How do I use widgets with Instabuilder 2.0 on Wordpress ?
I'm using Instabuilder 2.0 as my platform for developing web site with landing pages, opt-in forms etc.
Now it seems to me that the developer of this application has passed away, and I'm stuck with a problem I cannot solve on my own.
I started using SendLane as my autoresponder, but I think the price of $100/month is too high since I haven't started earning money yet. So I looked for a replacement, and find a plugin for Wordpress which is called "Email Subscribers". With this I can create an opt-in form, but to be able to use it on a Wordpress page it has to be part of a widget. The shortcode to be put in the widget is [email-subscribers-form id="1"].
But I cannot find any way to include a widget using Instabuilder 2.0. The documentation is of no help,
I have a developer license for this product and I do not want to switch to another development tool before I have found out if it's possible to use widgets with InstaBuilder 2.0.
Anyone ?
Hi Tom,
First, it looks like you can add some custom code to instabuilder via a shortcode.
This would mean you can create your own custom short code that could call something up and inject what you need. Creating a short code is adding a function to the functions.php page and inside that function is your custom code that can do what you want.
However, if you are tying to do this to use SendLane, I don't believe you need to worry about InstaBuilder because SendLane is showing you install it as an add-on to WooCommerce https://help.sendlane.com/article/98-how-to-integrate-woocommerce-and-sendlane and then you set up your triggers in the plug in https://help.sendlane.com/article/344-how-to-retarget-woocommerce-abandoned-cart-customers
To offer some advice on InstaBuilder, I suggest to cut your losses and try something else. If the developer has passed away and that could stall updating the builder, it is not worth putting effort into it. If you are within the 60 days, you can get your money back, otherwise, I suggest chalking up to a learning experience.
Things change so fast and security issues with Wordpress seem to make builders one weak point for vulnerabilities and that alone would scare me off without any recent updates. I like to see updates at least 3 or 4 times a year. If it has been more than 4 or 5 months, I worry and more than 6 months, I probably am taking off my WP sites. I could not find InstaBuilder plug in on the wordpress.org site https://wordpress.org/plugins/search/instabuilder/ and any google searches for the product go back to 2020.
If you want an alternative, I use the Avada theme https://avada.theme-fusion.com/ which is really a builder. They are constantly innovating and I have used the product for many years, even when it was not very stable and today I really like how easy it is to use.... after a short learning curve like anything. And options to use your own coding if you like or just add any widget or plug in. Plus multiple ready made themes you can use as a starter. Another good alternative is Divi https://www.elegantthemes.com/gallery/divi/ and I tried https://elementor.com/ but didn't like it. While easy to use, it creates a lot of bloat.
Another suggestion is to look at switching to MailChimp. I think you will see it is a little less expensive and can do most of the same things SendLane can do. Abandoned cart as an example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QFFrlEZ1D8 and the page on mailchimp https://mailchimp.com/help/create-an-abandoned-cart-email/
These suggestions are more mainstream and will provide greater support and longevity for you.
First, it looks like you can add some custom code to instabuilder via a shortcode.
This would mean you can create your own custom short code that could call something up and inject what you need. Creating a short code is adding a function to the functions.php page and inside that function is your custom code that can do what you want.
However, if you are tying to do this to use SendLane, I don't believe you need to worry about InstaBuilder because SendLane is showing you install it as an add-on to WooCommerce https://help.sendlane.com/article/98-how-to-integrate-woocommerce-and-sendlane and then you set up your triggers in the plug in https://help.sendlane.com/article/344-how-to-retarget-woocommerce-abandoned-cart-customers
To offer some advice on InstaBuilder, I suggest to cut your losses and try something else. If the developer has passed away and that could stall updating the builder, it is not worth putting effort into it. If you are within the 60 days, you can get your money back, otherwise, I suggest chalking up to a learning experience.
Things change so fast and security issues with Wordpress seem to make builders one weak point for vulnerabilities and that alone would scare me off without any recent updates. I like to see updates at least 3 or 4 times a year. If it has been more than 4 or 5 months, I worry and more than 6 months, I probably am taking off my WP sites. I could not find InstaBuilder plug in on the wordpress.org site https://wordpress.org/plugins/search/instabuilder/ and any google searches for the product go back to 2020.
If you want an alternative, I use the Avada theme https://avada.theme-fusion.com/ which is really a builder. They are constantly innovating and I have used the product for many years, even when it was not very stable and today I really like how easy it is to use.... after a short learning curve like anything. And options to use your own coding if you like or just add any widget or plug in. Plus multiple ready made themes you can use as a starter. Another good alternative is Divi https://www.elegantthemes.com/gallery/divi/ and I tried https://elementor.com/ but didn't like it. While easy to use, it creates a lot of bloat.
Another suggestion is to look at switching to MailChimp. I think you will see it is a little less expensive and can do most of the same things SendLane can do. Abandoned cart as an example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QFFrlEZ1D8 and the page on mailchimp https://mailchimp.com/help/create-an-abandoned-cart-email/
These suggestions are more mainstream and will provide greater support and longevity for you.
ASKER
Randy Downs: I have installed the widget in Wordpress, but I'm not able to use it with InstaBuilder 2.0.
Scott Fell: I have tried to use the shortcode option in Instabuilder 2.0 without any luck.
Since InstaBuilder 2.0 should be regarded "dead and gone" I think I will have to try to find another alternative.
I wanted to switch from SendLane to another (free) autoresponder, in this case "Email Subscribers".
Scott Fell: I have tried to use the shortcode option in Instabuilder 2.0 without any luck.
Since InstaBuilder 2.0 should be regarded "dead and gone" I think I will have to try to find another alternative.
I wanted to switch from SendLane to another (free) autoresponder, in this case "Email Subscribers".
Once a custom editor looses support, it has a limited lifetime in Wordpress. These editors need to be updated to support WordPress upgrades which are necessary to keep sites from being compromised.
I wanted to switch from SendLane to another (free) autoresponder, in this case "Email Subscribers".
Then switch to MailChimp. Your first two thousand contacts are free and you can set up auto responders for email subscribers. Where you have to pay is after the 2,000 subscribers or adding an advanced feature like abandoned cart. But if you don't need that, you are good. Mailchimp will have plugins for your WP site too.
ASKER
Randy Downs: I have decided to drop InstaBuilder 2.0 since it's no longer supported.
Scott Fell: I was looking for a "free" autoresponder which stores name/e-mail addresses in a local database.
Does MailChimp do that ?
So for the time being I think I'll try to stick with "Email Subscribers".
But I might be trying MailChimp (or another "free" autoresponder) some time in the future..,
Scott Fell: I was looking for a "free" autoresponder which stores name/e-mail addresses in a local database.
Does MailChimp do that ?
So for the time being I think I'll try to stick with "Email Subscribers".
But I might be trying MailChimp (or another "free" autoresponder) some time in the future..,
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
Randy Downs: I have decided to drop InstaBuilder 2.0 since it's no longer supported.
Scott Fell: I was looking for an autoresponder which stores name/e-mail addresses in a local database.
Does MailChimp do that ?
So for the time being I think I'll try to stick with "Email Subscribers".
But I might be trying MailChimp (or another "free" autoresponder) some time in the future..,
I already have paid for hosting service and they use Wordpress so that's OK.
Scott Fell: I was looking for an autoresponder which stores name/e-mail addresses in a local database.
Does MailChimp do that ?
So for the time being I think I'll try to stick with "Email Subscribers".
But I might be trying MailChimp (or another "free" autoresponder) some time in the future..,
I already have paid for hosting service and they use Wordpress so that's OK.
Your paid wordpress hosting may come with email/smtp and that is ok, though not the best as deliverability will not be as good with a properly set up MailChimp (or similar) account. MailChimp does keep a database of. your contacts and you can use the api to sync.
There are also SMTP services like sendgrid.com where you still send the mail through your server but you use sendgrid to route the mail.
There are also SMTP services like sendgrid.com where you still send the mail through your server but you use sendgrid to route the mail.
You have to login to the admin section of WordPress to install widgets. Typically this is the \wp-admin. Once you are logged in, you can add the plugin "Email Subscribers".