Sales Funnel opt-in webpages? I need help!

You could skip the OTO and send them a special offer in a little while. Like a day or two, I suspect you might get better conversions, especially if you are selling an IM product. If you are in a niche market away from IM, an OTO might work.

That's easy. Just make sure you've selected the double opt-in option. That will take care of that end of things.

When you set up the autoresponder, there's a place where it asks you what page you want the person to return to. If you want them to be able to go to a special page to get a download, just have that set up and then put in the URL where it asks you.

The nice thing about both Paypal and aWeber is that as you run into things that you forgot (like the return page), it'll ask you for it and all you have to do is create it.

One of the things I do is create a checklist as I put things together so that the second time thru the process I have something to work with and fewer things slip through the cracks. I'm constantly revising it, but after a few times, you seldom leave anything out.

But the first time thru, you probably will. It's no big deal and doesn't need to stop you in your tracks. Simply create what you need and keep going.

I agree that after they have confirmed their email you should be sending them straight to what you promised - the free download. If you instead send them straight to an offer you are starting off your relationship on the wrong foot.

Offer them something free and then deliver on that promise right away. Just this one step will help build a small bit of trust. From there you can offer them a few more more freebies or useful information and then a little later you can recommend a product. But do it in a way that makes them feel like the only reason you are recommending the product is to help them further.

Good luck!

Nelson,

Should go something like this:

1. They optin to your aweber list on the squeeze page.
2. They are sent to a confirmation page that shows them exactly how and why they need to confirm their email and tell them that their bonus will be delievered the minute they confirm their email.
3. Once they confirm their email have it set so they are sent straight to the page to download the free thing you promised them. Try and use a blog type page for this so people can leave comments and you start to build some social proof.
4. Over the next few days to a week, maybe send them some other free stuff that helps them with their problem. You have already built some trust by delivering on your first promise, now you want to over-deliver and give them more than they were expecting.
5. At some stage recommend your product or an affiliate product but don't try and sell it to them. Just recommend it as something else that will help solve their problems and try to give some proof of how it has already worked for yourself or other people.

Rinse and repeat.

Nelson,

I think it really depends what you are trying to achieve. If you are just wanting to make some quick sales then yes, you could insert a one time offer before they get to download the free stuff you promised.

However if you want to build a list of loyal followers that you can keep making money off for years and years then you want to first work at building the relationship. You shouldn't be thinking of what can I sell them and where can I make my money. You should instead be thinking, what else can I give these people for free that will help them solve the problem they have. Before you start selling them something try to help them get closer to solving their problem.

Once you do that they will place a great deal of trust in you and look up to you as an authority in your field.

Here's a good example. Imagine you were hitting some golf balls at the golf course and every time you hit the ball, it sliced off to the left. All of a sudden some guy walks up to you and says:

"Hey, I noticed you're hitting the ball all wrong. I do golf lessons out here every week, you should give me a call."

You would probably walk off thinking he was a bit arrogant and never even think about calling him.

Now imagine you were slicing the ball and the same guy walked up to you and said:

"Hey, I noticed you're hitting the ball all wrong. Let me have a quick look at your grip. Ok, put this finger here and this finger here. Now try and hit the ball again."

You hit the ball and it goes dead-straight and further than you have ever hit the ball before. This guy has immediately improved your playing. Now imagine if he then said:

"Hey, I do lessons out here every week. I'm sure I could help you with some other stuff too."

Do you think you are likely to give that guy a call? Hell yeah.

See the difference...

OTO's are generally done after they have purchased the item on the sales page.

The idea is that they've already purchased something and now, while they still have their credit card or Paypal information out, they can get a special deal on something related that will go really well with the thing they've just purchased.

The big problem is that you have to have done a spectacular job of selling them in the first place for them to go ahead and give you even more money.

A lot of people (me included) want to see the first product before they fork over any more cash. So a special OTO several days later once they've had a chance to look at the first product can produce very nice results. But only if your product is great and they're still on a high because of it. This is something that a lot of internet marketers don't do, which is a shame.

A lot depends on your preferences, as well. What would YOU like to see. And then do that.

Just don't be like some marketers who have one OTO after the other. It gets old after the 2nd one. If you do an OTO right after the purchase of the product, save the others for down the road as a special for people on your list. If you've given them value and haven't pissed them off by doing nothing but sell, sell, sell, they'll be interested in checking out what else you have.

You're going to have to spend (some) money to make money. While it is certainly possible to start up an income-generating system on the internet at very little cost, you will still have a few tools that you really do need. An autoresponder such as Aweber is one of these tools - the amount of time, stress, and research you would otherwise spend trying to perform the same functions prevents you from using your time more efficiently on other aspects of your business.

Shoestring-style bootstrapping is definitely possible, but you will still need to spend some money on invaluable tools.