How to Implement Content Locking in WordPress: A Step-by-Step Guide to Boost Leads

Want to gate premium content on your WordPress site to grow your email list, generate leads, or drive sales? Many top sites use content locking strategically. In this expert guide, we'll walk you through adding it seamlessly—without frustrating visitors.

What Is Content Locking and When Should You Use It?

Content locking is a proven tactic that prompts visitors to complete an action, such as subscribing to your newsletter, before accessing your full article or resource.

Used poorly, it can drive users away. Done right, it converts visitors into subscribers effectively. We've seen it excel with high-value offers like free e-books, courses, or exclusive guides.

It taps into the same psychology as content upgrades: readers happily trade a quick action for valuable insights.

Ready to add it like a pro? Let's dive in.

Tools You'll Need for Content Locking in WordPress

For this tutorial, we recommend OptinMonster, the leading lead-generation platform. You'll need a Plus or Pro plan to unlock content locking features.

WPBeginner users: Grab a 10% discount with our exclusive OptinMonster coupon.

Step-by-Step: Adding Content Locking with OptinMonster

First, install and activate the OptinMonster plugin. See our detailed guide on installing WordPress plugins for help.

This plugin bridges your site to your OptinMonster account.

After activation, head to the OptinMonster menu in your WordPress dashboard. Enter your OptinMonster API username and key.

Retrieve these from your OptinMonster account dashboard under the API section.

Copy-paste them into the plugin, then click 'Connect to OptinMonster'.

Next, click 'Create New Optin'.

This redirects to OptinMonster. Name your campaign, select your site, and choose 'After Publication / Online' as the subscription type. Pick a template to start.

Customize in the drag-and-drop builder: tweak fonts, text, images, and colors.

Navigate to 'Optin' settings and enable 'Content Blocking'.

Choose your method: 'Obfuscate' (blur content) or 'Delete' (hide it entirely).

Set success cookie duration to 0 to ensure it only sets post-submission.

Connect your email service under Integrations and set up analytics.

Save your changes.

Back on your site, refresh the OptinMonster menu. Update options if needed.

Hover over your optin, then edit 'Optin Output Settings'. Enable 'Site Subscription'.

Save settings.

Copy the optin slug from the overview.

Edit your target post/page. Insert this shortcode at the top (or after the first paragraph), replacing [YOUR_OPTIN_SLUG]: [optinmonster slug="YOUR_OPTIN_SLUG"]

Publish and test in an incognito window.

Apply Content Locking to All WordPress Posts Automatically

For site-wide use, install the Insert Post Ads plugin.

Go to Post Ads » Settings to configure.

Select posts/pages and save.

Then, visit Publish Ads » Add New. Title it, paste your shortcode in the ad code field.

Choose placement (before content or after first paragraph) and publish.

Pro Tip: After the first paragraph works best—use that intro as a hook to build desire for the rest.

We hope this guide helps you master content locking in WordPress. Check our 63-point checklist for ultimate signup forms next.

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