Fortunately, there are tons of ways to make money blogging. For instance, you can display advertisements, become an affiliate marketer, or create a membership site. 

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the benefits of starting a blog. Then, we’ll show you how to do this and discuss five ways to monetize your site. Let’s jump right in!

Who Benefits From a Blog?

First, let’s look at some ways that businesses and individuals can benefit from starting a blog.

The Benefits of Blogging for Businesses

A blog is a great addition to any business because it gives you a platform to drive organic traffic to your website. Additionally, since you’re able to target different keywords in each post, you’ll have more opportunities to show up in search engine results.

On top of that, a blog can help your business generate new leads. All you need to do is add a captivating call to action to your posts to increase conversions:

What’s more, if you answer common questions in your posts, a blog is a quick way to establish your business as an industry leader. That way, readers can come to know you as the authority on a particular topic.

Lastly, starting a blog enables you to establish meaningful relationships with customers. For instance, you might use the platform to share company news, celebrate achievements, or offer a behind-the-scenes look into your business.

The Benefits of Blogging for Individuals

Businesses aren’t the only ones that can benefit from starting a blog. Blogs are also a great way for individuals to establish themselves as content creators or influencers.

That’s because starting a blog enables you to extend your social presence. For starters, you can share your content on different social networks to find new readers:

Eventually, you may want to monetize your blog and start a passive income business. A blog is a great way to support this venture since posts can be discovered long after you publish them. Therefore, you can continue to get views, leads, and revenue.

How to Start a Blog

Now that you know the benefits of blogging, let’s take a look at how to get started.

1. Choose a Niche

The success of your blog can depend largely on choosing the right niche. A niche will determine the type of content you’ll create and the audience you’ll serve.

Therefore, it’s a good idea to avoid saturated niches like fashion, beauty, and fitness. Choosing a more specific niche will make it easier to set your blog apart from the others.

For example, if you want to start a food blog, you might narrow it down to gluten-free baking or family meals:

Once you’ve settled on a niche, you can check whether this type of content is in demand by using Google Keyword Planner:

This enables you to see the popularity of certain keywords and search terms that people are using to find content online.

Typically, it’s best to choose search terms and topics with enough interest. However, you might want to avoid topics that are very popular since they may be difficult to rank for.

2. Install WordPress

WordPress is a free, open-source platform where you can create and publish content. It supports tons of different types of content like pages, blog posts, and digital files. Plus, it’s easy to add videos and images to your blog to make your material more engaging:

What’s more, you can use WordPress themes to get your site looking exactly the way you want. And, you can use plugins to expand the functionality of your site.

If you have some technical knowledge, you might prefer to download WordPress yourself. Otherwise, you can find tons of quality web hosts that include WordPress installations as part of their services.

3. Write Your First Post

At this point, you’re ready to start publishing content. With WordPress, you can create your first post directly within the editor. Simply click on the + to add WordPress blocks for text, headings, images, and more:

To increase your visibility online, it’s a good idea to populate your content with keywords. You can find the right keywords for your blog using Google Keyword Planner. Then, you’re able to add these terms to text areas like headings, permalinks, and meta descriptions.

If you’re happy with your post, click on Publish. Or, you can hit Save draft to finish it later.

How to Make Money From Your Blog (5 Ways)

Once you’re posting consistently and you’ve acquired an audience, it might be a good idea to monetize your blog. Here are five ways to get started.

1. Become an Affiliate Marketer

One of the best ways to monetize your blog is with affiliate marketing. This is a great way to earn a passive income. It’s also well suited to blogging because you’ll find plenty of opportunities to include affiliate links in your content.

Affiliate marketing involves partnering with brands or individuals that occupy the same niche or share a similar target audience. For instance, one of the most popular affiliate programs is Amazon Associates which enables you to earn a 10 percent commission on qualifying purchases:

Once you’ve been accepted into your preferred affiliate program, you’ll be given a unique affiliate link to place on your website. This link may lead to the company’s site or to a specific product that they want you to promote.

Typically, if someone clicks your link and then makes a purchase, you’ll earn a commission from the sale. Although, some brands will pay you simply for directing traffic to their pages.

2. Create a Membership Site

A membership website is a great way to monetize your blog. It also enables you to build a community of like-minded people. There are different ways you can execute this strategy.

First, you can make some of your content accessible to visitors and then save your best pieces for members. In this case, users will need to purchase a membership on your site to read your premium posts:

Or, you can create a full membership site that can only be reached by those with an active membership to your blog.

To get started, you’ll need to use a plugin like MemberPress. This enables you to set up multiple membership options. Then, you can use the plugin to protect your premium content with membership rules.

3. Display Advertisements

Advertisements are an easy way to monetize your site since they don’t interfere with your content. However, it’s important to be aware that ads can disrupt the User Experience (UX).

You can sell your ad space directly which gives you more control over the companies you work with. For instance, you’ll be able to set your own rate and determine the position of ads on your pages. But, you’ll need to be comfortable handling negotiations yourself.

If you don’t want the responsibility of finding advertisers, you can sell ads using Google AdSense:

Google AdSense is an ad network that matches advertisers with businesses selling ad space on their websites. It enables you to present more user-friendly ads that are tailored to your visitors.

Every time a user clicks on your ad, you’ll get a percentage of whatever the company pays Google. While this method is much easier, you’ll have to split the revenue with the network.

4. Sell Physical or Digital Products

If you run a business, you might already have physical products to sell. On the other hand, you might be able to make physical products such as personalized items that you see on marketplaces like Etsy.

In this case, you can use a plugin like WooCommerce to transform your blog into an online store:

Then, you can add a payment gateway to your site to accept and authorize payments.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to concern yourself with inventory space or shipping costs, you can always sell digital products. Easy Digital Downloads is a great tool for the job:

For example, you can sell photographs, prints, guides, eBooks, and more.

Then, your blog can function as the perfect platform to promote these products. You can do this directly, by creating fresh posts for new product launches. Or, you can write tutorials, product reviews, or roundups that highlight your items.

5. Accept Donations

The easiest way to make money blogging is to simply ask readers for donations. You might feel uncomfortable doing this at first, but if you’re offering enough value, some visitors will be happy to contribute.

You may not earn lots of revenue this way. However, as a new blogger, it could be enough to cover basic costs like hosting, themes, and plugins.

To get started, you can launch a crowdfunding campaign with a platform like JustGiving:

Alternatively, you can collect donations using a plugin like GiveWP.

It’s also a good idea to maintain transparency when asking readers to make payments. Therefore, you’ll want to tell readers what the money is going towards.

Conclusion

Starting a blog is a great way to generate a passive income so that you can make money even as you sleep. Better yet, there are plenty of accessible and beginner-friendly monetization options.

To recap, here are five ways to make money blogging:

1. Become an affiliate marketer
2. Create a membership site
3. Display advertisements
4. Sell physical or digital products
5. Accept donations

Do you have any questions about how to make money from your blog? Let us know in the comments section below!

The post How to Make Money Blogging (5 Ways) appeared first on Torque.

Fortunately, there are trusted Certificate Authorities (CA) that offer both free and premium SSL solutions. Even better, some quality web hosting providers will manage your SSL certificate for you.

In this post, we’ll explain how SSL certificates work. Then, we’ll look at the cost of different SSL certificates offered by some of the top providers. Finally, we’ll show you how to install an SSL certificate. Let’s begin!

What Is an SSL Certificate?

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. This is an internet protocol that encrypts and authenticates data as it travels between a network, browser, and user. This process provides an added layer of security.

Today, you’ll often see the use of the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol instead. In fact, the terms SSL and TLS are sometimes used interchangeably. That’s because TLS is just a new and improved version of SSL.

Not using an SSL/TLS certificate on your site can pose several risks to your business, including:

• Non-compliance. Many websites manage delicate user data. In certain industries, online privacy laws make SSL/TLS certificates a legal requirement. For instance, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) require them.
• Losing visitors. While not all websites are required to use an SSL/TLS certificate, some browsers will display a warning to users if your site lacks this added layer of security. This notification usually tells visitors that your site might be dangerous, and if they decide to visit it, their information may be at risk. This could scare off lots of visitors and negatively impact your business.
• Increased cyber attacks. As we discussed, SSL certificates provide extra security by using encryption. If hackers try to intercept your users’ data (or your own), this could have lots of repercussions.

Therefore, it’s safe to say that every website needs an SSL certificate. In addition to preventing problems, it can have several benefits for your business. For example, it can ensure safe checkouts, boost your reputation, lead to increased sales, and more.

How Much Does an SSL Certificate Cost?

Now that you know how the SSL/TLS protocols work and how they can benefit you, you’re probably wondering how much a certificate costs. In this section, we’ll check out the prices for some of the best SSL certificate providers, also called Certificate Authorities (CA). We’ll also look at the prices for popular types of SSL certificates.

1. Digicert

Digicert is a highly-respected digital security company that provides solutions for developers, eCommerce websites, and more. SSL/TLS certificates are just one sub-section of its vast offerings.

Here are the prices for some of its plans:

• Single: Starting at $289 per year – Basic SSL plan
• Single + Wildcard: Starting at $484 per year – Secure Site SSL plan
• Multidomain: Custom pricing to be calculated at checkout

It’s important to note that the Basic SSL plan can be made a ‘wildcard’ to accommodate subdomains. Additionally, for each of these plans, you can customize the type of validation your certificate uses. Depending on your selection, your plan could cost more. However, if you decide to purchase multiple years at a time, you’ll pay less in the long run.

2. Entrust

Entrust is another popular choice when it comes to online security. It offers hardware security, electronic signing services, cloud security, and much more.

These are the prices for its TLS/SSL certificates:

• Single: Starting at $219 per year – Standard Plus OV plan
• Single + Wildcard: Starting at $799 per year – Wildcard OV SSL plan
• Multidomain: Starting at $429 per year – Multidomain EV SSL plan (two domains)

If you’re interested in Entrust’s multidomain plan, but you’d like more than two, you can add additional domains for $159 each per year. Similar to other CAs, you’ll save money when you purchase multiple years at a time. In this case, the standard plan does not support wildcards.

3. Sectigo

Sectigo, formerly known as Comodo SSL, is another solid option when it comes to TLS/SSL certificates. The Sectigo Store offers certificates from a variety of different brands, but let’s look at the Sectigo brand options:

• Single: Starting at $74 per year – Sectigo SSL Certificate (DV) plan
• Single + Wildcard: Starting at $249 per year – Sectigo SSL Wildcard Certificate (DV) plan
• Multidomain: Starting at $159 per year – Sectigo Multi-Domain/UCC SSL Certificate (three domains)

As you can see, Sectigo has some of the most affordable plans on the market. Still, there’s plenty of room for customization and upgrades if you need them.

4. Let’s Encrypt

So far, we’ve looked at premium Certificate Authorities (CAs). However, it’s also possible to get an SSL certificate for free. This may be a good option if you need one for a personal website or a small online store.

Let’s Encrypt offers single TLS certificates with Domain Validation (DV). This CA has changed the SSL landscape for the better. In fact, some hosting providers include a Let’s Encrypt certificate in their plans.

Why Should You Pay for an SSL Certificate?

SSL certificates can be expensive, so you might be wondering if you should pay for one. The good news is that you might not need to.

If you have a managed WordPress hosting solution from a quality provider, such as WP Engine, an SSL certificate may be included in your plan:

In fact, some web hosts, including WP Engine, offer both free and premium TLS certificate options. What’s more, if you opt to purchase an SSL/TLS certificate with your hosting provider, you can usually enable it in a few clicks. Your web host will handle the rest.

However, there are some cases in which you may want to purchase an SSL certificate directly from a CA. Primarily, you might want more customization options or added validation.

When you purchase an SSL certificate, you’ll need to verify that you own the domain you want to associate with it. There are three types of validation:

• Domain Validation (DV). This is the lowest form of verification. It can usually be completed via email within a few hours.
• Organizational Validation (OV). This involves the CA getting in touch with the organization requesting the certificate. It can take a few days and is more secure than DV.
• Extended Validation (EV). This is the most rigorous form of validation. The CA also has to confirm that the business requesting the certificate is legitimate. This can take days or even weeks.

In a nutshell, you may want to pay for an SSL certificate if you run a larger eCommerce business or enterprise. This way, you can select a plan with the most secure validation. You’ll likely also have access to additional upgrades to further secure your site.

How to Install an SSL Certificate on a WordPress Site

With managed WordPress hosting, you can likely reach out to your provider and ask them to install a free or premium SSL certificate (if they haven’t already). Alternatively, you may be able to consult your web host’s documentation to find out how to do this yourself.

However, if you’ve determined that you don’t need to pay for an SSL certificate, but your web host doesn’t include this service, you’ll need to add a free one yourself.

Without a WordPress plugin, installing an SSL certificate can be complicated. Therefore, we recommend using Really Simple SSL:

This free plugin uses a free TLS certificate provided by Let’s Encrypt. To install it, simply go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Add New. Then, search for Really Simple SSL:

Click on Install Now followed by Activate. Once the plugin is active, it should automatically launch the Let’s Encrypt Wizard.

Simply follow the prompts to complete the setup. You’ll have to provide your domain and email as well as some basic information about your web host, including the credentials to access your control panel.

After you’ve completed the steps in the setup wizard, your new SSL certificate should be installed automatically!

Conclusion

Without experience in web security, determining the appropriate cost of an SSL certificate may seem daunting, especially if you’re on a budget. However, this is an essential safety precaution that you wouldn’t want to skip. The good news is that there are both free and premium options to choose from.

If you’re running a relatively simple website and you handle minimal user data, you can use a free SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt. This might even be included with your hosting plan. Meanwhile, higher-risk sites may want to pay for a premium SSL certificate from a service like Sectigo or DigiCert. These plans can range from around $70 to as much as $800 per year.

Do you have any questions about the cost of an SSL certificate? Let us know in the comments section below!

The post How Much Does an SSL Certificate Cost (and Is it Worth it)? appeared first on Torque.

Fortunately, with WordPress, translating websites is much simpler from a technical standpoint. That’s because translation plugins for WordPress enable you to easily create new versions of your site in other languages. Plus, most plugins will take care of technical elements like language switchers.

In this article, we’ll discuss how translation plugins work and why you should use one. Then, we’ll introduce you to five of the best (and latest) translation plugins for WordPress. Let’s get to it!

What Is a Translation Plugin?

A WordPress translation plugin is an extension that helps you create a multilingual website by translating your content into different languages. These plugins can drastically simplify the process of translating your material. Many offer automatic translation, manual translation, or a combination of both.

If you’re not sure what the difference is between manual and automatic translation, here’s a quick breakdown of how each method works:

• Manual translation. Some plugins allow you to manually translate your content by creating separate posts, pages, or custom post types for each language. This method gives you greater control over translations and usually results in higher-quality translations (since they are done by humans). However, manual translations can be time-consuming and may require hiring professional translators.
• Automatic translation. Some translation plugins connect your site to machine translation engines such as Google Translate or Microsoft Azure Translator. These plugins detect your website’s content and automatically translate it into the languages you select. While automatic translations are quick and easy, they may not always be accurate or convey the intended meaning.
• Combination of manual and automatic translation. With some plugins, you can leverage a combination of both manual and automatic translations. This approach allows you to use machine translations as a starting point and then manually edit and refine them as needed.

Your choice of WordPress translation plugin will likely come down to two factors. These are the type of translation you want to use and the user experience you’re looking for. Now, let’s discuss why you may want to use a translation plugin for WordPress.

Why Sites Use Translation Plugins

The primary goal of using a translation plugin is to make your site available in other languages. Generally speaking, this makes it more accessible and allows you to reach a larger audience. Using a WordPress translation plugin comes with its own set of benefits, including:

• Improving the user experience. Offering content in a user’s native language significantly enhances their browsing experience. This can lead to better engagement and increased trust in your website.
• It’s cost-effective. Compared to building a separate website for each language or hiring professional translators for each piece of content, using a translation plugin is often more cost-effective and time-efficient.
• Access to language switchers. Most translation plugins include a language switcher feature. This makes it simple for users to toggle between languages on your website.
• Improving Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Multilingual websites have an edge in search engine rankings. Since they target keywords in various languages, they can gain visibility in the search results for multiple languages.

You don’t need to use a plugin to translate your WordPress website. However, using one can certainly help streamline this process. Even if you have the budget to pay for a developer and translators, a plugin still may be worth it – for simplicity’s sake.

5 Cutting Edge Translation Plugins for Your WordPress Site

Next, we’re going to discuss some of the best and latest WordPress translation plugins. We’ll tell you what makes each plugin unique. This way, you can get a sense of which option is the best fit for your website.

1. Translate WordPress with GTranslate

First, let’s discuss Translate WordPress with GTranslate. This is a popular WordPress plugin that uses Google Translate to automatically translate your website content into multiple languages. It offers a customizable language switcher which can be added as a widget, shortcode, or menu item.

The plugin has both free and premium versions, with the paid option offering additional features. For instance, the paid plugin includes neural machine translations, search engine indexing, manual translation editing, and URL translation.

Keep in mind that this version doesn’t come with a yearly license (as most premium WordPress plugins do). Instead, you’ll need to pay for a monthly subscription to use the plugin’s premium version.

Pricing: Translate WordPress with GTranslate is free. However, you can get the premium version with advanced features starting at $9.99 per month.

2. TranslatePress

TranslatePress is a user-friendly WordPress translation plugin that enables you to create a multilingual website with ease. One of its main selling points is the ability to translate content directly from the front end. Plus, it uses a visual translation interface, allowing you to see changes in real-time.

The plugin supports both manual and automatic translating, integrating with Google Translate for machine translations. Furthermore, TranslatePress is compatible with various themes and plugins, including certain page builders and WooCommerce. This helps ensure seamless integration with your website.

Additionally, with TranslatePress, you get access to SEO-friendly features. You’ll be able to translate metadata, URLs, and create separate sitemaps for each language. With the free version, you can translate your website into one additional language. Meanwhile, the premium version offers support for unlimited languages and additional features like translator accounts and automatic user language detection.

Pricing: TranslatePress offers both free and premium versions. Prices for paid plans are only listed in euros on the company’s site and start at €7.99 per month ($8.50 USD at the time of writing).

3. WPML

WPML (WordPress Multilingual Plugin) is a powerful and widely-used WordPress plugin for creating and managing multilingual websites. Its main selling points include support for manual translations and integration with professional translation services.

Additionally, the plugin offers advanced translation management, allowing you to assign translation roles and track translation progress. What’s more, it provides extensive translation options, supporting the translation of custom post types, custom fields, widgets, and menus.

WPML is also SEO-friendly, enabling the translation of metadata, permalinks, etc. It also generates language-specific sitemaps. Even better, the WPML plugin offers a user-friendly interface and a dedicated support team to ensure a smooth user experience.

This WordPress translation plugin doesn’t offer a free version. Still, its features and compatibility make it a popular choice for those looking to create a professional, multilingual website with high-quality translations.

Pricing: WPML licenses start at $39 per year.

4. MultilingualPress

MultilingualPress is a unique WordPress translation plugin that leverages the WordPress Multisite feature to create separate sites for each language. This option enables you to manage translations independently for each site, gain greater control over the translation process, and avoid any performance loss.

By creating separate sites, MultilingualPress ensures that each language version functions independently, reducing the risk of compatibility issues with themes and plugins. The plugin also supports automatic hreflang tags, which improves SEO by informing search engines about the available language versions of a page.

MultilingualPress offers a user-friendly interface for connecting translated content across sites. This makes it easy to manage and navigate your multilingual website. The plugin may require more initial setup due to the WordPress Multisite configuration. However, its unique approach to handling translations offers a flexible and efficient solution.

Pricing: MultilingualPress licenses start at $99 per year.

5. Google Website Translator

Last but not least, let’s discuss Google Website Translator. This WordPress plugin utilizes Google Translate’s machine translation service to instantly translate your website content into multiple languages. Its main selling points include ease of use, quick setup, and broad language support.

Additionally, the plugin offers a customizable language switcher, allowing users to choose their preferred language from a dropdown menu or widget, which can be placed anywhere on the site. It also supports inline language switchers, enabling language selection within the content itself.

Another key feature of the Google Website Translator plugin is its ability to preserve the original formatting and layout of your website during translation. This helps provide a consistent user experience across different languages.

Keep in mind that the plugin relies solely on machine translations. If you want to edit translations, you’ll need to pay for a premium license.

Price: Free with premium licenses costing a one-time fee of $50.

Conclusion

Translating a website takes a lot of work. However, if you’re a WordPress user, you get access to plugins that can simplify this process. Some plugins make it easier to translate content manually. Other options leverage automatic machine translations. Meanwhile, some tools combine both approaches.

What approach you choose to use will depend on the languages you want to target and whether you want to review translations manually. With that in mind, here are our top plugin suggestions:

1. Translate WordPress with GTranslate: This plugin enables you to leverage Google Translate and to review translations manually.
2. TranslatePress: This solution supports both manual and automatic translations, and it works seamlessly with WooCommerce.
3. WPML: With this plugin, you can get access to professional translators and assign team members specific tasks. It’s the perfect tool for translating a website as part of a team.
4. MultilingualPress: This plugin lets you leverage WordPress Multisite to set up multiple independent sites in different languages.
5. Google Website Translator: You can use this plugin to translate your site using Google Translate. It’s a great option if you’re prioritizing speed.

Do you have any questions about translation plugins for WordPress? Let’s talk about them in the comments section below!

The post <strong>5 Latest Translation Plugins for WordPress</strong> appeared first on Torque.

Fortunately, you can easily find project management tools designed specifically for development. Options like Wrike, Monday.com, and Zoho Projects can help you centralize team-wide communication and streamline your development projects.

In this post, we’ll discuss the benefits of using project management software. Then, we’ll show you three of the best options for developers. Let’s get started!

The Benefits of Using Project Management Software

As a developer, you might rely on your technical skills to succeed in your profession. However, it’s important to stay organized as well. That’s where project management tools come in.

Put simply, project management software helps track, organize, and execute professional work projects. In this type of workspace, teams can collaborate on tasks and execute work more efficiently.

As a result, you can optimize your workflow and complete projects faster (and better). That means you’ll likely be able to increase your client base.

One of the key benefits of using project management software is its communication channels. Instead of relying on multiple third-party tools, your entire team can discuss projects in one place. This can help you clearly establish your project expectations and increase transparency.

Whether you’re a part of a freelance development team or an agency, you can benefit from a project management tool. Here are some features developers should look for:

• Project planning
• Task management
• File sharing
• Invoicing
• Bug and error tracking
• Time tracking
• Analytics

Keep in mind that each developer and team will have a unique set of needs, but these are just the essentials you’ll probably want to look for. Crucially, your project management tool should give you access to organized records of your work. So, when you need to refer to a previous task, you can easily browse through stored information.

3 Best Project Management Tools for Developers

Now that you’re familiar with project management software for developers, let’s discuss some of the best options available. This way, you can make an informed decision, and start optimizing your projects!

1. Wrike

One of the best project management tools for developers is Wrike. It is used by over 20,000 organizations, including Google and Lyft. Wrike’s universal work management process includes everything you need to create and structure development tasks.

What’s more, with Wrike, you can use pre-built templates to instantly add work requests, weekly to-do lists, project risk analyses, and much more. Then, Wrike enables you to structure work with Gantt charts and calendar views.

Furthermore, as you develop your projects, you’ll receive real-time reports that help keep track of your budget, resources, and digital performance. Plus, Wrike will secure your workspace with Single Sign On (SSO) and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).

Key features:

• Shared team calendars
• Visual workload views
• Instant file access
• Cross-channel insights
• Real-time reports
• Integrates with Bitbucket, MySQL, and other developer tools

Pricing: Wrike has a completely free starter plan that supports task management, custom work views, and email integrations. If you’d like to create unlimited projects with custom workflows, the premium subscriptions start at $9.80 per user every month.

2. Monday.com

Next up on our list is – Monday.com. This is a versatile project management software well-suited for marketing, sales, and development teams. No matter your goals, Monday.com can help you centralize projects all in one place. Using visual boards, views, and dashboards, this software makes it easy to manage and customize your work.

In addition to basic project management, Monday.com has features for developers. For example, it enables you to create a visual timeline for product development projects. Then, you can plan sprints to streamline changes using Monday.com’s scrum framework.

Key features:

• Calendar, timeline, and chart views
• 200+ templates
• Bug tracking
• Backlogs
• Product roadmaps
• Integrates with software development tools like GitHub, Jira, and PagerDuty

Pricing: Like Wrike, you can start using Monday.com for free. However, this plan is best for smaller teams. To access Gantt views, time tracking, and multi-level permissions, each team member’s seat starts at $8 per month.

3. Zoho Projects

Last up on our list is Zoho Projects. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly but feature-packed project management tool, you can’t go wrong with this option. This cloud-based tool is used by Stanford University, Airbus, and other major companies.

With Zoho, you can record new issues and assign them to your team members as you’re working on projects. Additionally, you’ll be able to create dependencies and track your progress with Gantt charts. Plus, Zoho includes user-friendly communication tools to optimize team collaboration.

Even better, using Zoho Projects, you can access the entirety of the Zoho app suite. Along with some third-party integrations, you’ll be able to use Zoho’s software for Customer Relationship Management (CRM), invoicing, analytics, and much more.

Key features:

• Portfolio dashboard

• Custom templates for projects, tasks, and task lists
• Document sharing
• Task timers, timesheets, and invoicing
• Issue reports
• Integrates with GitHub, Bitbucket, Basecamp, and more

Pricing: Zoho Projects is free for up to 3 users. To start building unlimited projects, the premium subscriptions start at $5 per user per month.

Conclusion

Currently, your development team could be wasting time better spent onboarding new clients. Therefore, you may want to consider using project management software to make sure your projects are set up for success. These tools should include features to manage tasks, share files, track errors, and more.

To review, here are some of the best project management tools for developers:

1. Wrike: A popular tool for tracking work requests, budgeting, resources, and team-wide performance.
2. Monday.com: A versatile project management software with custom visual timelines and sprints.
3. Zoho Projects: A budget-friendly and cloud-based tool with a full suite of built-in apps.

Do you have any questions about which project management software you should use? Ask us in the comments section below!

The post 3 Best Project Management Tools for Developers appeared first on Torque.

That’s where Buy Now buttons can simplify the checkout process. By adding a Buy Now button to your products, customers can skip straight to the payment stage. This setup can provide a simpler buyer’s journey, leading to higher conversions.

In this post, we’ll explain why you might want to add Buy Now buttons to your eCommerce store. Then, we’ll show you how to do this in five simple steps. Let’s get started!

Why You Should Consider Adding Buy Now Buttons to Your Products

A Buy Now button is a clickable Call to Action (CTA) on your website that enables customers to purchase a product or service. It immediately initializes the checkout process:

If customers have to go through too many steps to purchase your eCommerce products, they may abandon their carts. You can speed up the buyer’s journey with a Buy Now button. After a user clicks on this CTA, they can check out without placing the item in their cart.

As an eCommerce store owner, you’ll want to place Buy Now buttons on product pages. However, this feature can also be beneficial on landing pages. When customers can go directly from your advertisement to the checkout page, you can increase your conversion rate.

How to Add Buy Now Buttons to Your Products (In 5 Easy Steps)

Buy Now buttons can be useful if you’re struggling to improve conversions in your eCommerce store. To help you get started, we’ll show you how to create and customize Buy Now buttons with Easy Digital Downloads!

Step 1: Install Easy Digital Downloads

Although there are many different ways to create a Buy Now button in WordPress, the simplest option is to install a plugin. If you sell digital products, we recommend Easy Digital Downloads:

Easy Digital Downloads is a popular WordPress plugin that makes it easy to sell eCommerce products such as software, music, and videos. With even the free version, you’ll be able to add Buy Now buttons to any of these digital items.

To get started, install Easy Digital Downloads in your WordPress dashboard. Once you’ve activated it, continue to the next step!

Step 2: Configure the Plugin’s Payment Settings

Before creating your first Buy Now button, you’ll need to configure a few settings for Easy Digital Downloads. Firstly, you’ll have to select a supported payment gateway.

In WordPress, navigate to Downloads > Settings > Payments > Active Gateways. To ensure that the Buy Now button works, select either Stripe or PayPal. These are the only two payment gateways that support the feature:

After saving this change, click on the PayPal or Stripe tab. You’ll see different setup instructions based on the payment method you chose:

Connect either your Stripe or PayPal account. Then, click on Save Changes.

Step 3: Create a Digital Product

Now it’s time to set up a digital product for your eCommerce store. Click on Downloads > Downloads > Add New:

This will open an editing page for the new product. You can start by giving the item a title and description:

By default, your product will be available for free. Under Pricing Options, set a custom price:

Then, you’ll need to upload the product. By opening the Download Files section, you’ll be able to add an uploaded file, URL, or item from the Media Library:

Once you’ve customized these settings, customers can view your product. After purchasing it, they will be able to download your eBook, art, or custom software.

Step 4: Add a Buy Now Button to Your Product

If you publish your product now, your eCommerce site will display an Add to Cart button. We recommend swapping it for a Buy Now button to improve the customer experience and encourage more purchases.

In the same editor, open the Download settings on the right-hand side. Then, scroll down to the Button Options:

Under the Purchase button behavior, select Buy Now. This will replace the Add to Cart button with a Buy Now button:

As we mentioned earlier, Buy Now buttons can also be useful on sales or landing pages. Fortunately, Easy Digital Downloads adds a Buy Button block to the WordPress Block Editor. This element lets you insert Buy Now buttons into any page or post.

After opening one of your site’s pages or posts, insert a new block. Then, search for the EDD Buy Button block:

In the new block, use the dropdown menu to select your digital product. Once you do this, the block will automatically turn into a Buy Now button:

By navigating to the block settings, you can choose to hide the product’s price. If you select this option, customers will just see the purchase CTA:

Once you’re happy with these settings, publish the page!

Step 5: Customize Your Buy Now Button

By now, you should have fully functional Buy Now buttons for your eCommerce store. However, you may want to customize them to align with your branding.

To do this, head to Downloads > Settings > Misc > Purchase Buttons. Here, you can set a custom style and color for the Buy Now button:

At the bottom of the page, find Buy Now Text. In this field, feel free to change the default text on your Buy Now buttons.

For example, you might add an exclamation mark to further excite your customers:

Finally, save your settings to update the Buy Now buttons. With this minor feature, you can give your customers a smooth checkout experience!

Conclusion

If customers need to follow multiple steps to buy your products, they might leave without completing their orders. However, a Buy Now button can make the checkout process significantly easier and faster. Adding this simple feature can effectively improve User Experience (UX) on your eCommerce website.

To review, here’s how to add Buy Now buttons to your WordPress products:

1. Install Easy Digital Downloads.
2. Configure the payment settings.
3. Create a digital product.
4. Add a Buy Now button to your product.
5. Customize your Buy Now button.

Do you have any questions about adding Buy Now buttons to your eCommerce store? Ask us in the comments section below!

The post How to Add Buy Now Buttons to Your Products appeared first on Torque.

Fortunately, you can drastically increase your returns when you opt for high-ticket dropshipping products. From electronics to outdoor equipment, selling the right items for the right prices can make a huge difference.

In this post, we’ll introduce you to high-ticket dropshipping. Then, we’ll share some of the best and most profitable niches and products that you may want to consider. Let’s get started!

An Introduction to High-Ticket Dropshipping Products 2023

Before we discuss some of the best high-ticket dropshipping products of the year, let’s briefly go over dropshipping more broadly.

In this model, an online store owner manages a website with a catalog of products. When they receive orders, they send them directly to the manufacturer, a wholesaler, or another third-party service to complete them:

That means the eCommerce store owner doesn’t have to deal with storage, shipping, or the other hassles of managing a brick-and-mortar business. Due to this simplified structure, dropshipping can be highly appealing to aspiring digital entrepreneurs hoping to generate more passive income.

In fact, dropshipping is growing in popularity, and the value of this market is expected to reach over $476 billion by the end of 2026. Furthermore, it’s highly accessible due to Content Management Systems (CMS) such as WordPress and Shopify.

High-ticket dropshipping involves focusing on products with higher price tags, like appliances or furniture. On the contrary, low-ticket items might include toys, sunglasses, or budget jewelry. If you choose high-ticket dropshipping, your profit margins should be higher, even if you sell a lower volume of items.

5 Best High-Ticket Dropshipping Products in 2023

Now that you know more about this online business model, let’s discuss some of the best high-ticket dropshipping products in 2023! We’ll be covering a few products within five of the best niches.

1. Home Appliances

There is no set price range for low and high-ticket items because this definition is ultimately subjective. However, each item certainly falls on a spectrum.

One category of products ideal for high-ticket dropshipping (albeit on the lower end of the scale) is appliances. This niche might include everything from a high-end air fryer to a luxury espresso machine:

As you can see in the above example, this product falls between $250 and $500. That’s significantly more than what you’d get for children’s toys or fast fashion items. And that’s just in the kitchen alone!

Here are a few more high-ticket dropshipping appliances you may want to consider selling:

• Washing machines and dryers
• Refrigerators
• Vacuum cleaners

While these are some of the most common examples, you could even provide your customers with more niche items, like fireplaces or pizza ovens.

2. Furniture and Interior Design

Other excellent options for high-ticket products are furniture and interior design. The great thing about these niches is that the possibilities are almost endless.

From sofas and beds to lamps and chandeliers, this vast category will likely make it easy to find wholesalers or manufacturers to partner with. What’s more, customers tend to be more willing to invest in furniture and design products, so you don’t have to be afraid of a high price tag:

In addition to indoor and even outdoor furniture, you can keep the ‘home’ theme going by selling other high-ticket decor. For instance, why not focus on paintings, vases, and rugs?

3. Sports Equipment

Next up on our list of the best high-ticket dropshipping products is sports equipment. While this niche may not be the obvious choice, many recreational activities involve more expensive items.

For instance, snowboards, skis, and even surfboards come with hefty price tags:

Additionally, you could appeal to popular extreme sports such as kite surfing, windsurfing, and stand-up paddle boarding.

Since this category is admittedly a bit more limited, you could always fill out your online catalog with some low-ticket accessories. For example, you might sell snowboard helmets, gloves, and boots.

4. Landscape and Gardening Supplies

Many high-ticket dropshipping products are related to houses and home improvement. So, it should be no surprise that landscape and gardening supplies are next on our list:

A dropshipping business in this niche could sell the following products:

• Lawn mowers
• Leaf blowers
• Sheds

Again, you could then pair these products with lower-ticket items like soil, grass, and flowers. However, keep in mind that you’ll need to partner with high-quality and dependable suppliers when dealing with a ‘live’ product like plants.

5. Electronics and Tech Gadgets

Finally, electronics and tech gadgets are some of the best high-ticket dropshipping products. This niche has plenty of potential since many shoppers are increasingly fascinated with the latest and greatest tech goodies:

If you choose to dropship this type of item, here are a few products that you might consider:

• Smartphones and smartwatches
• Earbuds and headphones
• Virtual Reality (VR) headsets
• Cameras

In addition, consider selling less common (but equally popular) products such as electronic bikes and scooters. These niche items will help you appeal to a broader range of customers.

Conclusion: Best High-Ticket Dropshipping Products

Dropshipping can be a highly lucrative online business. However, the business model might not be worth your time if you’re working with low-ticket items. Fortunately, carefully selecting high-ticket products can transform a flailing dropshipping company into a success.

To recap, here are five of the best high-ticket dropshipping niches in 2023:

1. Home appliances
2. Furniture and interior design
3. Outdoor and sports equipment
4. Landscape and gardening supplies
5. Electronics and tech gadgets

Do you have any questions about the best high-ticket dropshipping products this year? Let us know in the comments section below!

The post 5 Best High-Ticket Dropshipping Products for 2023 appeared first on Torque.

Fortunately, when you leverage information gained from eCommerce analytics, you can refine your strategy to maximize your profits. You can learn a lot from just a few simple data points, from tracking cart abandonment to successful conversions.

In this guide, we’ll introduce you to the basics of eCommerce analytics. Then, we’ll share eight key metrics to track and show you a few of the best tools for the job. Let’s dive right in!

An Introduction to eCommerce Analytics (And The Benefits of Tracking Them)

In a nutshell, ‘analytics’ involves collecting and then assessing data for a specific purpose. Typically, this is done using advanced online software. However, some metrics can be determined by completing simple calculations.

When it comes to eCommerce, the goal is to use insights gained from this data to continuously improve your marketing and sales strategies. Here are a few potential benefits you can gain when tracking eCommerce analytics:

• Better understand your audience
• Improve the User Experience (UX)
• Increase customer loyalty
• Refine marketing tactics
• Boost conversions and sales

In order to meet certain goals, online companies usually decide on a specific set of metrics to track. Each one can illuminate something different about customer behavior, web page performance, sales, and more.

8 Key eCommerce Analytics Metrics to Follow

Now that you know a bit about the benefits of tracking eCommerce analytics, we’re going to introduce you to eight key metrics you can follow!

1. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)

Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) is one of the simplest metrics you can track. Yet it’s highly useful.

As the name suggests, CAC tells you how much it costs to land a new customer. It’s fairly simple to calculate this metric, as long as you know how much you’re spending on marketing and how many new customers you earn.

For example, you can start with your monthly marketing budget and divide that number by how many new customers you attract each month. This will give you your CAC.

You’ll want to keep your customer acquisition cost as low as possible, in order to optimize your business model. It’s a good idea to check this metric periodically to ensure that it’s staying at a sustainable rate.

2. Sales Conversion Rates

One of the most important eCommerce metrics you can track is your sales conversion rates. You can calculate this by taking your total number of sales conversions, and dividing it by the amount of visitors who had the opportunity to complete that conversion.

Here’s an example. Let’s say you’re tracking the sales of a new product. Within the first month, you find that 100 people viewed the product page. There were also 30 sales for that specific item. This would make your sales conversion rate 30 percent.

One common way eCommerce software keeps tabs on sales is by automatically inserting tracking code in confirmation or thank you pages:

While sales are perhaps the most significant conversion metric to follow, there are certainly others. For instance, you can track how many people are signing up for your newsletter, downloading a free digital product, or even joining your loyalty program.

3. Cart Abandonment

Cart abandonment is one of the biggest issues in nearly every online industry. From fashion to car rentals, shoppers often leave items in their carts repurchased.

There are many reasons for cart abandonment, but high shipping costs and a lengthy checkout process are at the top of the list. Furthermore, cart abandonment is especially common among mobile users.

If you track this metric and discover it’s an issue in your online store, you can make an effort to reduce cart abandoment. You might try some of the following tactics:

• Offer free shipping
• Redesign your checkout page
• Implement one-click checkout

If you can optimize the checkout process so it has a straightforward design and minimal requirements, you’re likely to land more sales.

4. Average Order Value (AOV)

Average order vale (AOV) illustrates the average dollar amount that users are spending on each order. Again, you can calculate this using simple division. You’ll need to know your total profit and your total number of orders.

Ideally, you’ll want your AOV to be as high as possible. However, it’s not uncommon for users to buy just a few products, especially if they are new to your store.

If your shop has a low AOV, here are some strategies you can use to encourage larger orders:

• Implement upselling/cross-selling
• Offer free shipping on large orders
• Provide discounts

Upselling and cross-selling can be particularly effective ways to increase your AOV. You can do this by advertising similar, complementary, or superior items on your product pages:

These are typically displayed in sidebars or at the bottom of the page, under a heading like “Complete the Look” or “Frequently Bought Together.” If you’d like to try out this tactic in your WordPress store, you can use a plugin like WPC Frequently Bought Together for WooCommerce.

5. Repeat Customers

Repeat customers are shoppers who return to your store for additional purchases. This is another key metric to follow.

You’ll want to encourage repeat buyers as much as possible. However, with so much competition, it can be difficult to retain eCommerce customers.

One great way to gain repeat purchases is with a loyalty program:

You’ll want to provide users with significant rewards. This way, they are incentivized to come back time and time again.

6. Bounce Rate and Time On Page

It’s crucial to know how users are interacting with your website and its individual pages. Therefore, two of the most useful metrics you can track are bounce rate and time on page. ‘Bounce rate’ is the number of users who land on your website and leave without clicking through to another page on your site.

Meanwhile, ‘time on page’ refers to how long users are spending on your web pages. When you first launch an eCommerce site, it’s not uncommon to have a high bounce rate and low time on page, but you’ll want to make every effort to combat this.

Improving page loading times and overall site performance is key when it comes to reducing your bounce rate. Additionally, prioritizing the user experience is vital to increase time on page.

Here are some other tactics you can try to improve both of these metrics:

• Improve your internal linking
• Install a plugin that targets website performance
• Enhance your navigation menus
• Add a search bar on every page

Each of these strategies will make it easier for users to navigate around your site seamlessly.

7. Click-Through Rate (CTR)

In Pay Per Click (PPC) marketing, you can pay to have your advertisements featured on certain pages. With Search Engine Marketing (SEM), you can pay or ‘bid’ on certain search terms. Depending on your bid, the relevancy of your content, and your page’s overall quality, your content can get boosted to the top of relevant search results.

Meanwhile, organic search results display web pages based on algorithms designed to provide users with the most relevant content – no payment required:

In all of these scenarios, Click-Through Rate (CTR) refers to the percentage of ‘impressions’ (or views) that result in a click. Therefore, you’ll want your CTR to be as high as possible.

With both classic PPC advertising and organic marketing, you can improve your CTRs by creating concise headlines and useful meta descriptions. It’s also smart to do some keyword research so you can target terms your audience is already looking for.

8. Audience Demographics

Last but not least, audience demographics can be extremely helpful when it comes to eCommerce analytics. Here are some data points you may want to track:

• Type of device
• Location
• Age
• Income level

You can use sign-up forms to collect some of this information from new users. Alternatively, you can create a survey to learn more about pre-existing customers.

This data can help you better understand your target audience. This way, you can shape your content marketing strategies, prices, and page designs around their specific needs.

How to Track eCommerce Analytics

Now that you’re familiar with some of the most important eCommerce metrics, you’ll need to know how to track them. As we mentioned earlier, you can calculate some eCommerce analytics metrics manually. However, this can be tedious and time-consuming.

Fortunately, there are plenty of analytical and marketing tools that can automatically track and calculate many eCommerce metrics for you. You’ll want to thoroughly research them to determine which is best for your business.

If you’re not sure where to start, Semrush and Google Analytics are two of the most popular and reliable tools you can use:

Both are user-friendly and straightforward. Plus, they both integrate seamlessly with WordPress.

Conclusion

As eCommerce becomes increasingly popular, it may be difficult for your online store to stand out in the crowd. By leveraging eCommerce analytics, you’ll be better prepared to serve your customers and increase sales.

You can get started by tracking simple eCommerce metrics like your customer acquisition costs, sales conversion rates, and average order values. Then, you can use a tool such as Google Analytics or Semrush to assess website and ad performance metrics like bounce rates and click-through rates.

Do you have any questions about getting started with an eCommerce analytics strategy? Let us know in the comments section below!

The post A Complete Guide to eCommerce Analytics appeared first on Torque.

Fortunately, it’s easy to create a paid membership site with the right tools. Then, you can configure memberships in WordPress, restrict access to specific pages, and sell subscriptions.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at membership websites and how they work. Then, we’ll discuss what you need to get started and explore two ways you can do this. Let’s dive in!

An Introduction to Membership Websites

Typically, a membership website is an online space that provides exclusive content for its members. Alternatively, some membership sites are accessible to everyone, but feature gated content and additional resources that require a membership.

Most of the time, memberships are granted in exchange for payment (usually a subscription). However, sometimes users can become members by simply handing over their email address:

Once users gain membership status, they can log into the site to view exclusive pages/posts, download files, or receive emails and newsletters. 

There are many benefits to creating a paid membership site. For instance, you’ll get access to a more engaged audience since users have already expressed interest in your content. In turn, you can enjoy higher retention rates and earn recurring revenue.

What You Need to Create a Membership Site on WordPress

To create your membership site, you’ll need a place where you can publish and manage content. One of the best options is WordPress since it’s open-source, free, and easy to use. After you’ve selected a domain name, signed up with a web hosting provider, and installed WordPress, you can add membership functionality to your site.

When creating a paid membership site, make sure you can carry out the following tasks:

• Create memberships. You’ll need a tool that enables you to create multiple memberships with clear prices and benefits. 
• Design a signup page. Users need a way to access your membership plans. Generally, visitors can sign up on your web page with an email address. 
• Add pricing. It’s a good idea to create a pricing page where users can view all your plans. You might prefer to display this information in a pricing table so that visitors can easily compare plans. 
• Integrate your website with your sales funnel. For instance, you might want to pull your members’ email addresses to your CRM. Or, you could connect your membership site to an email marketing platform.
• Set up a payment gateway. If you’re accepting fees in exchange for memberships, you’ll need a payment gateway to authorize transactions.

Carefully considering the above elements at the outset can help streamline your workflow down the line.

How to Create a Paid Membership Site with WordPress (2 Ways)

Now that you know the benefits of creating a membership site, let’s take a look at two ways to get started.

1. With a WordPress Membership Plugin like ProfilePress

When you use a plugin like ProfilePress, you can easily set up and configure your membership site. Plus, it allows you to continue creating and managing WordPress content as you normally would.

Before we get started, you’ll need to enable user registration in WordPress. To do this, navigate to Settings > General in your WordPress dashboard. Then, check the box next to Anyone can register:

Now, you can install and activate the plugin. ProfilePress is an excellent option since you can use it to create custom forms for signup and login pages. 

To do this, head to ProfilePress > Settings > Pages:

Here, you can choose the default form options, or select an existing page. Alternatively, you can create a new signup page to gain greater control over your form fields and settings.

To create your own form, click on ProfilePress > Forms & Profiles. Select your preferred form type, such as LOGIN or REGISTRATION. Then, hit Add New:

Additionally, you can create membership plans by going to ProfilePress > Membership Plans > Add New:

You’re able to adjust your plan details, configure subscription settings, and add any digital products.

To accept payments on your website, navigate to the ProfilePress dashboard and select Integrate a Payment Method:

You can either choose Stripe, PayPal, or Mollie. ProfilePress also supports the Stripe hosted checkout page and on-site payment form. You’ll need to connect to your account. 

Then, it’s a good idea to test the payment method by activating Test Mode:

Lastly, you can restrict access to your content by setting up rule conditions. To do this, head to ProfilePress > Content Protection > Add Protection Rule:

Here, you can select the specific pages you want to restrict access to using the + AND/+ OR buttons. Under Access Condition, you’re able to choose who the rule applies to. For example, you can make certain posts accessible only to your subscribers. 

2. With a Learning Management System like MemberPress

MemberPress is an all-in-one solution that’s ideal for creating and selling courses. It’s not strictly a learning management system (LMS) though. The plugin also provides general membership features:

After installation, head to MemberPress > Courses > Add New to begin:

Then, switch to the Curriculum tab to add materials like infographics, video content, and quizzes:

Next, you can set up multiple membership options and implement your tiered pricing structure. This is advisable since it gives you greater control over the way users interact with your content.

To create your memberships, go to MemberPress > Memberships > Add New:

Choose a unique name and set a price for each of your plans. 

If you head to Membership Options further down the page, you can customize your signup form and enable welcome emails:

Then, switch to Permissions to establish which user roles can sign up for your memberships:

You can use MemberPress to restrict access to your paid content such as blog posts, courses, and landing pages. Although, first, you’ll need to create membership rules. 

You can do this by heading to Memberpress > Rules > Add New. Then, select Single Course from the dropdown menu and choose the course that you want to configure. Next, pick the membership(s) that your users will need in order to access the course:

Lastly, you’re ready to add a payment gateway to your website. Head to MemberPress > Settings > Payments and specify which payment gateways members can use:

Currently, MemberPress supports PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net. Click on the plus icon (+) to add your payment method. Then, connect to your account.

MemberPress is a useful plugin, but if you’re simply seeking a way to create a simple membership site, it may be a bit excessive. You could end up paying for a ton of features you don’t need. Plus, it comes with a steep learning curve which makes it less beginner-friendly than the previous option. 

Conclusion

Creating a membership website is a great way to nurture a community while monetizing your website. However, it can be difficult to get started. Luckily, with the help of some useful tools, it’s easy to create membership options, accept payments, and restrict access to paid content.

To recap, here are two ways to create a paid membership site with WordPress:.

1. With a WordPress membership plugin like ProfilePress.
2. With a learning management system like MemberPress.

Do you have any questions about creating a paid membership site? Ask in the comments section below!

The post How to Create a Paid Membership Site with WordPress (2 Ways) appeared first on Torque.

Fortunately, WordPress makes it easy to add tables of contents to your posts. For instance, you can use a dedicated plugin or create your tables manually in the Block Editor – no coding knowledge required!

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at tables of contents and discuss the benefits of using them in your posts. Then, we’ll show you three different ways to create them in WordPress. Let’s get started!

An Introduction to Tables of Contents in WordPress

A table of contents is a list of your post’s headings and subheadings. Each heading contains an anchor link that takes the reader to that section in the post.

For example, if a user wants to read about a particular topic in your article, they can simply click on the relevant heading in the table of contents:

This way, readers can jump to the sections they’re most interested in and skip the rest. They don’t need to scroll down the page and skim through the post to find what they’re looking for.

Plus, a table of contents gives users a quick overview of the article so they know what to expect. For example, if you’ve written a post about visiting London, readers can quickly see what’s included in the guide (e.g. where to stay, best restaurants, things to do, etc).

Therefore, a table of contents can help improve the User Experience (UX) and make your posts more readable. This may in turn help you rank higher for relevant search terms. 

How to Add a Table of Contents in WordPress (3 Ways)

As we have seen, using tables of contents in your posts can help improve your site’s performance. Fortunately, creating them is easier than you might think. Now let’s look at three simple ways to add a table of contents in WordPress!

1. Install a Table of Contents Plugin

Adding a table of contents plugin to your WordPress site can be a quick and easy way to make your content more navigable. While there are many options to choose from, we recommend Easy Table of Contents:

This plugin enables you to insert a table of contents into your posts, pages, and custom post types. Plus, it can automatically generate the tables for you!

Once you install the plugin on your site, navigate to Settings > Table of Contents in your WordPress dashboard. Under the General tab, you can select the type of content you want to create tables for:

You also have the option to automatically insert them into your posts and pages:

If you’d rather add them manually, you can copy the shortcode and embed it into your posts:

For example, you might only want to add a table of contents to specific posts. In this case, you’ll need to uncheck the boxes in the Auto Insert section and use the shortcode to add the table to your preferred content. 

In the Appearance section, you’ll find several customization options for your table of contents. You can change the font, select the link colors, and more:

Now, let’s see what the table of contents will look like to your readers. If you’ve selected the auto insert option for your posts, you can open a random article on the front end:

By default, the table of contents will appear below your title and introductory paragraph, and before the first H2 heading. However, you can change this in the plugin settings. 

This plugin is an ideal option if you want to automatically add a table of contents to all of your posts. However, if you only want to use the table on some of them, you may want to consider an alternative. 

2. Use Custom WordPress Blocks

You can also add a table of contents as a block. This way, you can insert it directly into your posts and customize it within the WordPress Block Editor.

At the time of writing, the Block Editor does not offer a table of contents block. However, you can use a plugin like Spectra to add this feature to your site: 

Spectra adds a selection of practical blocks to your site, including a table of contents option. Once you install the plugin, navigate to Settings > Spectra to view a complete list of added blocks. 

Make sure that the Table of Contents block is activated:

Then, you can open a post in the Block Editor and add the block anywhere you want on the page:

As with any block, you’ll get access to some customization settings. For example, you can choose the heading tags that you want to include in your table of contents:

To customize the appearance of your table, click on the Style tab. Here, you can change the typography and colors for the title, headings, and more:

Using a Table of Contents block can be a more efficient option if you want to apply the table to certain posts, rather than all of them. Additionally, you can save it as a reusable block, so you won’t have to re-apply the same customization settings every time you use the table in a post. 

However, you may choose to create custom tables for each post. For example, you might want to include all heading tags in some posts, but only display H2 and H3 headings in others. 

With the Easy Table of Contents plugin, you’ll have to use the same table for your posts. Therefore, you might prefer Spectra if you want more freedom over the design of your tables. 

3. Create Your Table Manually in the Block Editor

You may also choose to create your table of contents manually. Perhaps you want to avoid installing another plugin on your site as you only need to create a table for one or two posts.

While adding your table of contents manually can be a little tedious, the process is quite simple. First, you’ll want to add a List block to your post. Then, type in your headings and use the Indent option as needed:

Next, you’ll need to create anchor links. This way, when a user clicks on a heading in the table of contents, they’ll be taken to the relevant section.

To do this, select the Heading block. Then, navigate to the settings panel and click on the Advanced tab. In the HTML anchor field, enter a unique name for this heading, such as “heading1”:

Now, go back to the list, select the corresponding item, and click on the Link icon in the toolbar:

Next, you’ll need to type in the name that you entered in the HTML anchor field, adding a hashtag at the front. In our example, this will be “#heading1”:

Once you enter the anchor link, you’ll be able to click on that item to navigate to the corresponding section. You can repeat the same process for the other items in your list.

When you’re ready, you’ll want to test the anchor links on the front end to make sure they work: 

Remember to add a “Table of Contents” heading above the list. Additionally, you may want to group the heading and list blocks and customize them from the settings panel:

As you can see, you don’t need to install a plugin to create a table of contents. However, if you want to add tables to multiple posts, it may be more efficient than creating them manually.

Conclusion

Adding tables of contents to your posts can make it easier for readers to find what they’re looking for. This can help improve the user experience and reduce your bounce rate, which may in turn lead to better rankings in search results.

In this post, we looked at three ways to add a table of contents in WordPress:

1. Install a plugin like Easy Table of Contents.
2. Use a tool like Spectra to add a Table of Contents block to your site.
3. Create your table manually with the List block. 

Do you have any questions about adding a table of contents to WordPress? Let us know in the comments section below!

The post How to Add a Table of Contents in WordPress (3 Ways) appeared first on Torque.

Fortunately, you can increase user engagement by implementing drip content on your website. When you use this strategy, you release your material little by little instead of all at once. That way, your members will be drawn to return in order to access the next piece of content you make available. 

In this article, we’ll introduce drip content and discuss how it can benefit your WordPress site. Then, we’ll walk you through how to implement this method on your website using a plugin. Let’s dive in! 

An Introduction to Drip Content

Drip content refers to the process of releasing portions of premium content at a time, instead of all at once. This can be for your followers, a broader online audience, or even exclusive members.  

It can look like dispersing a single chapter of an ebook, a course module from an online class, or one podcast episode at a time. With this method, users receive material little by little over a period of time until they have the entire library.

If you’ve ever used the language-learning app Duolingo, you might understand the concept of drip content. In order to unlock the next category level, you have to get a certain amount of answers correct in the module you are currently learning:

This model incentivizes users to continue working on their current lesson in order to access the next one. You can use the same concept for your website.

Many different websites can benefit from this model. However, drip content is particularly well-suited to membership sites. That’s because this kind of website has larger amounts of material that is usually broken up into various segments.

Why Drip Content Could Benefit Your WordPress Site

There are many different reasons why you might want to use the drip method for your website. Your motivations will depend on what kind of site you run as well as your ultimate goals.

For example, let’s say you run a membership website that sells French classes online. By issuing material in small portions, you can help users pace themselves instead of pushing them to get through all of the content at once.

This can help make the finishing task less daunting, boosting engagement and encouraging participation. Furthermore, some of the advantages of implementing drip content on your site include:

• Helps users stay committed. Releasing your material on a periodical basis gives visitors a reason to stay devoted to whatever content you are offering them.
• Boosts site views. If users are consistently being enticed to come back to your website, you’ll grow your page views. This has the added benefit of improving SEO.
• Keeps attention for the longterm. If you give all your content at once, users might lose interest or tell themselves they’ll come back later. Issuing installments means that there’s a reason for them to come back on a consistent basis.

As you can see, dispensing your content little by little can bring many benefits to your website. Most importantly, high quality drip content can increase user engagement and interest. This can help grow your blog, program, or business.

How to Create Drip Content in WordPress (In 3 Steps)

Now that you know what drip content is and how it can benefit your website, let’s look at how you can implement it on your WordPress site. Keep in mind that this strategy is best used for pages that require users to pay for their content.

For this walkthrough, we’ll be using the MemberPress plugin. This tool will allow you to create paid subscriptions for your website and make rules about who can access your material. Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Install MemberPress and Create a Membership

To get started, download the MemberPress plugin on your WordPress site:

Once you’ve installed and activated the plugin, you’ll need to set up a payment gateway. This will provide users with a way to pay for your material. To do this, navigate to MemberPress > Settings > Payments:

Here, you can set up your preferred payment gateway. MemberPress offers numerous popular options, such as Stripe and PayPal.

To add one or more options, click the Add Payment Option at the bottom left of the page:

Once you’ve added a payment method, don’t forget to click the Update Options button.

Now, let’s create a membership. This will provide a place for your users to subscribe to your content. To do so, go to MemberPress > Memberships and click on Add New:

From here, you’re able to edit your membership. You can add a title, choose a price, and add content:

In the Membership Terms editing box, you’ll find the field labeled Billing Type:

This will allow you to choose either a one-time or recurring payment option. Click Recurring, which will activate an ongoing payment model.

Once you’ve chosen this option, you can select how often you want users to pay for your content under the Interval field:

After you’ve selected your interval, you’re able to decide whether you want to create a trial period or limit your payment cycles.

These will have additional configuration options depending on your choice. Once you’ve made all your edits, go ahead and click on Publish at the top of the page.

Step 2: Add a Rule

Now that you’ve created a membership for your content, it’s time to configure rules. The rules you put in place will determine who has access to your site.

To do this, go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to MemberPress > Rules:

Then, click on Add New. This will take you to a page where you can control who has access to your website material.

Under Protected Content, you’ll find a dropdown menu that allows you to block different pages of your website:

Here, you can choose which areas of your website to protect. For example, if you want to protect only a particular group on your site, you can choose the A Single Group option:

Then, type in the group you want to protect.

You can also choose the conditions under which users will have access to your content. The dropdown menu under Access Conditions allows you to set them:

If a user is logged in and matches the conditions you established, they’ll be able to access your protected material. When you’re done making edits, click on Save Rule.

Step 3: Enable the Drip Feature

Once you’ve set up your rules, it’s time to enable the drip function. Stay on the Rules page and scroll down until you see the Drip / Expiration section:

Check the Enable Drip box:

This will trigger additional settings that you can customize. For example, you’re able to choose the amount of time you want users to wait before they can access the next piece of content:

You’ll also be able to choose the action that will trigger the “drip.” Just under this section, you can decide whether or not you want the content to expire.

If you choose this option, you can configure when the content will expire and after what action the user takes:

When you scroll down, you can also choose a message that visitors will see if they try to access your content without proper authorization.

You can customize this in the Unauthorized Access section:

From here, you can create a message that notifies visitors that they are not authorized to access certain content. You can also provide them with a login page that allows them to sign up for your membership.

After you’re done, scroll back up to the top of your page and click on Save Rule:

This will automatically apply all of the criteria that you configured to the front end of your website. That’s it! You have now set up drip content for your WordPress website.

Conclusion

Thinking up new ways to increase user engagement isn’t easy. Drip content is a method you can implement on your WordPress site to encourage people to stay interested in your material. This in turn can boost page views and help you grow your program. 

To recap, here’s how to create drip content in WordPress using MemberPress:

1. Install the MemberPress plugin and create a new membership for your website.
2. Create a rule so that only registered users will be able to access your material.
3. Enable the drip feature for your rule and publish your changes.

Do you have any questions about how to create drip content in WordPress? Let us know in the comments section below!

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