Why the "Squeeze" Page is a Sales Limiting and Profit Killing Strategy

27 replies
http://www.michaeltemple.com/Docs/Squeeze.pdf

He makes some good points I think. I've been debating the Squeeze Page lately and thinking of possibly using a Sales Page with an optional opt in for getting non purchasers onto my list.

Roping everyone through a SP and double confirmation seems like a lot of effort for the potential buyer.

I personally like the idea of relying on good copy and possibly a freebie to get addresses or hopefully a sale and an email.

Any opinions on the contents of this link or the value of a squeeze page altogether?
#“squeeze” #killing #limiting #page #profit #sales #strategy
  • Profile picture of the author J. Barry Mandel
    If you can collect a list then the follow up power of the autoresponder could be the very best thing that you can do.

    Psychologically it's said that it takes 7 times for someone to see something to be convinced.

    Without those 6 emails to follow up on the visit and plug away at your potential customers you are probably loosing more sales then *maybe* you are getting only from your good copy.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jonathan Mizel
    Reading the report, I don't think he even knows what a squeeze page is...

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  • Profile picture of the author Marian Berghes
    Im gonna type this like a list of ideas so ppl can understand better:

    1. I think that he wrote that when he was mad or something

    2. Hes mostly talking about pop-up squeeze pages...not actual website squeeze pages if you know what I mean

    3. Hes somewhat racist or something..(The Nigeria Part)

    4. Putting a opt-in form and a order button on a sales page means that your customer has to choose between 2 options...instead of 1 witch should be -buying-

    5. He wants what most marketers rarely have, a perfect list, a list that you can email once and all of them buy...witch from my knwoledge does not exist

    6. He thinks that if a person that opt-ins like that doesn't trust you and as a result will not buy from you...then whats the point of the whole autoresponder? Wasn't it designed to be a means of communication between you and your list? To build trust with them?

    7. He says that following up with leads can be expensive and time consuming, erm what? Build 10 emails in a couple of days...set them in and you have 10 emails that go out before you have to write another one. Writing a broadcast takes you what? 30 mins? 1 hour maybe? Is that time consuming?

    Thats all for now. Squeeze pages are not bad if you know how to use them...and that guy in my opinion CLEARLY doesn't know how to use one effectively.
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  • Profile picture of the author Christian Fox
    I hear what you are saying and I am aware about the average sale taking place after 5 contacts.

    I am wondering what percentage of customers I'd loose having them click out of a squeeze page and never getting to see all of my psychological sales magic in my sales copy.

    His argument of 'squeezed' clients quality vs legitimate opt in is hard to ignore IMO. I'm not saying I have made up my mind by any means.

    His point about cost is just pointless, auto responders work for free.

    I know it's my job to ensure my squeeze page incites sufficient interest to ensure they continue on with the process to the sales page.

    I think I may be thinking too much, but I can't help wondering about it.

    I am sure someone must have some real data from a split test.....
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  • Profile picture of the author Jonathan Mizel
    Dude, just use "soft squeeze," and add a link below the form that says "Take me to the Web page now" or "I Prefer To Give My Address Later."

    And for God's sake, read the page I linked to, written in 2003. It's still extremely applicable.

    Jonathan

    PS: I have been living mainly on my list income for the past 5 years, all generated with Squeeze pages.
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    • Profile picture of the author Christian Fox
      Originally Posted by Jonathan Mizel View Post

      Dude, just use "soft squeeze," and add a link below the form that says "Take me to the Web page now" or "I Prefer To Give My Address Later."

      And for God's sake, read the page I linked to, written in 2003. It's still extremely applicable.

      Jonathan

      PS: I have been living mainly on my list income for the past 5 years, all generated with Squeeze pages.
      Got it thanks, that's why I posted this so someone like you would throw some good info at me. Getting started in this can be a serious case of information overload. Couple that with a slight (some would argue slight) case of OCD and I can just about think myself to death.

      Sure helps with determination though, I have been devouring this stuff for about 6 months and am excited to get going.
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    • Profile picture of the author Eric Stanley
      Originally Posted by Jonathan Mizel View Post

      Dude, just use "soft squeeze," and add a link below the form that says "Take me to the Web page now" or "I Prefer To Give My Address Later."

      And for God's sake, read the page I linked to, written in 2003. It's still extremely applicable.

      Jonathan

      PS: I have been living mainly on my list income for the past 5 years, all generated with Squeeze pages.

      +1 . I use a soft squeeze on my site (example below).
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  • Profile picture of the author imaddict
    Look, the report makes so valid points BUT... the issue is not so black and white... especially on the internet where traffic sources vary dramatically. You have to focus on your visitor's frame of mind before they hit your landing page - whether it's a salesletter or a squeeze page. With this in mind, different sources of traffic will react much different to various pages.

    For example, I have an offer that does very well PPC (Search) -> Salesletter but terrible with a squeeze page.

    The same offer craps out on the content network (PPC contextual ads) but does fantastic with a squeeze page.

    The same offer with banner ad traffic only converts well by using a presell website before taking them to a salesletter.

    In the end, don't limit your options to the opinions of others. You have to test every possible combination to find what suits YOUR business. Everything else is just speculation. What works for me, or others, might do terrible for you and vice versa.
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  • Profile picture of the author mmurtha
    Originally Posted by bigmark1972 View Post

    http://www.michaeltemple.com/Docs/Squeeze.pdf

    He makes some good points I think. I've been debating the Squeeze Page lately and thinking of possibly using a Sales Page with an optional opt in for getting non purchasers onto my list.

    Roping everyone through a SP and double confirmation seems like a lot of effort for the potential buyer.

    I personally like the idea of relying on good copy and possibly a freebie to get addresses or hopefully a sale and an email.

    Any opinions on the contents of this link or the value of a squeeze page altogether?

    Hey Mark,

    I think many marketers that use squeeze pages look at it much like a sacrifical fly ball. When they pop up a sacfical fly ball in Baseball, it is usually to bring in home run in the end.

    Squeez pages kind of work like that. Marketers may lose immediate income, but will bring in much more later when they start using the list they got from that sacrifice.

    It's not a bad swap.


    Mary
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    • All I can say is....

      I heart squeeze pages
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    • Profile picture of the author Christian Fox
      Originally Posted by mmurtha View Post

      Hey Mark,

      I think many marketers that use squeeze pages look at it much like a sacrifical fly ball. When they pop up a sacfical fly ball in Baseball, it is usually to bring in home run in the end.

      Squeez pages kind of work like that. Marketers may lose immediate income, but will bring in much more later when they start using the list they got from that sacrifice.

      It's not a bad swap.


      Mary
      VERY good analogy!
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  • Profile picture of the author Deric Yin
    I've tested sending traffic to a squeeze page which is then redirected to the sales letter vs sending (the same) traffic to the sales letter - squeeze pages performed better at sales conversions.

    I was surprised initially by this - but reckoned that the squeeze page made the visitor take "baby steps" in building a relationship with me - first by surrendering email address, and then by making a purchase.

    Worth testing for your business. Try it.
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  • Profile picture of the author theverysmartguy
    The guy who wrote that ebook also mentioned quality over quantity. Which is true, if you target your webpage properly you could have a small list, that is high in quality. One way that I found that works wonders is not giving away a free ebook for a sign up, but call the list a wholesale list, or a discount list, put in a third field, and ask them what they want. Such as, a brand pertaining to the niche, or an item in the niche, etc. And you make sort of a table, and see which brand/item was suggested, and take the majority, find someone who sells that item, or brand, and make a deal with them, or find an affiliate program that is selling that item(if it is a physical item, you may make more if you find brick and mortar business, unless of course the program pays out quite well). For the ones without an affiliate program, offer to sell the product, at a reduced price, and take a percentage. Then write the email put it into the autoresponder, and see what happens.

    Since you targeted people who were already interested in a certain product, they are most likely to buy from you when they see the offer. If you give them a good product, there is no reason why they wouldnt buy from you the next time you send out a deal to them. Its an excellent money maker.
    (BTW I will not take credit for this idea, because it was not mine. I got this idea from Chris Rempel.)

    A list generated like this, does not have to be a squeeze page, but it may work better if you are not selling something on the webpage as it is, but having the page for information on that niche, and using the list to sell the products.

    Ciao for now,

    Jeff
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  • Profile picture of the author angela99
    Test, test, test. :-)

    I occasionally use squeeze pages, not always however. In some niches I just don't want email addresses; I've already got too many lists. About a year ago I went through aweber and nuked half my lists so I could focus on the successes.

    If you don't have a list, then use squeeze pages -- you need at least one good list.
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    • Profile picture of the author Christian Fox
      Originally Posted by angela99 View Post

      Test, test, test. :-)

      I occasionally use squeeze pages, not always however. In some niches I just don't want email addresses; I've already got too many lists. About a year ago I went through aweber and nuked half my lists so I could focus on the successes.

      If you don't have a list, then use squeeze pages -- you need at least one good list.
      Too many lists huh, I'm just getting started, I'll take a few off of your hands...

      That must be akin to having too much money?
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  • Profile picture of the author budfox
    Popup and popover squeeze pages are a real turnoff unless they are manually activated by a link that the user chooses to activate. My squeeze pages are all manually triggered. For example "get 7 free tips here" and then a popup appears with the opt-in form. Either that or they are in-line.

    Some sales pages are nothing but a squeeze page and that's cool too, as long as they look good and are compelling.

    But the automatic popup squeeze page that gets in the way of the web page is annoying and, in my opinion, dead. I will leave any site that uses it just on matter of principle and I know I am not alone.
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    • Profile picture of the author theverysmartguy
      Originally Posted by budfox View Post

      Popup and popover squeeze pages are a real turnoff unless they are manually activated by a link that the user chooses to activate. My squeeze pages are all manually triggered. For example "get 7 free tips here" and then a popup appears with the opt-in form. Either that or they are in-line.

      Some sales pages are nothing but a squeeze page and that's cool too, as long as they look good and are compelling.

      But the automatic popup squeeze page that gets in the way of the web page is annoying and, in my opinion, dead. I will leave any site that uses it just on matter of principle and I know I am not alone.
      Manual pop-up optins are a great way of creating a high quality, and high targeted list. They wanted the info, it was not pushed into their faces, and they did not seem forced to sign up. This would create a smaller list of course (which is potentially better than a larger list), but could very well out perform some of the larger ones.
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    • Profile picture of the author John Taylor
      Originally Posted by budfox View Post

      But the automatic popup squeeze page that gets in the way of the web page is annoying and, in my opinion, dead. I will leave any site that uses it just on matter of principle and I know I am not alone.

      The only way you can be sure of the best configuration
      for your specific combination of offer, process and traffic
      is to test it.

      Your opinion is, by nature, subjective.

      John
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  • Profile picture of the author Louis Raven
    People this is the Internet and you don't only have one choice. You have to get both (sale/email address) no matter what it takes.

    They buy your product and immediately hit them with an opt-in form in which is a no brainer for them to take up maybe high-priority update?. Or, you squeeze them and the very next thing they see after confirmation is your iron clad sales pitch.

    No matter what route you choose, from now on your main objective is to get both (sale/ email address) from them.

    I know with a sales page, you only have one shot at converting. Regardless of sales copy I know with them on my list they'll see my pitch every other day.

    Louis
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  • Profile picture of the author theverysmartguy
    Louis pretty much nailed it.

    Like they say, with most people they need to see something around 7 times before they buy, (BTW, this includes the times they have seen it from other people, you just need to be the one they buy from).
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    • Profile picture of the author Deric Yin
      Originally Posted by theverysmartguy View Post

      Louis pretty much nailed it.

      Like they say, with most people they need to see something around 7 times before they buy, (BTW, this includes the times they have seen it from other people, you just need to be the one they buy from).
      This was what I believed, until I did my own testing and found that my 'upfront' traffic converted very well - and if I were to get 10 buyers from 100 visitors eventually, then 5 of those bought immediately.
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      • Profile picture of the author David Neale
        As others have already stated, his whole argument is moot as what he is describing is not a squeeze page in my view.

        When my job is to get clients leads then a squeeze page is the best tool for the job. Something similar to this;

        https://www2.gotomeeting.com/t/afg2m...17&PID=1763239

        Sure it's great to create a high quality site or Blog but that's a totally different animal than a lead generating page/site.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Lockwood
    Sounds like it was written by someone who had done no testing, just spouting theory... but then it did say he was a college professor, right?

    He obviously doesn't know the difference between a squeeze page and a hover or slide-in ad, which means he has no credibility on the topic.

    Anyone who tells you squeeze pages are always the best way to go or are always not is just doing a disservice.
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  • Profile picture of the author Shon Chris
    It comes down to one thing. Testing. I believe that it depends on the niche you're in and the particular traffic source as to whether or not the 'NameSqueeze Model' is best. You have to test & track for yourself.
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  • Profile picture of the author nicholasb
    I have been testing some different methods, and so far my opt in rate on my blog is the highest converting opt in.
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  • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
    If you're prospecting at a trade show, you collect business cards. If you're prospecting at a shopping mall, you collect names and phone numbers (and emails). If you're marketing on the internet, you collect email addresses.

    Why? Because it's harder to close business on the first point of contact and you've already "paid" for that pair of eyeballs through whatever means you use to drive traffic -- ppc, articles, banners, whatever.

    In the phone sales business, the analogy for trying to sell to cold traffic is what's called a "front call close". Your job as the salesperson is to initiate contact with the prospect, qualify them, motivate them, and close them -- on the first call.

    That type of selling is much more difficult than having a "lead caller" gather qualified leads that the salesperson then follows up on using a less intense marketing process.

    A well-done squeeze page with a good offer in most markets is NOT going to annoy a reasonable and well-targeted visitor. That's a myth...

    It may annoy a poorly qualified and/or poorly targeted visitor, but not somebody who is genuinely interested in and/or needs what you offer.

    Do you really want to be focusing your attention and shifting your marketing strategies so as not to annoy people who are so uptight that they flee your website at the mere appearance of an opt-in box? Get 'em OUTTA there... Buh bye

    Most markets are wired very differently than IM. The kind of stuff people bitch so frequently about "not working" in the Make Money Online space DOES actually work -- very well -- outside of the echo chamber of IM...

    Also, Jonathan Mizel just gave out a very simple solution to the Squeeze-Squeamish...

    Just add a "No, thanks... Just take me to the website" link. Easy...

    It seems like the writer's real beef is about DHTML and script-driven opt-in forms which convert like crazy, hence everyone uses them... DUH.

    Best,

    Brian
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  • Profile picture of the author briankoz
    Psychologically it's said that it takes 7 times for someone to see something to be convinced.
    I'm curious how many people have actually tested this instead of just hearing it from some other guy who heard it from some other guy.

    That's such a broad statement to make, and even if that holds true in some cases, I'd be willing to bet (based on some logic and also on a lot of testing) that it's definitely not true in many cases.

    Can a squeeze page lose sales? Certainly. Can it gain sales? Certainly.

    It's a give and take both times. I'm not always a huge fan of squeeze pages (depending in the niche and how it's used), as sometimes I feel that they lose a lot of sales. People are impatient and want things NOW -- if you make them go through hoops, you'll lose buyers.

    And yes, you could make the argument that you can get more opt-ins to follow up with later, but if you make more sales upfront, you'll get more BUYERS on your list to follow up on later as well (which is worth more -- a buyer or a random opt-in?).

    One could also try to compromise and have an opt-in on a sales page. That could work out nicely, or it could be the worst mistake you'd make. This also depends largely on the niche, but if you're selling something, an opt-in can distract from that. Some will also sign up thinking that they might get a deal e-mailed to them later and forget about it (this is especially true in some niches).

    Again, it all comes down to testing and there is no one right answer.

    My own thoughts are this:

    1. Give people what they want as quickly as possible (this doesn't mean that you can't use a squeeze page or opt-in ever -- I certainly use those in some cases).

    2. Don't make them go through any unnecessary hoops.

    3. In most cases, if they do sign up to an autoresponder, do a big promo on the very first message. Don't wait for the 7th one to "warm them up" or whatever. Again, I'm not saying this is always the case, but in most niches I've been in, you want to hit them on the first e-mail strong. It kind of goes against what some others say, but that's just what I find.

    4. TEST! Even though it's not always easy to test the lifetime value of a lost buyer compared to an opt-in, you should still at least try some tests and see what appears to be getting you the best of both worlds.

    Take care,

    Brian
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