SEO Hosting Blog

By now, you probably already know that I love discussing landing pages. From landing page design to the copy, every facet of the process is fascinating to me. In the past, I’ve offered tips for improving conversion rate, and today, I’m going to add to that list.

Below, you’ll find even more tips for increasing the effectiveness of your landing pages and getting more conversions.

• Place a call to action in every screen view—Too many times, the call to action is buried at the bottom of the page after 2000 words of copy. Most visitors never even make it that far, so they never know which action you want them to take. That’s why I recommend placing a call to action in every screen view. That way, no matter where someone is on your landing page, they have a way to take action. Always make sure your call to action is clear and to the point.

• Focus on using testimonials that tie into the benefit you’re discussing—You already know that testimonials go a long way to building your credibility and increasing your conversion rate, but simply slapping up dozens of testimonials isn’t always the most effective strategy. Instead of tossing up any and every testimonial you have, focus on using testimonials that tie into the overall message of your page. For example, if you’re landing page is focused on the benefit that your company offers a quick turnaround for its services, include testimonials from customers praising you for your fast service.

• Don’t offer multiple pricing plans—I understand why companies offer customers different packages and pricing choices, but I don’t think it’s the best idea for a landing page. Too many choices overwhelm visitors, causing them to take no action at all. Simplify your pricing structure, and eliminate all of the different choices from your landing page.

• If you must link, use pop-ups—You can’t expect to convert visitors if you’re constantly sending them away to other pages on your website. Landing pages that are full of links are like a boat that’s full of leaks. If you must include links to other content, use pop-up windows so that visitors don’t leave your main landing page.

• Edit. Edit. Edit.—I’m not saying you have to use short copy on your landing page. In fact, there are many cases where long copy is necessary. However, I am saying that your copy needs to be tight, regardless of its length. Trim the fluff, and eliminate anything that distracts from your main message.

• Don’t be afraid to start over from scratch—We tend to focus on tweaking landing pages to improve conversion rate, but sometimes, you need to go back to the drawing board because your landing page just isn’t working. While it’s a daunting task to start over from scratch, don’t be afraid to do it. A fresh approach could be just what you need to get the conversion rate you’ve always been wanting.

Which tips would you add to this list? Leave a comment with your advice for improving landing page conversion rate.

As 2009 gets underway, one thing is clear: your conversion rate is more important now than ever before. With the economy in shambles, you have to get the absolute most bang for your buck. In the past, I’ve given tips for improving your website’s conversion rate, and hopefully, you’ve put these into action by now. If so, you’re ready to add in these 5 new tips to take your conversion rate even higher.

1. Use Emotional Copywriting- Buying is an emotional decision. Sure, there is reasoning involved, but the actual decision occurs because of an emotion. In fact, the University of Rochester School of Medicine did a study that determined without emotional guiding factors, people simply can’t make decisions. What does this mean for you? It means your copy needs to appeal to their emotions. The best way to do this is to instantly connect with their problem and to tell them how your product will benefit them. By letting them know what’s in it for them, you’re tapped directly into their needs.
2. Incorporate Facts into Your Copy- Of course, you can’t have all emotions and no logic. Remember, people are still wary when buying from companies online. That’s why you need to get your visitors’ trust if you want to convert them. One way to do this is to use facts from case studies or other research. A well placed statistic gives the visitor the reasoning needed to justify their emotional inclination to buy. (more…)

Whether your goal is to generate a lead or to close a sale, creating an effective landing page is necessary for reaching your goal. With a great landing page, your visitors will be far likelier to take the action you desire. Unfortunately, most landing pages aren’t great. Instead, they seem to be created simply as a filler page for customers to land on. As a result, the visitor hits the “back” button as soon as they land on the page.

So, what can you do to ensure your visitors are sticking around? Follow these 7 tips for successful landing pages.

1. Write a Great Headline- The first thing visitors to your landing page see is the headline. A boring, keyword-stuffed headline won’t do the job here. Your headline needs to refer to the place from which the visitor clicked to get to your page. It also should be strong enough to entice the visitor to keep reading. Some copywriters prefer using leading questions; others favor writing compelling headlines that sell a benefit.
2. Use Clean Design- Remember, this is a landing page, not your home page. Keep the design as simple as possible. The goal of your landing page design should be to direct the visitor’s eye flow toward the call to action. For this reason, you need to eliminate any unnecessary distractions from the page. Keep it simple! (more…)