What you need before you start

ConvertKit is an email platform designed for creators — writers, podcasters, artists — who want to collect subscriber names and send them messages. To create a sign-up form, you need a ConvertKit account (they offer a free tier) and access to your account dashboard. You do not need coding knowledge or a website; ConvertKit forms can live on their own or embed into a page you already own.

The form itself is the box where someone types their email address. ConvertKit calls this a form, and it collects that email into a list — your group of subscribers. Before you build the form, decide what you want to call your list (for example, "Weekly Writing Tips" or "Podcast Updates"). This name is for you, not the subscriber, but it helps you organize if you create multiple forms later.

Key Takeaways

  • ConvertKit forms collect email addresses into lists you name and manage from your dashboard.
  • You can create a form in under five minutes by choosing a template, naming your list, and writing the button text.
  • Forms can be embedded on your website, shared as a standalone link, or added to social media.
  • ConvertKit sends a confirmation email to each new subscriber before they officially join your list.
  • You can customize what the form looks like — colors, text, the message after someone signs up — without touching code.

Creating your first form in ConvertKit

Log into your ConvertKit account and look for the menu on the left side of the screen. Click on Forms. You will see a button that says "Create a form" or a plus sign. Click it. ConvertKit will ask you to choose a form type: Inline (a box that sits on a page), Modal (a pop-up that appears over content), or Landing Page (a full page dedicated to collecting emails). For most people starting out, Inline is the easiest — it is a straightforward box you can put anywhere.

Next, choose a template. ConvertKit shows you several pre-designed layouts. Pick one that matches how you want it to look. You are not locked in — you can change colors and text later. Click the template you like.

ConvertKit will open the form editor. At the top, you will see a field that says "Form name" — this is for you only, so name it something you will recognize later (like "Homepage signup" or "Blog footer form"). Below that, you will see fields for the headline (the big text at the top of the form), the description (smaller text below the headline), and the button text (what the submit button says). Fill these in with words that tell people why they should sign up. For example: Headline: "Get writing tips weekly." Button text: "Send me tips."

Connecting your form to a list

Scroll down in the editor until you see a section called List or Destination. This is where you tell ConvertKit which list should receive the emails from this form. If you have not created a list yet, you can do it right here — click "Create a new list" and type the name (for example, "Newsletter subscribers"). If you already have a list, click the dropdown and select it.

Below that, you may see a checkbox for Double opt-in. This means ConvertKit will send a confirmation email to the person who signs up, and they have to click a link in that email before they officially join your list. Most creators leave this on — it protects you and makes sure the email address is real. If you turn it off, people join when ready when they type their email.

Customizing the form appearance

ConvertKit lets you change colors, fonts, and the message people see after they sign up. In the editor, look for tabs or sections labeled Design, Content, or Settings. Under Design, you can change the background color, button color, and text color. These options usually appear as color pickers — click a color field and a palette opens.

Under Content or Settings, you can write a thank-you message — the text that appears after someone submits their email. This might say "Check your email for a confirmation link" or "Welcome! Look for an email from us in the next few minutes." This message reassures people that something happened and tells them what to expect next.

You can also add a redirect URL — a web address that the person gets sent to after they sign up instead of seeing a message on the form itself. This is useful if you want to send them to a welcome page or a free read. Leave this blank if you want to use ConvertKit's thank-you message.

Publishing and sharing your form

Once you have filled in the headline, description, button text, and list, click the Publish or Save button. ConvertKit will give you options for where to put the form. You can embed it on your website by copying a code snippet and pasting it into your website builder (WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, or whatever you use). You can also get a standalone link — a URL you can share on social media or in an email that takes people directly to the form.

If you embed the form on your website, ConvertKit provides the code you need. Most website builders have a section for custom code or HTML — paste it there and the form appears. If you are not sure where to paste it, your website builder's support docs will show you. The standalone link requires no setup — just copy it and share it anywhere.

Checking who signed up

After people start signing up, you can see them in your ConvertKit dashboard. Click on Subscribers in the left menu. You will see a list of everyone who has joined, which list they joined, and when they signed up. If you set double opt-in on, you will see a column showing whether they have confirmed their email yet.

From the Subscribers page, you can also send emails to your list. Click on the list name, then look for a button to create a new email or broadcast. Write your message and send it to everyone on that list. This is how you actually use the form — collect emails, then send them messages.

Troubleshooting common problems

If the form is not showing up on your website after you embed it, check that you pasted the entire code snippet and that your website builder allows custom code in that section. Some builders have restrictions on where code can go. If you are still stuck, try using the standalone link instead — share that on social media or in an email while you figure out the embed.

If people are not receiving the confirmation email, check your ConvertKit settings to make sure double opt-in is turned on. If it is off, they join when ready and do not get a confirmation email. Also ask people to check their spam folder — confirmation emails sometimes land there. If someone says they never got the email, you can resend it from the Subscribers page by clicking their name and looking for a "Resend confirmation" option.

If you want to change the form after it is published, you can edit it anytime. Go back to Forms, click the form name, make your changes, and save. If the form is embedded on your website, the changes appear automatically. If you are using the standalone link, the new version is live right away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same form on multiple pages of my website?

Yes. Copy the embed code once and paste it into as many pages as you want. Everyone who signs up from any page goes into the same list. If you want different forms for different pages (for example, one for your blog and one for your podcast), create separate forms in ConvertKit and each will have its own embed code.

What happens if someone signs up twice with the same email address?

ConvertKit recognizes the email and does not create a duplicate. The person stays on your list once. If they sign up again, ConvertKit updates their information but does not send them another confirmation email.

Can I see which form someone signed up from if I have multiple forms?

Yes. Each form sends people to a different list (or you can tag them differently within the same list). When you look at your Subscribers page, you can see which list each person joined. This helps you know whether someone found you through your blog, social media, or somewhere else.

Do I have to use ConvertKit's design templates, or can I build a form from scratch?

ConvertKit's templates are the starting point, but you can customize almost everything — colors, fonts, text, layout. You cannot write custom code to build a completely custom form, but the design options are flexible enough for most creators. If you need something very specific, you might need a different platform.

What if I want to collect information besides email address?

ConvertKit's basic forms collect email and name. If you want to ask for more information (like what someone is interested in, or their location), you can add custom fields in your ConvertKit account settings, then add them to your form in the editor. This makes the form longer, which can reduce sign-ups, so most creators stick with email and name.