The Use of Lead Capture Page Getting Outdated?

I would look at the stats as they don't lie. If you are still getting great traffic to lead conversion, then the system is still working. If not on the other hand, you may have a problem. I hadn't really noticed any significant change so far in my marketing efforts over the past few months. The only thing (and it's probably due to my fault) is that I recently just put up some new capture pages and testing to see how well they converts.

Right out of the gate, they bombed pretty much, but I did get some leads come through. So, I'd say let your stats speak to you on this issue. They will tell the REAL story.

I think doing the standrd 'funnel system' in the standard way is possibly getting known. It does still work, but the way to really make it work, is to do something different. To stand out.

Split testing is and always has been the key. I don't suggest saying, "This is how I am going to do things from now on." Test your market both ways and go with what works, not what you think will work.

With that being said, I can't imagine how generating leads that you can communicate with on demand would ever be worse than not doing so.

I think Squeeze Page still works.
I do agree that it is getting saturated with all forms of squeeze pages.

However, it still the best way to pre-sell and collect emails.
And I don't agree sending the leads directly to salespage.
as the conversion rate will be even lower than squeeze page. (tested and proven)

The key here is to have a high converting squeezepage.
Keep testing and refining. Be creative!!

.

I think squeeze pages have higher optin rates than an option on a webpage where they can choose to subscribe, also I'd say if its working then keep doing it

Evolution baby

From what I have researched it depends what you will use it for...If a way to get a list to build to take to a CPA sales page where they see the end result and it is written well. It makes sense. There are no right or wrongs without details. iT IS ABOUT STRATEGY AND SEEING THE MAP BEFORE YOU CREATE THE FUNNEL. Does that make sense to you? That is only my opinion.

Giving everybody the information up front = capping your income.

Why?

Because why would people buy something if you are just going to give everything away for free?

Saying funnels don't work because its getting less conversions is like saying a certain brand of cornflakes doesn't work because less people are buying it.

A "funnel" is just a succession of messages that "upsell"

I would assume that its the videos and the actual message being conveyed in them that are not working anymore before I would say that "funnels" don't work anymore.

I don't think lead capture pages will ever die...

They are constantly evolving, but in 1 form or another I think they'll be around for a long time.

funneling system still works good I think, it depends on how you target the audience/ visitors. There are few segments in any business opportunity that you wanna promote, pick one of those, learn how they behave, give what they want. You can simply test the water on your own.

I think funneling system is still the way to go, it's always been like that for many many years... thousands of years can't be wrong when it comes to funneling business system.

If you're building downlines with upfront data explanation, tell me how many visitors you might lose and you never get the money you invested to get the traffic... you'll just lose them all even before you can follow up with them.

That's funny I think... I wont' take that advice

I think it is not that lead capture pages don't work. The issue is email open rates. Now people are getting more savvy and they don't want their regular email to get bombarded with sales pitch after sales pitch. So they use their 2nd best or 3rd best email address to opt in.

Even if you say you need their email to deliver the requested info, they will still use their secondary email address just to get your info and never log in again.

So a newer way to build a "list" would be to create a Facebook page and get them to like it before they can get the info. You need a fan gate script for that and the good thing is this can even go viral.

Not sure if this is a better way to build a list but at least there is a way to reach your target group

I believe that the type of squeeze page you use will make a big difference in the rate you convert subscribers to buyers.

I never use blind squeeze pages that just grant passage to the next page.

I believe my success is that I give quality information instantly to the subscriber when they do subscribe. I also put as much information on the squeeze page so the subscriber will know exactly what they will receive.

Best regards,
Steve Yakim

Though the OP was made back in March, this is still a great discussion to have. There are so many moving parts, so many variables when it comes to ANY sales funnel (not sure what a "standard" funnel means), that saying that lead capture pages are outdated isn't an accurate statement. If the marketer in question was referring to the MMO market and many of the niches under it, then he may be right. I would like to know where he was getting his stats.

Like Bill mentioned it depends on your audience.

Where is the traffic coming from? That's a HUGE variable right there. What about the copywriting? If your copy sucks, it doesn't really matter how you set up your sales funnel because you're not going to elicit any emotional triggers.

Sometimes I use squeeze pages when my testing tells me this gives me the highest ROI. Though I do pay attention to opt-in rates, open e-mail rates, I pay most attention to my bottom line, my long-term ROI.

If it's better to start off with a content squeeze page or an authority type website, then that's what I'm going to use. This is why we as marketers need to test. I stopped asking other marketers what worked for them a long time ago. Why? Because they usually weren't honest about their results or they were just stating an opinion they heard from somewhere else.

Or just as bad, they peformed one or two tests and then came up with a faulty conclusion.

So now, I test everything myself. Sometimes my tests last for many months because as long as I'm beating the control group and am increasing my ROI, why should I stop?

RoD

In a nutshell if you are offering something on your squeeze page that the person reading it wants, then you are gonna have that person opt in.

People, especially in the IM niche are getting wise to the blind copy that tries to get them to opt in without telling them what they are getting, which in turn brings about poor results.

It depends on the niche and the audience.

People on this forum often act as if IM/MMO is the only niche. In reality it is a very small niche when compared to all of the thousands of others which earn people money every day.

You need to test and adjust, no matter your marketing method.

Lead capture pages still work for me. I don't mind putting in my info if I want what is on the other side.

But as a marketer, You have to go upstream to see what you are sending to the page... Is it generalized or narrowed down to a specific niche. This qualified them before they get to the page, so you are more likely to get an opt in.

Then there is the testing. The way you word your offer on the capture page, whether you have a plain one, or you have a video with it. Whether the person talking in the video is appealing to people.... You get the idea.

I recently tested a plain one versus a video in which I was not sure how the spokesman would appeal to people. Going to the same offer, solo ads were the source.

#1 With spokesman, 182 hits 5.49 opt in conversion

#2 Plain, Headline and just fill in info 187 hits, 27.27 opt in conversion

Keep in mind, I cannot control the solo ads completely, as many put your ad on a
rotator and don't really run the solo ad copy you give them.

But I had wondered about the spokesman. His looks did not bother me, it was the message I wanted to give out. But to some a middle age balding guy might have been a subconcious turn off, or maybe they did not like his voice, etc...

So you just have to keep testing till you come up with the right combination.

Jeannie

I dont think lead capture pages are getting outdated, or will get outdated - especially in non-exploited niches. It's just an essential form of direct marketing that goes back to the 1920's.

We recently set up Hubspot with agoal of creating unique landing pages with specific content tailored to users with the hope of increasing conversion and install rates. Similar to what your friend was saying about providing as much information up front. An example is we have an app within the BigCommerce app store and when user clicks to install or learn more, we provide specific BigCommerce install directions, case studies and co-branding to create a better user experience (and hopefully higher conversion ratio).

Our product itself is a conversion capture widget that incentivizes the user in real time to join your email list or become a fan, so I'm very familiar with this space. Marketers spend 8x's the money and effort to get users to their sites, but don't focus on that onsite experience. My entire philosophy has been to invest directly with visitors on your site. If you sell a product or service, offer an instant 5% coupon code for joining your mailing list or becoming a facebook fan. If you don't close them on that visit, you can retarget them via your channels.

Best,
Erik

ABSOLUTELY

Sending traffic to a lead capture page and then building rapport and selling to my list is still my bread and butter.

You just have to know what kind of capture page....

Use a SIMPLE one that is nothing but a headline and an arrow to the email box...nothing else.

Don't put any info about the product/service/ect anywhere on it. Just break attention and create interest.

People will opt in if you try and test different headlines.

Just split test and find out the truth.

Your friend isn't too bright. I know that sounds harsh, but there it is.

The idea is to build a list of qualified people who are interested in what you have to offer and have given you permission to contact them on your topic.

Follow up is key! This applies both online AND offline. The Direct Marketing Association has stats that say that it takes 7-9 "touches" or exposure to your products/services before someone will buy.

Offline, that means direct mail, phone calls, more ads, etc. And offline companies offer free information, services, trials, consults, etc. to build their lists. Online marketers get to do it at a much lower cost with squeeze pages and e-mail.

Honing your marketing in on people who are already interested in what you have to offer (as opposed to the general public, the vast majority of whom have absolutely NO INTEREST in what you offer) is a much smarter way to use your resources -- and it's much cheaper.

When you build a list, you can market to them endlessly, on demand. Statistics have proven that when someone has responded to a lead-gen ad or previously bought from that company, they're MUCH more likely to buy again.

Of course, there are tons of ways to do it. You might very well offer a low-cost item instead of a freebie to build a buyer's list. Technology is always changing and squeeze pages as we know them may very well change or become "obsolete." Actually, they'll just be replaced by some new technology. Opt-in SMS for example. But the principle is the same.

But saying squeeze pages are outdated and you're not going to build a list is sheer stupidity. It's like saying you're not going to make music because vinyl records are outdated.

Your friend is confusing online marketing with general direct marketing models. Offliners build lists too, but they do it with ads, direct mail, the phone, etc.

Of course, he's welcome to try it. Hopefully he can make some money before he goes broke -- a real feat since he won't be able to follow up.

I'd say "Good luck!" but it's hard to wish stupidity any luck at all.

Michelle