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Genesis eNews Extended

By Brandon Kraft

Marketing & Advertising / Email Marketing & Campaigns

Genesis eNews Extended Review - In-Depth Analysis

Easily integrate mailing lists with Genesis websites using this widget. Supports services like FeedBurner, MailChimp, and AWeber.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.89/10

User Rating

4.7/5 (based on 28+ reviews)

Active Installations

40,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

1 / 10 (Very Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

This plugin creates a new widget that allows you to easily add mailing lists integration to a Genesis website. It is recommended in many Genesis theme tutorials. The widget enables site administrators to set either the Feedburner ID or form action, along with the email form field and hidden fields, to mimic the subscribe form of various mailing list services.

The Genesis eNews Extended plugin is a collaborative effort, with contributions from many individuals who have supported its development through financial donations and code contributions. Special thanks are given to the team at StudioPress for their foundational work on the original code.

If you believe your contributions should be acknowledged, please reach out, as any omissions are unintentional.

Comparing to Alternatives

Genesis eNews Extended is a straightforward plugin designed for integrating email subscription forms, particularly with services like MailChimp. Compared to other plugins, it emphasizes simplicity and ease of use without additional bloat.

Top alternatives

Genesis eNews Extended

Strengths

Simple and easy to set up with MailChimp and other services.
Lightweight with no unnecessary features or bloat.
Allows direct form action integration without relying on APIs.
Easy to style and customize form appearance.
Reliable for basic email subscription needs.

Weaknesses

Limited customization options for form behavior and appearance.
No built-in spam or bot protection features.
Lacks advanced features like double opt-in control.
No official pro or premium version for extended functionality.

User Sentiment Analysis

User feedback highlights the plugin's simplicity and effectiveness, though some express concerns about design limitations and spam issues.

Positive highlights

"Simple. To the point. No bloat." - Eric Dye
"I love the simplicity of this plugin." - Christina
"It works perfectly in any circumstance, just passing data to MailChimp by the Form Action." - jscmal
"The best plugin of Brandon and Coffea Web Services thanks!" - cmarkis
"Used with MailChimp and works marvelously." - jscmal

Common complaints

Form appearance can look messy in certain themes or sidebars.
No option to disable MailChimp's double opt-in, causing subscriber inconvenience.
Susceptible to bot signups leading to spam subscribers.
Limited updates or changes to the template over time.

Weaknesses

No built-in spam or bot protection, leading to potential abuse.
Lack of customization for opt-in processes and form styling.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users who want a simple, lightweight plugin to add email subscription forms quickly, especially those using MailChimp without needing API integration or advanced features.

Not ideal for

Users seeking advanced customization, built-in spam protection, or control over opt-in processes may find this plugin limiting and should consider alternatives.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers essential features to add and style email subscription forms by directly integrating form actions with services like MailChimp, without API dependencies.

Final Verdict

Genesis eNews Extended excels in simplicity and ease of use, making it a solid choice for users needing basic email subscription forms without complexity.

However, its lack of advanced features, customization options, and spam protection means it may not suit users with more demanding requirements or those wanting more control over their subscription process.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free Genesis eNews Extended plugin.

Mailing lists integration

Genesis widget

FeedBurner

MailChimp

AWeber

Screenshots

FAQ

Feedburner, MailChimp, Aweber, FeedBlitz, ConvertKit, and Constant Contact are confirmed to work, but it should work with almost all services. If you have tested this with other services, please contact me