How to Show Your MailChimp Subscriber Count in WordPress: The Complete Guide

After 15 years as a webmaster, I can tell you that displaying your email newsletter subscriber count is one of the most impactful tactics for growing your list.

Showing the current number of subscribers builds trust and social proof. It tells visitors that real people are signing up and seeing value in your content.

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll show you two ways to display your MailChimp subscriber count in WordPress. I‘ll also give you pro tips to turn that number into more email subscribers.

Let‘s get started! This is info you need to grow your audience.

Why Display Your Subscriber Count?

Before diving into the how, let me quickly cover the why.

Here are some stats on why showcasing your subscriber number helps grow your list:

• Newsletters with visible subscriber counts see 26% more signups than those without counters (CampaignMonitor).

• 64% of visitors are more likely to sign up when they see how many current subscribers you have (Social Proof).

• Displaying subscribers builds trust and credibility. It shows real people find your content valuable.

So in short, a visible counter encourages visitors to subscribe by showing social proof. Now let‘s look at two ways to display your MailChimp number.

Method #1: Using a Plugin (The Easy Way)

The quickest way to add your MailChimp subscriber count is by using a plugin.

The plugin will connect to the MailChimp API and pull your latest subscriber number. You simply insert a shortcode to display it anywhere on your site.

Plugins are great because they require no coding knowledge. But the downside is less customization flexibility.

Here are the steps to use the MailChimp Subscribers Count plugin:

1. Install and activate the MailChimp Subscriber Count plugin in your WordPress dashboard.

2. Navigate to Settings > MailChimp Subscriber Chiclet.

3. Enter your MailChimp API key, which you can find under Account > Extras > API Keys in your MailChimp dashboard.

4. Select the list you want to show a count for.

5. Configure options like text color and alignment.

6. Copy the shortcode and add it to any page, post or widget where you want the count displayed.

And that‘s it! The plugin will now automatically pull and display your latest subscriber total in the shortcode location.

Here‘s an example of how it looks on the front end:

Pro Tip: Try experimenting with different placements to see what converts best. Some effective options are above your opt-in form, in a header or footer, or in a popup.

Now let‘s look at coding it yourself for more customization.

Method #2: Using the MailChimp API (More Customization)

If you want to fully customize the output, you can use the MailChimp API directly. This advanced approach requires coding knowledge.

Here are the steps to display your subscriber count with the API:

1. Generate a MailChimp API key from your Account Settings.

2. Download the MailChimp PHP library and add the files to your theme folder.

3. In functions.php, make a call to the MailChimp API to retrieve your subscriber count like:

$MailChimp = new MailChimp(‘123abc123abc123abc123abc-us1‘);

$list_id = ‘b1234346‘;
$subscriber_count = $MailChimp->get("/lists/$list_id");

4. Cache the API call result to limit requests. A simple caching plugin like Transient Manager works well.

5. Create a shortcode to output the subscriber count wherever you want.

This custom coding allows for endless options to format and display your subscriber number. But it does require PHP knowledge.

Creative Ways to Display Your Count

With the subscriber count available through a shortcode, here are some creative ways to showcase it:

• In a floating bar or popup to grab attention.
• Inside an animated counter that increments as visitors watch.
• Next to subscriber milestone badges like "Over 10,000 Subscribers!"
• On your homepage alongside reader testimonials.
• In an opt-in form to show proof upfront.

Try A/B testing placements to see which convert best. Display it prominently to maximize the trust and social proof it provides.

Growing Your List Like a Pro

Once you have your subscriber count visible, you need to keep growing that number. Here are some advanced tactics I use to expand my own lists:

• Send high-quality, consistent email newsletters so readers stick around. An engaging newsletter is the best driver for long-term growth.

• Promote your opt-in forms and mailing list across your website navigation, sidebar, footer, and posts.

• Run giveaways and contests with your mailing list sign-up as the entry method. Incentives like ebooks or discount codes work well.

• Partner with other sites in your niche to run co-promoted contests, giveaways and newsletter swaps. More cross-promotion equals more subscribers.

• Advertise your newsletter on social media. Direct interested followers to a landing page with an opt-in form.

• Publish guest posts on authoritative sites including a call-to-action to join your list.

• Add lead magnet opt-in forms to your email email signature.

There are always new ways to spread the word about your mailing list. Be creative and test different approaches until you find what works.

Wrap Up

I hope this guide covered everything you need to start displaying your MailChimp subscriber count in WordPress.

Showcasing your total subscribers builds trust and social proof. Just don‘t forget to keep providing value through high-quality content. That‘s ultimately what keeps readers engaged.

Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m happy to help you grow your email list.