Confirmation page,..... or not?

Rlhurst,

Yes, this is fairly typical, as you'll find that quite a few people will enter their name and email address (or whatever other details you've requested), only to realize they'll actually need to log into their email inbox in order to receive the download.

As quite a few are not bothered to do so, you end up with a far lesser percentage of confirmations then submissions.

First, may I ask, how many submissions have you actually had. If you're basing your 33% off a tiny sample size, say 10 people, that amount could greatly sway. If that's the case, I'd suggest you get at least 100 submissions or more to get a more accurate idea of confirmation percentages.

Also, rather than giving them a direct download after submission, you could also place a statement on the page before the submit their details informing them that they'll need to check their email inboxes, which will probably increase the confirmations securing them onto your double opt-in mailing list, but will decrease the download count (as oppose to giving it to them directly), as less people will be likely to enter their details in the first place.

Hope that helps.

Hi,

I am not a list builder, but I know about the value of it, etc. It's just not something that has been part of my business model, so far. But I have many years of experience in IM and can offer some suggestions and advice - for what it's worth.

1. Based on a lot I've read about PPV traffic, your results will vary depending on the network you're working with. Apparently some can offer more responsive and targeted traffic than others. So you may want to test others to see if you get a higher confirmation rate.

2. I've subscribed to very many lists over the years. I've seen a lot of different approaches. One that I tend to see less is taking advantage of their attention while you have it with the post opt-in page.

Instead of using the generic aweber page, use a custom page in which you can encourage them to confirm your subscription. The approach would be to use the same design as your squeeze page, such as the header, so they immediately know it's from you. That familiarity will help make them feel more comfortable, plus they will pay attention because they will recognize it.

Then, thank them for subscribing, and be sure to tell them what they need to do next. Be direct and tell them they need to confirm their subscription which will arrive in just a few seconds (hopefully). I know that sometimes aweber does not always produce the confirm email right away. The worst I've seen is having it arrive up to an hour later which is just horrible for confirmation rate.

You can also write a little copy in which you remind them of what they're getting and what to expect from you. Tell them the benefits they'll receive from your newsletter, etc. You can even create a new 'something cool to give them' and tell them about it. It's an unannounced bonus they'll receive very soon after subscribing.

I'm assuming you are offering something in exchange for their contact info.

3. You should always test. So you can use either the double optin, no confirmation, with or without first name and email only.

4. Of course I do not know what your squeeze page looks like or what you are telling them. But if it's not for an immediate sale, then test with sending a few relationship building emails before sending the promo email. But I have to say I do not know how effective that will be with something like music. I really do not know about that.

5. But I would send them relationship building emails if they do not buy when you send the promo email. In that case, taking the time to create a relationship should, hopefully, increase sales later.

Hope that helps and good luck.


Ken

Thanks for the responses! I have about 45 opt ins and 15 confirmations (that's after 2 unconfirmed right away). I may try bypassing the confirmation page and see how that goes.

Here's something else I was wondering..... should I contact those who declined to confrim ( I still have their email addresses in Aweber), and offer them the download while letting them know they don't have to confirm? I'm not sure if I should "bother" them any further, or if they would like the personalized follow up. Any thoughts on that?

My humble suggestion is that you try both. That way you will be sure what is the one that works for you in your niche.
Test for a period of time one way, and then the other way.
Just make sure to provide a clear message of the reason for the confirmation, on the first option. On the second option, send them to the "thank you" page, and provide a link to the sales page, where they can download after telling them some benefits if they buy.
I hope this could be of great help for you. Thanks for the opportunity.

No, don't bother for two reasons;

1) It's a waste of time. They won't want to receive a canned response, and unless that's exactly what you deliver to each one of them (as oppose to something very personal, which you wouldn't be able to deliver unless you knew them well anyway), it won't be worth your time, especially in the long run when your opt-ins gain momentum.

2) I'm not sure, but I think it could be considered a violation of CAN-SPAM to re-email them after they've declined your initial request.

I understand what you are saying Rlhurst. There is another option you might want to consider. In your AWeber account you have the option of sending people to the page of your choice rather than their canned confirmation page once they input their info to subscribe.

So people have input their name and email (or just email) at your squeeze page to get your free report (or whatever you give them). They hit the submit button.

Now, make an exact duplicate of your main sales page. However, on this page, at the top, place a comment that says,

Thanks for coming by! Follow the directions at the bottom of this page to access your free download. But first, here is something I think you might be interested in...

Some will scroll directly to the bottom of the page to get their download, but many will read your sales page along the way. Doing this you generate some sales immediately.

At the bottom of your sales page have text that says...

Your free download is waiting to be sent now. Just check your email for the confirmation email we just sent you. Click on the link inside to confirm and your download will be provided immediately. Thanks again for coming by!

Doing this has advantages. Your visitor has already expressed an interest in material related to your main product. Hitting them immediately with your sales page rather than with a confirmation page means you can pitch your material immediately. If they don't buy, they still get their free download.

Using the traditional method of having them fill in your form and then hitting them with the AWeber confirmation page can actually lose you opt-ins. Many people will simply close the confirmation page they are presented with thinking the will confirm later when they have the time. Many of those will never take the time to confirm and they are lost.

Doing what I suggest puts your sales material in front of them immediately before they forget who you are or what they signed up to get from you.

Of course, split testing is always prudent. But this technique can be effective.

Best of luck --Mike

Hi Beatrice,

I wasn't as clear as I should have been--sorry for that.

No, it's not in the Confirmation Success Page. That is the page or file you would send them to once they get the confirmation email and click on the link in it.

Here's what I mean. You login to your account, click on the "Web Form" tab and click on the "Create New Form" in green below that. Creating a web form is a three-step process in AWeber. The first step you do is create a form. That part is easy. The key here is the second step you are take to.

Scroll down in Step 2 to where you see the "Thank You Page". If you leave it in the default setting, when someone inputs their name and email on your form and then hits submit, that ugly AWeber form appears that says, "You're Almost Done". It tells them to confirm by clicking the link in the email they just got to get their free download, video, whatever.

99% of the people using AWeber use the default setting. And sure, it works and they get people opting in to their list.

But if you scroll down in the Thank You Page tab you will see the 3rd or 4th option is to input a custom URL of your own. So I'll say again how to use this. Suppose you have a sales page set up for a great little product of yours. Make a duplicate of your sales page. It is probably called your index page in your hosting account, but you have a copy stored locally on your computer somewhere.

Go into your HTML editor and add wording something like the following at the top of the page...

"Check your email and look for the confirmation email you just received from me. Click on the link to confirm your subscription and you will be taken to your free download I promised. But while you're here, you might be interested in the product below."

Then upload that page to your hosting account and call it index2 or whatever you want. But take that URL and put it in for the Thank You Page for your opt-in form in your AWeber account.

This sounds like a little thing. It is not. It is a HUGE thing. And if you are running free WSOs here on the WF you should be doing exactly that. You will still grow your list, but you will also make some sales from the people who land on the sales page.

I'm laughing while I write this. A lot of people don't run free WSOs because it costs them $40 and they don't make any money from it although they do grow a list. But doing what I tell you will still grow your list, but you will also likely make more than enough in sales to pay for your WSO to run over and over again. You are essentially getting them for free and growing your list to boot!

Hope that helps, Beatrice. --Mike