In the pre-launch phase of our Income Blogging Guide course (which is now closed for new members), Joel and I created a brand new squeeze page.
A squeeze page is a one-page website that is specifically designed to entice people to give you their email address in return for a free gift or “give away” product.
It’s a way to build a quality list, mainly for internet marketing purposes.
Depending upon the free give away you are offering, the design of the squeeze page, the niche you are in, will determine the conversion rate of your opt-ins.
The number of people who sign-up out of every 100 who visit the squeeze page is your conversion rate.
If 32 opt-in for every 100, your conversion rate is 32%.
Our specific squeeze page is getting a 64% conversion rate.
If you want to make this type of page, you need to keep two things in mind: simplicity and effectiveness.
You need to keep the content simple, yet at the same time, use words that will get the message across.
Now, you can’t publish a squeeze page and expect people to sign up for your list. You need to make it look as attractive as possible with the right amount of content for it to be effective.
The 4 basic elements of the Squeeze page are:
- Create a strong headline
- Have a simple, clear design
- Provide the reader with a list of benefits they can expect if they join your list or gain from the free gift/give away
- Have a prominent opt-in form
These four elements are basically all you need (unless you want to add a video); however, you need to write everything in a way that will compel visitors to actually subscribe.
Here are some tips on how to create effective squeeze pages:
The Headline
The headline is probably the most important aspect of a squeeze page. It needs to be compelling, as it will be the very first thing visitors will read. Even if the rest of your page is perfect, not many people are going to bother signing up for your list if the headline is poorly written or displayed.
We use a headline of:
“The Ultimate Blogging Guide to Make a Blog Income”
and a sub-headline of:
“Get Your Free Income Blogging Guide Blueprint Now!”
The readers in our niche are interested in making a blog income and they love free guides.
The Freebie
You must offer something for free in return for the customers email address. You can offer an e-book, a video, audio, software…anything in order to get people to sign up.
Have a graphic of the free product. It can make a huge difference to your conversion rate.
Our freebie is a 95 page multi-media guide to setting up your blog and how to start making money from it. It took us many, many hours to create. Our view is give away some great content. You may entice people to opt-in but if the quality of the free guide is not good, they will quickly un-subscribe.
I came across an excellent squeeze page only recently. I signed-up only to receive a one page document. One page! It could have been brilliant but my first impression was not good. By the way it wasn’t brilliant, so I un-subscribed.
So make sure your free guide is of a high standard.
The Benefits
List as many benefits as you can squeeze onto the page without going below the fold. And when I say benefits I mean benefits not the features of your freebie.
I was on one of John Carlton’s courses a while back and I remember he said, “The fan is the feature the benefit is the cool wind. Remember that!”
And whenever I write bullet points I always remind myself of that slogan.
Your bullets have to mention the benefits. When writing your bullets, simply ask the question “So what?”
For example:
“You are getting a 10 inch fan made by hand in Spain”
That’s a feature.
Think, “Yeah so what?”
And come up with the benefits your customers would gain by having the “10 inch fan made by hand in Spain”
The Design
You don’t want too many distractions on your page.
You don’t really want flashing banners as it can make it look a little spammy.
Make it attractive and ensure the opt-in is in a prominent position and easy to opt into. Just ask for their name and email address only. Make it simple for the visitor to opt-in.
You should include a privacy policy. It helps build trust and people expect to see it. If they don’t most will not opt-in.
I would recommend you don’t link to anything else (other than your privacy policy), otherwise you can confuse your prospective subscribers and even lose then if they link to other pages.
We used the WordPress Squeeze Theme to create our squeeze page. It just makes things a little easier than having to play with loads of html, etc.
Videos
Some people use videos to get their message across. Actually hearing a list of the benefits they’ll receive can entice some people into joining up. A lot of people would rather watch a video than read a bunch of text. If you choose to this, make sure the video loads quickly and smoothly in every web browser.
Domain Name
We purchased a separate domain name for our squeeze page. By having a separate domain name, the page can have it’s own SEO attributes and relevant plugins.
Then you can link to it via your main blog or website.
Hopefully, these tips will help you create a great squeeze page, so that you can build a huge of list of subscribers.
If you want to see our squeeze page, click here: blogging guide
What’s your view of squeeze pages? How do you design yours? Share your views in the comments below.
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Andrew,
Very nice and helpful information.
Most everyone says that it is all in the list, and you explain how to build it nicely.
Thanks.
Rich
.-= Rich Hill´s last blog ..How to Search all Craigslist Cities at Once =-.
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Thanks, Rich.
In just over 3 weeks, we did get quite a few thousand opt-ins.
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
Very informative post. I will take on board the idea of having a separate domain for the squeeze page. From my launch previously, I noticed it would have been easier to use a different domain too.
Next launch I will consider that. Also the video component I found was quite effective as well.
Also did your squeeze page have a 64% conversion rate?
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Tyrone,
I find having the separate domain helps with SEO. Plus it gets its own ranking and place in Google searches.
I think when we re-open our launch we’ll use more video.
re: conversion rate. Yes, we are getting a 64% conversion rate.
Andrew
I just started on this whole internet marketing thing a few months ago, so I’ve got a lot to learn. Look forward to your income blogging guide. Thanks for all the information.
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Ed
I hope you like the guide. Come back and tell us what you think.
Andrew
I have passed on your squeeze page and signed up to get the free guide before! I like the “simplicity and effectiveness” description for it as I think most of people will not like long full of text pages!
I am planing a small free e-book, just started working on it today
and thank to your ideas I am going to have a nice squeeze page for this e-book when I finish it!
Good to see more of this kind of posts on your blog!
.-= Hesham´s last blog ..How Famous Bloggers use Comments for Content Creation =-.
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Hesham
Thanks again.
What’s you free e-book about? Looking forward to seeing your squeeze page!
Andrew
What do you think about exceptionally long domain names for sales pages? I am thinking of a 35 letter domain – Imagine reading WeBuildYourBlogForYouBecauseYouNeedIt dot com
My domain is a different niche, but the example stays the same. How long is too long?
.-= McLaughlin´s last blog ..Wear sunscreen =-.
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Richard,
My view is it has to be remembered. If you said to someone my website is: WeBuildYourBlogForYouBecauseYouNeedIt dot com, would they remember it? I doubt it.
But if it was 35 letters made up of 3 words that could be remembered.
Does that help?
Andrew
This is very helpful – I’ve considered doing a squeeze page, but I just didn’t know how to go about it. I think it intimidated me a bit – but this makes it much more approachable.
.-= Kiesha @ The Affiliate Marketer’s Help Desk´s last blog ..Free blog set up or redirect, plus 2 free blog posts =-.
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Kiesha,
I’m pleased it is of help and value. Let us know when you create yours!
Andrew
You hit a real big nail right in the head when you said, I would recommend you don’t link to anything else…..
A major reason LOTS of squeeze pages fall flat is simply giving too many choices.
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..The Time Has Come. The Deal Is Done. It’s Time To Move!! =-.
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Dennis,
very true!
Andrew
Forgot to subscribe to comments.
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..Hello & Welcome To The All New – DennisEdell.com/DirectSalesWebMarketing.com Merged – Direct Sales Coaching Blog! =-.
[...] How to Create a Super Effective Squeeze Page – WeBuildYourBlog A squeeze page is a one-page website that is specifically designed to [...]
[...] How to Create a Super Effective Squeeze Page – WeBuildYourBlog A squeeze page is a one-page website that is specifically designed to [...]
Back in the day (like last year) we called them landing pages or stealth sites. I used to create and launch them for mortgage companies like they were going out of style. As a web designer I love them. Quite simply they are a 1 page website, easy to put together, launch and maintain. I wish I could make a living doing nothing but this.
I think there are 2 mistakes someone always makes with these types of pages: (1) They link to a company or other outside source defeating the purpose of the freebie or deal they are getting. The customer wants a deal or freebie not a sales pitch and (2) a long page. I’ve seen some landing pages that go on for days. Most times, even if I’m interested in what they were offering I long ago forgot what they were talking about. Longer is not better.
.-= CJ@Online Technical Writing´s last blog ..A Blog is NOT A Website =-.
Twitter: andrewrondeau
CJ,
Do you supply the creation and launching of squeeze pages as a service?
Andrew
Andrew — yes actually I do. I have it listed on the services page. In fact I am currently working on a portfolio page so I can bring more attention to that particular service and will be blogging about it later this week.
Hmmm, wonder where I got that idea to blog about that service from? :-/
.-= CJ@Online Technical Writing´s last blog ..A Blog is NOT A Website =-.
Twitter: andrewrondeau
LOL!
You should definitely promote your services, CJ.
Andrew
This is a new information for me. Thanks for sharing! Although i’m not going to create a squeeze page right now, i might find it useful when i need to create it later.
.-= Kok Siong Chen´s last blog ..Cri du Chat Syndrome – Human with Cat-like Cry =-.
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Kok
When do you think you will need it?
Andrew
This is very timely information because it is the direction that I want to take one of my blogs. In regards to domain names in the squeeze pages my personal preference would be to use the exact generic match if your budget can handle it. For example, if I wanted sign ups for benefits of healthy cooking I would use HealthyCooking.com as the squeeze page even though my website may be named FoodKitchen.com.
Anyway, thanks for the info
.-= Greg´s last blog ..Available dot us domain names from outer space =-.
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Greg,
Totally agree!
If you can get your domain name to include your keywords – even better.
Andrew
“I signed-up only to receive a one page document. One page!”
I didnt know document length had anything to do with quality.
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Twitter: andrewrondeau
Josh
It’s all about perceived value.
One page does not give a first impression of great quality.
Andrew
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Agreed. But if the content contained within that one page knocked my socks off, or – more importantly – solved an important problem for me, then I would find it much more valuable than a 50 page book full of fluff. And I would appreciate the fact that I was able to consume it quickly (-:
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Josh
True…however – have you ever purchased a one-page book?
Andrew
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One of the best ways to increase sales is by expanding your list. And there’s no better way than to utilize squeeze pages effectively. I think the technique is to focus more on what you are intending to give to the visitor and not too much on getting their information. Learned so much from your post, Andrew. Thanks!