Let existing members easily subscribe to a new newsletter without login friction

Memberships & subscriptions
1

I run a site on Ghost(Pro) with multiple newsletters. One has been active for years, and I recently launched a second one. I’d like both new and existing members to be able to opt into either newsletter easily.

Right now, there’s a UX problem for existing members:

  • When an existing member tries to sign up for the new newsletter via the site’s public signup form (which automatically adds new members to all newsletters), Ghost detects them as a known member and instead sends them a “Sign in” magic link.
  • After clicking the magic link, they’re taken to the homepage, not back to their account settings or subscription preferences.
  • This means the member has to not only log in, but then find their way manually to /account to toggle the new newsletter on. This creates friction and confusion, especially for non-technical users.

I suggestion I think that can be done to remedy this problem by the Ghost Team:

  • A way to deep link into the newsletter preferences or account page, so after a member signs in via magic link, they’re redirected to the original destination.
  • Or, an ability to let existing members use the public form to opt into new newsletters, triggering a confirmation email or update rather than a sign-in flow.

This would make it much easier to launch new newsletters and let existing members opt in seamlessly, without having to explain a workaround or multi-step login flow.

That being said, my research so far has proven this is currently not possible. So my question is, how do people currently handle this situation? I’m already considering separate sign in forms using a third party tool like Mailerlite and a Zapier connection to auto-update members in Ghost (but will that allow me to auto-subscribe them to one particular newsletter only?)

The latter seems a lot of setup work though. Is there anybody with a similar problem that found a solution?

Thank you in advance!

2 Likes
2

I’m experiencing the same frustration. I have an existing group of people signed up to my current newsletter. Now I have to added a second newsletter and I want to inform my group that they can sign up to this new one if they want to - however the instructions I have to give them makes it clear that the process is convoluted. I’m guessing some of my members will either not bother or give up along the way.

Is there any deep-link that could be used to remove at least a few steps in the process?

3

Found this further down in the forum from 2023 - but it would appear it was never fixed? Newsletter preferences not updating

1 Like
4

I have exactly the same problem here - which makes the concept of having “multiple newsletter” a little useless for our use-case. It would absolutely amazing to have this feature.

Or even better: to be able to build a new landing page, where new and also existing users can just opt-in for one special newsletter. For example: when building a landing-page with a signup-form - currently you can only select a label - but instead having here the option to opt-in to one of the newsletters. That would be the thing!

This feature would make ghost so much more powerful than any orther newsletter-solution I’ve seen anywhere else!

Alternative way: If an existing member subscribes to a signup-form with a tag, that the user does not have, this tag would get automatically get added to the member. Currently, the member just stays the same.

2 Likes
5

I noticed this issue too. Hopefully it will get resolved soon :)

1 Like
6

We’d love a solution for this, too! Great catch and suggestion.