The Power of the Secret Squeeze Page

[urbt]

I don't know if this is a well known or completely new technique to you, so I'm going to come right out and post it. Hopefully it will help some of you.

One of the most important lessons in IM is perceived value. The idea that you can sell the same thing for a higher price just because of its looks is not a new one but is often overlooked.

So basically there are two major contributors to perceived value (in my opinion):

• How the whole thing looks (professional graphics, well-written sales letter, compelling testimonials)
• Scarcity/secrecy

And that is where the secret squeeze page comes into play. You're not getting someone to buy something in this case, however - you're just getting them to subscribe.

The idea is to make a page that appears hidden on the website (think domain.com/secetfolder12893/dontlook/hidden.html) and then create a squeeze page that tells people to leave if they haven't been invited.

That's right - reverse psychology works so well. Telling someone they're not supposed to be somewhere is only going to make them go there or stay there.

What I do with my secret squeeze page is to follow the following kind of formula:

Invitation-Only! If You've Come Here By Mistake, Please Leave
For Those Who Were Invited, Here's Your Secret Report...

Again, please leave if you haven't been invited. If these secrets were to fall into the wrong hands there would be big trouble.

Please enter your email below:
_________________________

The trick is to make them feel like they're not supposed to be there. Lots of words like 'exclusive', 'secret' and 'invite-only'.

You then use social marketing and, with a bit of luck, the page goes viral. People will genuinely think they've found something they're not supposed to.

This works a lot better than some of the techniques I see some people using for squeeze pages, but it's all about making it look secret. Having an awesome design and loads of graphics would be quite suspicious.


So anyway, I hope that helps some Warriors - I'm new here and trying to get off on the right note.

By the way, you can see an example of the implementation of this at outsourcingadvantage dot info (watch the address bar).

Sorry if that comes across as self-advertising - I'm really just trying to show you what the landing page should look like. Let me know if it's inappropriate to include that address and I will remove it.

Best wishes,

Ed

[eMarketing_Tips]

Squeeze page can be powerful if well written Not a bad job

[Bruce NewMedia]

I actually think this is a pretty good idea. ..Thanks!

I also think you may be over-doing the 'secret' part on the page just a bit. I wouldn't repeat all the warnings 'not to share the page' quite so much, etc. It starts to sound a bit phony, imo.

But overall, I do think you've hit on something definitely useful. So, my question is, how has that been working for you?
______
Bruce

[tday01]

What ever works..when building a list. the worst thing that can happen is they'll unsubscribe.

[Mark Riddle]

Yes the Secret page, uses the same attraction that Thank you Pages did when they were first introduced.

Right down to the click bank notice.

Mike Enlow, used to sell "Spy Equipment and reports and information" for investigators.

One of his favorite methods was to create a report that appeared to be a purchased product, with details of his insider resources for lock picking tools, spy cameras, and surveillance equipment.

These would be either his companies sites or places that he was a affiliate for.

He then would encrypt the files with an easy to break code.

Under other IDs he would post cracks for his files for those who didn't know how to hack the codes.

Mark Riddle

[ploked]

nice idea...might have to give this one a try on one of my sites. thanks!

[pdrw07]

Nice tips but how to drive someone to find that "secret" place?

[jasonl70]

A well known marketer/guru used to do the fake download page thing.. he and his partners would 'share' the download pages with their lists, etc.
"my good friend so-and-so gave me permission to share this with you. It's the download page to his $97 product".

[Wade Watson]

That's probably a decent strategy. I would think that perceived usefulness would be a third contributor to perceived value, though. And I may be different, but whenever I see "please leave" on a web page, I just do it. --Wade

[1breeze]

I agree, when I am asked to leave a page I tend to it straight away though in this instance it seems more obvious that its a promotion!

[Steven Fullman]

As effective as it sounds...

...How does this deter people from actively seeking
real download links to leech and freely spread around?

AKA What's the difference between "stumbling" upon
a 'fake' real site, and a real 'secret' page?

You blur the line at your peril...

IMHO.

Steve

[BigRedNotebook]

I don't want to be a party pooper or anything, but it seems a little disingenuous to me.

"This is a secret. If you weren't invited go away."

In reality, it's not a secret. You didn't "invite" anyone, etc.

It may be more of a white lie than a whopper, but I still have a slight issue with it.

I'm sure it can be done in a way that stays on the right side of the ol' ethical line, but I can see it slipping onto the wrong side pretty easily.

[urbt]

Thanks for all the responses, guys.

I've had mixed results, including one campaign that went semi-viral with a bit of StumbleUpon traffic

Although I understand the concerns, the answer to the 'invite-only' conundrum is to advertise it to your pre-existing list of a few people and then Stumble it.

For building traffic, I use a redirect so that the main domain goes straight to the secret page. Then you can use StumbleUpon as I say or you can make YouTube videos or anything similar with the site address at the end. You could always say that one in a hundred visitors will be redirected to a secret page (another white lie).

For those not comfortable with the 'white lies' involved, I'd say stick with what works for you. No need to change to my idea just because I say so

Ed

[travlinguy]

I see this as a cheesy gimmick that will fool only the newest of newbies, and even they won't be fooled for long. BTW, how is it that people just stumble upon this 'secret' page?

Better to do things the old fashioned way. Provide something of real value on your landing page, get people to subscribe and then continue to provide stuff with real value. That way you build a relationship on trust. Wow, what an idea...

[slma88]

What is the difference between a squeeze page and a normal landing page that aims to build list or re-direct to affiliate page? Thanks for updating.

[urbt]

Originally Posted by travlinguy

I see this as a cheesy gimmick that will fool only the newest of newbies, and even they won't be fooled for long. BTW, how is it that people just stumble upon this 'secret' page?

Better to do things the old fashioned way. Provide something of real value on your landing page, get people to subscribe and then continue to provide stuff with real value. That way you build a relationship on trust. Wow, what an idea...

Well I'm sorry for trying to expand your horizons!

Of course the old fashioned way can work well, and will work well for most people! I'm just showing an example of this technique that I've been using to try and help some people out. They stumble upon it from sites like StumbleUpon where you have bookmarked it as a secret page which you're not supposed to share.

And I find that outside the IM niche this technique works really well.

Ed

[Greg Cooksley]

Hey Ed,

Thanks for sharing....

Hey guys, all Ed is doing is showing an alternative way of using a squeeze page.....you know "use it - don't use it" that's your prerogative.....but don't shoot the guy down in flames.

Just a point - how can anyone tell if this is a cheap/cheezy gimmick without testing it?

Regards

Greg

[travlinguy]

Originally Posted by urbt

Well I'm sorry for trying to expand your horizons!

Of course the old fashioned way can work well, and will work well for most people! I'm just showing an example of this technique that I've been using to try and help some people out. They stumble upon it from sites like StumbleUpon where you have bookmarked it as a secret page which you're not supposed to share.

And I find that outside the IM niche this technique works really well.

Ed

Expand my horizons? LOL

What makes this technique cheesy is that it's based on deception, a trick. It's no different than using a script designed to create urgency by telling people they have up to a certain date and time to buy, when in fact, that date and time continue to change.

It's a lie and not even a subtle one. Years back, I remember buying something based on this ploy and later fining out that it was nothing more than a trick. Some people actually take offense to being lied to.

I choose to be straight with people because that's how I want to be treated.