> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.themeupstudio.com/crimson/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.themeupstudio.com/crimson/homepage/homepage-subscribe-forms-and-ctas.md).

# Homepage Subscribe Forms & CTAs

Crimson can display **CTA / Subscribe blocks** in multiple places (including the homepage and the end of posts), but **only when Ghost Members is enabled**.

What visitors see depends on two Ghost membership flags:

* **Members enabled** (`members_enabled`)
* **Invite-only** (`members_invite_only`)

And one theme setting controls where sign-in/sign-up links point:

* **Use Portal links** (`use_portal_links`)

### Where Subscribe/CTA blocks appear on the homepage

Crimson renders subscribe prompts in these homepage locations:

1. **Subscribe block below the 3-Column Hero**
   * Appears directly under the 3-column hero section **when Members is enabled**.
   * If the site is invite-only, the form is replaced with an invite-only message.\ <br>

     <figure><img src="/files/disEYprn87pxIn1WpPfl" alt=""><figcaption><p>Subscribe Form below the 3 Column Hero<br></p></figcaption></figure>
2. **Subscribe form inserted within Tag Sections flow**
   * Injected automatically at specific tag-section positions (example: the 4th tag section insertion point), **only when Members is enabled**.\ <br>

     <figure><img src="/files/WH67StxoCKybNyzkeDIa" alt=""><figcaption><p>Subscribe Form inserted within Tag Sections<br></p></figcaption></figure>
3. **Other CTA placements (theme-wide)**
   * Depending on your layout, CTAs can also appear in other sections and at the **end of posts**, using the same rules described below.\ <br>

     <figure><img src="/files/k06wtQwoo5WMO5nNMtTF" alt=""><figcaption><p>Subscribe Form in Post Sidebar<br></p></figcaption></figure>

     <figure><img src="/files/2ZdM0ePpO7z0YNEYufL9" alt=""><figcaption><p>Subscribe Form above Footer</p></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="success" %}
All subscribe/CTA placements follow the **same membership logic**, so changing your Ghost Membership settings automatically updates every CTA block site-wide.
{% endhint %}

***

### Membership-driven behavior

#### 1) When Members is disabled

<figure><img src="/files/C4kmsMURT8TChVkSvu7r" alt=""><figcaption><p>Subscribe Forms are hidden</p></figcaption></figure>

#### Condition

* Members disabled in Ghost Admin (Ghost membership features turned off)

#### Result

* **All Subscribe/CTA blocks are hidden**
  * Homepage subscribe inserts won’t render
  * The subscribe block below the 3-column hero won’t render
  * Post-bottom subscribe blocks won’t render

#### Expected UX

Visitors won’t see newsletter signup prompts from the theme because signup isn’t available.

***

#### 2) When Members is enabled (normal mode)

<figure><img src="/files/fuQ2YgHwRPRahx9WzBsY" alt=""><figcaption><p>Subscribe Forms are visible</p></figcaption></figure>

#### Condition

* Members enabled
* Invite-only disabled (Anyone can join)

#### Result

Subscribe/CTA blocks render a **newsletter subscribe form**.

#### What the form includes (visible UI)

A typical Crimson subscribe block includes:

* Title + short description (newsletter value proposition)
* Email input field
* Primary submit button (example: “Subscribe Now”)
* Required **Terms/Privacy** checkbox
* Space for inline success/error messaging

***

#### 3) When Members is enabled AND the site is Invite-only

<figure><img src="/files/DXfvxXuFmQqL40nA3kqX" alt=""><figcaption><p>Invite Only CTA with Sign In link</p></figcaption></figure>

#### Condition

* Members enabled
* Invite-only enabled in Ghost Admin

#### Result

Subscribe/CTA blocks render an **invite-only message** instead of an email form.

#### Visible UI elements

* A headline explaining subscriptions are invite-only
* A short “contact the site owner” style message
* A **Sign in** link for existing members

#### What’s hidden (because there’s no form)

* Email input
* Subscribe button
* Terms checkbox
* Success/error states (nothing to submit)

***

### Portal links vs Theme pages

#### `use_portal_links` setting (what it changes)

This setting does **not** control whether CTAs appear.

It only changes **where CTA links go** when a CTA includes links like **Sign in / Sign up / Subscribe / Account**.

**A) When `use_portal_links` is OFF (default theme pages)**

* Links go to the theme’s routes/pages (example: `/signin/`, `/signup/`, `/account/`)

**B) When `use_portal_links` is ON (Portal links)**

* Links open Ghost Portal experiences instead (Portal overlay / portal flow)
* Use this setting if you prefer Ghost’s built-in Portal UX for authentication and subscription flows.

***

### Where these CTA/Subscribe states apply

The membership-driven states apply consistently anywhere Crimson renders a subscribe block:

* **Homepage** (injected blocks + below 3-column hero + other homepage CTAs)
* **Post templates** (commonly shown at the end of posts)

So if you switch your site to **invite-only**, all subscribe placements automatically change from:

✅ Email subscribe form → ✅ Invite-only message + Sign in link

And if you disable Members entirely, they all disappear.

***

### Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>I don’t see any subscribe blocks anywhere.</summary>

Check:

1. Ghost Members is enabled (`members_enabled = true`)
2. You’re not in a layout where those sections are disabled/absent
3. If you’re testing in a cached environment, hard refresh (or test in incognito)

</details>

<details>

<summary>I expected an email form but I see an invite-only message.</summary>

That’s expected when:

* `members_enabled = true` and `members_invite_only = true`

Disable invite-only in Ghost Admin to show the email subscribe form again.

</details>

<details>

<summary>CTA links open the wrong experience.</summary>

Check the theme setting:

* `use_portal_links`
  * OFF → theme pages (`/signin/`, `/signup/`)
  * ON → Ghost Portal flow

</details>