Lead generation is perhaps the most important aspect of any website. After all , a lead from your website is the first step towards getting a customer. In this article we will compare and talk about 7 best plugins according to us for lead generation for a wordpress website.
Why use a WordPress plugin for Lead generation ?
Because wordpress really is the de-facto standard for CMS websites and most websites are practically built on WP. Therefore today we are looking at lead generation plugins which integrate with wordpress.
Here are some other benefits of using a Lead Generation WordPress plugin to collect lead:
- Easy Integration
- No programming Dependency
- Multiple Opt-in Options
- Privacy / Security Handling
- Feature Rich
What kind of lead generation will these plugins work for ?
Leads generation can happen in many forms and sizes on your wordpress website. Lead generation may be an immediate process through pop-ups or may be through a sales funnel which involves many steps. Here are some ways to collect leads:
- Newsletter Subscription (Mailing List) Lead generation
- Downloading a Report / Whitepaper while providing email and other details
- Intent popups such as Exit Intent
- Chat Plugins (with or without a Chatbot)
The list of 7 best Lead Generation plugins for your WordPress website in 2020.
You can choose one of these based on your specific requirements – depending on what kind of lead-generation you require and what kind of traffic your website is getting.
1. Ninja Popups
Ninja Popups is a WordPress Lead generation plugin which is quite well rated in the market and also reasonably priced. It has the quintessential Drag and drop builder and design themes to create your lead generation system.
Top Features
- Claims to be popup blocker proof (but don’t misuse this feature :))
- Different kind of popups from newsletter subscription, newsletter subscription, content lock etc.
- Compatible with different kind of email systems like: MailChimp, GetResponse, InfusionSoft, JetPack, ConvertKit and many more.
- Advanced features like Social Locker, multi-step, page scroll-based trigger, Animation effects.
- All the other standard features like A/B Testing, statistics, exit intent etc.
Pricing
One time license with bundled 6 month support, currently at $27 on Envato. (July 2020)
What we like the most about Ninja Popup Plugin
It does have some advanced features as pointed out and its design themes are really cool. These are easy to import and modify and allow you get lead generation setup pretty quickly. But probably the best thing about it is the price which is WITHOUT restriction on pageviews / traffic etc. which most other plugins have in the base plan.
Cons of Ninja Popup
As such it is a lead generation plugin and that is what it does. It neither claims to be a sales funnel generator or lead page generator , nor it is. Close competitors to it would be Optin Monster / Thrive Leads plugin and herein I think it performs well. Does not have the animation effects like in Optin Monster but is less expensive. It also does not seem to have the real-time behavior automation which Optin Monster claims , but we have not verified that claim.
Check further details here.
2. Thrive Leads
Thrive Leads is another great option for a pure lead generation plugin for your wordpress website.
Top Features
- Drag and drop builder
- Specializes in Opt-in forms and has many different kinds of Opt-in form options
- Advanced A/B Testing
- Integrates with probably all of popular mailing list , mail service , CRM etc. providers including even Zoom and Twitter.
- Responsive and device selective. Show/ hide elements in Mobile / Tablet specific forms.
What we like the most about Thrive Plugin
If your main focus is Opt-In forms, Thrive is a very good lead generation plugin to look at as it provides In-Line, Multi-step, Slide In, Opt-In, Content Lock, Scroll Mat etc. type of opt-in functionality. Since it is a self hosted solution , the cost is 1 time (1 year support included). No restriction on no. of opt-in’s or traffic on the website. Another unique feature which I’ve not come across in many plugins is that it claims to provide targeted conversions based on the WP website categories, tags, posts.
Cons of Thrive Leads plugin
It is available only in self-hosted wordpress websites – not even on wordpress.com . Apart from that no constraint as such except it is obviously not a landing page or sales funnel tool. Competes against OptinMonster, Ninja Popups.
Pricing
You can get Thrive Leads for a one-time fee of $67, which includes lifetime updates. The price also includes 12 months support with the option to renew each year for $40.
Check further details here.
3. Mail Chimp for WordPress
Mail Chimp is a leader in mailing list management. Mail Chimp for WordPress is essentially a free plugin for integrating this lead generation linked to your Mailing List – in your wordpress website.
Top Features
- Integration with Already available wordpress form plugins / widgets in WordPress like Contact 7 , WordPress Registration form etc.
- Shortcode to display within the page
- Easy integration with Mailchimp
What we like the most about Mail Chimp for WordPress Plugin
It’s simple, precise and free if your Mailing list setup is on Mail Chimp and growing that list is what you want.
Pricing
As such the WordPress plugin is free (with a premium variant) but you will of-course need a MailChimp subscription which starts at around $10 monthly for 500 contacts. They also have a free option though.
Cons of MailChimp with WordPress plugin
Frankly, with so many solutions with bells and whistles you should go for a bigger / better lead generation solution. This has quite basic functionality as compared to the other plugins.
With other solutions, you will be paying for the Lead Generation plugin apart from the Mailing list service or pay monthly amount for solutions like Clickfunnels / Leadpages etc. but these solutions are comprehensive and completely take care of Lead generation / Online Sales.
Check further details in WP plugin search.
4. Optin Monster
Optin Monster is one of the oldest and still one of the best Lead generation plugin for WordPress. It claims to have been used by more than 700,000 websites which is saying something.
Top Features
- Standard features such as the drag and drop builder, design themes and customization
- Multiple lead generation formats such as Slide-in forms, Scroll triggered boxes, In-line forms, Floating forms, Welcome gates, Sidebar forms, Exit Intent etc.
- Claims to be great for exit / intent based popups with optimal timing of showing the pop-up.
- Easy integration through the wordpress plugin and also available for HTML websites
- Standard features like A/B Testing, templates,reporting etc. and integration with all major email service providers.
What we like the most about Optin Monster Plugin
It is a good solid , reasonable product if you are starting off with a smaller site or one where you don’t expect very heavy traffic right from the beginning. Also provides for re-targeting and personalizing offers using Geo-location , Device based targeting etc and claims to offer Real time conversion optimization.
Pricing
Optin Monster seems to have a reasonable pricing starting off at $9/month. But there are multiple things to note. For one thing , all plans are billed annually. Secondly there are pageviews limits starting with 3500 pageviews/month in the starting plan. There are also some feature restrictions.
Cons of Optin Monster
As such there are no huge constraints. Does what it is supposed to. Just that this is purely an Opt-in / Lead generation plugin. For a sales funnel or cloud based landing pages you need to look at Other solutions.
Check further details here.
5. LiveChat
With the Live Chat Plugin by LiveChat you can add live chatting support to your WordPress website quickly and effortlessly. You can provide instant communication with on-site visitors and customers generating leads and potential sales.
Top Features
- Proactive Chat invitations with personalized messages by Agents to visitors
- Save time: Send canned responses to frequently asked questions, tag your chats, and send files to customers through the chat widget
- Built in ticketing system if you are offline
- Engage visitors based on their behavior on your website which makes it a lead generating system
- Claims to integrate with nearly 170 tools including productivity , team management, messaging tools.
- Chatbot integration possible
What we like the most about LiveChat Plugin
This is one of the well known Chat widgets for websites with a plugin for wordpress. It is well established and dependable. The approach ofcourse is different from a pop-up / in-line form – here a real agent engages a user and gets a lead or sale. This is why it is included in our list of Best Lead Generation WordPress plugins.
Pricing
Starts at $19/ agent per month (with monthly billing) and also has a 14 day free trial. (Prices may change from time to time).
Cons of LiveChat plugin
Can be considered a con but more of a use-case issue. LiveChat plugin is more suited where you have pro-active agents available to solve product queries and convert sales. So you do need to have that manpower available. That being said, the ticket generation option is of-course available too.
Check further details here.
Now lets look at a couple of plugins which are more comprehensive and are complete lead generation platforms. They are available as wordpress plugins but can even be integrated to non wordpress websites. These are quite powerful and popular , hence included in our list.
6. Clickfunnels
Clickfunnels really isn’t just a landing page creator, or a lead generation plugin / tool. As the name suggest, it creates a sales funnel to convert website traffic to a lead and then a customer. Let’s look at what you can achieve with Clickfunnels on your website.
Top Features
- Create sales funnel from beginning to end on your website
- Drive goal based actions – like registering for webinar, buying a product, collecting emails; as part of a multi-step process.
- Landing pages included, along with pre-built library of pages or create your own.
- Multi-step lead generation
- Pre-designed lead funnels included which drive action across time. Includes behavior triggered automated emails to user.
- Other standard features like A/B Testing, Drag and drop editors etc.
What we like the most about Clickfunnels
It’s key difference is that is not a one-time lead generator. IT works for you through automated emails, behavior driven actions etc. right from actions taken on the web page to reading an automated mail etc. to convert raw traffic to a customer. IT also provides post sales action like Upsell etc.
Pricing
All this power functionality does not come cheap. The starting plan comes at $97 / month. They do offer a 14 day free trial though.
Cons of Clickfunnels
Did you think all this would be cheap ? Take a look at their pricing. Also note that the funnel and content is hosted with them although it is integrated in your website through their wordpress plugin which comes with the subscription.
Check further details here.
7. Leadpages
Leadpages is a complete lead generation platform with drag and drop editor which allows you to make landing pages . You can publish such landing pages on the platform’s server or integrate on your own website server using their wordpress plugin. It allows you to manage lead pages for multiple websites through a single dashboard.
Top Features
- Easy to use visual drag and drop builder
- Option to host on their server – optimized, quick loading. Can be used if you don’t have a website
- Popup, Alert bars are included
- Integrates with all popular email providers and calendars
- Use to build checkout pages integrating with payment gateway
- A/B Split Testing
- Inbuilt delivery system for sending Lead-magnet item on action completion.
What we like the most about Leadpages Plugin
Leadpages scores highly on multiple parameters: It has self hosting option for flexibility, it also has a delivery system to send the lead magnet item on subscription/inquiry action. And all plans come with unlimited traffic and lead limits.
Pricing
Starts $25 / month and comes with free trial option for 15 days.
Cons of Leadpages
While Leadpages is good in many respects, last time we checked, it does not have as much flexibility in terms of the opt-in format types. For example – in-line (within your pre-created content) opt-in field integration, Slide-In , Side-bar, Widget forms are not possible.
Check further details here.
Conclusion
These are some of the really good lead generation plugins or platforms compatible with WordPress in the market but not the only ones. Unbounce, Hellobar, SumoMe, Instapages are some of the other ones. We picked the ones we talked about because of their varied functionality , price point and usage. At some other time we will definitely review these other plugins.
