5 Proven Strategies to Create a Killer Landing Page

24 replies
Dear Fellow Entrepreneurs:

I would like to share with you some of my insights about creating a powerful landing page that turns visitors into buyers, prospects into clients and dramatically increases profits. I hope many of you will benefit significantly from this information.

1. First and foremost, create a powerful headline.
You are probably shaking your head and thinking: "It's such an old cliché. Everybody knows that a headline is important. Why even mention that??"
Here is why.
I know it's one of the most basic tenets of Copywriting. But it amazes me how many copywriters or marketers come up with run-of-the mill or dead-end headlines that do not grab the attention of their prospects and do not produce a desirable outcome.

You should invest a lot of time and energy into crafting a headline that emphasizes the most essential aspects of your service or product.

Is it a challenging task? You bet it is! But it's worth the effort.
The way you present information in your headline can make or break a deal. Always remember that! One of my favorite copywriters suggests the following:
"Good headlines can boost response by 1,000s of percent over bad headlines."
Couldn't agree more..

2. Rivet and engage your prospects with stimulating content.
Stop being a boring stiff!
Use your creativity. Spice up your imagination. You can do it!
Why don't you tell an intriguing story? Or you may reveal some interesting statistics, or explain how your input might create an ideal situation for potential clients.

3. Visual appeal also counts!
Believe it or not, visuals can be almost as important as a headline. Powerful images might hypnotize your visitors into reading at least the beginning of your landing page. Just make sure those pictures are relevant to the problem your prospects are having.
You should also create a balance between the amount of text on the page and graphics. For extra punch, add a caption to your graphic. By the way, did you know that captions have high readership? Now you do!

4. Create quick and easy ordering.
Putting a shopping cart or any other ordering device at the top of your sales message can boost response rates. It's important to remember that if you create a long landing page, you should place order devices throughout your copy. Why? Simply because, your readers make their purchasing decisions at different times.

5. Keep your content fresh.
The best way to establish rapport with your audience is to re-evaluate your content, spice it up or keep it relevant. It should relate to what your prospects are thinking, what their thoughts, worries or biggest concerns are. You can refer to interesting stories that are in the news, cultural trends or popular concerns, etc. Let me assure you that your visitors will be grateful..

Of course, there is more to creating a powerful landing page than what I have mentioned above. But I am sure that some of the pointers above will guide you in the right direction and help you dramatically boost your profits. You deserve success!
And I wish you the best of luck with your endeavors.

#create #killer #landing #page #proven #strategies
  • Profile picture of the author MyOnlineSuccess
    Landing pages is all about instantly connecting with your prospects. I no longer overanalyze benefits and being interesting and all that usual stuff that no one really understands.

    The secret is simply to connect with your prospects. Show them that you understand their problem and then give them a solution.

    Simple as that.

    In all my test, the simpler and clearer my message was the better the response.

    Far too many people put stuff on landing pages that they think is important, but all that really matters is what your pospect thinks is important and that is a solution to their problem.

    Think of your landing page as something that stands between your prospects problem and theur solution.
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  • Profile picture of the author MontelloMarketing
    Angela,

    I think all the warriors here would love to know a bit more about you and where your perspective is taken from.

    Please explain to those who don't know already about the winning campaigns you've been a part of. I don't just mean the ones you've personally written... but been even a peripheral part of.

    I think it's important because they get so much contrary advice that some of them blindly follow just anyone who posts with authority.

    Some of these posters are just faking it till they make it... and have no authority at all. Of course I'm not speaking of you in this case. Because I know you're already aware that giving advice on something we don't have expertise in, well... that's like fraud or something. At the very least it's unfair to the reader.

    That's why it's important the readers know how to separate you from the fakers.

    So please put it all in perspective for those of us who don't know your work.

    Thanks in advance!
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    • Profile picture of the author megaresp
      Originally Posted by Onslaught View Post

      ...I think I have got 75 ebooks from all sorts of warriors on this very topic. Everyone is a know it all... I don't know shi...
      Nothing beats practical experience. Stop reading, start doing, and measure everything.
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  • Profile picture of the author Scott Murdaugh
    Putting a shopping cart or any other ordering device at the top of your sales message can boost response rates. It's important to remember that if you create a long landing page, you should place order devices throughout your copy. Why? Simply because, your readers make their purchasing decisions at different times.
    Actually, putting an order link at the top of "most" sales letters will destroy response.

    Why would you want to give them to any reason to not have to read at least some of your copy, at least be sold a little bit on the concept, before you let them click "order", decide that it's too much (because you haven't built value) and leave the site.

    I'd be curious to know your experience as well.

    Thanks,

    -Scott
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  • Profile picture of the author Mr. Subtle
    Man o' man, what a bunch of regurgitated BS being PIKED by someone who is trying to learn how to "talk the talk" but can't "walk the walk" after (over) 3 years of "knowing" her from other boards. (I was a MOD at Fortin's board and I'm a MOD at Wedding's board.)

    After reading her thread, has anyone visited her website? Talk about BORING! On the boredom scale it ranks a solid 9. If she would have used a BLUE background and a RED font for her "headline" I would have given her a perfect 10.

    Speaking of headlines... is that a headline on your page?

    Also, where's the "visual appeal" that you're PIKING above? It's somehow missing from your website.

    I'm sure the VETs of this board can see right through her, but my concern is for the NOOBs here.

    Here's a HEADs UP from over 3 years of "listening" to her on Fortin's and then later on Wedding's board: She loves to whine. She whines all the time about how she can't get any business. On Wedding's board (before she left) she whined how the recession has really hurt New York City... that she can't get any business. And yet, on Monday I'm writing and designing a postcard for a business that's located exactly 11.3 miles (in Garden City) from her mom's (and Angie's) front doorstep.
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    • Profile picture of the author Angela Kambarian
      I am glad that my posting has generated another emotional outburst
      from a bunch of dudes who have a secret crush on me..
      And they never even met me!
      I didn't realize I got so much power. Oh, boy..

      To make a long story short, I choose not to participate in squabbles anymore.
      Don't have the time for this.
      I am very busy right now working with interesting companies and
      individuals. And this is just a beginning. I have big plans for the future.
      Successful business, new friends, new boyfriend..I love my life!

      My writing always generates results.
      Yes, I have experience.
      Yes, I have generated results.
      And yes, I have been getting repeat business..
      Again, this is just a beginning of the journey!!
      I look forward to a very dynamic and vibrant entrepreneural
      path ahead of me.

      PS: If you don't trust me or question my credentials, you
      don't have to read my articles or tipsheets.
      And many thanks for "caressing" my ego.
      I am profoundly flattered by your reaction. As always..

      Good luck with all your professional endeavors.
      I mean it.
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      • Profile picture of the author MontelloMarketing
        Originally Posted by Angela Kambarian View Post

        PS: If you don't trust me or question my credentials, you
        don't have to read my articles or tipsheets.
        That's all well and good. I'm sure the warriors will be happy to do just that. But see... if they don't first know the teacher lacks real credentials, they would have no way of knowing to ignore that "teacher." They might make the mistake of listening to her and even worse... implementing bad advice.

        I for one am happy you're finally getting clients. That's a good start. I'm not sure when beginners decided it was okay to start teaching but that's a whole other issue. It is nice to know in the last few months though that you've actually started making money for clients.

        If I were cynical I'd take the fact that you've made proofless claims as a sign that you're being dishonest. But I'm not cynical. I believe you. I think it would serve you well to ask your many happy clients to give you testimonials you can put on your site. Imagine how much credibility you'd have with 3 or 4 of those!

        Heck... even 1 happy customer would be nice!

        And many thanks for "caressing" my ego.
        I am profoundly flattered by your reaction. As always..
        This is the part that you might want to work on. These types of schoolyard reactions aren't very professional.

        You know though... sometimes the girl gets her pigtails dipped in the inkwell not because the boy has a crush on her, but because she deserves it. (I apologize to everyone for my turn of the 20th century analogy.)
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      • Profile picture of the author vistad
        Angela, it is always a good idea to provide examples. I am not talking about proof of your being an authority, but if you write something like "Create an engaging headline". It would be much better to give an example of a disengaging one and the other that rivets attention. Examples help new learners and for the experienced they will only browse through articles quickly.
        So till next time. Best, what ever else there is an energy in your writing.
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    • Profile picture of the author Ron Herman
      First of all... Hey Vin!

      Second, there are a few types of landing pages. The tactics that work the best for different products or niches varies an awful lot.

      I also think we need to draw a distinction between "landing pages" and sales copy.

      The psychology of long copy "sales letters" is quite different from that of most traditional landing pages and is the exception to the rule according to Tim Ash, author of 'Landing Page Optimization' and CEO of Site Tuners. Long copy is so complicated that he didn't even want to broach the subject when I met him at Affiliate Summit.

      The 2 best books that I have on landing page optimization are 'Landing Page Optimization' and 'ABT - Always Be Testing'. But the best title of a landing page book speaks volumes in just the title, it is entitled 'Don't Make Me Think'.

      Tim used the example of 1-800-FLOWERS landing page where simply focusing on a clearer call to action caused a conversion lift of something like 73% if my memory serves me well. That's a lot of do-re-mi when you're already doing more than 10 million in online sales with a convoluted landing page.

      I have considerably more books on copywriting, most of which cover the long copy sales letter in depth.

      I recently did a rewrite of a long copy sales letter. Maybe I will do some screen captures and post it so others can see. Most of my work has been for my own stuff, and a lot of it has been space ads and direct mail (snail mail) sales letters.

      The problem with trying to amass a swipe file of good sales letters (or even headlines) for internet marketing is lack of worthwhile material.

      Most internet marketers just won't pony up the fee for good writers like Vin, so there is a plethora of mediocre (or worse) material to draw from.
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      I know has at least one coach or mentor who has guided their
      journey from amateur dabbler to expert-level pro..." ~ Ron Herman

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  • Profile picture of the author techuse
    Well, I as a consumer like, landing pages that are clean, contain less text and far mostly have a good color tone to it
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  • Profile picture of the author copywarrior
    ""4. Create quick and easy ordering.
    Putting a shopping cart or any other ordering device at the top of your sales message can boost response rates. It's important to remember that if you create a long landing page, you should place order devices throughout your copy. Why? Simply because, your readers make their purchasing decisions at different times. ""


    Now why would I place an order device at the top of my sales letter?? For a person who has little or no idea of what's on offer; a shopping cart on the top of the page would be the biggest turnoff....but that's just me...
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      [DELETED]
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  • Profile picture of the author Angela Kambarian
    Okay, guys.
    Decided to stop by for a second with another quick suggestion.

    You may write your landing page, using the PR approach.
    Let me explain.
    When I say the PR approach, I mean the 5Ws of news reporting
    that every public relations pro has to address:

    1. Why
    2. Where
    3. Why
    4. What
    5. Who

    So, you write your landing page as if it's a press release.
    The only difference is, press releases are usually short.
    But your copy doesn't have to be. Provide a lot of detail,
    anticipate all the potential questions and answer them to
    the best of your ability.
    Make sure you mention your product as a solution to the problem
    in the first paragraph.
    Keep the hype low and minimize the sales pitch.

    PS: One of my favorite marketing instructors maintains that
    a good well-converting landing page should provide a mixture
    of useful information (something your prospects cannot live without)
    and a subtle sales pitch.

    I hope my suggestions above will point you in the right direction.
    If any questions arise, feel free to PM me.
    Good luck!!
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    • Profile picture of the author SuzanneR
      I seem to remember learning in journalism classes that there is a specific order:

      1.Who
      2.What
      3.Why
      4.Where
      5.When

      1 and 2, at least, are fixed in place. You need to communicate that immediately. The last 3 are more flexible, probably.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ryan_Heidrich
    What if you have a fixed format for your landing page? Are you familiar with CarbonCopyPro? Any ideas what I can do with the format that I am given here? Those were all some very good suggestions. I know I will re-think my headline and my content for sure.
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  • Profile picture of the author Angela Kambarian
    Originally Posted by efusjonrawenergy View Post

    Thank you for the recommendations. Helpful article.
    You are all very welcome!
    I am glad I could help.
    The 5W structure described above is very helpful. IMO.
    And I think it could come in handy in every
    copywriting project. Simply because it covers all the bases.

    PS: There are many different ways of doing things.
    In marketing nothing is set in stones.
    Always look for new strategies, solutions
    and don't be afraid to experiment.

    On the one hand, there are some well-known, reliable
    and time-tested strategies that generate results. On
    the other hand, you should keep your mind open.
    No one (no one!) knows for sure what is going to happen.
    In the end, the bottomline will tell the story.
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    • Profile picture of the author TimCastleman
      Angie -

      I wonder what would happen if a potential client of yours decided to run a Google search on your name? Would they be as surprised as most people would be here that you're giving away information that you yourself do not use.

      You of all people should know that one of the greatest things in copywriting is proof. Therefore I suggest you get some proof to back up your claims and then come back and educate the market.

      I wish you continued success and hope that one day you will truly make the switch from dreamer to doer.

      Tim
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