Now I have to opt in to see a sales page ?

12 replies
Has anyone else gotten this? Maybe I am behind the curve on this, but I'll be damned if I am going to opt in to see your sales page. I get emails now with a link and I click it then they want my name and email again to be able to go to their sales page. Excuse me. You already have my name and email address. Moron.

This is like going to the store and they want a fee to enter to buy something. I don't get it, but then again that wouldn't be the first time I didn't get something. I figure they are trying to see who is really interested, but I think it is probably costing them sales.

Anyone else have a different outlook on this?

Jim
#opt #page #sales
  • Profile picture of the author Allen Graves
    LOL - I'm sure there's some sort of theory or study behind this...

    ...but I ain't buyin' it! I agree with you.

    Allen
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    Every day I check the obituaries. If I don't see my name there, then I know it's going to be a good day!
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  • Profile picture of the author jamawebinc
    I started a thread on a topic very similar to this.

    I even question the use of a squeeze page before seeing the sale letter instead of having the opt in form in a pop in or right inline on the sales page itself.

    I'd like someone to give me actual numbers that can prove that they make more sales using this method, or the one you talked about...just having to opt-in for the privledge of reading a salesletter.

    Who knows...if someone can show me the numbers and prove they are right, I'd be a believer
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      I'm not sure if this is the same thing, but I have a report that I give away.
      It does require that a person ops in to get it.

      After they opt in to get the report, I send them to a sales page with a
      related product to the report that I am hoping they will, if not then and there,
      eventually purchase AFTER they've read the report.

      Now, I could have put the opt in on the sales page itself, but then I might
      lose opt ins that way because some people might just see the sales page,
      immediately decide that they're not interested and I lose them for good.
      That is why I do it the way I do.

      Now, if you're talking about having to opt in JUST to see a sales page,
      meaning you get no report, no free info of any kind, just the privilege of
      seeing the page, that to me is a joke. At least give me something for
      my name and email.

      So if that's the case here (and I think I know what sales page you're
      talking about) then I agree with you.

      But if you're at least getting some kind of information, whether you
      personally find it helpful or not, then that's just good business practice as
      far as building a list and I find nothing wrong with that.
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      • Profile picture of the author jimh1626
        Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

        I'm not sure if this is the same thing, but I have a report that I give away.
        It does require that a person ops in to get it.

        After they opt in to get the report, I send them to a sales page with a
        related product to the report that I am hoping they will, if not then and there,
        eventually purchase AFTER they've read the report.

        Now, I could have put the opt in on the sales page itself, but then I might
        lose opt ins that way because some people might just see the sales page,
        immediately decide that they're not interested and I lose them for good.
        That is why I do it the way I do.

        Now, if you're talking about having to opt in JUST to see a sales page,
        meaning you get no report, no free info of any kind, just the privilege of
        seeing the page, that to me is a joke. At least give me something for
        my name and email.

        So if that's the case here (and I think I know what sales page you're
        talking about) then I agree with you.

        But if you're at least getting some kind of information, whether you
        personally find it helpful or not, then that's just good business practice as
        far as building a list and I find nothing wrong with that.
        Opting in to get something is fine. That is smart business and I totally agree and don't mind that at all. If I don't like the report or it's not for me I can just opt right out.
        This guy wanted my name and email that he already has to see his sales page about some Twitter templates or something. This is beyond stupid to me. And I ain't the brightest bulb in the lamp.

        Jim
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        • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
          Originally Posted by jimh1626 View Post

          Opting in to get something is fine. That is smart business and I totally agree and don't mind that at all. If I don't like the report or it's not for me I can just opt right out.
          This guy wanted my name and email that he already has to see his sales page about some Twitter templates or something. This is beyond stupid to me. And I ain't the brightest bulb in the lamp.

          Jim

          In that case, I agree with you and I would go tell him (by my refusing to
          opt in) to go take a hike.

          Hopefully, enough people will do that and he'll see that this strategy sucks.

          However, here is what my gut tells me.

          People by nature are VERY curious. Depending on how good the pre-sell
          is (I haven't seen the email or any other promotional materials to get
          people to the page itself) prospects may not be able to help opt in just
          out of curiosity, again, especially if the pre-sell is so compelling.

          Personally, I would never use the tactic for fear of simply pissing people
          off.

          But that's just me.
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          • Profile picture of the author Jeff Henshaw
            Has anyone else gotten this? Maybe I am behind the curve on this, but I'll be damned if I am going to opt in to see your sales page. I get emails now with a link and I click it then they want my name and email again to be able to go to their sales page. Excuse me. You already have my name and email address. Moron.
            This ticks me off too.

            I think that it's probably a friend, JV Partner, or some other associated link that they want you to sign up to - probably for some sort of kick back.

            Whether it's good business or not though, I don't know, as I have never tried the method. One must assume that it works in certain situations, or it would not be in use.

            I'll qualify the last paragraph - unless only mindless morons are using it prior to testing!

            Just my thoughts,

            Jeff.
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            • Profile picture of the author Kyle Tully
              We've hammed this topic before...

              And there are basically two reasons for doing this.

              1. It's not their squeeze page you're being sent to. i.e. It's an affiliate promo.

              2. They're building a targeted sub-list that will get more regular promos for topics they are particularly interested in.

              i.e. You're on their general "Internet marketing" list. They want to segment that list and create smaller targeted lists of people interested in Twitter, copywriting etc.

              There are more elegant ways of doing it these days -- such as "one click subscribe" features in Infusionsoft and Getresponse -- but those are the reasons why... and they are generally very profitable reasons
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        • Profile picture of the author ExRat
          Hi Jim,

          This is beyond stupid to me
          I think it is probably costing them sales
          I don't use this myself (as such), but I totally understand why they might do it.

          Imagine if you wanted to build a list of a highly targetted demographic - that was your goal and you were totally clear and focused on it.

          Imagine if that demographic was of a particular kind of newbie, one who would jump through hoops purely to see your offer (think about that part carefully, because the result is a very powerful and profitable list...but for reasons that may not be particularly um, honourable, depending on your 'flavour').

          Now imagine if you had zero interest in getting anyone else on that list (consider the reasons why this might be - re-read the thread for ideas) and in fact, this was THE most important part of the business plan.

          It's a highly targetted list for a certain type of marketing that is only hindered by having the wrong type of prospects on the list (they talk elsewhere about 'stuff').

          Thinking 'it might be costing them sales' is approaching it from totally the wrong viewpoint. There is often this assumption made here that people will be targetting as broad a market as possible. Why? There are downsides to this approach (that many aren't seeing), and there are upsides to targetting your prospects, especially in a market with such an abundance, but also with such a scope for (how do I put it nicely?) targetting the (ahem) uninformed.

          Targetting a broader market might cost them more sales in the long run, in which case such 'screening' processes would be extremely wise.

          Making sense? Or do I need to elaborate more?
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          Roger Davis

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          • Profile picture of the author jimh1626
            Originally Posted by ExRat View Post

            Hi Jim,

            I don't use this myself, but I totally understand why they might do it.

            Imagine if you wanted to build a list of a highly targetted demographic - that was your goal and you were totally clear and focused on it.

            Imagine if that demographic was of a particular kind of newbie, one who would jump through hoops purely to see your offer (think about that part carefully, because the result is a very powerful and profitable list for reasons I won't elaborate on).

            Now imagine if you had zero interest in getting anyone else on that list (consider the reasons why this might be - re-read the thread for ideas) and in fact, this was THE most important part of the business plan.

            It's a highly targetted list for a certain type of marketing that is only hindered by having the wrong type of prospects on the list (they talk elsewhere about 'stuff').

            Making sense? Or do I need to spell it out more?
            Makes sense I guess if that is what he is after.
            Beyond my intelligence to come up with that strategy though.
            God bless em.

            Jim
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  • Profile picture of the author jimh1626
    Very weird. I can't believe it really makes them more sales. You will never convince me of it. I mean this one guy has my email already, he sent me an email and I clicked on his link because I was mildly interested and then he wants me to optin again. After I got through scratching my head and rubbing my eyes, I backed right out.
    It is like Wal Mart having the old geezer greeters collecting a $5 cover charge to enter their store.
    I bet this phase won't last long.

    Jim
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  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Soulsby
    Chances are they don't have your email, Sure the "vendor" might send you to that page but that's where all their aff's send traffic as well.

    If its a decent launch then you will be mailed by an affiliate of the product.

    Saying that, I completely agree with you, what I do is just google the site "site:www.newproduct.com" and find the sales page, if they dont want google to index their sales page they must be crazy.

    Its usually very easy to find the sales page, if not putting a fake email will usually get you to the sales page straight away.

    Daniel
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  • Profile picture of the author jimh1626
    Hummm a CPA maybe?
    That would make sense. And smart I guess.
    Maybe we are on to something here.

    Jim
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  • Profile picture of the author armadillo
    I recently purchased a wso here and when I went to get it, I was assailed by 2 opt in pages, an OTO page, 2 popunders and a ....wait, wait, I'll decrease my price if you buy right NOW page. I could NOT get loose. Every time I tried to close a window, it would refuse to close and another offer would be presented.
    Dude, I cancelled my purchase and put you on my "never buy" list.
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    • Profile picture of the author jimh1626
      Originally Posted by armadillo View Post

      I recently purchased a wso here and when I went to get it, I was assailed by 2 opt in pages, an OTO page, 2 popunders and a ....wait, wait, I'll decrease my price if you buy right NOW page. I could NOT get loose. Every time I tried to close a window, it would refuse to close and another offer would be presented.
      Dude, I cancelled my purchase and put you on my "never buy" list.
      I hate all that crap too. But I never buy right of the bat now. I click out and see if I can get a discount. If your willing to sell it to me for the reduced price, then just do it.
      I've decided against buying because I felt like I would have been had if I bought the first time I visited the page.

      Jim
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