Step
If you haven’t started building your email list, stop what you’re doing.
Sign up for one of the email autoresponder services on this post or any other one.
Don’t put it off any longer. Even if you don’t get a lot of traffic right now, as your blog continues to grow, you want to make sure you’re ready.
Otherwise, you’ll be one of those bloggers that say “I should’ve started building my email list from day one.”
Final Take Away
You don’t have to necessarily create a free resource library. You can even go the route where you don’t provide anything for free.
If you do, let me know how that goes for you.
However, if you want to give people a reason to give you their email address. You’re going to have to give them a reason.
Don’t forget to sign up for my Free WordPress Course for Beginners.
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Hopefully, this tutorial helped you learn how to create a free resource library on WordPress. If you found it useful and want to pick up the Thrive Architect, here’s my affiliate link.
Have you started growing your email list? If so, are you using a resource library? If not, let me know what type of lead magnet you’re using. I’d love to hear what others are using to grow their email list.
So, I have an extensive eMail list. But, I have elected to not eMail my list with offers- except for maybe once every 18 months or so.
But, you are right- having an extensive resource library (providing ‘just enough’ information) is a vital way for folks to recognize the capabilities you bring to THEIR table.
Hi Susan,
This is perfect! I’ve been looking for something like this! π
I’m still not sure what to put on my resource page. I’m thinking video tutorials but there are so many of them that I’m not sure if it would get any attention.
Thanks for telling us about the plugin and how it works. I wish you all the best with your resource page!
Have a great day Susan!
Cori
Hi Roy,
Sounds like you have an email system that is working for you.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment, have a great day π
Susan
Hi Cori,
Video tutorials would go great in a resource page.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment, hope you have a great day π
Susan
Hello Susan,
Great tips over here π
I have been working on my e-mail list finally from the last month, and the feed back is fair enough. Indeed things do not
happen over night. By getting recommended by many bloggers, I was on for e-mail list.
Thanks for letting us aware of the plugins and how to go past with them.
Shantanu.
Hi Shantanu,
Glad to hear that you’re working on growing your email list. I’m working on that as well.
It definitely doesn’t happen overnight, but it will continue to grow if we keep working on it.
Please come back and let me know how your email list building is going in a few months, I’d love to hear what you’re doing.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by, have a great day π
Susan
Hello, Susan.
Thanks for this resourceful article. I believe that the implication of a resource page is similar to that of a gated content.
I have never thought of building a resource page. So far I haven’t created any White papers/ case studies that can entice a prospect to opt for such a service.
I believe that’s is one opportunity I should look into.
Hi Nishant,
I’m glad that you found this post helpful. Let me know if you do end up creating a resource library for your blog.
I’d love to hear what you put inside of it to get people to opt-in to your email list.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment.
Have a great day π
Susan
Great, well described article. I always seen that every bloggers create their own resource library but didn’t know those profit but today I know what’s the profit.
How email list are made with the help of these things.
Thank you for sharing with us.
Hi Ashutosh,
This is actually the first time I’ve created my own resource library. I’m still learning what types of products and information to put inside.
The cool thing is that you can put whatever it is you think will help your subscribers out.
I’m glad you found it helpful. Let me know if you do end up creating your own resource library on your blog. I’d love to hear about your experience.
Have a great day π
Susan
Excellent Susan. Goodness it is key to be generous, to grow your blogging business. I doubled my email list in 3 months by generously sharing my knowledge on hundreds of blogs via guest posting. I also offer my HD travel videos, blog posts and other goodies via email too, to keep that abundant vibe going. Then, whether you have a rocking free resource library like yourself or have spread valued freebies via different platforms, you will attract more and more readers.
Hi Ryan,
Doubling your email list in just 3 months is awesome. Sharing generously does bring people to your blog.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment, hope you have a great day π
Susan
Hello, Susan.
Thanks for this resourceful article. I believe that the implication of a resource page is similar to that of a gated content.
Hi Piyush,
Glad you liked the article. Are you using a resource library on your blog?
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment, have a great day π
Susan
Creating a resource library works and I can vouch for it.
I have included tons of ebooks, excel sheets, and other guides to help my readers and I constantly get subscribers by doing almost nothing.
Thanks for the guide!
Hi Shafi,
Glad to hear that you’re resource library is working great. I love them as well.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment.
Have a great day π
Susan