Boost Your WordPress with ActiveCampaign: 5 Easy Connection Methods!

ActiveCampaign is a leading email marketing platform that seamlessly integrates with WordPress, allowing you to effectively manage email campaigns, track contacts, and capture leads.

Integrating ActiveCampaign with your WordPress site can enhance your marketing strategies and help your business grow. Based on our experience, combining these tools simplifies email management and improves overall results.

We discovered that the integration of ActiveCampaign with WPForms is particularly beneficial. It connects your forms directly to ActiveCampaign, storing customer information and streamlining email list management.

We recognize that this method may not be ideal for everyone.

In this article, we will guide you through various methods to connect WordPress with ActiveCampaign. We will explore options such as plugins and form embedding to help you choose the most suitable solution.

Why Should You Connect Your WordPress Site With ActiveCampaign?

ActiveCampaign is a renowned email marketing and automation tool that enables you to easily create automated workflows, forms, landing pages, CRMs, and email lists.

By linking this tool with your WordPress site, you can gather email addresses from customers, create and trigger automated email sequences, send newsletters, and track visitor data directly from your dashboard.

Additionally, you can oversee your email marketing campaigns from a unified platform, which can significantly increase your conversions and sales.

Now, let’s explore how to seamlessly connect your WordPress site with ActiveCampaign. Here’s a brief overview of the topics we will discuss in this guide:

• Introduction to ActiveCampaign
• Method 1: Integrate ActiveCampaign with WordPress Using WPForms
• Method 2: Integrate ActiveCampaign with WordPress Using OptinMonster
• Method 3: Integrate ActiveCampaign with WordPress Using Formidable Forms
• Method 4: Integrate ActiveCampaign with WordPress Using MemberPress
• Method 5: Integrate ActiveCampaign with WordPress Using a Free Plugin
• Bonus: Explore Alternatives to ActiveCampaign

Introduction to ActiveCampaign

To begin, visit the ActiveCampaign website.

Once there, enter your email address and click the ‘Get Started’ button. This will direct you to a new page where you’ll need to provide some information about your business to create your account.

After completing that step, you will be directed to your ActiveCampaign dashboard, where you should navigate to the ‘Settings’ tab located in the left column.

This action will open a new panel on the left side. Select the ‘Developer’ option to access additional settings. Here, you can copy the URL and Key values found in the ‘API Access’ section and paste them into a plain text editor.

You will need these details later to establish a connection between ActiveCampaign and WordPress.

In this beginner-friendly guide, we will explore various methods for connecting ActiveCampaign to WordPress, allowing you to select the one that best fits your requirements. The first three methods can also be applied to connect ActiveCampaign with WooCommerce.

Method 1: Connecting ActiveCampaign to WordPress Using WPForms

WPForms is the leading WordPress form builder available. It enables you to effortlessly create any type of form, including newsletter subscription forms, through an intuitive drag-and-drop interface.

By integrating the forms created with this plugin into ActiveCampaign, all customer information will be automatically saved in your selected list within the ActiveCampaign dashboard.

First, you need to install and activate WPForms. For detailed instructions, refer to our step-by-step guide on installing a WordPress plugin.

After activation, navigate to the WPForms » SettingsNavigate to the page in your WordPress dashboard to input your license key. You can find this information in your account on the WPForms website.

Next, go to the WPForms » Addons section in the WordPress admin sidebar and find the ActiveCampaign addon.

After locating it, click the ‘Install Addon’ button to download and activate it on your website. You can now easily create forms and link them to your ActiveCampaign account.

To get started, go to the WPForms » Add New page in the WordPress dashboard and select the ‘Use Template’ button under any of the available templates.

In this tutorial, we will create a simple contact form.

This action will open the WPForms drag-and-drop builder, where you’ll see form fields on the left and a preview of the form on the right.

From this point, you can rearrange or modify any existing fields by clicking on them. For more detailed guidance, check out our tutorial on creating a contact form in WordPress.

Once your form is ready, switch to the Marketing » ActiveCampaign tab located on the left side of the screen.

Here, click the ‘Add New Account’ button.

A new prompt will appear where you need to enter your ActiveCampaign account name, API key, and URL to establish the connection with WordPress.

Paste the details you copied earlier and click the ‘Add’ button.

You will be prompted to give a name to the connection. Feel free to choose any name you like, as it is only for internal identification.

Just enter a name and click the ‘OK’ button.

After that, new settings will appear in the form builder. Start by selecting your ActiveCampaign account from the ‘Select Account’ dropdown menu.

Next, choose the action you want ActiveCampaign to perform when a user submits the form. For instance, if you want every user who fills out this form to be added as a subscriber, select that option.

Then, select the ActiveCampaign list where the data will be saved and the default subscriber status for all users.

After that, click the ‘Save’ button at the top to save your settings.

Now, navigate to the page or post where you want to add this form from the WordPress admin sidebar. Click the ‘Add Block’ (+) button to open the block menu and insert the WPForms block.

After that, choose the contact form you created from the dropdown menu within the block.

Then, click the ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ button at the top to save your settings.

Finally, visit your WordPress website to see the contact form linked to your ActiveCampaign account.

Method 2: Integrate ActiveCampaign with WordPress Using OptinMonster

Static newsletter sign-up forms are effective for growing your email list. However, some visitors may overlook forms located in your blog’s sidebar or footer, leading to lower conversion rates.

This is where OptinMonster proves valuable. It is the top lead generation and conversion optimization tool available, enabling you to turn website visitors into subscribers and paying customers.

It features attractive popups, sticky header and footer bars, fullscreen popups, slide-in forms, countdown timers, and more. Additionally, it includes seamless integration with ActiveCampaign.

First, you need to create an OptinMonster account.

Next, install and activate the free OptinMonster plugin. For further instructions, refer to our beginner’s guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

This plugin serves as a bridge between your WordPress site and your OptinMonster account.

After activation, a setup wizard will appear on your WordPress admin panel. Simply click the ‘Connect Your Existing Account’ button.

A new window will pop up on your screen.

Next, click the ‘Connect to WordPress’ button to proceed.

Once you’ve established the connection between the software and WordPress, navigate to the OptinMonster » Templates section in the admin dashboard.

Here, you can select any template for popups, floating bars, slide-ins, and more by clicking the ‘Use Template’ button.

A prompt will then appear, asking you to enter a name for your new campaign.

Just enter a name and click the ‘Start Building’ button.

Now, OptinMonster’s drag-and-drop builder will open, displaying a preview of the popup on the right and block elements on the left.

You can click on any item to edit it or add new blocks from the sidebar. For additional guidance, check out our tutorial on creating an effective email newsletter.

After customizing your popup to your preference, navigate to the ‘Integrations’ tab located at the top.

Next, click the ‘Add a New Integration’ button found in the left-hand column.

This will display a list of all the tools that can be integrated with OptinMonster.

From this list, click the ‘Connect’ link beneath the ActiveCampaign section.

A new settings window will appear where you need to enter your ActiveCampaign account name, API key, and URL.

Once you’ve entered the information, click the ‘Connect to ActiveCampaign’ button.

After establishing the connection, select your ActiveCampaign list from the ‘Provider Lists’ dropdown menu.

This list will be where all customer data collected through the OptinMonster popup is stored in your dashboard.

Then, switch to the ‘Publish’ tab at the top and set the popup status to ‘Publish’.

Finally, click the ‘Save’ button to save your settings.

Now, go to your WordPress blog or website to see the OptinMonster newsletter popup in action.

Here’s how it appeared on our demo website.

Method 3: Connect ActiveCampaign to WordPress Using Formidable Forms

Formidable Forms is the most advanced WordPress form builder, enabling you to create intricate forms effortlessly without any coding skills.

For example, Formidable Forms allows you to build directory forms, listing forms, calculators, and much more. It also includes an ActiveCampaign addon for seamless integration with your ActiveCampaign account.

To get started, install and activate the Formidable Forms plugin. For detailed instructions, refer to our guide on installing a WordPress plugin.

After activation, navigate to the Formidable » Global Settings section in your WordPress dashboard and click on the ‘Add a license manually’ link.

This will reveal a new field where you need to enter your plugin’s license key, which you can find in your account on the Formidable Forms website.

Next, go to the Formidable » Addons section in the WordPress admin sidebar.

Locate the ‘ActiveCampaign’ addon and click the ‘Install’ button beneath it.

Once installation is complete, return to the Formidable » Global SettingsReturn to the page and navigate to the ‘ActiveCampaign’ tab.

You need to enter the API URL and API key for your ActiveCampaign account. After entering this information, click the ‘Update’ button.

You are now set to create a form that will collect email addresses for your ActiveCampaign list. To get started, go to the Formidable » Formssection in your WordPress dashboard.

Click the ‘Create New Form’ button here.

This will bring up a new screen where you can select the ‘Use Template’ button under any of the available premade templates provided by Formidable Forms.

In this tutorial, we will create a straightforward contact form.

The form builder will now appear on the screen, displaying a preview of the form on the right and form fields on the left.

You can customize your form here by adding or removing fields and rearranging them as you prefer.

Once you are satisfied with your form, navigate to the ‘Settings’ tab at the top and select the ‘Actions and Notifications’ option from the left sidebar.

This will display a list of form actions on the screen, where you need to select ActiveCampaign.

After doing this, additional settings will become available for you.

Select your desired ActiveCampaign list from the ‘List’ dropdown menu. This is where the user data collected by the forms will be stored in ActiveCampaign.

Click the ‘Save’ button at the top to save your settings.

Go to the WordPress page or post where you want to add the form and click the ‘Add Block’ (+) button.

This will open the block menu. Add the Formidable Forms block and select the form you just created from the dropdown menu within the block.

Click the ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ button to save your changes.

You can now visit your WordPress site to see the form linked with ActiveCampaign.

Method 4: Integrate ActiveCampaign with WordPress Using MemberPress

MemberPress is the leading WordPress membership plugin, allowing you to easily sell subscriptions, create online courses, and build vibrant online communities.

MemberPress includes an ActiveCampaign Addon that enables you to send emails to customers and segment your members into different groups.

First, install and activate the MemberPress plugin. For detailed instructions, refer to our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

After activating the plugin, navigate to theMemberPress » Settingssection in your WordPress dashboard and input your license key. Then, click the ‘Activate License Key’ button.

You can find this information in your account on the MemberPress website.

Next, create a membership program using the plugin. For guidance, refer to our beginner’s guide on setting up a membership website in WordPress.

Once completed, go to theMemberPress » Addonssection in the WordPress admin sidebar. Here, you will see the ActiveCampaign Lists and ActiveCampaign Tags addons.

Both addons function similarly, but the Tags version enables you to segment membership groups and design more effective email funnels. Click the ‘Install Addon’ button beneath it.

After activating the addon, return to theMemberPress » Settingssection in your WordPress dashboard and select the ‘Marketing’ tab.

In this tab, enable the ‘ActiveCampaign’ option. This will reveal additional settings where you need to enter your ActiveCampaign account ID and API key.

Remember to enter all the digits from your API URL as the account ID. MemberPress will then try to link to your ActiveCampaign account, allowing you to choose your email list from the options provided.

Finally, click the ‘Update Options’ button to save your settings.

Your MemberPress users will now be added to your ActiveCampaign email list.

Method 5: Connect ActiveCampaign to WordPress Using the Free Plugin

In this method, we will utilize ActiveCampaign’s free plugin. This approach is simpler but offers less flexibility compared to other methods listed here.

First, install and activate the ActiveCampaign plugin. For detailed instructions, refer to our step-by-step guide on installing a WordPress plugin.

After activation, navigate to the Settings » ActiveCampaign page in the WordPress admin sidebar and enter your API key and URL in the respective fields.

Then, click the ‘Connect’ button to proceed.

The plugin will now link your WordPress site to your ActiveCampaign account. Once connected, click the ‘ActiveCampaign > Forms’ link.

This will open your ActiveCampaign dashboard in a new tab, where you need to click the ‘Create New Form’ button.

A prompt will appear on the screen asking you to enter a name and select a style and action for your form. After completing this, click the ‘Create’ button.

ActiveCampaign’s form builder will now launch, displaying a form preview on the left and form fields on the right.

Design the form to your preference. Once finished, click the ‘Integrate’ button at the top.

This will take you to a new screen, where you need to click the ‘Save and Exit’ button.

After that, return to your WordPress dashboard and click the ‘Update Settings’ button on the ‘ActiveCampaign Settings’ page.

Next, open the page or post where you want to add the form and click the ‘Add Block’ (+) button.

When the block menu opens, add the AC Forms block to the page. Then, simply select the form you created from the dropdown menu within the block.

Finally, click the ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’ button at the top to save your settings.

You can now visit your WordPress site to see the ActiveCampaign form in action.

Bonus: Consider using an alternative to ActiveCampaign.

ActiveCampaign is a powerful tool for email marketing and automation. However, it may not be the best fit for everyone, especially beginners, as it can be complex to navigate and may be costly for smaller businesses.

If ActiveCampaign doesn’t meet your needs, there are many alternatives available that you can consider.

For instance, if you’re seeking an alternative to build your email list, Constant Contact is an excellent choice. It offers robust email and SMS marketing capabilities, featuring an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, pre-designed templates, event marketing tools, forms, and list-building resources.

For further information, check out our tutorial on using a contact form to enhance your email list growth in WordPress.

Alternatively, if you’re using ActiveCampaign to manage customers for your online store, consider switching to FunnelKit Automations.

FunnelKit Automations is the top marketing automation solution for WooCommerce stores, enabling you to launch effective email and SMS marketing campaigns while creating automated workflows and drip sequences.

If you’re looking for a more cost-effective option, we suggest trying MailerLite. It is much more affordable than ActiveCampaign and includes all the essential features needed to create straightforward workflows.

If your primary focus is on email marketing automation, Drip is an excellent choice. For additional options, check out our curated list of the top ActiveCampaign alternatives for your WordPress website.

We hope this article has successfully guided you in connecting your WordPress site to ActiveCampaign. You might also find our guide on rapidly expanding your email list with actionable tips helpful, along with our expert comparison of the leading email automation tools for small businesses.

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