Now that you've added Grow to your site, it's time to start customizing your features. While Grow isn't one-size-fits-all, these best practices can ensure you're capitalizing on all the great features Grow has to offer. Grow your traffic even more while you wait for your eligibility determination.
Site Settings
Match Grow's colors to fit your site's aesthetic. These colors and color modes will impact all Grow widgets and will help Grow integrate better with other elements.
Set up Co-Branded Sign Up and add your site's logo. This can help readers more confidently use Grow, and this feature encourages them to subscribe and create a Grow Reader account!
Subscribe
Swap out all existing subscribe forms with Grow Subscribe forms to make sure you're obtaining reader consent to collect first-party data. There are several Subscribe form types to fit your desired set up:
- Spotlight Subscribe
- Pop Up Subscribe (It's Google-friendly; read more here!)
- Subscribe Manual Placement
- Click to Subscribe
Make sure your Subscribe forms are as specific as possible. Use the description to let subscribers know what kind of content to expect and how often it's delivered, and establish a personal connection with your readers.
Enable Subscribe Action Pack. This feature provides additional opportunities for readers to subscribe. It appears when readers interact with Grow's widgets, like when they bookmark your posts for later, and can help you build your audience more quickly.
Recommended Content
Enable What's Next on Mobile. For most sites, the majority of readers are on mobile devices. What's Next on Mobile increases the chances of readers clicking through to a second or third post!
Enable Inline Recommended Content and/or Sidebar Recommended Content, especially if your site has over 15% desktop traffic.
If your content includes a lot of list posts and your reader behavior research points to readers scrolling up the page, enabling the Header Carousel on Desktop could lead to additional pageviews.
Notes on Recommended Content:
- Recommendations are recommended content, not related content.
- Recommendations will change over time as Grow learns your site and your readers.
- You can exclude specific posts and pages from Recommended Content.
Search
Grow's Search Experience can use your readers' Grow accounts to personalize their results and serve them the posts they're most likely to click. Provide your readers with the best experience possible. Enable Search and set up Site Search Integration!
Exclusive Content
Exclusive Content can help you provide added value to your content and encourage readers to subscribe. You can read more about how to best use Exclusive Content on your site here!
Let's Recap!
- Customize Grow to fit your brand.
- Make your Subscribe forms as specific as possible.
- Enable Subscribe Action Pack.
- Enable Recommended Content based on how readers browse your site.
- Enable Search and set up Site Search Integration.
Some niches come with specific user behavior, so check out these niche-specific best practices in our Grow Help Center if your site falls into the following: