Creating And Distributing Freebies On Wordpress A Comprehensive Guide

Offering free content and resources is a popular strategy for website owners looking to attract visitors and build their email lists. WordPress, as one of the most popular content management systems, provides numerous options for creating, distributing, and managing freebies. This article explores the various aspects of offering freebies through WordPress websites, from selecting appropriate themes to different types of free content, delivery methods, and best practices.

WordPress Themes for Freebie Websites

Choosing the right WordPress theme is essential when creating a website focused on offering freebies. The theme should not only showcase the free items effectively but also provide a smooth user experience. According to the available information, "Freebies are really attractive by themselves. People like to get something for free, but this does not mean they are ready to download files from some cheesy website. That means your website must look decent and provide a smooth user experience even if you give away free items."

Several WordPress themes are particularly well-suited for freebie websites:

Kicker – Multipurpose Blog Magazine WordPress Theme This theme is highlighted as one of the best ready-to-go solutions for blogging and news portals that offer free content. It includes features to keep audiences engaged, is AMP-ready, optimized for speedy performance on all devices, and offers multiple post types, ads, banners, custom popups, and newsletters. The Kicker theme is fully compatible with WooCommerce, allowing the addition of eCommerce features when desired. All elements and sections are fully customizable.

Marcell | Blog & Magazine WordPress Theme Marcell is described as an advanced WordPress theme suitable for freebies blogs and meets the requirements of informational, entertainment, news, travel, and personal web pages. It features a popup menu and top menu positioning, loads lightning fast, is Gutenberg compatible and GDPR ready, and comes equipped with beautiful customizable pages.

Yolox | WordPress Blog Theme for Business & Startup Yolox is a crisp, clear-cut WordPress theme developed for agencies, corporations, and individuals working in various business niches. It can effectively demonstrate freebies and is easy to set up and install. The theme features an intuitive interface and flexibility with Elementor, one of WordPress's most user-friendly page builders, and includes adaptive images.

When selecting a theme for a freebie website, it is recommended to look at ready-made templates from credible developers to save time and effort. The documentation notes that while many vendors offer templates, it can be easy to get lost among the options, so a showcase of the best premium WordPress themes for bloggers can be helpful.

Types of Freebies to Offer

Websites can offer various types of free content to attract visitors and capture leads. Regardless of the type of content, users typically need to fill out a form to access the free tool. "The freebie gives them an idea of what they can expect from your content or product if they become customers. In return, you have their email addresses and can start moving them through your funnel and converting them to sales."

Several effective types of freebies include:

Checklists Checklists are identified as a super simple way to offer a lead magnet. "People often have goals they want to achieve but have no idea where to start or what steps are required to succeed." An example provided is a WordPress launch checklist that helps ensure nothing is forgotten during the process.

Printables Free printables are a popular option for bloggers. These can include free printable party decor, holiday tags, invitations, wall art, games, kids coloring pages, and more. The options are endless, and the amount of beautiful free printables available is quite substantial.

eBooks and Digital Resources For launching a resource library, websites can choose to offer only eBooks initially. Over time, variety can be added to the content types.

Other Digital Resources Various categories of digital products that can be offered as freebies include themes, courses, e-books, fonts, graphics and textures, icons, productivity tools, software, scripts, and plugins.

Websites have a responsibility toward visitors who expect more freebies. "You have to keep adding resources on time so that users keep coming back for more. Plus, you also have to promote the new resources on your WordPress website."

How to Deliver Freebies to Subscribers

Once a visitor has opted in to receive a freebie, delivering the content efficiently is crucial. Three easy-to-implement strategies for delivering freebies to subscribers include:

1. Upload it to your media library This is identified as the easiest option. WordPress allows uploading of .pdf and .zip files the same way images are uploaded. After uploading, clicking on the file in the media library reveals the URL for that file. This URL can then be linked in a follow-up email in the subscription campaign through an email service provider or CRM system.

The process for finding a PDF URL after uploading it to the media library involves: - After the file is uploaded, clicking on the file thumbnail to open the file details - Once the file details are accessed, copying the URL assigned to the file

This method is presented as a recommended approach for delivering free content to subscribers.

For offering free printables specifically, the process involves: 1. Creating the printable using software like Photoshop, Word, Google Docs, or similar programs that allow saving as a .PDF 2. Writing the post and uploading photos 3. Uploading the PDF to the blog's media library using the 'Add media' icon while composing a post 4. Copying the URL to the file 5. Adding the link for the printable in the post content

Users should not be concerned if there isn't a preview image for the PDF file, as they are simply hosting the file, not creating a preview.

Creating a Free Resource Library

A free resource library can be an effective way to organize and distribute multiple freebies to website visitors. The process involves:

1. Create Resources In Bulk Before creating a resource library, it's important to decide what and how many resources will be offered. This involves considering relevant topics and determining which types of content are popular among the audience.

It is recommended to begin with at least six resources to provide enough time to create more and attract more visitors. For the launch, websites can choose to offer only eBooks, but variety should be added over time by including different content types. The advice is to start small and expand.

2. Technical Implementation The process requires "resource planning and creation and a little bit of WordPress backend maneuvering," though detailed technical steps for implementing the resource library itself are not provided in the source material.

Maintaining a WordPress resource library requires work and depends on the website owner's commitment to growing their website.

Where to Find WordPress Deals and Freebies

For website owners looking to acquire themes, plugins, or other resources for their own sites or to offer as freebies, several sources provide deals and freebies:

Web Designer Depot This site is identified as an online resource for helpful, informative content relating to web design. The site features both a Deals section and a Freebies section.

The categories available through Web Designer Depot's deals include: - Themes - Courses - E-Books - Fonts - Graphics and Textures - Icons - Productivity - Software - Scripts and Plugins

Web Designer Depot offers weekly freebies that users can take advantage of. They can either buy products at discount prices or sign up for the DealClub Membership for an additional percentage off the already low prices.

The freebies section on Web Designer Depot consists of blog posts rather than a defined page like the Deals area, making it potentially more challenging to find specific items. However, there is an almost unending selection of free products available.

WordPress Coupons and Freebies Most WordPress-related coupons and freebies are typically found on other blogs in the WordPress or web design niche rather than on dedicated coupon sites.

Step-by-Step Process for Offering Free Printables

A detailed step-by-step guide for offering free printables on WordPress includes:

1. Creating the printable using design software that allows saving as .PDF (Photoshop, Word, Google Docs, etc.)
2. Writing the post, including uploading photos and text
3. Uploading the PDF to the blog's media library using the 'Add media' icon while composing the post
4. Copying the URL to the file after it's uploaded
5. Adding the link for the printable in the post content

It's normal not to see a preview image for PDF files in the media library, as they are simply hosting the file, not creating a preview.

Best Practices for Freebie Marketing

Several insights can be derived from the available information:

1. User Experience Matters Websites offering freebies must look decent and provide a smooth user experience. Even though people are attracted to free items, they may be reluctant to download files from poorly designed websites.

2. Consistent Content Creation The importance of continuously adding new resources to keep users returning to the website cannot be overstated. "You have to keep adding resources on time so that users keep coming back for more."

3. Strategic Promotion Promoting new resources on the WordPress website is essential to ensure visitors are aware of the additional free content available.

4. Email Collection Requiring users to fill out a form to access free content provides the website owner with email addresses, which can then be used to move prospects through a sales funnel.

5. Variety of Content Types While starting with one type of free content (like eBooks) is acceptable for launching a resource library, adding variety over time helps maintain visitor interest.

6. Technical Considerations Proper technical implementation is crucial, including using SEO-friendly themes, ensuring fast loading times, and following correct procedures for uploading and linking to free content files.

Conclusion

Offering freebies through WordPress websites can be an effective strategy for attracting visitors, building email lists, and establishing authority in a particular niche. The process involves selecting appropriate themes, choosing suitable types of free content, implementing proper delivery methods, and maintaining a consistent schedule of new resources.

From choosing themes that showcase free items effectively, to offering various types of content such as checklists, printables, eBooks, and digital resources, website owners have numerous options to implement a freebie strategy. Proper delivery methods, including uploading content to the media library and providing direct links in follow-up emails, ensure a smooth user experience.

Creating a resource library requires planning, consistent content creation, and technical implementation. Resources for acquiring themes and plugins can be found through websites that offer both deals and freebies. Following best practices such as prioritizing user experience, maintaining content variety, and strategically promoting new resources helps maximize the effectiveness of a freebie marketing strategy.

By implementing these approaches, WordPress website owners can leverage the power of free content to grow their audience, establish credibility, and ultimately achieve their business objectives.

Sources

1. Free WordPress Themes of Outstanding Quality
2. How to Give Sales Leads Something for Free: Easy Examples
3. Featured Question: How to Deliver Your Freebie to Your Subscribers
4. How To Add A Free Resource Library To Your WordPress Website
5. Where to Find the Best WordPress Deals and Coupons
6. How to Offer a Free Printable on WordPress