Lead generation is an important part of internet marketing. Using a well designed squeeze page can dramatically improve the number of leads you are able to generate. Got a new product you want to let the world know about? Why not send an enticing email to your ever growing list of email subscribers? There is no faster, cheaper, or more effective form of immediate advertising that I know of.
I should start at the beginning. A "squeeze" page is a landing page that requests the readers name and email address before they are able to continue browsing the website they are visiting. Some squeeze pages will allow the user to continue without entering their information. Technically, those aren't exactly true squeeze pages but who's counting.
Unless you have amazingly high conversion rates on your sales letters, chances are that your visitor will not buy from your website the first time they visit it. How can you ensure that the people who leave your website will return? That's where your squeeze page comes into play.
Once they have confirmed their email address they are opted into your mailing list. You now have a direct avenue to reach them in the future. Send an email that is highly targeted to your audience and get them to visit your website again. This time, they just might buy from you!
While it's not an exact science, there are a lot of elements that will make up an excellent squeeze page. Make the page design clean and bright. Light background with darker fonts are great. Use your own judgement but remember that white backgrounds traditionally convert better.
The following is a list of features your squeeze page should offer:
Powerful Headline - This may be the most important factor in your squeeze page. You need to ensure you have their attention from the very first line they read. Check out my post on Hypnotic Writing for some ideas.
Bullet Points - What does the reader gain by giving you their email address? Your bullet point listing should be short and to the point. Most importantly, it should be enticing. Keep the listing to the top 3-5 benefits your website will offer.
Sense of Urgency - This is a general rule of marketing. Create a sense of urgency so the reader feels as if they must continue or they will be missing out on something very special.
Opt-In Form - You obviously need a form to capture their information.
The last thing is to make sure you use action words on your forms "submit" button. If you have a form with just "Submit" or "Subscribe" on it's submission button, it is not attractive to the reader. Use action words to encourage them to submit their information. For example: "Access my FREE guide NOW!" would probably do a lot better than just "Subscribe Now".
My feeling is that squeeze pages should be short, sweet and to the point. Once the user has submitted and confirmed their information, be sure to follow up immediately with an auto-responder. This is a feature that most mailing list management providers offer. I personally use AWeber for all my list management.
That's the basics for a well converting squeeze page. Just like anything else in this business you need to test, tweak and test some more. Find that sweet spot and build yourself a huge list!