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Site sidebar: Signup form vs. a banner taking to squeeze page?

by jamix
13 replies
I'm launching a free report on my website and I'm facing two choices in offering it to my readers:

1) Add an opt-in form (with a proper header) to my blog sidebar. Visitors would be able to sign up right there, but they wouldn't see the full squeeze page pitch obviously.

2) Add a graphic banner to the sidebar, with a "Learn more" button. The banner would take the visitor to the full squeeze page for the report, complete with a signup form.

Which option is better in your opinion?
#banner #form #page #sidebar #signup #site #squeeze #taking
  • Profile picture of the author tob78
    I think the 1st one would be better.
    Curiosity should lead them to SignUp.
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    • Profile picture of the author retsced
      Originally Posted by tob78 View Post

      Curiosity should lead them to SignUp.
      I wouldn't want people signing up to my list because they are curious. Surefire way to build a list of useless subs.

      To OP: Use your head. Try both.
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  • Profile picture of the author yezgani
    Originally Posted by jamix View Post

    I'm launching a free report on my website and I'm facing two choices in offering it to my readers:

    1) Add an opt-in form (with a proper header) to my blog sidebar. Visitors would be able to sign up right there, but they wouldn't see the full squeeze page pitch obviously.

    2) Add a graphic banner to the sidebar, with a "Learn more" button. The banner would take the visitor to the full squeeze page for the report, complete with a signup form.

    Which option is better in your opinion?
    The first one is the best and in my opinion will convert more especially if the potential subscriber likes your blog.
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    • Profile picture of the author Lady D
      The first one - in every "click" you lose some potential subscribers.
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  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    Everyone above is just guessing.

    Set up both and see which one brings you more subscribers.

    It's the only way to do it.
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  • Profile picture of the author JRJWrites
    Originally Posted by jamix View Post

    I'm launching a free report on my website and I'm facing two choices in offering it to my readers:

    1) Add an opt-in form (with a proper header) to my blog sidebar. Visitors would be able to sign up right there, but they wouldn't see the full squeeze page pitch obviously.

    2) Add a graphic banner to the sidebar, with a "Learn more" button. The banner would take the visitor to the full squeeze page for the report, complete with a signup form.

    Which option is better in your opinion?
    Number one. I normally ignore banner ads on the sidebar. An e-mail signup form is different.

    Of course, you could also add something near the bottom of the widget saying "Want a free report? Click here!", redirecting them to the full pitch.

    Obviously not something as terrible as that , but you get the point.
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  • Profile picture of the author jamix
    Thanks everyone - so what I'll do is setup both approaches and A/B test them.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alex Mensah
    Originally Posted by jamix View Post

    I'm launching a free report on my website and I'm facing two choices in offering it to my readers:

    1) Add an opt-in form (with a proper header) to my blog sidebar. Visitors would be able to sign up right there, but they wouldn't see the full squeeze page pitch obviously.

    2) Add a graphic banner to the sidebar, with a "Learn more" button. The banner would take the visitor to the full squeeze page for the report, complete with a signup form.

    Which option is better in your opinion?
    Best practice is always to reduce the amount of steps that your customer has to take so the first option would be better.
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  • Profile picture of the author KevinW
    The benefit of the banner is you can make it a lot more visually appealing then the sidebar optin. You can also use the squeeze page to highlight the offer with images, bullet points, video, etc. I would start with #2 and then test vs #1.

    I have had success with this method (as well as using a slideup that takes them to a squeeze page).
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  • Profile picture of the author Moneymaker2012
    Yes I also think it's better to try both ways, share the stats with us so we can see what worked best.
    Good Luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author jasondinner
    Like others have already suggested, TEST.

    Actual data trumps opinions.
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  • Profile picture of the author petkanov
    I have tried that. Basically what I did was I kept the opt in box in the sidebar, but in every post in the footer I had a text with a link saying: Click here to get your free report on....
    The link led to a squeeze page. The optin rate from the side bar was 2 percent, and the optin rate from the squeeze page was over 60%.
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  • Profile picture of the author yamilsenior
    It deppends on what you're doing and what you're talking about, do you want people to subscribe to a newsletter or do you want them to buy a product or service?

    Because the sidebar form would be great for a newsletter but a capture page will be much more effective to sell a product or service.

    Hope this helped
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