Landing pages are very important because the right design can increase your bottom line. No matter what blogger you speak to they’ll all agree that you have to have a solid landing page implemented within your blog. This will allow you to convert visitors into loyal readers, and have them coming back to your blog continuously. The hardest thing I’ve seen is a bloggers inability to implement the right structure, and they miss out on the fundamentals of a nice design. For example, they miss out on adding video, banners, text, bullets, and even the right headlines. Next,
We are lucky online there are more than enough resources available, and you simply have to do a quick search within Google to find them. Head over right now, and type in “best landing page design” and skim through the results. I would suggest going through the first 5-6 websites looking to see what they all have in common. Create a list, then implement what they all say makes a great landing page, however you have to tweak at the same time. For example, track what you see working, and continue to use those elements removing the ones which provide no benefit. Keep in mind, it’s important to search blogs which are in your niche, so use keywords relevant to your blog when searching for landing page examples.
I’ve gone through and created a quick list for you to follow going forward. Apply these into your landing page, and then use data to see if they are helping with conversions. If not, you remove, add more elements then continue to track the results. This might seem hard, but it does become easier once you get use to the process. Let’s get started.
Solution Based
Many bloggers make the mistake of creating a landing page without having a real purpose. This is a very tough approach because you have NO guided direction, and this can be seen on your page too. It’s important you have a problem you want to solve so you can guide your design. For example, if you visit other websites within your niche, you’ll notice they are providing a product or service which solves a common problem. The solution they provide will be in the form of an eBook, free trial, service or even a discount. Again, all of these will be based around a common problem people are having within your niche. Now that you have the fundamentals, here’s a few things you can do to get started:
First, I would visit other blogs within my niche looking for examples on what they are doing. I would go through and find what products they offer, and how they present them to their readers. It will give you a great starting point, and allow you to have some guidance going forward. Next, I would create a survey to ask my readers what is something they battle with when starting a business or anything related to your niche. The survey should be right to the point allowing only one selection. Too many options will cause confusion on what area you should be targeting. Third, implement what you have learned from your competitors, and from your readers so you can apply this strategy going forward. Once you have established a clear cut problem within your niche, it’s time to start moving to the next factors below.
Clear Headline
Think about when you first arrive on a page and what you notice…it’s most likely the headline…right? You have to make sure you have a clear cut headline which will be your initial traction point, and get people reading through the rest of your landing page. As hard as many of you think this will be, it’s very easy as long as you have a clear problem you want to solve. You have to make sure your main headline is clear while being right to the point because you don’t have enough time to keep the reader’s attention.
Here’s a very good strategy to follow, and I’ve been utilizing this for several years.
First, head over to Google keyword planner, and type in your “main” target keyword. This keyword will obviously be based on your niche or the problem you are trying to solve. Then, skim through looking for direct phrases which are both attractive and right to the point. For example, if my main keyword is “online blogging” then you’ll find phrases focused on “Make Money Blogging Online” right? This will be a very attractive clear cut headline to add to your landing page.
Your main objective with your landing page is to always build that initial attraction so your visitors will continue to read through the page opting into your form. Once they are on your form, you can re-market, and continue to build loyalty.
Prove Your Strategy Works
Many times readers will accept your product or service if you can show them it does work. For example, I’ll download or even purchase a product if I know it has produced the results I’m looking for. Many bloggers who are creating landing pages forget to use what they have available like testimonials, sponsors, or even the ability to offer a free trial. All of this will play against you in building that first level of confidence. When building a landing page, it’s important you use the following if available:
Present the clear problem – Let your readers know what problem you solve so they can make a split decision if they have the same problem.
The solution – Breakdown as much as you can about the solution WITHOUT giving the entire product away. If you provide them enough about the solution, then they’ll be tempted to opt-in.
The results – if others have purchased the product or downloaded the eBook, then show them results others have achieved. This is a great way to post results from actual visitors NOT endorsed companies which people might feel you are paying to leave reviews.
Clear Call-To-Action – You want to make sure you have a clear call-to-action so your visitors know what to do in order to opt-into your landing page. I see many times that bloggers will provide an awesome well-designed landing page, but will NOT put a clear call-to-action. This is a complete waste of potential especially when everything else has been constructed right, and with a clear call-to-action you would have definitely obtained a conversion. I would suggest using a big button which is bright, and stands out compared to the other elements of the page. You can even implement a “flash” based button which lights up WITH clear text.
In the end,
If you can show your readers that your landing page will bring them close to a solution, then you’ve just increased the likelihood of obtaining that conversion. Try different things, and find out what it takes to build that momentum.
Secure Visitor Trust
Here’s a quick question:
When you arrive on a page which is selling a product, what is the first thing you see right before completing your purchase? If you answered Truste or Hacker Safe, then you’ve answered correctly. Many people who use the internet to purchase online are very particular in where they buy products or services. They want to make sure their information will be safe especially since we are at a point where identity theft is at its highest. Another thing you want to keep in mind is the following:
Many online shoppers have been victims of card fraud so want to make sure it’ll never happen again. These people have researched what to look for before buying online so their personal information will be safe. They want to see Truste or Hacker Safe badges to ensure everything goes smoothly. This is even more higher for those who have never purchased before because they will second guess a buying decision online more than once. With that said, it’s important you do the following to protect your visitors,
First, do some research online finding out what defines a protected website. For example, if I’m opening a shop I will want data driven results on what constitutes a safe website. By doing this I’ll have a better idea of the elements I need on my website. Secondly, I want to research the best “trust” badges available, and find out what they provide. For example, I want to ensure they’ll alert me of any threats or even take the right action if someone tries to steal customer information from my database. Third, it’s important to note the different types of plans they have, and what they are offering with each plan. This way I get the most comprehensive plan which NOT only protects my website, but more importantly my customers.
Overtime, you’ll be able to test different “trust” providers so you can change up if you feel the need to. However, from my experience once you find a provider you are happy with it’s more likely that you’ll stay with them.
Final Thoughts
Every blog has a landing so it’s important you incorporate one into your strategy. However, we often make huge mistakes when designing our landing pages which lead to reduced conversions. The cool thing is we can learn an enormous amount for those before us. For example, John Chow has taught me a lot about blogging and how to implement the right type of design. Even if you do a quick search within Google, you’ll be able to find a lot of information on designing the right landing page. Here’s something important to keep in mind:
In order for you to be motivated to design the best landing page, it’s important you know the value of your product or service. Only then will you be able to design and page which is focused and clear cut for your visitors. Start by visiting the normal authority blogs you read, and do a quick search for landing pages. I’m sure you’ll find design and optimizing tips you can start implementing into your opt-in forms. Next,
You can do a quick search within Google to find other tips which you can implement into your blogging strategy. I would try different things, and make sure you have a way to test the results going forward. Only then will you be able to find out what’s working and what’s not producing any results at all. You can then start to remove elements which yield no results because, personally, they are a complete waste of time. It’s better to focus on elements which actually help you achieve your bottom line like profits, conversions, etc.
Here’s the game plan after your done reading this content…
Read through my content once more making quick pointers about what was discussed above. When you are ready to implement the strategies the list will serve as a reference guide to keep you focused, and in the right direction. The less time you have to worry about finding information, the more time you can spend implementing the strategies listed within this guide. I would suggest to go through the list one by one, and have a way to track your results. You want to focus on those which produce the best results while eliminating those which have done NO good for your landing page…right?
Please share some of your landing page design and optimizing strategies below. This will help provide more resources for those looking to get started.
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