Short form versus button on home page
 

Hello,

I am redesigning my lead generation website, and I can't decide if I want to put a short form on my home page, or if I should use a large "Sign Up Now" button on the home page that links to a short form. I have extensively researched online regarding which method has a higher conversion rate, and I am seeing conflicting information. Some CRO case studies show switching from a button to a short form increases the conversion rate, and some show switching from a short form to a button increases the conversion rate. I'm sure every business is different, but I was wondering if there was a general rule of thumb as to which works better for lead gen.

Thanks!
Greg

Re: Short form versus button on home page
 

The general rule of thumb with CRO is test both. And in truth, if you really plan it out there are more than just 2 tests that could be run.

Some find a simple form on the home page within sidebar is effective. there are other cases that placing the order form within the body of the page gets better results.

You then could have a lead magnet on the side bar that attracts visitors to the short form page... but this one.. well there is inline pop ups, and top of page bars, and timed slider bars.. all kinds of stuff. and you starting looking all this up and guess what.. with CRO you will find in every case that they all work, and in every case you will find they have all failed!

Again.. CRO = testing, and there is literally no way around it. If you want the BEST results for YOU, your site, your product, and your traffic.. you need to do the work.

Re: Short form versus button on home page
 

Absolutely agree with the above. Just test everything every tricks you know and you tweak accordingly.

If you're looking for someone to model, or listen to, go to Neil Patel's Quicksprout. Quick Sprout.

Also you can read this article by Shane Melaugh - a guy I truly look up to in the field of blog optimization.
IM Impact Live Website Clinic - Learn How to Create a Better Site!

Hope that helps!

~ Budi T

Re: Short form versus button on home page
 

Thanks for the great advice. I am having my website redesigned now, but I will have two versions created - one with a short form on the home page and one with a sign up button. My plan it to roll out one of the versions, initially, and then run an A/B test. I was thinking that I should initially roll out the version that is more likely to generate the most leads. Obviously, I need to run an A/B test to be sure, but based on A/B tests done with other websites, which version is more likely to perform better?

Re: Short form versus button on home page
 

this gets difficult. you really wont be A / B testing as much as you would be multi variable testing. What I would suggest here is not so much testing the new A and B, but testing the current site to A and the current site to B to see which is best for your current traffic.

CRO is not guessing.. it is not looking at what has done better than other in the past. Im really no trying to be a douche here. but am really looking out for your best interest. if you run the process the best option will show itself.

Without question tho, test against the Original to start with. that way you are testing with a "proven" benchmark - you have history with it, you know how it converts etc.

I honestly wish you the best of luck!