BlitzFunnel documentation
A plain-English guide to BlitzFunnel: install it, create your first landing page, send follow-up emails, and send visitors to your offer, all inside WordPress.
Getting started
BlitzFunnel helps you turn website visitors into email subscribers, then follow up automatically and send them to your product or affiliate offer.
A “funnel” here means three things working together: (1) a landing page on your site, (2) an optional email form, and (3) follow-up emails that go out after someone signs up. Your leads stay in your WordPress database, you are not renting another email platform.
Where to click in WordPress
After you activate the plugin, look for BlitzFunnel in the left admin menu. Here is what each item does:
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Funnels | Your main list. Open, edit, or delete funnels here. With Pro you can also duplicate a funnel and see visit / click tips. |
| Add funnel | The guided wizard that builds a new funnel in five steps. Best place to start. |
| Leads | Everyone who signed up, across all funnels. Search, filter, and (with Pro) download a CSV file. |
| Email templates | How your follow-up emails look (colors, logo, header). Duplicate a built-in layout to customize it. |
| AI Funnel Builder | Pro only. Builds a prompt you paste into ChatGPT or Claude, then you paste the answer back to create a funnel. The plugin never stores your AI API key. |
| Pro License | Where you paste your Appestra license key after buying Pro. |
| Backup & Restore | Pro only. Export or import a selective JSON backup of funnels, leads, emails, metrics, and settings. Version snapshots let you roll back after an import. |
| Settings | Site-wide options: Basics, Email delivery, and Ads tracking (Pro). |
Best first-time path (do this in order)
Set up Email delivery before you launch. If email is not configured, follow-ups stay in a queue and never reach the inbox.
- Install and activate free BlitzFunnel (see Installation below).
- Open BlitzFunnel → Settings → Email delivery. Set your sender name and email, choose SMTP (recommended), save, then send a test email to yourself.
- Open BlitzFunnel → Add funnel and complete the five wizard steps.
- Share your funnel link (for example yoursite.com/your-slug/) with visitors or ads.
- Optional later: install BlitzFunnel Pro and activate your license for quizzes, calculators, visit stats, CSV export, Backup & Restore (with snapshot rollback), ads tracking, JSON editing, and the AI Funnel Builder.
“Your guide” tips panel
On most BlitzFunnel screens you will see a small “Your guide” panel. It explains the screen you are on and suggests a next step in simple language. You can collapse it or turn it off from the panel header anytime.
Installation
There are two plugins. Free BlitzFunnel does the core work. BlitzFunnel Pro is a separate add-on you install only if you bought Pro. Always install and activate free first.
If a funnel link shows “Page not found” (404), go to Settings → Permalinks and click Save Changes once. You do not need to edit any settings on that screen.
- In WordPress, go to Plugins → Add New. Search for “BlitzFunnel”. Click Install, then Activate. (Or visit wordpress.org/plugins/blitzfunnel/.)
- You should now see a BlitzFunnel item in the left admin menu. Open BlitzFunnel → Add funnel when you are ready to create your first page.
- If you bought Pro: log in to your Appestra account → Downloads, download the BlitzFunnel Pro ZIP, then go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin and upload that ZIP.
- Activate BlitzFunnel Pro. Under Plugins you should see both “BlitzFunnel” and “BlitzFunnel Pro” listed as active.
- WordPress 6.2 or newer
- PHP 7.4 or newer
- Pretty permalinks turned on (Settings → Permalinks → Post name, then Save Changes)
- HTTPS (https://) is strongly recommended for forms and email links
License activation (Pro)
Pro features unlock only after BlitzFunnel Pro is active and a valid license key is saved for this site. Keys look like BF-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX and are tied to your website address.
Activate on your real (production) domain when you can. http/https and www / non-www usually count as the same site.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| License key | Paste once. The plugin keeps it hidden by default for safety. |
| Status | License active, grace period (still works for a short time after expiry, renew soon), or not active. |
| Deactivate on this site | Frees this site’s slot so you can use the same key on another domain. |
| Remove saved key | Clears the key from this WordPress site without moving it elsewhere. |
- Log in to your Appestra account and open Account → Licenses.
- Reveal your key and copy it.
- In WordPress open BlitzFunnel → Pro License, paste the key, and click Activate license.
Funnels dashboard
Open BlitzFunnel → Funnels. This is your home base. Each card is one funnel. Use + Add new (or the Add funnel menu) to create another.
Free: unlimited funnels and sign-up counts. Pro: adds visits, product-click detail, tip cards, duplication, and more page types.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sign-ups | How many people submitted the email form (or finished a quiz / calculator gate). Available on free and Pro. |
| Visits | How many times the landing page was viewed. Pro feature (your own admin views are usually ignored). |
| Product clicks | How many times someone clicked your offer / affiliate link. Pro shows deeper click stats. |
| Edit (pencil) | Opens the funnel editor: Basics, Design & page, Emails, Leads, and Results. |
| Duplicate | Pro only. Makes a copy of the funnel, including emails and settings, handy for testing a new headline. |
| Delete | Removes the funnel. Be careful, related lead data for that funnel is removed too. |
| Tip cards (Pro) | Short “do this next” advice, for example when people visit but do not sign up, or sign up but never click your offer. |
Add funnel wizard
Go to BlitzFunnel → Add funnel. The wizard walks you through creating a live funnel in five steps. You can go Back anytime before you launch.
If Pro is installed, you may first see a choice screen: Guided setup (recommended for beginners) or Build with AI Funnel Builder.
Step 1, Topic / niche
Choose the topic you promote (for example Health & Fitness or Personal Finance). Then choose what kind of page you want. This helps BlitzFunnel suggest the right layout and starter emails.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Topic / niche | Your market or niche. Pick “General / not sure” if you are still deciding. |
| Page type | Free: Starter template and Email capture page. Pro unlocks many more (quiz, calculator, video sales page, bridge, review, comparison, and similar). |
Step 2, Design & page
Pick a look (theme), then write your headline and form text. A live preview updates as you type. You can check Desktop, Tablet, and Mobile views.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Templates | Ready-made page layouts for the page type you chose. |
| Page theme | Colors for the page. |
| Visitor opt-in | Collect emails (recommended) so you can send follow-ups, or send people straight to your offer with no form. |
| After they opt in | Send them to your offer page, or keep them on a thank-you message on this page. |
| Display mode | Inline = form visible on the page. Popup = a button opens the form in a window. |
| Form fields | Email is always included. You can add name and other fields your template supports. |
| Submit button text | The words on the button, for example “Send me the free guide”. |
Step 3, Your links
Give the funnel a name (for you), choose the public web address, and paste where you want people to go when they click your offer (affiliate or sales page).
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Funnel name | Internal label on the dashboard (visitors usually do not see this). |
| Shareable link | The path on your site, for example /wellness-guide/. Must be unique. |
| Affiliate / offer link | The URL of your product, checkout, or affiliate hop link. BlitzFunnel counts clicks on this link. |
| Status | Active = page is live. Paused = draft, not shown to the public. |
Step 4, Follow-ups
These are the emails that go out after someone signs up. You can add as many as you need on free and Pro. Starter emails load from your niche, edit them before you launch.
Use placeholders so each email feels personal. Common ones: {{first_name}} for their name, {{affiliate_link}} or {{offer_link}} for your offer URL (both mean the same thing), and {{unsubscribe_link}} so people can opt out.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Day | How many days after signup to send this email. Day 0 means right away (or as soon as your site can send). |
| Time | Clock time in your WordPress timezone (see Settings → Basics). |
| Subject and body | What people see in their inbox. Keep it clear and helpful, avoid spammy words. |
Step 5, Go live
Read the checklist (offer link, email setup, copy). When everything looks good, launch. You will get a success screen with your live funnel URL to copy and share.
Funnel editor
From the dashboard, click the pencil (Edit) on any funnel. You can change everything you set in the wizard, without starting over.
Tab 1, Basics
Name, offer link, and whether the funnel is Active or Paused.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Funnel name | Shown on your dashboard. |
| Affiliate / offer link | Required when the funnel is Active. Clicks are counted in your stats. |
| Status | Active = public. Paused = hidden draft. |
Tab 2, Design & page
Edit the landing page and the email form. Extra builders appear when your page type needs them:
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Visitor opt-in | Collect emails for follow-ups, or skip the form and send people straight to your offer. |
| Display mode | Inline form on the page, or a popup opened by a button. |
| Consent checkbox | Optional checkbox with your own consent wording (useful for privacy rules in your country). |
| Visual / JSON tabs (Pro) | Turn on “Enable JSON editor mode” under Settings → Basics. Then you can edit fields normally (Visual) or paste bulk text changes as JSON for ChatGPT / Claude. |
- Landing page, headline, text, images, and layout fields for your template.
- Opt-in / form, Visitor opt-in, what happens after signup, form fields, inline vs popup, consent checkbox, button text.
- Quiz (Pro), questions, answers, and result screens.
- Calculator (Pro), multi-step questions, scoring, and result messages.
Tab 3, Emails
Add, edit, preview, and test the follow-up sequence for this funnel only.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Subject | Inbox subject line. You can use {{first_name}}. |
| Body | Message content. Link to your offer with {{affiliate_link}} or {{offer_link}}. |
| Template | Which HTML layout from Email templates wraps this message. |
Tab 4, Leads
People who signed up on this funnel. See progress through your email sequence. With Pro you can Export CSV for this funnel.
Tab 5, Results
Pro analytics for this funnel: visits, sign-ups, product clicks, and conversion rate (sign-ups ÷ visits).
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Visits | Landing page views. |
| Sign-ups | Form completions. |
| Product clicks | Clicks to your offer link. |
| Rate | Sign-ups divided by visits, shown as a percent. |
Settings
Open BlitzFunnel → Settings. These options apply to every funnel on this site. There are three tabs.
Basics tab
Timezone and simple preferences. Click Save general settings after you change anything.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| WordPress timezone | Shown here as read-only. Follow-up emails use this clock. Change it under WordPress Settings → General. |
| Share anonymous usage statistics | Optional. Sends only plugin version, WordPress version, and how many funnels you have, never your leads or page text. Off by default. |
| Show plugin credit on my funnel pages | Optional small “Powered by BlitzFunnel” line at the bottom of funnel pages. Off by default. |
| Enable JSON editor mode (Pro) | Adds a JSON tab next to Visual while editing a funnel. Useful if you want ChatGPT or Claude to rewrite lots of copy at once. Click “How to use this” in Settings for a short walkthrough. |
Email delivery tab
This is how BlitzFunnel sends follow-up emails from your site. Think of three parts on one screen: who the email is from, how it is sent, and a test button.
SMTP means “send mail through a real email provider” (Gmail, your host, or a service like SendGrid). It is the reliable choice. PHP mail uses your server alone and often lands in spam, fine for a quick test only.
Always send a test to yourself after changing email settings. If the test fails, fix that first, otherwise queued follow-ups will not leave your site.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sender name | The “from” name people see, for example “Alex from Your Site”. |
| Sender email | The from address. It must be allowed by your email provider (verified domain or mailbox). |
| Email provider | SMTP (recommended), PHP mail (testing only), or a Pro API mailer. |
| SMTP settings | Host, port (often 587), encryption (often TLS), username, and password from your email host. |
| API credentials (Pro) | API keys for SendGrid, Mailgun, Brevo, Postmark, Resend, or Amazon SES, shown when you pick that provider. |
| Send test to | Sends a test message so you know delivery works before real leads sign up. Then click Save. |
Ads tracking tab (Pro)
Optional. Use this if you run Facebook or Google ads (or similar) to your funnel and want to know which ad brought each signup, and pass that info into your affiliate / offer link.
You can open this tab to preview the options on free. Settings only save and work after Pro is licensed.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Enable ad & offer link tracking | Remembers tags from the URL when someone lands on your funnel, then can add them to your offer link when they click through. |
| Tracking scripts | Optional. Paste code from Meta Events Manager or Google Analytics. It loads on funnel pages only. Skip this if another plugin already adds your pixels site-wide. |
| Campaign tags | Saves common ad tags from the URL (utm_source, utm_campaign, utm_medium, and similar). |
| Affiliate click IDs | Saves network IDs such as ClickBank tid or JVZoo subid. |
| Other parameter names | Advanced. Comma-separated list of extra URL parameter names you want to keep. |
| Add tags to offer links | Appends saved tags to your offer URL when someone clicks through. |
| Tag email link clicks | Adds email_tid markers for clicks from follow-up emails without wiping your original ad tid. |
| Pause before offer redirect | A short wait before sending the visitor to your offer so ad pixels can register the click. Use Instant only if you do not care about that tracking. |
| Extra conversion events | Optional BlitzFunnel events (page view, lead, offer click) in addition to any scripts you pasted. |
Email templates
Open BlitzFunnel → Email templates. Templates control how HTML follow-up emails look: logo, colors, header, and footer.
Built-in layouts are preview-only. To change branding, duplicate a layout (or use Add template), then edit your copy. Set one template as the site default with the star / Set as default control.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Duplicate to customize / Add template | Creates your own editable copy from a built-in layout. |
| Set as default | New funnel emails use this layout unless you pick another one. |
| Design tab | Toggle parts of the email, colors, text, and alignment. The preview updates as you edit. |
| Details tab | Name and description shown in your template list. |
| Save / Reset defaults | Save keeps your changes. Reset defaults restores the starting design for that template. |
Leads (everyone who signed up)
Open BlitzFunnel → Leads to see every signup from every funnel in one table. Search by name or email, and filter by funnel or status.
With Pro and Ads tracking on, you may also see where a lead came from (source / campaign / click ID). Use Export CSV to download matching rows, not just the current page of the table.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Search and filters | Find people quickly or focus on one funnel. |
| Follow-ups sent | How many sequence emails that person has already received. |
| Export CSV (Pro) | Downloads all leads that match your current filters. |
Backup & Restore (Pro)
Pro includes Backup & Restore so you can move BlitzFunnel data between sites, recover after a mistake, or reinstall WordPress without rebuilding every funnel by hand.
Open BlitzFunnel → Backup & Restore (requires an active Pro license). The screen has three tabs: Export, Import, and Snapshots.
Backup & Restore is for BlitzFunnel plugin data (funnels, leads, emails, metrics, settings). It is not a full WordPress site backup, keep your usual host or plugin backups for themes, media, and other plugins.
Export, download a JSON backup
Choose which sections to include, then download a JSON file. Typical uses: clone staging to production, hand a client site off, or keep an offline copy before a major change.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Funnels (+ landing page HTML) | Funnel records plus linked WordPress page content so pages can be recreated. |
| Leads | Email sign-ups and consent metadata. |
| Email queue | Scheduled and sent follow-up emails. |
| Metrics (events & clicks) | Visit, conversion, and click analytics rows. |
| Link tokens | Tracked unsubscribe / click tokens (optional). |
| Plugin settings | Mailer, brand, and tracking settings. |
| Email templates | Custom email shells and theme overrides. |
Import, restore from a backup file
Upload a backup JSON, pick which sections to apply, and choose whether to replace those tables (truncate then insert). Install free BlitzFunnel + Pro on the destination site first, activate your license, then import.
Every import automatically saves a compressed full snapshot first. If the restore looks wrong, open the Snapshots tab and roll back.
Snapshots, versioned rollback
Snapshots are compressed full-plugin backups stored on your site (last 10 kept). Imports create one automatically; you can also save a snapshot manually before a risky change.
Restore this version replaces current BlitzFunnel data with that snapshot. A new safety snapshot is saved first so you can undo the rollback if needed.
- Open BlitzFunnel → Backup & Restore → Snapshots.
- Optionally enter a label and click Save snapshot now.
- To roll back, click Restore this version on the snapshot you want and confirm.
AI Funnel Builder (Pro)
BlitzFunnel does not call ChatGPT or Claude for you, and it does not store an AI API key. Instead it builds a clear prompt. You paste that prompt into the AI tool you already use, then paste the JSON answer back into BlitzFunnel and review before launch.
Open it from BlitzFunnel → AI Funnel Builder, or choose the AI path when you click Add funnel.
Always read the generated page and emails before you publish. AI is a starting point, you stay in control.
- Step 1, Your offer: write what you promote and who it helps (minimum 20 characters).
- Step 2, Funnel setup: name, shareable link, offer link, and page layout.
- Step 3, AI & launch: copy the prompt → paste into ChatGPT or Claude → ask for JSON only → paste the answer into BlitzFunnel → check the preview → launch.
Click tracking (simple view)
Even on free, BlitzFunnel can count when someone clicks your offer link from the landing page or from a follow-up email. That helps you see whether your emails are working.
Pro adds ad-tag capture, affiliate click IDs, and optional Facebook / Google scripts. Configure those under Settings → Ads tracking.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Offer link clicks | Counted when someone uses your affiliate / offer URL through BlitzFunnel. |
| Email link clicks | Clicks that come from follow-up emails (so you can see which message worked). |
| Unsubscribe link | Every follow-up can include {{unsubscribe_link}} so people can leave your list in one click. HTML templates also add an unsubscribe area in the footer. |
Free vs Pro
Start with free. Upgrade to Pro when you need more page styles, deeper stats, ads tools, CSV export, Backup & Restore (with snapshot rollback), or the AI Funnel Builder.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Funnels | Free: unlimited · Pro: unlimited |
| Follow-up emails | Free: unlimited · Pro: unlimited |
| Landing page types | Free: Starter + Email capture · Pro: 15+ styles (quiz, calculator, VSL, bridge, review, and more) |
| Email sending | Free: SMTP + PHP mail · Pro: also SendGrid, Mailgun, Brevo, Postmark, Resend, Amazon SES |
| Lead CSV export | Free: no · Pro: yes (with your filters) |
| Backup & Restore | Free: no · Pro: selective JSON export/import of funnels, leads, emails, metrics, templates, and settings, plus compressed version snapshots with rollback (BlitzFunnel → Backup & Restore) |
| Visits & product-click analytics | Free: sign-up counts · Pro: visits, rate, clicks, tip cards |
| Ads tracking | Free: preview only · Pro: full tracking + optional pixels |
| JSON editor mode | Free: no · Pro: yes |
| Duplicate funnel | Free: no · Pro: yes |
| AI Funnel Builder | Free: locked · Pro: prompt + JSON import (no AI key stored in the plugin) |
Troubleshooting
Try these fixes first. Most issues are permalinks, email setup, or a missing Pro license.
- Funnel page says 404 / not found: WordPress → Settings → Permalinks → Save Changes.
- No emails arrive: BlitzFunnel → Settings → Email delivery, check sender, provider, password or API key, then Send test to yourself.
- Emails go to spam: use a real mailbox or verified domain, prefer SMTP (not PHP mail), and keep subjects natural.
- License will not activate: confirm both plugins are active, the key is copied fully, and you are on the correct site URL.
- Import looks wrong after Backup & Restore: open BlitzFunnel → Backup & Restore → Snapshots and restore the automatic pre-import snapshot (or an earlier manual one).
- Pro features still locked: open Pro License and confirm status is License active (not expired).
- Follow-ups never send: make sure Visitor opt-in collects emails (not “skip form”), emails exist in the sequence, Email delivery works, and your host runs WordPress scheduled tasks (WP-Cron).
- Ad tracking looks empty: needs Pro + Enable ad & offer link tracking. Test while logged out (or without excluding admins if you changed that).
Updates & downloads
Free BlitzFunnel updates like other WordPress.org plugins (Dashboard → Updates, or the Plugins screen).
BlitzFunnel Pro updates from your Appestra license while it is active. You can also download a fresh ZIP anytime from Account → Downloads.
- Free: use the normal WordPress update notice, or reinstall from wordpress.org/plugins/blitzfunnel/.
- Pro: log in to Appestra → Account → Downloads → download the latest ZIP → Plugins → Add New → Upload (or use the in-dashboard update when offered).
- After updating Pro, keep free BlitzFunnel active too, Pro needs the free plugin underneath.
Frequently asked questions
Is BlitzFunnel really free to start?
Yes. Install the free plugin from WordPress.org (search “BlitzFunnel” under Plugins → Add New), then launch unlimited funnels with starter templates and unlimited follow-up emails. No credit card required.
Who is BlitzFunnel for?
Business owners, agencies, email marketers, and affiliate marketers who want landing pages and funnels that convert, without learning a page builder or paying for another monthly SaaS subscription.
How does the AI-assisted builder work?
On Pro, open Start here and choose AI prompt mode, or generate a prompt from your product URL. Copy the prompt into ChatGPT or Claude, import the JSON response, then edit in live preview before publish. No API key is stored in the plugin.
Which email providers are supported?
Free uses SMTP and PHP mail (including Gmail SMTP via generic SMTP). Pro adds API providers: SendGrid, Mailgun, Brevo, Postmark, Resend, and Amazon SES, use your existing account.
Can I track conversions and export leads?
Free shows signup counts. Pro adds visit/click analytics, UTM/pixel tracking, full CSV lead export, Backup & Restore (funnels, leads, emails, metrics, settings) with version snapshots and rollback, funnel duplication, and improvement tips.
Can I move my funnels to a new site or fresh plugin install?
Yes on Pro. Open BlitzFunnel → Backup & Restore. Export a selective JSON backup, install Free + Pro on the destination site, then Import. Every import saves a compressed snapshot first (last 10 kept) so you can roll back from the Snapshots tab if something looks wrong.
Do I need design or email marketing experience?
No. Templates, wizard steps, and built-in guidance walk you through each decision. You focus on your offer, BlitzFunnel handles the technical setup.
Will this work with my checkout or offer link?
Yes. Paste any valid https URL, your store checkout, product page, affiliate hop link, or demo signup. On Pro, outbound clicks can pass UTM parameters and tracking IDs.
How does pricing compare to funnel SaaS tools?
BlitzFunnel Pro is a one-time or annual WordPress license, not a per-funnel monthly fee. You pay for hosting and email separately, which is why many teams switch from $97–$297/mo platforms.
How do I activate Pro after purchase?
Install BlitzFunnel Pro, then paste your license key under BlitzFunnel → Pro License in WordPress admin. Pro unlocks immediately alongside Free.
What if it does not convert?
Pro is covered by a 14-day money-back guarantee. Start with the free plugin to validate your offer and funnel flow before upgrading.
Still need help? support@appestra.com · BlitzFunnel