Now that you have Slickstream installed on your site, you'll start to see visitor engagement take off. You can make configurations to create an even more premium site experience and add new features that take engagement to the next level.
Check out this article on configuring Slickstream in the portal.
Let’s start with optimizing the standard features we recommend everyone install
Feature search result groups: Draw attention to specific content categories and grow pageviews
Slickstream neatly organizes large sets of search results into standard groups for broad search terms (e.g., lemon), so visitors can quickly scan and find more content they want to read. In addition to the standard groups (related, latest, popular, videos, etc.) there is the option to add a featured group or groups. Featuring a seasonally relevant group offers your visitors another compelling collection of content.
Learn more: Featuring Categories
Configure: Config > Site Wide > Search > Featured Groups > add each category on its own line in the ‘Featured Groups’ textbox
Place the Dynamic Content Module in high-click locations: Extend visitor time on site
Guide visitors to enticing content as they scroll. Place Dynamic Content modules wherever readers are most likely to click within or beneath related posts where you discuss similar content. Customize the feature to surface related content, popular content, the latest content, or search results.
Learn more: Dynamic Content Module
Configure: Config > Site Wide > Dynamic Content Module
Customize sign-up messages: Collect more email addresses
Create exciting email sign-up messages so that they are brief, powerful, and stand out. Don’t be afraid to have some fun with it. Tailored messages typically lead to higher conversion rates than default text.
Learn more: Customizing Membership Sign-Up Messages
Configure: Config > Site Wide > Membership > Sign up message >enter text (applies when sign-in is required to save favorites)
Configure: Config > Site Wide > Membership > Membership call to action > enter text (applies when sign-in is NOT required to save favorites)
Turn on Fluttering Hearts: Engage visitors and increase email sign-ups
Activating Fluttering Hearts from the Favorites icon allows your fans to show their appreciation that other visitors online can see. These eye-catching fluttering hearts also encourage significantly more favoriting and email sign-ups!
Learn more: Slickstream Favorites
Configure: Config > Site Wide > Favorite Button > turn off ‘Disable Fluttering’
Pin a Post to your Filmstrip: Draw extra attention to seasonal or top-ranking posts
Get even more out of a seasonal or top-ranking post by pinning it to the top of the static filmstrip indefinitely or for a specific time period. Pinned posts have a slightly different background color so they stand out from the others.
Learn more: How to Pin a Post Recommendation
Configure: Config > Site Wide > Recommendations > Pinned Recommendation Page URL > enter full URL
Configure: Config > Site Wide > Recommendations >Pinned Recommendation Expires > enter date (mm/dd/yy)
Now we’ll explore additional features that you can add to your site
Connect your ESP: Build subscribers and first-party data automatically
When site visitors log in using Favorites, you can capture their email addresses with our ESP connection. This connection offers simple integration with popular email service providers to grow your subscriber list and first-party data.
Slickstream connects to MailChimp, ActiveCampaign, Klaviyo, ConvertKit, Sailthru and Hubspot. Your members will be automatically uploaded if you have an account with one of these email systems. Please let us know if you need any help connecting your ESP or are using a system we don't support.
Learn more: Integrating Your Email Provider
Activate: Integrations > Third Party Integrations > Select your ESP > Connect button
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Highlight a Page Element: Increase conversions and email address collection
The Highlighter feature effectively draws attention to your subscribe widget or any element you want visitors to see. When visitors scroll, and the specific element comes into view, surrounding content is grayed out temporarily. This makes the call-to-action, such as an email sign-up box, impossible to miss.
Learn more: Configure the Highlighter
Configure: Config > Site Wide > Highlighter
Dive into Analytics: Gain deeper insights into how you can improve visitor experiences
You gain new insights with each Slickstream feature you implement on your site. When visitors land on your site, Slickstream tracks their journey, giving you more granular data than Google Analytics so you can make more informed decisions about your content strategy.
Here are two areas you might want to explore in the portal:
- The Searches tab shows the top search queries on a site and the top articles clicked on from the search. To engage your readers, simply give them what they want. Ensure that the content in each article fully aligns with what readers are looking for. Creating enough content around your most popular search terms encourages readers to hang out on your site a little longer.
- In the content table, look at the last 30 days to identify top-performing posts with the highest percentage of favorites and active time. Posts with a lot of active time engage your visitors, and there may be more visitors who would love the same content if they could find it. To drive more attention to these posts, promote them across social media, republish them to generate new traffic, or create similar posts around the same topic.
Learn more: Analytics Gets an Overhaul, Data-Drive Growth: How to Use Slickstream Analytics
From the Portal Homepage see these tabs:
- Info: Analytics summary
- Journey: Description of each visitor’s experience on your site.
- Searches: Top searches and top search clicks
- Recommendations: Top recommended content
- Favorites: Total and new favorites
- Content: Metrics for each piece of content
- Membership: Total and new members
- Traffic: 30-day session and pageview trends
- Engagement: 30-day engagement trends (bounces, clickthroughs, returns, and more)
Link search to your site menu: Bring specific search result categories to your visitors’ attention
Buttons on your site's menu bar can open a specific section of the search panel. You can set this up so visitors immediately see their favorites, related content, most recent posts, or other components you choose to highlight.
Learn more: Integrate Slickstream Search Links
Configure: Login to WordPress and go to your website. See instructions.
Most Slickstream features are configurable in the Slickstream portal. If you have any questions or need help, don't hesitate to contact us at support@slickstream.com.
