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If you had a choice ...

by Kirk Ward
19 replies
Which would you use as the "Home" page of your website ... a sales page, a squeeze page, or a "sandwich page?"

The site will include bunches of landing pages, and a site map to find the home page with, but, which would you find more beneficial to have for folks who just wander by based on typing in the URL?

For those folks, my choice comes down to getting them on my list, or making a sale right then and there.
#choice
  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Deegan
    I like idea of sandwich pages. Basically you offer content to help establish credibility upfront before asking the visitor for anything. You provide some value first then lead into a squeeze page 2-3 pages deep inside the content.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kirk Ward
      Originally Posted by Daniel Deegan View Post

      I like idea of sandwich pages. Basically you offer content to help establish credibility upfront before asking the visitor for anything. You provide some value first then lead into a squeeze page 2-3 pages deep inside the content.
      Ah, I forgot about that model.

      So, let's add that to the choices. (I'll edit the first post if I can.)
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      "We are not here to sell a parcel of boilers and vats, but the potentiality of growing rich beyond the dreams of avarice."

      Dr. Samuel Johnson (Presiding at the sale of Thrales brewery, London, 1781)
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      • Profile picture of the author Shaun OReilly
        The best option for your home page depends upon
        your objective for that page.

        What's the action you most want the visitor to take?

        Is it for them to join your list? Then use a squeeze page.

        Is it for them to buy your product now? Then use a sales
        page.

        Is it to impress them with your content? Then use a content
        rich page         such as a blog.

        Personally, my priority is to build my list first so using a
        squeeze page is my preferred option.

        Dedicated to mutual success,

        Shaun
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        • Profile picture of the author Kirk Ward
          Originally Posted by Shaun OReilly View Post

          The best option for your home page depends upon
          your objective for that page.

          What's the action you most want the visitor to take?

          Is it for them to join your list? Then use a squeeze page.

          Is it for them to buy your product now? Then use a sales
          page.

          Is it to impress them with your content? Then use a content
          rich page           such as a blog.

          Personally, my priority is to build my list first so using a
          squeeze page is my preferred option.

          Dedicated to mutual success,

          Shaun
          My problem is not being "sure" of which is more valuable. From my prior site, in the same niche (this is a streamlined and updated version), I got some sales from a "sales" page, but not a lot of sales from my list. Most of my sales came from JV webinars, where we had a direct call to action.

          I sort of feel like I'm starting all over again and have no clue as to which is more valuable.
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          "We are not here to sell a parcel of boilers and vats, but the potentiality of growing rich beyond the dreams of avarice."

          Dr. Samuel Johnson (Presiding at the sale of Thrales brewery, London, 1781)
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          • Profile picture of the author paulie888
            Originally Posted by Kirk Ward View Post

            My problem is not being "sure" of which is more valuable. From my prior site, in the same niche (this is a streamlined and updated version), I got some sales from a "sales" page, but not a lot of sales from my list. Most of my sales came from JV webinars, where we had a direct call to action.

            I sort of feel like I'm starting all over again and have no clue as to which is more valuable.
            You seem to have had results with a straight sales page in the past, but don't rule out squeeze pages or hybrid home pages (content + opt-in form) just because you haven't had many sales from your list in the past.

            How was your list obtained, i.e. what were you offering in exchange for their email addresses? Also, conversion depends a lot on the type of emails you send out to your list. Were they overtly promotional, or did you have at least a few emails queued up in your autoresponder that delivered the kind of content your list was looking for?

            Paul
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            • Profile picture of the author Kirk Ward
              Originally Posted by paulie888 View Post

              How was your list obtained, i.e. what were you offering in exchange for their email addresses? Also, conversion depends a lot on the type of emails you send out to your list. Were they overtly promotional, or did you have at least a few emails queued up in your autoresponder that delivered the kind of content your list was looking for?

              Paul
              My list was obtained with offers of information (from some of my "best" copy, I might add!) and after the information ran out, I allowed the list to go stagnant.

              I have been slowly rebuilding the list with internal marketing (offers of free webinars, and weekly newsletters, etc.). My "bum" marketing will start next Tuesday, after the site is ready for traffic. It will sign up memberships right now, but the squeeze page and autoresponder have to be built and implemented. I'm doing that this weekend.
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              "We are not here to sell a parcel of boilers and vats, but the potentiality of growing rich beyond the dreams of avarice."

              Dr. Samuel Johnson (Presiding at the sale of Thrales brewery, London, 1781)
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              • Profile picture of the author paulie888
                Originally Posted by Kirk Ward View Post

                My list was obtained with offers of information (from some of my "best" copy, I might add!) and after the information ran out, I allowed the list to go stagnant.

                I have been slowly rebuilding the list with internal marketing (offers of free webinars, and weekly newsletters, etc.). My "bum" marketing will start next Tuesday, after the site is ready for traffic. It will sign up memberships right now, but the squeeze page and autoresponder have to be built and implemented. I'm doing that this weekend.
                Kirk, I think you've already listed your main issue - allowing your list to go stale. Once you haven't communicated with them in a while, chances are high you won't even be able to get the majority of them to open up your emails.

                When you start rebuilding your list, make sure you have at least 7-10 messages queued up in your autoresponder, and make it a practice to send out at least one email broadcast each week. I think doing this consistently will ensure a much better response from your list.

                Paul
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        • Profile picture of the author brandonline
          Originally Posted by Shaun OReilly View Post

          The best option for your home page depends upon
          your objective for that page.

          What's the action you most want the visitor to take?

          Is it for them to join your list? Then use a squeeze page.

          Is it for them to buy your product now? Then use a sales
          page.

          Is it to impress them with your content? Then use a content
          rich page           such as a blog.

          Personally, my priority is to build my list first so using a
          squeeze page is my preferred option.

          Dedicated to mutual success,

          Shaun
          I likie this thank you Shaun, nice info
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  • Profile picture of the author JHC81
    Squeeze page is my pick, If I get their email address I can market to them later on and learn what else they need and what they " don't " need.
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  • Profile picture of the author lotsofsnow
    Give the user and answer to the question "What is in it for me?".

    Depending on the niche that could be a sales letter, a squeeze page, a content page, a listing of products, or like Google, just a taste of their main feature: a search box.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dave Rodman
    Banned
    I guess it depends what your goal is. But personally I like the way Brad Callen organizes his content. Opt in is right there, products are easily accessible, and there is content there as well.

    Free Internet Marketing Strategies, Tools, & Tips - Indianapolis Internet Marketing Company
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Kirk Ward View Post

    Which would you use as the "Home" page of your website ... a sales page, a squeeze page, or a "sandwich page?"
    A "sandwich page", by definition, cannot really be a "home page".

    Of the other two, being an affiliate myself, rather than a vendor, I have no "sales page" to use as a home page.

    So that brings my choice down to "squeeze page", by default, I suppose. Which is a shame, because having split-tested those against my current style of home pages, I don't use them any more.

    My answer, therefore, is "none of the above".
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    • Profile picture of the author Kirk Ward
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      So that brings my choice down to "squeeze page", by default, I suppose. Which is a shame, because having split-tested those against my current style of home pages, I don't use them any more.

      My answer, therefore, is "none of the above".
      Oh Alexa, Alexa, you have piqued my interest! What is your home page style?
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      "We are not here to sell a parcel of boilers and vats, but the potentiality of growing rich beyond the dreams of avarice."

      Dr. Samuel Johnson (Presiding at the sale of Thrales brewery, London, 1781)
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Kirk Ward View Post

        Oh Alexa, Alexa, you have piqued my interest! What is your home page style?
        LOL, sorry Kirk ... I wasn't trying to be "intriguing". I just have fairly normal affiliate niche sites but without a squeeze-page. They all contain a prominent, incentivised opt-in (typically in the top-right corner), text information (explaining the opt-in, sometimes a product review, sometimes other "subject-information", a navigation-system, and so on: fairly normal stuff for a home page!).

        Mine are people who've been attracted by full-length articles, so I want them to see lots of content.

        When I split-tested this sort of landing page against squeeze-page landing pages - which I've done in only 4 of my 8 niches because it's a pain in the neck to do - I found that the squeeze-page approach built me bigger lists but made me less money in the long run. Unsurprising, with hindsight. It pays me to show people my content before/while inviting them to opt in, rather than after.

        The assumption that "the bigger the list you build, the better" is just as loopy and flawed as the assumption with an article that "the bigger the CTR you get, the better". I think both are popular assumptions promulgated largely by people who haven't quite thought it through, and haven't quite tested it for themselves, either!
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        • Profile picture of the author Kirk Ward
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          The assumption that "the bigger the list you build, the better" is just as loopy and flawed as the assumption with an article that "the bigger the CTR you get, the better". I think both are popular assumptions promulgated largely by people who haven't quite thought it through, and haven't quite tested it for themselves, either!
          I have to agree. As I said, my list is stagnant, and small. But, I make enough money from a small cadre of loyal subscribers to stay encouraged.

          On this site, which is a resurrection of a slightly profitable site, I'm trying to actually do some of the planning anc setup stuff I've learned. Like building a list, or making sales, along with strategic planning, measuring and testing. But, I seem to have the "all alone in the world" and "doesn't know what to do next" syndromes.

          I'm hoping the Dear Old Warriors here can help me decide and plan, so I can build and sell.
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          "We are not here to sell a parcel of boilers and vats, but the potentiality of growing rich beyond the dreams of avarice."

          Dr. Samuel Johnson (Presiding at the sale of Thrales brewery, London, 1781)
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  • Profile picture of the author rising_sun
    Banned
    Seems that I want all three option to include hence want to see sandwich page on "Home" page of your website.
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  • Profile picture of the author wcbanks914
    Squeeze page would be my pick. Frankly I would rather build a relationship/list with my peers that way they get an idea of who i am. They get to know a little about me before they decide to make their purchase.
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  • Profile picture of the author MarkAnderson
    Which kind of page I should use? The answer depends on the necessity of visitor at the moment he visits your site.

    Why people visit my website? The first person who knows the best answer is you.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mr.S
    I would create squeeze page and sales page as extensions www.mydomain.com/.....
    and as a home page I would build a quality content with optin box on the right side.
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