A content upgrade is a bonus resource you offer in exchange for a reader's email address and it's one of the most effective ways to grow your list.

Kit creators have used this strategy to grow their lists exponentially, and you can set one up in minutes.

Start with your most popular post. Check your website analytics to find the post with the most traffic, and copy its URL. That's your first content upgrade.

It may seem counterintuitive to create an opt-in for a post that already exists on your blog, but readers rarely dig through your archives to find your best work. A popular post has already proven its value—let it keep working for you by guiding new readers there.

To take it a step further, create a bonus that complements your popular post: a checklist, a resource guide, a chapter of your book, or bonus audio from an interview.

Create a new Form in Kit and write your Form's headline. Using your popular post's headline keeps it simple, that content has already earned your readers' attention.

Next, set up the delivery of your content upgrade.

Click Settings at the top right of the Form builder. On the General tab, select Redirect to another page, paste your post's URL into the field provided, and click Save.

Readers who subscribe will be redirected to your post right away.

If you're giving away a PDF or other file, open the Form Settings' Confirmation email tab and check the box for Send confirmation email:

This sets your Form to double opt-in, which means subscribers get a confirmation email after signing up. They'll need to click a link in the email to confirm their email address and receive your content upgrade.

Double opt-in adds a step to the subscription process, which may reduce sign-ups, but subscribers who click to confirm are far more likely to stay with you for the long haul.

To edit the confirmation email, select Edit Email Contents.

You can also check the box to Auto-confirm new subscribers. The confirmation email still sends, and subscribers still receive your content upgrade when they click its link. The difference is that subscribers are added to your email list even if they don't click the link.

Next, click the Download option under the After confirming redirect to setting, and upload your content upgrade.

The General styles menu in the sidebar shows the Form template you're using, along with an option to change it.
​

Depending on your template, you'll also see main style options like background color, border radius, and background image, plus the option to add custom CSS.

Learn more about styling your Form here.

Place the Form on your site the same way as any other: paste the JavaScript embed code or raw HTML, or use the WordPress plugin. Click Embed at the top right of the Form builder to access the embed options.

The Kit Form builder