• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Portfolio
  • Blog
    • Blogging
    • Business Tips
    • Design
    • Photoshop Tutorials
    • Illustrator Tutorials
    • Freebies
  • Shop
    • Creative Market
    • Spoonflower
    • Design Cuts
    • Patternbank
  • Resources
    • Resources
    • The Library
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Elan Creative Co.

whimsical graphic design

How to create a free resource library for your opt-in freebies

January 19, 2016

How to create a free resource library for your opt-in freebies

One of the best and easiest ways to grow your email list is by creating a free resource library. Ever since I created the free printables library in October, the number of newsletter subscribers more than tripled and it’s growing every day. I wanted to offer a content upgrade for a long time, but I couldn’t find a good way to do it.

If you are unfamiliar with this, a content upgrade is a download you create that will only be accessible in exchange for signing up for an email list.

There are many apps and plugins that help you with this, but most of the plugins I tried were expensive and had more features that I needed. Instead of using something that made people subscribe every time I added a new resource, I decided to create my own library. The really great part is that you can do this for free and you don’t have to use plugins. That is unless you really want to.

You can create a free resource library with the following:

  • a new WordPress page
  • MailChimp (or the newsletter software you usually use)
  • Download Monitor (optional)
  • Genesis Easy Columns (optional)

How to get started

Before you create your resource library, you actually need to make something for your users to download. You don’t need a library if you only have one item, like an eBook, but you will need it if you plan on sharing more items or adding new ones every month.

I decided to use the library for free printables. At the moment, you can find weekly planners and blog planning sheets. My plan is to add new items every month or every two months. I’d like to add calendars, checklists and worksheets and maybe even recipe cards and digital papers.

Making printables is not hard. It’s actually fun and easy. And what I like most about it is that you can create printables for yourself and share them with your readers. Or you can create worksheets and checklists as a content upgrade for a new or popular post.

The downside of using a free resource library

To be honest, there aren’t many cons to creating a library for you email opt-ins. People are more likely to give you their email if they receive something in return. You probably write great newsletters, but they don’t know that so they need a little encouragement.

Some people will unsubscribe after they receive the password: I know this might bother you, but the number of persons that unsubscribe is low. Since I already offer a lot of freebies without collecting emails, this isn’t something that I’m too worried about. The number of people that subscribe, read your content and click your links is much larger.

You will receive emails from people that don’t receive or lose the password: This also doesn’t happen often, but it can be annoying. To make sure that your subscribers will remember the password, add a little note in the newsletter about the library.

How to create a free resource library

Step 1: Create a password protected page

If you are on WordPress, you can create a new page from your dashboard. On the right side of your post editor, you have the Publish menu. To password protect your page, click on Visibility, select Password Protected and enter your password.

How to create a free resource library for your opt-in freebiesSince this isn’t your blog or email, you don’t have to add the strongest password you can think of. You should add something that is easy to remember and relevant to your brand.

Step 2: Add your freebies

To add items to the library, I use two free plugins: Download Monitor and Genesis Easy Columns. There are many ways to do this and you can also do it without any plugins.

Download Monitor makes it easier to offer downloads from your site. You can upload files to your Media Gallery and keep track of downloads using this plugin.

I recommend saving your files as PDFs and you should also create a thumbnail for your library. I use Genesis Easy Columns to create columns that will make it easier to add the thumbnails. Despite the name, this plugin works with any theme. You don’t have to use a Genesis theme, but you will have to activate it by going to Settings > Easy Columns. The plugin lets you create between two and six columns.

I create the columns and then add the images in each column. After that, I add the download links that Download Monitor generates under each image.

I love using this method instead of creating a gallery with other plugins because I can also add text or images of different sizes.

Step 3: Add the link to your final welcome email

When your library is ready, all you have to do is add the link to your final welcome email. I’m using MailChimp, but you can probably do this with any newsletter software.

You can edit the forms from Lists/Signup Forms.

How to create a free resource library for your opt-in freebiesYou can and should customize all your forms, but the lead magnet (your freebie or the library link and password) goes in the Final “welcome” email.

This is your chance to welcome your new readers and maybe write a bit about yourself and your blog.

How to create a free resource library for your opt-in freebiesThat’s it! You now have a resource library full of valuable content that will determine your readers to sign up for your email list.

Every time you add a content upgrade to a new post, you only have to add the link to your signup form. You can find the URL under Signup Form.

How to create a free resource library for your opt-in freebies

Let me know if you have any questions. I’d love to help you!

Tweet
Share3
Pin591
Share

Blogging, WordPress

You might also enjoy:

squarespace vs wordpress
Squarespace vs WordPress: which one is better for you?
Gutenberg WordPress editor
What bloggers need to know about the Gutenberg WordPress editor
How to organize blog posts
The WordPress glossary
The WordPress Glossary

About Cristina Silvia

Hey there! I’m Cristina, and I’m a self-taught graphic designer and illustrator. With an everlasting love of all creative endeavors, I found joy in sharing with others what I’ve learned over the years and helping bloggers and entrepreneurs bring their dreams to life through beautiful designs.

The Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to get the latest posts in your inbox + news and special offers.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. [email protected] says

    April 26, 2016 at 7:57 pm

    Thanks for sharing this tutorial! I found it very helpful to create a resource library for my blog 🙂

  2. Katie Smith says

    May 10, 2016 at 7:15 am

    This was so helpful! I had been looking for a long time and was not finding a post that explained this as clearly as you did. Thank you! Still trying to figure out the Genesis Easy Columns, does not seem to be showing up in editor after downloading. Do you still use this plugin? Thanks again!

    • Cristina Silvia says

      May 10, 2016 at 8:03 pm

      I’m glad it was helpful, Katie. I’m still using Genesis Easy Columns. After you install and activate it, you should see 5 new icons in your editor’s toolbar. They are right after the Toolbar Toggle button. Let me know if it works.

      • Katie says

        May 12, 2016 at 1:42 am

        The new icons did not show up in my editor toolbar, but that might have something to do with the theme I use. You’re advice was still extremely helpful. Thanks!

  3. Ann-Marie says

    June 9, 2016 at 5:17 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing! I’ve been somewhat intimiadated to create my resource library! Through your steps, I set up the framework over breakfast. Can’t wait to start uploading more content now!

    • Cristina Silvia says

      June 13, 2016 at 5:50 pm

      Thanks for your feedback, Ann-Marie! I’m so happy to hear that it’s easy to follow.

  4. Balle Millner says

    August 25, 2016 at 4:30 am

    Thanks for creating this tutorial. It was extremely helpful.

    • Cristina Silvia says

      August 25, 2016 at 7:03 pm

      You’re welcome, Balle. I’m really happy to hear that.

  5. Nicki truesdell says

    September 1, 2016 at 3:47 pm

    This was incredibly helpful! I was looking for a free, easy setup to start my resource library, and you provided it!

    • Cristina Silvia says

      September 1, 2016 at 6:08 pm

      So glad to hear that, Nicki! There are easier ways to do this, but they involve premium plugins.

      • Nicki truesdell says

        September 13, 2016 at 5:54 am

        Exactly. I need as much FREE as I can find. I successfully set up my library. I’m so excited and grateful for your blog post!

  6. Lucie says

    September 8, 2016 at 11:38 am

    Hello Cristina,

    thank you for this amazing tutorial! I just want to ask you how to add images in the columns? Should I just pick how many columns I want and then just add images? I am quite struggling at this point. Thank you.

    Have a nice day
    Lucie

    • Cristina Silvia says

      September 8, 2016 at 11:49 am

      Hey Lucie,

      When you insert the columns, it will generate something like this: [one-half-first][/one-half-first][one-half][/one-half]. This is the code for two columns.

      Just move your cursor between [one-half-first] and [/one-half-first] and insert your images from the media gallery. You can also add text under each image. It’s just like writing a normal post, but you will have to add the content between the code for each column.

      Let me know if you have other questions.

  7. Jillynn says

    April 21, 2017 at 3:21 am

    I am so lost on how to make the columns and make the thumbnail to go in the columns… Could you please clarify this as there are not instructions on this in this post. Thanks so much!

    Jillynn

  8. Mia says

    June 25, 2017 at 5:26 am

    This post is amazing exactly what I was looking for! I’m launching my blog on Friday and have been wanting to create a resource library as an opt-in, but I was not sure how & this has answered all my questions! Thank you sooooo much!!!

    • Cristina Silvia says

      June 26, 2017 at 6:07 pm

      You’re welcome, Mia! Good luck with your new blog.

  9. Bethany says

    July 4, 2017 at 4:51 am

    This was SO helpful – thanks for sharing!

    • Cristina Silvia says

      July 4, 2017 at 8:22 am

      You’re welcome, Bethany! I’m glad to hear that.

  10. Calandra says

    September 9, 2017 at 12:17 am

    This was so helpful, thank you! Can you explain how to add freebies without using plugins?

  11. Julie Rogers says

    November 2, 2017 at 11:37 pm

    Thank you so much for this post. It is very helpful and insightful.

  12. Peggy says

    November 25, 2017 at 3:17 am

    I just wanted to tell you, that this post was full of amazing content, no fluff! I absolutely loved it. This is the first time I have ever read one of your posts and I will be adding you to my go to list of bloggers. This is the exact info I was looking for at this time. I am currently putting the final touches on my blog and I am trying to figure out what to add as my opt in freebie and how. You have answered tons of questions I had and took all the confusion out of it in just one post. I can only imagine how the rest of your site’s content will be. I can not wait to dive into it.
    xoxox

    • Cristina Silvia says

      November 25, 2017 at 9:26 am

      Thanks, Peggy! I’m glad you like it.

  13. Grace Esedeke says

    December 20, 2017 at 4:20 am

    I just started my blog and was looking for a way to create a password protected freebie library.
    This post was easy to follow.
    Thank you so much Christina.
    This is my first time on your blog and I’m definitely subscribing.
    You are amazing!

    • Cristina Silvia says

      December 20, 2017 at 8:55 am

      Thank you so much, Grace! I’m glad it was helpful and easy to follow. Good luck with your blog!

  14. Lori says

    June 19, 2019 at 9:05 pm

    Hey, Cristina! Gutenberg is out and it’s 2019 — would you still recommend this method? I found this article (though I’m already a subscriber!) through a Google search of how to add links to images in a gallery for offering free printables. Thanks for sharing your advice!

  15. Justyna says

    January 23, 2020 at 10:58 pm

    Thank you, I found this blog post very helpful! 🙂

  16. Ioanna says

    May 23, 2020 at 8:42 pm

    Hi! Thank you for the great explanation! I was struggling to find a way to offer different stuff in an opt-in and could not figure a way. Creating multiple subscription forms with a different incentive seemed too complicated. Your solution is genius. Thank you.

Footer

Discover

  • Portfolio
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • The Library
  • Contact

Learn More

  • Policies
  • Terms
  • Licenses
  • F.A.Q.

Looking for something?

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2022 · Elan Creative Co