Trying to pre-sell and having a tiny issue

15 replies
What's up warriors!

I was wondering if anybody had any advice about a unique way to inform people that they are leaving my sales page...and going to a sales page, and that they may need to scroll down the official sales page to actually order.

I know...a mouthful right.

Here's a better way to explain it.

My traffic cycle goes like this: Squidoo lens--->Sales page---->Merchant sales page (which is pretty long)--->Order form at bottom

I know people don't want to read a ton of information these days, so I think it would be a benefit if I could let people know in my sales letter that after they click "order now" they are going to end up at ANOTHER sales page which is the merchant's page...and their sales page is pretty long and drawn out.

I see people are clicking off from me to buy after being pre-sold, at a pretty good rate considering this is my very first real sales page that I actually tried to do but they are losing interest somewhere after that it looks like.

I looked into bypassing the merchant sales page and sending traffic right to the order form, but that's not going to work with the way this particular merchant has their order form set up. I'm not sure if doing that is too scrupulous anyway. (I'm ethical)

I've tried less clicks in the cycle by sending people from my main site (Squidoo lens) right to the merchant page first, but without being pre-sold it only works so well. (not very well)

I don't really want to put huge text right before my last pitch/order button that says "click here....then on the next page scroll down, then click "order now" there....then order"

That is likely going to turn people off more.

Basically I am telling people to "buy this product" and they are clicking to buy...then for some reason not buying!

Any suggestions before this post gets any longer?

Thanks,

Wally

P.S.
I do have lead capture set up as well, so this is strictly for people that decide they want to take action, or seem like they do.
#clickbank #issue #presell #sales page #tiny
  • Profile picture of the author bunkerful
    Hmm, this is a really good question. It seems to me like things are good on your end since they are making it to the merchants sales page, so maybe their page doesn't do that good of a job. Could you try changing to another offer (similar) and see how things go with a different merchants sales page?
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  • Profile picture of the author timpa
    Originally Posted by wally247 View Post

    What's up warriors!

    I was wondering if anybody had any advice about a unique way to inform people that they are leaving my sales page...and going to a sales page, and that they may need to scroll down the official sales page to actually order.

    I know...a mouthful right.

    Here's a better way to explain it.

    My traffic cycle goes like this: Squidoo lens--->Sales page---->Merchant sales page (which is pretty long)--->Order form at bottom

    I know people don't want to read a ton of information these days, so I think it would be a benefit if I could let people know in my sales letter that after they click "order now" they are going to end up at ANOTHER sales page which is the merchant's page...and their sales page is pretty long and drawn out.

    I see people are clicking off from me to buy after being pre-sold, at a pretty good rate considering this is my very first real sales page that I actually tried to do but they are losing interest somewhere after that it looks like.

    I looked into bypassing the merchant sales page and sending traffic right to the order form, but that's not going to work with the way this particular merchant has their order form set up. I'm not sure if doing that is too scrupulous anyway. (I'm ethical)

    I've tried less clicks in the cycle by sending people from my main site (Squidoo lens) right to the merchant page first, but without being pre-sold it only works so well. (not very well)

    I don't really want to put huge text right before my last pitch/order button that says "click here....then on the next page scroll down, then click "order now" there....then order"

    That is likely going to turn people off more.

    Basically I am telling people to "buy this product" and they are clicking to buy...then for some reason not buying!

    Any suggestions before this post gets any longer?

    Thanks,

    Wally

    P.S.
    I do have lead capture set up as well, so this is strictly for people that decide they want to take action, or seem like they do.

    Hi Mate.

    Obviously this is really hard for me to figure out if I can't see the the page/ funnel.

    I you like, reply with the details and I can take a closer look at it for you. Or PM me if you don't want to make the stuff official.

    Good Luck
    Tim Lundin
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  • Profile picture of the author EugeneA
    You have 3 steps in there which may be the reason why your visitors are loosing interest.

    What I normally do looks a bit something like this.

    My Website (pre-sells) -> Sales page.

    You'll have to test to determine which works best for you. Also make sure you tweak your sales page to get the best results.

    "I was wondering if anybody had any advice about a unique way to inform people that they are leaving my sales page...and going to a sales page, and that they may need to scroll down the official sales page to actually order."

    For More information visit "click here"/For More information visit the official site.
    Your sales pages should act as a teaser.

    I haven't seen your site so I can't be sure.
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    • Profile picture of the author wally247
      Originally Posted by EugeneA View Post

      You have 3 steps in there which may be the reason why your visitors are loosing interest.

      What I normally do looks a bit something like this.

      My Website (pre-sells) -> Sales page.

      You'll have to test to determine which works best for you. Also make sure you tweak your sales page to get the best results.

      "I was wondering if anybody had any advice about a unique way to inform people that they are leaving my sales page...and going to a sales page, and that they may need to scroll down the official sales page to actually order."

      For More information visit "click here"/For More information visit the official site.
      Your sales pages should act as a teaser.

      I haven't seen your site so I can't be sure.
      Thanks EugeneA

      Things seem so much more difficult when you are the one doing them I guess. Maybe I'll just try being honest and letting people know that they will be going to a lengthy sales page and see if that works.

      Thank you!
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  • Profile picture of the author angela99
    Wally, the short answer is that you're NOT selling on your pre-sales pages. You're warming up your audience.

    SALES are the job of the SALES page.

    Your only goal is to get your visitors to that sales page, and then let the sales page do what it's meant to do -- sell.

    So your challenge is to pre-sell.

    You can pre-sell in various ways. The most popular way is by reviewing the product. The audience is looking for Product X or needs a solution to a problem which Product X gives them. You review a product which meets their needs.

    Pre-selling by reviewing is a limited strategy however.

    Pre-sell by:

    * Targeting an audience

    * Engender trust in the audience (be credible, knowledgeable)

    * Become a reliable source to the audience

    Sounds like hard work, right? :-)

    It is, but it's not that hard. All content marketing is pre-selling.

    The definitive work on preselling is Make Your Content PREsell! -- it's free. He's selling Site Build It in the PDF, but never mind about that. It's good information.

    Just keep in mind that pre-selling is NOT selling (as stated, that's the job of the sales page). All you have to do is get your traffic to the sales page.

    Let the sales page sell -- you PRE-SELL...
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by angela99 View Post

      SALES are the job of the SALES page.

      Your only goal is to get your visitors to that sales page, and then let the sales page do what it's meant to do -- sell.
      This.

      You're an affiliate, Wally, right?

      It's scary the way you're talking about your "sales page". Affiliates don't (and shouldn't!) have sales pages.

      Trying to sell the product(s) on their own sites is probably the single commonest mistake that affiliates make.

      If you feel the need (more or less) to "apologize" for the sales page to which you're sending your traffic, it's because either your page is fulfilling a different purpose from what it should be doing, or because the vendor's sales page isn't suitable for your traffic. In one case, you need to change the entire underlying purpose (and content) of your page. In the other case, you need to promote a different product instead. This probably isn't a problem you can resolve by "warning" people: it sounds rather more fundamental than that, I'm afraid - as if you've confused "pre-selling" and "selling". They're totally, radically different and require completely different approaches and content.

      Originally Posted by angela99 View Post

      Just keep in mind that pre-selling is NOT selling (as stated, that's the job of the sales page). All you have to do is get your traffic to the sales page.

      Let the sales page sell -- you PRE-SELL...
      This.
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      • Profile picture of the author wally247
        [quote=Alexa Smith;4953137]This.

        You're an affiliate, Wally, right?

        It's scary the way you're talking about your "sales page". Affiliates don't (and shouldn't!) have sales pages.

        Trying to sell the product(s) on their own sites is probably the single commonest mistake that affiliates make.

        If you feel the need (more or less) to "apologize" for the sales page to which you're sending your traffic, it's because either your page is fulfilling a different purpose from what it should be doing, or because the vendor's sales page isn't suitable for your traffic. In one case, you need to change the entire underlying purpose (and content) of your page. In the other case, you need to promote a different product instead. This probably isn't a problem you can resolve by "warning" people: it sounds rather more fundamental than that, I'm afraid - as if you've confused "pre-selling" and "selling". They're totally, radically different and require completely different approaches and content.



        Thanks Alexa,

        My "sales" page is more of a "here is how you are going to benefit" page than an actual sales page since yes, I am an affiliate.

        I have always either linked to my affiliate offer or pre-sold through follow up messages after collecting leads. This whole pre-sell thing is a new thing I had been wanting (needing) to try for a while but quite frankly didn't have the skills to write good "you need to get this product and here's why" writing skills.

        I'm still learning that, but am just looking for ways to test things out to see what is working better.

        One problem here is my own mind. I see it as a hassle to go through my funnel but maybe that's because I get anxious if I don't get results instantly.

        Basically I can't see it as a consumer anymore because I'm blinded by all of the marketing that I try to soak up all the time.

        I am definitely trying to presell here, but maybe more patience is what I need more than anything.

        I am still pretty new though, so patience sometimes becomes something that I run out of.

        w
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        • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
          Wally, while I pretty much agree with the advice you have been given above, there is one thing you can try if you want to send people to the bottom of the sales letter. Just to test the idea, as I think you'll find it doesn't work as well as you think it will. But what I think isn't as important as what your visitors think...

          Go to the vendor's sales page - the one you want to link to. Use your browser to 'view source' and look for an HTML anchor tag near the order button (or whatever point you want them to land on). It may or may not be there. You are looking for something like this:

          Code:
          <a name="textstring">
          where 'textstring' could be anything.

          You can link to that point on the page by using a link like this:

          Code:
          <a href="http://example.com#textstring?affcode">click here</a>
          Double check to make sure your affiliate ID rides along properly.

          "Make Your Content PRESell" is excellent.

          Warrior Paul Hancox also sells an excellent ebook on the subject called "PreSell Mastery". I think that's the right title IIRC...
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        • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
          Banned
          Hi Wally,

          Originally Posted by wally247 View Post

          My "sales" page is more of a "here is how you are going to benefit" page than an actual sales page
          Well ... to me, "listing the benefits" is the key content of a sales page, rather part of pre-selling.

          Originally Posted by wally247 View Post

          I have always either linked to my affiliate offer or pre-sold through follow up messages after collecting leads.
          Ah, this sounds much better: I hadn't realised you were building a list. This has certainly got you off to a good start.

          Originally Posted by wally247 View Post

          This whole pre-sell thing is a new thing I had been wanting (needing) to try for a while but quite frankly didn't have the skills to write good "you need to get this product and here's why" writing skills.
          I strongly suggest that (at least for these purposes) you keep it that way, because "you need to get this product and here's why" has no part in pre-selling.

          Originally Posted by wally247 View Post

          I see it as a hassle to go through my funnel but maybe that's because I get anxious if I don't get results instantly.
          Yes; I hear you. But if it's an informational product ("ClickBank type"?), and quite often even if it isn't, the "process" is how the sales materialize, really. The key concept is that by becoming a reliable, trusted source of other, not-directly-product-related information in the niche, to the people on the list, you become the person from/through whom they'll buy the product because you've established a relationship with them, and you (whom they trust) are the one recommending it. In other words, it's yourself that you're selling, so that your recommendation instinctively impresses people, not so much the product other than by virtue of the fact that it's your recommendation. They're not buying the product because you sound as if you yourself are "selling" the product (e.g. by "listing the benefits" or by saying "you need to buy this and here's why") - let the vendor's sales page do that: duplicating it is more likely to lose sales, overall, than to gain them. (I sell nearly 600 ClickBank products per month, and I don't really openly "list their benefits" in sales langauge per se - neither on my websites nor in my emails to subscribers. That's "trying too hard".)

          I add my voice to John's recommendation above for Paul Hancox's "Pre-selling Mastery" (available as a WSO, the last time I looked, anyway).

          I wish you good luck - and patience - with it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Troy Broussard
      Originally Posted by angela99 View Post

      Wally, the short answer is that you're NOT selling on your pre-sales pages. You're warming up your audience.

      SALES are the job of the SALES page.

      Your only goal is to get your visitors to that sales page, and then let the sales page do what it's meant to do -- sell.
      Well said.

      The real issue here is that you're apparently doing affiliate marketing of some sort where you don't have control over the sales page. This will always be an issue with affiliate marketing - you're left with their sales page unless you can get a direct buy link from them (sometimes available).

      Affiliate marketing will always have this disadvantage and your choices are fairly limited. You can:

      1. Accept it.
      2. Look for other competing offers that have better sales pages.
      3. Look to create your own product for the niche.
      The best route, in my opinion, is #3 but only *if* you have already tested the market sufficiently enough to know its worthy and, of course, *if* you can do it. If it is a product or service, then not likely an option... but if it's an informational product then perhaps that is a better way to go.

      Another approach you could take would be to actually create your own low priced intro product with the specific goal of (a) getting them on your list and (b) selling them the higher priced affiliate product.

      It can often be more productive to do this because you can get more buyers since the price point is lower and they are now pre-sold already making your next sale much easier.

      Hope that helps...
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  • Profile picture of the author naji
    Wow, all this sounds too complicated for your visitors. Also from the sound of it there is proably no congruency in the path of your visitor which isn't good for conversions anyway. Also, there is nothing unethical about linking your sales page to the order page and it should be very simple just ask your affiliate manager for the link. I would do some testing as just because a sales letter is long doesn't mean that it doesn't work. Remember people even click on the buy button and then don't buy.

    Why not try this.
    Squidoo->Capture page ->Affiliate Sales Page.

    That's what I'd do anyway.

    Hope it helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author art72
    Originally Posted by angela99 View Post

    Wally, the short answer is that you're NOT selling on your pre-sales pages. You're warming up your audience.

    SALES are the job of the SALES page.

    Your only goal is to get your visitors to that sales page, and then let the sales page do what it's meant to do -- sell.

    So your challenge is to pre-sell.

    You can pre-sell in various ways. The most popular way is by reviewing the product. The audience is looking for Product X or needs a solution to a problem which Product X gives them. You review a product which meets their needs.

    Pre-selling by reviewing is a limited strategy however.

    Pre-sell by:

    * Targeting an audience

    * Engender trust in the audience (be credible, knowledgeable)

    * Become a reliable source to the audience

    Sounds like hard work, right? :-)

    It is, but it's not that hard. All content marketing is pre-selling.

    The definitive work on preselling is Make Your Content PREsell! -- it's free. He's selling Site Build It in the PDF, but never mind about that. It's good information.

    Just keep in mind that pre-selling is NOT selling (as stated, that's the job of the sales page). All you have to do is get your traffic to the sales page.

    Let the sales page sell -- you PRE-SELL...
    I am now just clearing this hurdle myself, as I made the same mistake of thinking "preselling" was a devote act to convincing (*or selling) my visitors to buy the product/service... then sent them to the affiliate's sales page.

    I think angela99 and Alexa both have shared a great method, whereby, if you simply speak to your 'targeted prospects' in an informative way, as opposed to that of say a "hungry salesman" (*as I have been guilty of) -they will see you as a credible source to acquire both their information and their solution; be it in this case; the affiliate's product/service.

    Finally, I have become much, much more selectful in the affiliate products I promote also, simply because you can be the most ethical business person in the world (as am I trying to maintain) and "if" you or the affiliates you choose to promote deliver absolute garbage, that will quickly destroy any credibility you've worked hard to establish.

    With that said, many suggest actually buying the product or testing it first hand, but I find this difficult in many applications, for if I were to target a hair loss niche per se, what the hell am I gonna gain from using Rogain?

    While I'm not bald yet, those silver hairs have increased since I began my IM journey!:rolleyes:

    I see my sales funnel like so,

    >Informative article or blog post
    >Text link(s)
    >SalesPage

    The only thing I have changed recently is, I am trying to add more focus on the opt-in...

    So, it now looks like so,

    >Informative article or blog post
    >Text link
    >Simple Squeeze (*Not much info, maybe a FREE eBook, etc..)
    >Salespage
    >Follow up emails... future sales:confused:

    I've yet perfect it mind you, but I have decided to leave the sales copy to those who have mastered the art of converting sales.

    All the Best,

    Art
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    Atop a tree with Buddha ain't a bad place to take rest!
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    • Profile picture of the author wally247
      Originally Posted by art72 View Post

      I am now just clearing this hurdle myself, as I made the same mistake of thinking "preselling" was a devote act to convincing (*or selling) my visitors to buy the product/service... then sent them to the affiliate's sales page.

      I think angela99 and Alexa both have shared a great method, whereby, if you simply speak to your 'targeted prospects' in an informative way, as opposed to that of say a "hungry salesman" (*as I have been guilty of) -they will see you as a credible source to acquire both their information and their solution; be it in this case; the affiliate's product/service.

      Finally, I have become much, much more selectful in the affiliate products I promote also, simply because you can be the most ethical business person in the world (as am I trying to maintain) and "if" you or the affiliates you choose to promote deliver absolute garbage, that will quickly destroy any credibility you've worked hard to establish.

      With that said, many suggest actually buying the product or testing it first hand, but I find this difficult in many applications, for if I were to target a hair loss niche per se, what the hell am I gonna gain from using Rogain?

      While I'm not bald yet, those silver hairs have increased since I began my IM journey!:rolleyes:

      I see my sales funnel like so,

      >Informative article or blog post
      >Text link(s)
      >SalesPage

      The only thing I have changed recently is, I am trying to add more focus on the opt-in...

      So, it now looks like so,

      >Informative article or blog post
      >Text link
      >Simple Squeeze (*Not much info, maybe a FREE eBook, etc..)
      >Salespage
      >Follow up emails... future sales:confused:

      I've yet perfect it mind you, but I have decided to leave the sales copy to those who have mastered the art of converting sales.

      All the Best,

      Art
      Thanks Art!

      Trying harder to get people to just take some action is where I am spending my time these days just like you.

      I think it's a natural progression to finally make some headway on SEO and get a stream of visitors, and when that happens you have to find ways to try to make their experience better so they don't hate you.

      I have absolutely tried my product before and I swear by it. Oddly enough, I tried writing in that frame of mind and didn't see much success.

      I love learning all of this stuff, but sometimes it's hard to see if it will ever pay off in a bigger way.

      w
      Signature
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      • Profile picture of the author art72
        Originally Posted by wally247 View Post

        Thanks Art!

        Trying harder to get people to just take some action is where I am spending my time these days just like you.

        I think it's a natural progression to finally make some headway on SEO and get a stream of visitors, and when that happens you have to find ways to try to make their experience better so they don't hate you.

        I have absolutely tried my product before and I swear by it. Oddly enough, I tried writing in that frame of mind and didn't see much success.

        I love learning all of this stuff, but sometimes it's hard to see if it will ever pay off in a bigger way.

        w
        Wally,

        You're very welcome.

        One technique I am trying desperately to maintain is a "sense" of empathy, the ability to "put yourself' in the shoes of your targeted audience.

        So, a large part of this is focused on "psychology" and being able to (*as John McCabe once stated in a thread) - see your targeted prospect, and be able to pick s/he out of a crowded mall.

        I am exploring several niches, many I cannot personally benefit from the product (*like weight-loss, as I am 145#'s soaking wet) -but, I can empathize for those who may be overweight, and imagine their pain, humility, desire to live healthier, etc...

        Thus, forget about the "sale" to a degree, and focus on the needs, wants, and/or desires your prospect seeks.

        As angela99 and Alexa mentioned, I fully grasp this aspect of info marketing, and often find myself impatient, or quick to think what I am doing is NOT working... when in reality it's my need for time and a better income blindly stealing my focus.

        Hence, would explain why so many bounce from one thing to the next, which I was doing for 3-4 months.

        You'll get it (as will I hopefully) and I sincerely doubt your customers will hate you, so long as you're not blatantly expressing "I just need, want, or gotta have your money!"

        -Art

        EDIT: His ears must've been ringing, as we were posting at the same time...LOL
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        Atop a tree with Buddha ain't a bad place to take rest!
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  • Profile picture of the author Nicola Lane
    As other people have mentioned - you might want to get Paul Hancox - Presell Mastery. You can find it here:

    http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...l-tactics.html

    I have it - it is brilliant
    Signature

    I like to keep an open mind, but not so open that my brains fall out

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