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Best position for opt in box on a blog

by Rylynn
16 replies
Hey Warriors,

I know this depends a lot on testing and various niches, but I would like to hear some opinions on where would be the best position for an opt in box in a wordpress blog. I'm not talking about lightbox or pop ups. I'm talking about the position of the opt in form on the blog.

I know the two most common positions are the right side bar, or right below the navigational bar.

I would love to hear some of your opinions based on your testing and experiences.
#blog #box #opt #position
  • Profile picture of the author Leanne King
    I like right side bar and header banner area, that seems to work well for me on my sites and the sites that I'm drawn to as a visitor. The only way, of course, is to do some split tests and see what resonates with your niche
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Faber
    Many people like the right side, and I use that on some of mine, too. However a heat map shows that people actually look at the upper left side the most. To get noticed, more often, I'd put it there. That being said, many warriors (myself included) are using things like popup domination to pop up a sign up window after a visitor has been on your site for a certain amount of time. I did notice a roughly 85% improvement in my newsletter sign up rate by using that technique. Hope that helps.
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    • Profile picture of the author darrenmonroe
      Originally Posted by Steve Faber View Post

      Many people like the right side, and I use that on some of mine, too. However a heat map shows that people actually look at the upper left side the most. To get noticed, more often, I'd put it there. That being said, many warriors (myself included) are using things like popup domination to pop up a sign up window after a visitor has been on your site for a certain amount of time. I did notice a roughly 85% improvement in my newsletter sign up rate by using that technique. Hope that helps.

      Steve is on point. The western world reads from left to right. In theater thats why they say "enter stage left" .
      The top left is the rich neighborhood....bottom right is the ghetto LOL

      OH AND PS!!! The footer posts in your blog. try the free footper post plug
      Add Post Footer Plugin for Wordpress - freetimefoto.com
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    • Profile picture of the author Simon Ashari
      Originally Posted by Steve Faber View Post

      Many people like the right side, and I use that on some of mine, too. However a heat map shows that people actually look at the upper left side the most. To get noticed, more often, I'd put it there. That being said, many warriors (myself included) are using things like popup domination to pop up a sign up window after a visitor has been on your site for a certain amount of time. I did notice a roughly 85% improvement in my newsletter sign up rate by using that technique. Hope that helps.

      I have to say, as an internet user, I look to the top right for an opt in box (out of habit). However if your testing is relevant to many niches it would be worth it to find out if we can get opt in boxes on the top left (for wordpress themes).
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  • Profile picture of the author The Bad Blogger
    Actually it doesn't matter whether is below navigation or sidebar, the most important thing is what are the stuff you want people to subscribe for....

    You can have the best position for opt-in form but if the stuff you are giving away is not what the audience want then... it will be hard to get people to opt-in...

    Another case if your stuff is damn good, the next thing is you need is a well structured design opt-in that's able to attract human eye to look at it....

    There are so many blogs out there with great give away but because of their design of the ecover and also the way they present is bad, they hardly get people to opt-in...

    So the best is having good give away with good opt-in design box to increase conversion....

    I hope it helps...
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  • Profile picture of the author Rylynn
    Thanks for all the replies guys. I think for now I will leave it on the right side bar since my site is a blog. Most blogs seem to have their opt in on the right side for some reason. Maybe it's because the content is the focus of the site.

    I will do some split testing with the opt in on the box to see which one works better.
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    • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
      Originally Posted by Rylynn View Post

      Thanks for all the replies guys. I think for now I will leave it on the right side bar since my site is a blog. Most blogs seem to have their opt in on the right side for some reason. Maybe it's because the content is the focus of the site.

      I will do some split testing with the opt in on the box to see which one works better.
      It is true that most people have their opt-in boxes on the right side, including me, but this doesn't mean that this is the best placement.

      If you analyze heatmaps of various webpages, you will notice that the typical mouse position hotspots are in the shape of an 'F'. This would tell us that the most optimal place to put your opt-in box would be on the top left side of your site.
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      • Profile picture of the author James Clark
        Well, I guess that's why they call it "Internet Math" rather than "Internet Marketing" The math won't miss lead you.
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        • Profile picture of the author taffie
          Haven't gotten around testing that yet, but just go with a few of my mentors recommend. I trust them, it saves me time for now than trying to reinvent the wheel, particcularly at a time I should be focusing on just traffic.
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      • Profile picture of the author Rylynn
        Originally Posted by E. Brian Rose View Post

        It is true that most people have their opt-in boxes on the right side, including me, but this doesn't mean that this is the best placement.

        If you analyze heatmaps of various webpages, you will notice that the typical mouse position hotspots are in the shape of an 'F'. This would tell us that the most optimal place to put your opt-in box would be on the top left side of your site.
        Thanks really interesting. I wonder if anyone has tested this and got good results.
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  • Profile picture of the author DSB
    If you can fit an opt-in accross the top of your blog withour pushing down your core content too much that can get good conversion rates.

    Personally I use top of the right hand nav bar combined with Pop Up Domination.
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    • Profile picture of the author Rylynn
      Originally Posted by DSB View Post

      If you can fit an opt-in accross the top of your blog withour pushing down your core content too much that can get good conversion rates.

      Personally I use top of the right hand nav bar combined with Pop Up Domination.
      Across the board definitely makes sense because that way the opt in will probably be the first thing visitors see.

      I wonder why most bloggers stick to the right side bar.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Rylynn View Post

        Across the board definitely makes sense because that way the opt in will probably be the first thing visitors see.
        That can also very significantly reduce the returning traffic. Many people will opt in at their second or third visit to a site, so reducing "returning traffic" is typically a big mistake.

        Originally Posted by Rylynn View Post

        I wonder why most bloggers stick to the right side bar.
        I know it's an old-fashioned concept, but some of us do that after testing for ourselves.
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        • Profile picture of the author Rylynn
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          That can also very significantly reduce the returning traffic. Many people will opt in at their second or third visit to a site, so reducing "returning traffic" is typically a big mistake.



          I know it's an old-fashioned concept, but some of us do that after testing for ourselves.
          Thanks for the good points Alexa
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike McAleer
    this would usually be top right sidebar
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  • Profile picture of the author Murlu
    Two things:

    A. Keep it above the fold
    B. Offer something relevant and with value

    People read in F and Z patterns on the web; they're going to see your opt-in as long as you leave it above the fold but overall the left will be the spot they're most likely to notice it immediately.

    Things like Popup Domination has worked well for me to capture people right away while planting opt-in's on the right sidebar, end of the blog and creating squeeze pages for targeted traffic have done wonders.

    Remember though, give them something they want and they'll opt-in.
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