=== BlitzFunnel – Funnel Builder, Landing Pages & Email Automation ===
Contributors: appestra
Donate link: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/3269JX9SL8JJN
Tags: funnel builder, lead generation, landing page, opt-in form, email marketing
Requires at least: 6.2
Tested up to: 7.0
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 1.0.0
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Build a lead-generation funnel — landing page, opt-in form, automated follow-up emails, and offer link — in one WordPress wizard.

== Description ==

### A WordPress funnel builder for lead generation — not checkout funnels

Most advice for capturing leads in WordPress tells you to use a page builder for the landing page, a form plugin for the opt-in, and a separate email tool for follow-ups. That means three plugins, three settings screens, and three things that can break independently.

BlitzFunnel replaces all three with a single guided funnel builder wizard inside your own WordPress dashboard. No WooCommerce required. No monthly SaaS fee.

**What BlitzFunnel is — and isn't:**

* **A lead-generation funnel builder** — not a checkout or upsell funnel plugin. Those tools optimize WooCommerce stores that already have a product checkout; BlitzFunnel captures and nurtures leads before any sale happens.
* **A funnel-page builder** — not a general-purpose page builder. General builders design pages; BlitzFunnel's funnel pages come wired to an opt-in form and an email sequence out of the box.
* **A complete funnel toolkit** — not a full CRM. CRMs manage contacts after the fact; BlitzFunnel builds the page, form, and follow-up sequence that gets you the contact in the first place.

BlitzFunnel is the funnel builder between those tools: a landing page that captures emails, follow-ups that run automatically, and an offer link visitors get sent to — all without WooCommerce.

### How it works

1. **Pick your niche** — choose a pre-written copy preset (health, finance, beauty, SaaS, make-money-online, and more) or start from scratch.
2. **Build your funnel landing page** — theme-independent, conversion-focused layouts that do not inherit your active theme's header, footer, or unrelated assets.
3. **Set up your opt-in form** — inline or popup, with consent fields and custom fields included.
4. **Schedule your email sequence** — day- and time-based follow-ups in plain text or HTML.
5. **Add your offer link** — paste your affiliate or product URL; visitors go there when they click your button or email link.
6. **Launch** — BlitzFunnel handles mail delivery through a queue and cron system, with List-Unsubscribe headers and merge tags built in.

No code required. No additional plugins needed.

### Who BlitzFunnel is built for

* Affiliate marketers building opt-in pages and hop links
* Coaches and consultants building a client funnel
* Course creators capturing pre-launch interest
* SaaS founders running a waitlist or trial funnel
* Agencies launching client lead-generation funnels quickly
* Bloggers and content creators building an email list
* Business owners promoting a single offer who do not run WooCommerce

### Core features

**Funnel setup wizard**
A step-by-step guided funnel builder with a live preview — see your funnel take shape as you build it.

**Theme-independent landing pages**
Funnel pages load only what is needed to convert. No theme header, footer, or unrelated scripts.

**Opt-in forms — inline and popup**
Capture leads with inline embeds or popup forms, including consent checkboxes and custom fields.

**Automated email follow-up sequence**
Day- and time-scheduled follow-up emails in plain text or HTML — no separate email plugin required.

**Direct offer links**
Visitors go straight to your affiliate or product URL from buttons and follow-up emails.

**Built-in mail delivery**
Queue and cron-based mail delivery with List-Unsubscribe headers and merge tag support.

**Spam protection without CAPTCHA**
Honeypot fields and rate limiting block bots without puzzle tiles on your opt-in page.

**Personal data export and erase tools**
Export or erase any lead's personal data on request from your WordPress dashboard (Tools → Export / Erase Personal Data).

**Niche copy presets**
Pre-written funnel copy for health, finance, beauty, SaaS, and more — plus 20+ landing themes.

**In-admin onboarding guidance**
Built-in first-run guidance for new funnel builders, right inside WordPress admin.

### What's included

* Unlimited funnels and follow-up emails
* Starter and email-capture landing templates with 20+ niche themes
* Minimal HTML email layout — duplicate it and change branding and colors
* SMTP and PHP mail delivery
* Sign-up counts per funnel on your dashboard
* Optional "powered by" footer credit (off by default)
* Works fully without any Appestra account

### Privacy

BlitzFunnel does not collect or transmit lead data, funnel content, or usage telemetry to any external server unless you explicitly opt in.

* Lead and funnel data stays on your WordPress site.
* Optional usage statistics (off by default): if you enable "Share anonymous usage statistics" under BlitzFunnel → Settings → Basics, the plugin sends anonymous version, funnel-count, and multisite metadata to Appestra once per week. No lead emails, page copy, or visitor data is included.

[Full privacy policy](https://appestra.com/privacy/)

== Installation ==

1. Upload the plugin files to `/wp-content/plugins/blitzfunnel`, or install through the Plugins screen in WordPress admin.
2. Activate the plugin through the Plugins screen.
3. Go to **BlitzFunnel → Create Funnel** to launch the setup wizard.
4. Follow the step-by-step wizard to build your landing page, opt-in form, and email sequence.
5. Configure email delivery under **BlitzFunnel → Settings → Email Delivery**.
6. Publish your funnel and start capturing leads.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Do I need WooCommerce to use BlitzFunnel? =

No. BlitzFunnel is built specifically to work without WooCommerce. If you only need to capture leads, send follow-up emails, and link to an offer, you do not need an online store at all.

= Is BlitzFunnel a funnel builder or an email marketing plugin? =

Both, in one plugin. BlitzFunnel is a funnel builder — it builds the landing page and opt-in form — and it also sends the automated follow-up email sequence after someone opts in. You do not need a separate email marketing plugin to run a complete lead-generation funnel.

= Is BlitzFunnel a page builder? =

No. BlitzFunnel is not a general-purpose page builder. It builds conversion-focused funnel pages as part of a complete path: landing page, opt-in form, email sequence, and offer link. Use your existing theme or builder for the rest of your site — funnel pages stand alone.

= What is a lead generation funnel? =

It is the path a visitor takes from landing on your page, to giving you their email, receiving follow-up emails, and clicking through to your offer. BlitzFunnel's wizard builds the entire funnel in one place.

= How is BlitzFunnel different from WooCommerce checkout funnel plugins? =

Checkout and upsell tools optimize stores that already have a product checkout. BlitzFunnel does not require WooCommerce. It is a funnel builder designed for capturing and nurturing leads before any sale happens, with direct offer links in buttons and follow-up emails.

= Is BlitzFunnel a good ClickFunnels alternative? =

For lead-generation and list-building funnels, yes. BlitzFunnel runs entirely on your own WordPress site instead of a hosted SaaS platform, so your pages and leads stay yours if you ever stop paying for anything else. It is not a checkout-and-upsell replacement for WooCommerce-based funnel tools — it is focused on the opt-in-and-follow-up stage of a funnel.

= Do I still need a separate email marketing plugin? =

No. BlitzFunnel includes its own follow-up email builder and delivery system. Configure SMTP or PHP mail under BlitzFunnel → Settings → Email Delivery.

= How many funnels can I build? =

Unlimited. The plugin includes unlimited funnels and unlimited follow-up emails with starter and email-capture landing templates.

= What analytics are included in the free plugin? =

Sign-up counts on your dashboard and on each funnel. Visit counts, conversion rates, and click analytics are available in BlitzFunnel Pro (paid add-on from Appestra).

= Can I export leads? =

CSV export of your lead list is available in BlitzFunnel Pro (paid add-on from Appestra). The free plugin includes WordPress Tools → Export Personal Data and Tools → Erase Personal Data for an individual lead matched by email.

= Can I duplicate a funnel? =

Funnel duplication is available in BlitzFunnel Pro (paid add-on from Appestra). The free plugin includes unlimited funnels — create a new funnel from the wizard anytime.

= Will BlitzFunnel slow down my site? =

No. BlitzFunnel landing pages are theme-independent and do not load your active theme's header, footer, or unrelated assets.

= Does BlitzFunnel work with any page builder or theme? =

Yes. Funnel pages are self-contained and do not depend on your active theme. Keep using your preferred page builder for the rest of your site.

= Does BlitzFunnel help with privacy requests? =

BlitzFunnel registers exporters and erasers under Tools → Export Personal Data and Tools → Erase Personal Data for lead records matched by email. Meeting privacy laws for your site still depends on your own privacy policy, consent practices, and legal advice — this plugin does not provide or guarantee legal compliance.

= Does BlitzFunnel use CAPTCHA to stop spam signups? =

No. BlitzFunnel uses honeypot fields and rate limiting to block bots without requiring visitors to solve a CAPTCHA.

= Does BlitzFunnel add a footer credit to my funnel pages? =

No, not by default. You may optionally enable a small credit under BlitzFunnel → Settings → Basics.

= Does BlitzFunnel require a credit card? =

No. Unlimited funnels with no payment required.

= Can I use my own SMTP or do I need a special email service? =

BlitzFunnel works with SMTP or PHP mail. Configure your SMTP host, port, and credentials under BlitzFunnel → Settings → Email Delivery.

= I'm new to funnel building. Will this be too technical for me? =

No. BlitzFunnel includes in-admin onboarding guidance and pre-written niche copy presets so you are never starting from a blank page.

= Can I attach files to follow-up emails? =

Yes. You can attach files — such as PDF lead magnets or ZIP downloads — to any step in your email follow-up sequence. Attachments are stored in your WordPress media library and sent with the scheduled email.

= How do I report a security issue? =

Please report security vulnerabilities through our [security contact page](https://appestra.com/security/) rather than the public support forum.

= What WordPress and PHP versions does BlitzFunnel support? =

BlitzFunnel requires WordPress 6.2 or later and PHP 7.4 or later. It is tested through WordPress 7.0 and runs on all PHP releases from 7.4 through the latest stable version. WooCommerce is not required.

== Screenshots ==

1. The funnel builder wizard guides you through building a complete funnel step by step.
2. A published landing page with an inline opt-in form on a theme-independent layout.
3. The email sequence editor showing day- and time-based scheduling for each follow-up.
4. The funnel dashboard displaying leads captured per funnel.
5. Email delivery settings showing SMTP configuration and spam protection options.
6. The niche copy preset library with pre-written copy for health, finance, SaaS, and more.
7. Offer link settings on the funnel Basics tab.
8. Personal data export and erase tools for lead records matched by email.

== Third-Party Libraries (source) ==

Admin UI bundles minified third-party libraries. Non-minified source is public:

* Tom Select 2.4.1 (Apache-2.0) — https://github.com/orchidjs/tom-select
* Tabler Icons 3.0.0 (MIT) — https://github.com/tabler/tabler-icons

License texts and file paths are also listed in `THIRD-PARTY-LICENSES.txt` in the plugin.

== External Services ==

This plugin may connect to external services only when you explicitly configure them or opt in to anonymous usage statistics under BlitzFunnel → Settings → Basics.

= Appestra.com — Optional Usage Statistics (Opt-In Only) =

* **When used:** only if you enable "Share anonymous usage statistics" under BlitzFunnel → Settings → Basics. Off by default.
* **Data sent:** site URL, blog ID, multisite flags, BlitzFunnel, WordPress, and PHP versions, locale, and funnel count. No lead emails, page copy, or visitor data is included.
* **Purpose:** anonymous product improvement statistics.
* **Privacy policy:** [https://appestra.com/privacy/](https://appestra.com/privacy/)
* **Terms of service:** [https://appestra.com/terms/](https://appestra.com/terms/)
* **Frequency:** at most once per week while opted in.

= Your SMTP server (Optional) =

* **When used:** only if you choose SMTP under BlitzFunnel → Settings → Email Delivery and enter your own mail server host, port, and credentials.
* **Data sent:** outgoing follow-up emails (recipient address, subject, body, and attachments you configure) are transmitted to the SMTP host you specify. BlitzFunnel does not operate this server.
* **Purpose:** deliver automated follow-up emails from your WordPress site.
* **Terms / privacy:** governed by your SMTP provider (for example your web host, Google Workspace, or another service you configure).

No other outbound requests are made by the plugin unless you configure email delivery or opt in to usage statistics.

== Privacy ==

BlitzFunnel stores the following data on your WordPress site:

* Funnel configuration: titles, copy, offer URLs, and email sequences.
* Lead records: email address, name if provided, and consent timestamp.
* Event data: opt-ins.
* Plugin settings: email provider credentials stored in the WordPress options table.

Lead data and funnel content are not transmitted to Appestra by the free plugin unless you opt in to anonymous usage statistics (see External Services above).

BlitzFunnel registers exporters and erasers under Tools → Export Personal Data and Tools → Erase Personal Data for lead records matched by email address.

== Support ==

Documentation: [https://appestra.com/docs/](https://appestra.com/docs/)

Free plugin support: https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/blitzfunnel/

== Changelog ==

= 1.0.0 =
* New: Initial release — funnel builder wizard, landing pages, opt-in forms, thank-you page, automated email sequences, direct offer links, and niche copy presets.
* New: Unlimited funnels and follow-up emails.
* New: Starter and email-capture landing templates.
* New: Email delivery via SMTP or PHP mail with plain-text and HTML sequence steps.

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 1.0.0 =
First public release of BlitzFunnel — a WordPress funnel builder for lead generation, no WooCommerce required.