Best Lead Generation Tips and Tricks from Conversion Experts https://optinmonster.com Sat, 31 Aug 2024 14:31:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://optinmonster.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/cropped-archie-1-32x32.png Best Lead Generation Tips and Tricks from Conversion Experts https://optinmonster.com 32 32 What Is a Good CTR for Google Ads + How to Improve Yours https://optinmonster.com/ctr-google-ads/ https://optinmonster.com/ctr-google-ads/#comments Sat, 31 Aug 2024 01:00:00 +0000 https://optinmonster.com/?p=135651 What is a good CTR for Google Ads? Are your ads measuring up? PPC ads are a vital part of any eCommerce digital marketing strategy. However, it can be disheartening to spend time and money on Google Ads, only to find they’re not generating the traffic or sales you expected them to. If you want …

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What is a good CTR for Google Ads? Are your ads measuring up?

PPC ads are a vital part of any eCommerce digital marketing strategy. However, it can be disheartening to spend time and money on Google Ads, only to find they’re not generating the traffic or sales you expected them to.

If you want to see better results from your Google Ads, you need to improve your CTR (click-through rate). But first, it helps to know what a good click-through rate is so you can accurately evaluate the performance of your ads.

In this article, we’ll share what is a good CTR rate for Google Ads. Plus, if you find your Google Ads CTR to be on the low side, we’ll share tips on how to improve it.

Before we find out what click-through rate you should be aiming for, let’s start with the basics.

What Is a Click-Through Rate?

Click-through rate (CTR) is simply the ratio of people who click on your Google Ad when they see it.

You can calculate your CTR by taking the number of clicks that your Google Ad gets and dividing it by the number of times your ad is shown, like this:

ad click-through rate formula

For example, if your ad gets 5 clicks and 100 impressions, then your CTR would be 5%.

Related Content: How to Boost the ROI of PPC Campaigns With Targeted Optins

Figuring out your CTR is important because it lets you see how well your ads are performing. If your CTR is good, it shows that your Google Ads are helpful and relevant. But, if your click-through rates are low, then your time, money, and efforts are going to waste.

Here’s how to link Google Ads to Google Analytics to track your ad campaigns better.

Your CTR will vary depending on which networks you use to place your ads. There are 2 Google networks you can use to place ads. This article is going to mostly focus on ads for the Search Network, but I’ll briefly go over both.

The Search Network

With the Search Network, your ad shows when a user searches for terms related to your keywords.

For instance, if a user searches Google for “hiking boots,” ads with those keywords will display at the top of search results with a “Sponsored” label above each one:

Google search results page for "hiking boots." It shows two sponsored results above the organic results.

Click-through rates for the Search Network are typically higher because your ads are relevant to what the user is searching for.

Related Content: Remarketing Lists for Search Ads: Custom Campaigns and Tailored Bids

The Display Network

On the other hand, with the Display Network, you can show ads on websites or apps that users are browsing, like in the image below.

Google Adsense Display Ad on a blog post

These Display Ads can appear on any of the millions of websites that use Google AdSense for revenue. Users might see your ad on a particular website because the content is relevant to your keywords or because you’re retargeting previous visitors to your website.

Since these users aren’t actively searching for your keywords on the web, they’re less likely to click on a Display Network ad. Therefore, CTR is generally lower for the Display Network, as you’ll see below.

Related Content: Google Display Retargeting Ads: A Budget-Friendly Google Ads Option

Now that you’re more familiar with click-through rates for Google Ads, let’s find out what a good CTR rate is.

What Is a Good CTR for Google Ads?

A good click-through rate (CTR) for Google Ads typically ranges from 7% to 9%, depending on your industry. Let’s take a closer look.

According to WordStream/LocaliQ’s 2023 Google Ads Benchmarks (PDF) report, the average click-through rate for Google search ads is 6.11% across all industries.

The current CTR for Google display ads is more difficult to find, as LocaliQ no longer tracks that metric. Their 2018 data showed an average CTR of 0.46% for Google display ads, compared to 3.17% for search ads during that same year.

We can pull 2 important conclusions from this data:

  • The CTR for Google search ads has increased drastically over the last 6 years.
  • The CTR for Google display ads is much lower than for search ads.

What defines a good CTR for your industry? Here’s a breakdown of search ad CTR for 23 different industries in 2023:

A bar graph from WordStream.com titled Search Advertising Benchmarks 2023: Average Click Rate by Industry. Here is the data: Animals & Pets: 11.78%, Apparel/Fashion & Jewelry: 8.12%, Arts & Entertainment: 6.46%, Attorneys & Legal Services: 4.76%, Automotive – For Sale: 8.77%, Automotive – Repair, Service & Parts: 5.91%, Beauty & Personal Care: 6.87%, Business Services: 5.11%, Career & Employment: 6.67%, Dentists & Dental Services: 5.34%, Education & Instruction: 6.41%, Finance & Insurance: 6.18%, Furniture: 6.19%, Health & Fitness: 6.44%, Home & Home Improvement: 4.80%, Industrial & Commercial: 5.57%, Personal Services: 7.54%, Physicians & Surgeons: 6.73%, Real Estate: 9.09%, Restaurants & Food: 8.65%, Shopping, Collectibles & Gifts: 6.39%, Sports & Recreation: 10.53%, Travel: 10.03%.

The average CTR varies from 4.76% for Attorneys & Legal Services all the way to 11.78% for Arts & Entertainment.

However, different studies also show very different CTR averages. For instance, 2024 data from FirstPageSage says the average CTR for a #1-ranking search ad is 2-6%. They also list the average display ad CTR as 0.089%.

So, what is a good CTR for Google Ads? It’s complicated. If your click-through rate is well below the industry average, you have plenty of room for improvement.

And, even if you’re meeting industry standards, you can still take steps to get a higher CTR to generate even more leads and sales.

Want to boost your lead generation the quick and easy way? Sign up for OptinMonster today!

Before trying to improve click-through rate, let’s talk about the factors that affect it.

Factors That Affect Your Click-Through Rate

Your click-through rate isn’t up to chance. Instead, a number of elements help determine whether your ad gets a lot of clicks or whether it’s ignored.

Here are some of the factors that can affect it:

Ad Position

When a user searches on Google for their keywords, the search results will potentially include several relevant ads at the top of each page.

Since the #1 spot is the first ad that users see, it gets the most clicks out of them all. 2024 Google Ad data from FirstPageSage shows that the higher your ad is ranked in search engine results, the higher your CTR:

FirstPageSage's chart for clickt-through rates (CTR) for ranking of Google Ads and organic search results. Ad Position 1: 2.1%. Ad Position 2: 1.4%. Ad Position 3: 1.3%. Ad Position 4: 1.2%. Search Position 1: 39.8%. Search Position 2: 18.7%.

Headline and Copy

Your CTR also depends on the effectiveness of the messaging in your Google Ad. Your ad headline and copy need to stand out and encourage users to click.

Related Content: 21 Viral Headline Examples and How You Can Copy Their Success

To provide an example, I did a quick Google for “bridesmaid dresses” The top-ranking ad was from the bridal apparel company Azazie:

Sponsored Google search result showing a listing for Azazie Bridesmaid Dresses. The ad mentions that the business is verified and highlights their 'Try-Before-You-Buy' service, with bridesmaid dresses starting at $79. The ad also includes an image of a woman wearing a long, blush-colored bridesmaid dress

Their headline focuses on the affordability of their bridesmaid dresses, which start at $79. The descriptive text highlights their try-before-you-buy service and the 500+ styles available. Their ad also includes a photo of one of their dresses.

When you give users solid information about why they should choose your company, they’ll be more likely to click on your ad.

Ad Relevance

Users are more likely to click on an ad that’s relevant to their search queries and interests.

If you want your ad to reach users who are interested in your products, then you need to include relevant keywords in your ad.

An ad that has the users’ relevant keywords within the headline and copy will get more clicks than a generic ad.

How to Improve Click-Through Rate for Google Ads

If your click-through rate leaves something to be desired, check out these tips for getting a high CTR for your Google Ads.

1. Include a Special Deal in Your Headline

People are drawn to great deals like moths to a flame. So, if you want to improve a low CTR, add a special deal in your headline.

For instance, check out this Google Ad from Bed Bath & Beyond.

Sponsored Google search ad from Bed Bath & Beyond. The heading says "Living Room Furniture Sale - 70% Off 1000s of Items*"

Users will be more likely to click on this ad that offers 70% off versus a similar ad that doesn’t offer any savings.

2. Write Higher-Converting Ad Copy

Now it’s time to bust out your writing skills. You need to start writing higher-converting ad copy to improve your CTR. Thankfully, you don’t have to be an expert writer. Instead, you just need to practice these simple tips.

Add a Strong Call-to-Action

You need to persuade users to click your ad by adding strong calls-to-action (CTAs) like “Buy Now,” “Learn More,” “Get Started,” etc.

Use Power Words:

Power words like “You,” “Now,” “Best,” and “Find” are good at convincing users to engage with your business.

Solve Customers’ Problems:

Think about the user’s point of view. When they search for your keywords, what problems are they hoping to solve? Clearly state how you can solve those problems, like Neutrogena does in this Google Ad:

Google search ad for Neutrogena showcasing their acne treatment products. The ad headline reads 'Tackle Your Acne Concerns' with a subtext about reducing acne marks and uneven skin tone in 1 week.

I got this ad after searching for “acne treatment.” The ad uses phrases like “Tackle Your Acne Concerns” and “Less Acne Marks in 1 Week” to explicitly promise to address the customer’s problems.

3. Link Ads to Relevant Landing Pages

This tip can not only boost CTR but can also improve your conversion rates after users click your ad.

When someone clicks on your Google Ad, they should be taken to a page on your website that matches what they’re looking for.

Earlier, I showed you a Google Ad from Azazie. The ad was for their bridesmaid dresses, so when I clicked the link, I was taken specifically to the bridesmaid dress section of their site:

A page on Azazie website displaying a selection of bridesmaid dresses"

Azazie also sells wedding dresses, shoes, accessories, and other formal apparel. But this ad was targeted to people searching for “bridesmaid dresses.” Therefore, the ad needed to link to that section of their site, rather than just their homepage.

So, make sure your Google Ad leads to a relevant landing page, sales page, or product page, so youre target audience finds the exact products they’re seeking.

4. Use Detailed Audience Targeting

If your ad isn’t being seen by your target audience, it’s not going to get any clicks. That’s why it’s important to use detailed audience targeting for your Google Ads campaigns.

Detailed audience targeting lets you be more accurate when choosing who sees your ads. With Google Ads, you can target remarketing lists, custom combination lists, life events, and interest categories.

target the right audience with your ad

For instance, if you want to create a Google Ad for your personal training business, you can target users who are interested in fitness.

You can dramatically increase your CTR by putting your ads in front of the users that are most likely to buy from you.

6. Take Advantage of Ad Extensions

Google Ads are quite small, which means you don’t have a lot of space to try and sell your business. But, with Ad extensions, you can increase the size of your Google Ads and give yourself more room to work with. This means you can make your ads more relevant to users, and they’ll stand out from the crowd.

There are a number of different types of Ad extensions you can take advantage of, here are a few examples:

Location Extension:

The location extension lets you add an extra line at the bottom of your Google Ad that displays your business’s physical address.

Did you knowYou can target visitors to your site using OptinMonster’s geo-location targeting feature. Our customer Skates.co.uk increased daily sales by £2000 just by using geotargeting. Check it out!

Call Extensions:

With call extensions, you can show your business phone number on your Google Ad. On mobile, users can simply click on your ad to make a call to you.

Sitelink Extensions:

Sitelink extensions let you link people to other specific pages of your website. This lets you show the user more of what you offer, making the ad more relevant to their needs.

In the Zoho ad below, the company links to pages for their Forever Free Plan, their Features, and their Integrations:

Google Ad for Zoho. Headline reads "Email Marketing Solution - Budget-Friendly Software." Below, there are prominent links for 3 pages on their site: Forever Free Plan, Features, & Integrations.

Sitelinks are a great option if there are multiple pages that are relevant to the search query.

7. A/B Test Your Ads

You may have heard about A/B testing, also known as split testing, for websites and email marketing. These tests let you try out 2 or more different versions of a webpage or email campaign to see which version performs better.

In Google Ads, split tests are called custom experiments.

With these testing features, you can determine which headlines, copy, images, and extensions get the highest CTR. Then, you can end your experiment and run the most effective version of your ad.

8. Improve Your Quality Score

In your Google Ads account, you can view the Quality Score of your ad groups. Ultimately, this score plays a huge role in how your ad ranks.

If you’ve implemented all of the tips above, you should have a solid score. However, continue to refine and tweak your ads to see if you can bring it up even more.

Make the Most of Your Google Ad Traffic

What is a good CTR for Google Ads? A good Google Ads CTR is one that matches up with your industry’s benchmarks and succeeds in driving new leads to your website.

Of course, paid ads aren’t the only way to reach your target audience. You also need to focus on your website’s SEO (search engine optimization). Here are a few resources to help:

Once you have all this new traffic coming to your site, you need to take advantage of it.

OptinMonster is the best tool available to convert your website traffic into leads and sales.

With our popups, floating bars, inline forms, and other onsite marketing campaigns, you can:

And that’s just the beginning!

Shockbyte doubled their sales with a single, extremely simple exit popup from OptinMonster:

Shockbyte's exit-intent popup that says "WOAH, HOLD ON THERE. We've just launched our brand new web experience! To celebrate, we're offering 50% off for a limited time." It then asks for an email address to claim the discount.

And PodBike converted 18.22% of visitors into email subscribers with geotargeted campaigns.

If you want to see these kinds of results for your business, try OptinMonster!

Get Started With OptinMonster Today!
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10 Creative Examples of Testimonials to Win Customers + Tips and Best Practices https://optinmonster.com/9-customer-testimonial-examples-that-you-can-use-on-your-website/ https://optinmonster.com/9-customer-testimonial-examples-that-you-can-use-on-your-website/#comments Fri, 30 Aug 2024 15:00:00 +0000 https://optinmonster.com/?p=91755 Testimonials are a beacon of trust and credibility. They are not just customer reviews; they are stories of experiences, a powerful tool in shaping consumer decisions. Customer testimonials are a powerful tool that every marketer should have in their arsenal. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the different types of testimonials – from crafting them …

The post 10 Creative Examples of Testimonials to Win Customers + Tips and Best Practices appeared first on OptinMonster.]]>
Testimonials are a beacon of trust and credibility. They are not just customer reviews; they are stories of experiences, a powerful tool in shaping consumer decisions.

Customer testimonials are a powerful tool that every marketer should have in their arsenal.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the different types of testimonials – from crafting them effectively to designing impactful testimonial pages.

What Is a Testimonial?

Testimonials are authentic endorsements from satisfied customers, sharing their personal experiences with a product or service. They provide valuable social proof, helping potential customers make informed decisions by showcasing the real-world benefits and outcomes achieved.

When searching for the answer, shoppers almost always turn to other shoppers. This phenomenon is known as social proof: a psychological mechanism where people tend to follow the actions and behaviors of other people in an attempt to make the “right” choices.

Why Customer Testimonials Are So Effective?

Customer testimonials work like magic for several compelling reasons, deeply rooted in psychology and consumer behavior. Here are reasons why they are so effective:

Trust and Credibility

In a world flooded with marketing messages, consumers often view testimonials as more genuine and trustworthy than traditional advertising. Hearing or reading about someone else’s positive experience with a product or service reduces doubt and builds credibility.

Social Proof

Psychologically, people tend to do what they see others doing. This concept is known as social proof. Testimonials prove that others have not only purchased your product or service but are satisfied customers, encouraging prospective customers to follow suit.

Relatability and Empathy

Testimonials often include personal stories or specific scenarios in which a product or service has made a difference. This relatability allows potential customers to see themselves in the testimonial, creating an emotional connection and making the product or service more appealing.

Risk Reduction

Purchasing a product or service often comes with perceived risk, especially in online and high-value transactions. Testimonials help mitigate this risk by assuring others who have already made the purchase and are happy with their decision.

Real-World Proof

Unlike theoretical benefits listed in a sales pitch, testimonials offer real-world proof of a product’s or service’s effectiveness. They often include practical examples of how a product has solved a problem or improved someone’s life, which is more convincing than abstract claims.

Variety of Perspectives

Testimonials can offer a range of perspectives and experiences, catering to a diverse customer base. Different testimonials (written, video, or case studies) appeal to different people, making the overall content marketing strategy more inclusive and effective.

Enhanced Engagement

Testimonials are often more engaging than standard marketing copy, especially in video or story format. They can capture attention and maintain interest more effectively, leading to higher engagement rates.

SEO Benefits

From an online marketing perspective, testimonials can improve SEO (Search Engine Optimization). They often include relevant keywords and phrases that potential customers might use in search queries.

Building a Community

Testimonials can contribute to a sense of community around a brand. When customers see others praising a product or service, they feel part of a group of like-minded individuals, which can foster brand loyalty.

Feedback Loop

Testimonials attract new customers and provide valuable feedback for businesses. They can highlight strengths and areas for improvement, guiding future product development and marketing strategies.

In summary, customer testimonials work like magic because they leverage trust, social proof, emotional connection, and real customers evidence to influence consumer behavior, making them a potent tool in any marketing arsenal.

How To Write a Testimonial

Here’s a guide to copywriting a testimonial that’s both impactful and genuine:

1. Be Genuine

  • Authenticity is Key: Your testimonial should reflect your experience. Authentic testimonials resonate more with the audience.
  • Honest Feedback: Share what you genuinely liked about the product or service. If there were any downsides, it’s okay to mention them, as this adds to the credibility.

2. Be Specific

  • Detail Your Experience: Instead of vague statements like “great product,” explain what made it great. Was it the customer service, the efficiency of the product, or something else?
  • Highlight Unique Features: Mention specific features or aspects of the service that stood out to you and why they were important.

3. Keep it Concise

  • Brevity is Effective: A concise testimonial is more likely to be read and remembered. Aim to deliver your message in a few impactful sentences.
  • Focus on Key Points: Stick to the most critical aspects of your experience. Avoid going off on tangents.

4. Personal Touch

  • Share Your Story: If the product or service significantly impacted you, share that success story. Did it solve a problem for you? How did it improve your life or work?
  • Relatable Scenarios: Mention specific scenarios where the product or service made a tangible difference. This helps potential customers relate to your experience.

5. Clear Endorsement

  • Recommend Confidently: If you’re happy with the product or service, clarify it. A straightforward endorsement can be very persuasive.
  • Why You Recommend: Briefly state why you would recommend this product or service to others. Is it because of its quality, reliability, or something else?

Example of a Well-Written Testimonial:

“I recently purchased the XYZ software, which has transformed how I manage my business. The user-friendly interface and powerful analytics tools have saved me hours of work each week. What impressed me most was the customer support team, who were always available to help with my queries. I highly recommend XYZ for any small business owner looking for an efficient and reliable management tool.”

The best testimonial is the one that is compelling because it’s genuine, specific, concise, includes the customer’s story, and ends with an explicit endorsement. Remember, a well-crafted testimonial helps others make better choices and strengthens the credibility of the product or service you endorse.

Testimonial Design Best Practices

Brands tend to display their best testimonials on the homepage. But it is also recommended to have a dedicated testimonial landing page.

Creating a testimonial landing page that effectively showcases customer endorsements requires thoughtful design. Here are some best practices to ensure your testimonial page is as impactful as the testimonials themselves:

Layout and Visuals

  • Clean and Engaging Design: Opt for an uncluttered and visually appealing layout. A well-organized page helps in drawing attention to the testimonials themselves.
  • Visual Hierarchy: Use design elements like font size, color, and spacing to create a hierarchy, making the most important parts (like the testimonial text) stand out.
  • Consistent Theme: Ensure the design theme is consistent with the rest of your website for a cohesive user experience.

Use of Multimedia

  • Diverse Formats: Incorporate a mix of text, video, and audio testimonials. Testimonial videos can be engaging, showing real people and their emotions.
  • Quality Matters: Ensure that all multimedia elements are of high quality. Poor-quality images or videos can detract from the credibility of the testimonials.
  • Subtitles and Transcripts: For video and audio testimonials, provide subtitles or transcripts not only for accessibility but also for those who might browse in sound-sensitive environments.

Readability

  • Clear Fonts: Choose fonts that are easy to read. Avoid overly stylized fonts that might be difficult to decipher.
  • Contrast and Color: Ensure sufficient contrast between the text and the background. Poor contrast can make reading difficult.
  • Bite-Sized Chunks: Break up longer testimonials into shorter paragraphs or bullet points for easier consumption.

Branding

  • Brand Alignment: The design of your testimonial page should align with your overall brand identity. This includes using your brand’s color scheme, fonts, and tone.
  • Consistent Messaging: How testimonials are presented should reflect your brand’s voice and messaging. It should be consistent across the page, whether professional, casual, or playful.
  • Brand Imagery: Use elements or imagery that resonate with your brand’s ethos. This could be anything from your logo to specific graphics or icons that are part of your brand’s visual language.

Additional Tips

  • Navigation and Accessibility: Ensure the testimonial page is easy to navigate and accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
  • Call to Action: Consider including a call-to-action (CTA) encouraging visitors to learn more about your products or services or to submit their own testimonials.
  • Regular Updates: Keep the testimonial page updated with fresh content to show that those who use your product or service are happy customers.

A well-designed testimonial page showcases customer satisfaction and reinforces your brand’s credibility and trustworthiness. By following these best practices, you can create an effective testimonial page that supports your marketing efforts and resonates with your target audience.

10 Examples of Testimonials

The following are the 10 different types of customer testimonials examples that you can use on your website:

  1. Quotes
  2. Social Media Posts
  3. Case Studies
  4. Video Testimonials
  5. Interview testimonials
  6. Influencer Testimonials
  7. Press Reviews
  8. Peer Reviews
  9. Image Testimonials 
  10. Blog Testimonials/Reviews

1. Quotes

Quote testimonials are the most popular form of testimonials. They’re powerful, they’re credible, and, most importantly, they’re effective.

As the name suggests, these are testimonials simply pull a quote directly from a customer.

Here’s an example of using a customer quote from one of OptinMonster’s campaigns:

Review with OptinMonster campaign

This example is highly effective for 2 reasons:

  • It uses a testimonial with a photo to build credibility
  • It’s displayed on a popup campaign

Popups have been proven to increase conversions. Especially when you add custom triggers to the campaign to attract visitors based on their behavior.

In fact, a simple popup with an exit-intent trigger is how Crossrope increased its email list by 900%.

Adding a customer quote only increases your chances of converting your site’s traffic. If you can, add a high-quality image of the customer providing the quote.

This adds extra credibility to your campaign and will boost your conversion rates for signups, pre-orders, revenue, and more!

Want to see more conversions on your site?

Get Started With OptinMonster Today!
BONUS: Done-For-You Campaign Setup ($297 value) Our conversion experts will design 1 free campaign for you to get maximum results – absolutely FREE! Click here to get started →

2. Social Media Posts

With the popularity of social media, getting customer testimonials is extremely convenient.

All you have to do is pull screenshots from a Facebook post or a Twitter update, and you have instant proof that your customers love your products.

No one questions the authenticity of these screenshot testimonials. Many of these social media posts are public, so if someone wants to check it out for themselves, they can usually do so.

Here’s an example of a very good testimonial pulled from Facebook:

rsz_facebook-review-sushi

To get social media testimonials like these, keep your customers engaged with your social media accounts by posting regularly yourself, and encourage them to tell you about their experience with your products.

And instead of taking screenshots, you can keep your website automatically updated with social media testimonials using a plugin like Smash Balloon.

smash ballon social media feeds plugin

With Smash Balloon, you can easily create a feed of tweets that mention your account or use your branded hashtag. Or, you can embed a feed of Facebook reviews on your website.

Here’s an example of a Twitter testimonials feed:

display twitter hashtag feed with smash balloon

Setting up a feed is super simple, you can design the feed to match your brand, and you can control exactly what content is displayed in your feed.

3. Case Studies

Case studies can also serve as great testimonials when you take small sections of them.

For instance, you could take a full-blown case study and break it down into brief, digestible tidbits. Then, showcase these tidbits on a product page.

You can link back to the full case study so users can conduct a further investigation if they desire.

Here is an example of a case study for one of our customers, DealDoktor:

dealdoktor-case-study (1)

We used the full case study as a blog post and used just a small quote from it on our Testimonials page. Then we linked back to the full case study.

Here’s what that testimonial looks like:

Case Study Link

4. Video Testimonials

Video testimonials have quickly gained popularity in recent years, and it’s become easier than ever to create and publish videos on your website.

The great thing about video testimonials is that they really stand out and make a big impression. There’s just something about seeing a talking head and hearing an actual voice that establishes likability and trust.

Timothy Sykes features his top student front and center in a lengthy video on his “Testimonials” page:

timothy sikes video testimonial

In fact, the entire page is filled with video testimonials.

5. Interview Testimonials

Interviews are especially effective because they help to get more details about the customer experience, painting a vivid picture in the minds of your prospects.

To get a great interview, make sure you ask questions that elicit a story about how and why your customer came to buy your product.

Here are some examples of questions to ask your customer in an interview (suggested by Sean D’Souza):

  • What was the obstacle that would have prevented you from buying this product?
  • Would you recommend this product? If so, why?
  • What did you find as a result of buying this product?
  • Is there a specific feature you liked most about this product?
  • What would be three other benefits of this product?
  • Is there anything you’d like to add?

6. Influencer Testimonials

Influencer testimonials are a powerful form of endorsement, leveraging the credibility and reach of influencers to promote products or services. These testimonials are particularly effective due to the influencer’s established trust and rapport with their audience.

One example is the YouTube sensation from Karachi, Pakistan, Irfan Junejo. Irfan often uploads testimonials as reels, videos, or posts. Brands then repurpose the testimonials in their marketing collaterals.

In the video above, he can be seen talking about the pizza place Famous O’s.

People tend to place a higher value on something when an authority figure approves of it. So if one or more of your customers are well-known or authorities, make sure to feature those people on your website.

These customers could be celebrities, well-known professionals in your industry, or people who have certain qualifications that make them authorities.

On our Testimonials page, we showcase our customers Michael Stelzner, Joost de Valk, Chris Brogan, Neil Patel, and many other high-profile authorities.

OptinMonster Testimonials

If you can’t get an actual testimonial, simply drop the names of your high profile customers.

Or, display the logos of high profile companies you’ve served like Neil Patel does on his “Consulting” page:

Neil Patel Logos

7. Press Reviews

Press reviews are persuasive because they come from sources who are professionally qualified to speak on the topic.

For example, new restaurants often try to get reviews from local restaurant critics. Here’s an example from the LA Times:

Restaurant-Review

The key to getting press reviews is making real relationships with the right people.

Press reviews aren’t easy to come by, but when you do land one, it can make your brand popular in an instant!

8. Peer Reviews

Remember what we said about how people are influenced by the behaviors of other people like them? That’s why peer reviews–especially from people who resemble your customer profile–are so powerful.

Yelp is a great place to get peer reviews. You can use a screenshot to place these reviews on your website.

Yelp-Review

But there are a lot of other review sites and apps besides just Yelp. Here are a few:

9. Image Testimonials

You may have seen this type of testimonial in the past, and it’s usually limited to healthcare/fitness niches. That said, you can use these if your business has any kind of “Before/After” effect on your customers.

Here’s an example from the skincare company Bioclarity:

bioclarity-testimonial-page-example

This can be one of the most powerful types of customer testimonials. It doesn’t require any commentary from the actual customers.

Instead, the images show the radical transformation your product or services can have.

It’s like they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words.”

10. Blog Testimonials and Reviews

Finally, you might be lucky enough to have customers write blog posts or reviews about your products.

These can be incredibly effective at showcasing your product or services from a neutral point of view. Plus, these are fairly common types of posts.

You’ll see product reviews across most websites, including our own. Here’s an example of an OptinMonster review from the WPForms blog:

wpforms optinmonster review example

These are excellent resources for sharing across social media, using for social proof in your own blog posts, sending to your mailing list, and much more.

The customer testimonial examples shared above can be used in a variety of ways. You can add them to your website, embed them in blog posts, reshare them on social media, and much more.

We highly recommend trying to get each type of customer testimonial and leveraging this social proof to grow your business faster.

Now that we’ve seen customer testimonial examples, let’s quickly look at 3 ways you can increase your testimonials/reviews.

How to Boost Customer Testimonials

1. Leverage Social Proof Notifications

If you’re serious about getting more customer testimonials, then you’ll definitely want to add social proof notifications to your website.

These are small, non-intrusive messages that show your site’s traffic how others are engaging with your brand.

As a result, your site’s visitors get hit with a dose of FOMO (“fear of missing out”), and they’re more likely to take the same actions as others.

That means you can quickly create a notification for when someone leaves a review or testimonial on your site. And this will motivate more of your customers to do the same.

But how do you create customer testimonial notifications if you’re not a professional coder?

The easiest way is with a tool like TrustPulse:

trustpulse new homepage updated

TrustPulse is the BEST social proof software on the market and the easiest way to increase customer testimonials FAST.

That’s because TrustPulse gives you everything you need to create your notifications without requiring any technical skills.

Instead, you can design these notifications to suit your exact needs. That means you can change the image, text, link, and layout of your notification to match your brand’s unique style.

Then you can create a trigger to make the notification display, like when someone leaves you a review on Google My Business or Yelp.

So let’s say you want your site’s traffic to see when someone leaves your business a review on Google.

You create your notification and sync it with your Google My Business account through the TrustPulse Zapier integration.

Then when someone leaves you a review, the following message appears on your website:

trustpulse demo-min

When users click on the notification, they’ll be redirected to your Google review. As a result, they’ll be more likely to leave their own customer testimonial on your behalf.

You can even tailor the message to ask customers to leave a review, depending on where they are in their customer journey.

Social proof notifications are one of the easiest ways to get more customer testimonials in less time. And TrustPulse users have been shown to see an instant boost in sales by up to 15%.

Want to see it in action for yourself? Try out TrustPulse today 100% risk-free!

2. Reward Customers for Sharing Their Experiences

Offering a discount, coupon code, or extra product as an incentive to review your business’s products is one of the most effective ways to increase the number of reviews you receive.

Add an incentive at the checkout page to get the most reviews. If you can capture customers at the moment of their purchase, your brand will be fresh on their minds, and excitement for their new product will be high.

This is the perfect time to get them talking about your business through a review.

Or you can send an email thanking customers for their purchase and offering them an exclusive discount or coupon code for writing a review on your company.

This also gives users a chance to test your product before they leave a review, which sometimes might be necessary.

That said, the longer you wait to ask for a customer testimonial, the harder it will be to get users to give you one.

3. Segment Your Emails

Audience segmentation is the process of dividing a larger group into smaller groups (or “segments”) based on their similarities.

It’s a way to organize and categorize your audience, so you can target them more easily and know the types of content that will appeal to each of those groups.

Take this example: You’re a marketing manager for a popular food company, which makes and sells orange-flavored dog biscuits. Your job is to increase the number of sales from your current customer base by getting more online reviews.

First, you want to figure out which online groups of people are most likely to buy your product—let’s call these people your “market segments.”

So how do you go about doing this?

The first thing to do is look at who you already sell to. If the customers who have given a review tend to be older than those who haven’t, you might want to create a segment of your audience who are seniors.

If another segment is more likely to buy products directly from Amazon rather than from your company’s website, there may be a significant opportunity to build sales around that group specifically and drive them back to your business.

There are many ways you can segment your audience, but the most effective method is to figure out which parts of your audience have similarities in demographics and online behavior.

This will help you to determine what content they might respond to and increase your chances of getting more customer testimonials.

Looking for even more ways to increase customer testimonials? We’ve written an ultimate guide on how to ask for a testimonial including 7 tips from industry experts as well as templates.

Remember: testimonials are critical for making sales, so don’t delay. Choose one of the types of testimonials above and implement it on your website today!

And that’s all for today. These have been 10 types of customer testimonial examples, along with 3 concrete strategies for getting more.

We hope you enjoyed this post. If you did, you’ll definitely want to check out the following:

These articles will have everything you need to improve social proof on your site so you can start generating higher sales today!

Harnessing the Power of Customer Testimonials with OptinMonster

From showcasing real-life experiences to leveraging the influential power of social proof, testimonials can dramatically transform how potential customers perceive your products or services.

But how do you effectively gather, manage, and display these powerful testimonials? This is where OptinMonster steps in.

OptinMonster isn’t just about creating stunning pop-ups and engaging lead forms; it’s a comprehensive tool that can help you harness the full potential of customer testimonials.

With OptinMonster, you can easily collect testimonials through targeted, well-designed forms and pop-ups.

Imagine capturing customer feedback right at the peak of their satisfaction – OptinMonster makes this a reality. But it doesn’t stop there. You can then strategically display these testimonials on your website, using OptinMonster’s templates and customization options to ensure they align perfectly with your brand and catch your visitors’ attention.

Moreover, OptinMonster’s A/B testing feature lets you see which testimonials resonate most with your audience, helping you refine your approach for maximum impact. And with detailed analytics, you’re always in the know about how your testimonial-driven campaigns are performing.

In a world where consumers are bombarded with choices, let OptinMonster be your partner in standing out.

Start your journey with OptinMonster today and transform your customer testimonials into a powerful driver of trust, engagement, and conversions.

Get Started With OptinMonster Today!
BONUS: Done-For-You Campaign Setup ($297 value) Our conversion experts will design 1 free campaign for you to get maximum results – absolutely FREE! Click here to get started →
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How to Launch a Product: 14-Step Checklist for Your Next Product Launch https://optinmonster.com/product-launch-ultimate-guide/ https://optinmonster.com/product-launch-ultimate-guide/#respond Wed, 28 Aug 2024 17:30:00 +0000 https://optinmonster.com/?p=140775&preview=true&preview_id=140775 You’ve put time, sweat, money, and maybe a few tears into developing a new product. Now, you need to plan a product launch that will reach your target audience and drive sales. This comprehensive guide will cover the 14 most important steps of a successful product launch plan. I’ll walk you through each stage, including …

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You’ve put time, sweat, money, and maybe a few tears into developing a new product. Now, you need to plan a product launch that will reach your target audience and drive sales.

This comprehensive guide will cover the 14 most important steps of a successful product launch plan. I’ll walk you through each stage, including steps like market research, product marketing, and post-launch analysis.

Whether you’re starting a brand new business or adding to your existing product line, this product launch checklist provides a clear path to success.

What Is a Product Launch?

A product launch is the introduction of a new product into the market. It involves strategic planning to fine-tune your messaging, gain maximum visibility, and build excitement among the target audience. A successful product launch drives initial sales, creates brand momentum, and sets the foundation for long-term success.

Overview of Product Launch Stages

To create a comprehensive product launch plan, you need to understand the 3 basic stages involved:

  1. Pre-Launch: This stage involves market research, product development, and creating a launch strategy. Activities include identifying the target audience, setting goals, building buzz through marketing campaigns, and ensuring that all technical and operational aspects are in place.
  2. Launch: The launch phase is when the product is officially introduced to the market. It includes executing marketing campaigns, engaging with potential customers, and monitoring the initial response. This stage builds brand awareness and generates sales momentum.
  3. Post-Launch: After the product is launched, the focus shifts to customer feedback, analyzing performance metrics, and making necessary adjustments.

Importance of Having a Product Launch Strategy

When starting an online business, you don’t just make it up as you go along. Instead, you create an eCommerce business plan, as well as a digital marketing plan. You need a similar plan every time you launch a new product.

It’s not enough to simply create a great product. You have to introduce it to the market in a way that captures attention, generates interest, and drives sales. Without a clear strategy, even the most innovative products can fail to gain traction.

Successful Product Launch Example: Golden Monkey Gummies

For an example of a successful product launch, let’s look at NielsenIQ’s case study on Golden Monkey, a candy manufacturer. Using extensive market research, Golden Monkey decided to launch a new gummy candy product. Their team spent months identifying a target audience, developing the product, and planning a marketing strategy.

All this work paid off at launch time:

Over the course of six months, the 30-year-old manufacturer was able to identify a growth opportunity, develop a new product, and enter a new market. And the success of the new Gummy product was clear from the get-go, eventually achieving $1.4 million in sales in the first month after launch.

In short, if you want your new product to be profitable, you have to invest in research and planning well before your launch.

Benefits of a Strategic Product Launch

A strategic product launch offers numerous benefits, including:

  • Increased visibility: A well-executed launch can create buzz around your product, ensuring it reaches a wide audience.
  • Customer engagement: By engaging with your target audience through marketing campaigns, you create excitement for your product release, leading to higher conversion rates.
  • Competitive advantage: A clear strategy lets you position your product effectively in the market. You can differentiate it from competitors and highlight its unique value proposition.
  • Measurable goals: Your product launch strategy should be based on research and include measurable goals. That way, you can track your progress and make adjustments along the way.

Product Launch Checklist: 14 Steps to Successfully Launch a New Product

Now, I’m going to share the 14 steps involved in launching a product. Of course, every business and product is different, but this checklist will provide a basic template for your product launch strategy. I’ve separated the steps for the 3 stages of launching a product.

Product Launch Checklist by OptinMonster. Pre-Launch includes conducting market research, developing messaging and branding, defining goals and success metrics, creating a launch timeline, producing marketing content such as website popups and blog posts, preparing sales and customer support teams, and generating pre-launch leads. Launch involves executing marketing campaigns, engaging with media, monitoring and responding to customer feedback, and tracking early performance. Post-Launch includes evaluating performance, continuing marketing and customer engagement, and planning for future launches.

Pre-Launch Stage

  1. Conduct Market Research & Product Testing
    • Identify Target Audience: Conduct surveys, interviews, and focus groups to define and understand your target market. This process will help you create buyer personas.
    • Analyze Competitors: Review competitor products and strategies to identify gaps and opportunities.
    • Validate Product-Market Fit: Test your product concept with potential customers to ensure it meets their needs.
  2. Develop Marketing Messaging & Branding
    • Unique Value Proposition (UVP): Clearly articulate the unique benefits and value your product offers. Need some help? Check out our guide to writing value propositions.
    • Key Messaging: Develop consistent messaging that resonates with your target audience across all channels.
    • Branding Elements: Finalize product name, logo, and branding guidelines.
  3. Define Goals & Success Metrics
    • Outcomes: Set goals for benchmarks such as marketing reach, pre-orders, and sales.
    • KPIs & Metrics: Define the key performance indicators (KPIs) you’ll track to measure the success of each launch stage. These could include web traffic, social media engagement, email list growth, revenue, and more.
  4. Develop a Launch Timeline
    • Set Key Milestones: Outline major activities and deadlines leading up to the launch, including content creation, marketing campaigns, and internal training.
    • Assign Responsibilities: Designate team members for each task to ensure accountability and smooth execution.
  5. Create Marketing Content
    • Website Popups: Use OptinMonster to create popups, floating bars, and other onsite campaigns to announce your new product to website visitors.
    • Landing Pages: Develop optimized landing pages with clear calls-to-action (CTAs). If you’re new to landing pages, check out our landing page how-to guide.
    • Email Campaigns: Draft and schedule pre-launch email campaigns to build anticipation. Email marketing is one of your most powerful tools for product promotion.
    • Blog Posts: Write announcement posts as part of your larger content marketing strategy.
    • Social Media Posts: Prepare posts for all of your social channels.
    • Videos: Create video announcements, tutorials, how-tos, and testimonials. Learn tips on creating videos in our complete video marketing guide.
    • Public Relations Assets: Create press releases and media kits to send to journalists and influencers.
  6. Prepare Sales & Customer Support Teams
    • Training Sessions: Educate your sales and support teams on the product’s features, benefits, and key messaging.
    • Internal Documentation: Provide teams with detailed product guides and FAQs.
  7. Generate Pre-Launch Leads
    • Grow Your Email List: Use website popups and special offers to grow your email list ahead of your product announcement.
    • Offer Early Access to Subscribers: Build excitement and FOMO (fear of missing out) by letting customers sign up for exclusive early access to your new product.

Need some help generating new leads for your product launch?

OptinMonster is the #1 tool for turning your website visitors into email subscribers and customers. You can use OptinMonster’s popups, floating bars, slide-in scroll boxes, and other campaigns to build excitement for your new product. You can even add features like countdown timers and coupon wheels to increase engagement.

OptinMonster has 700+ premade templates, which you can customize in our easy drag-and-drop builder. Here’s our basic product launch template, which you can edit to fit your product announcement:

Website popup that says "Launching soon" as a headline. Below, there's a countdown timer, counting days, hours, minutes, and seconds until launch. Test says" We're creating something exciting and amazing for you. Subscribers gain special early access!" A large button says "Yes! I want early access," and smaller linked text says "No thanks I'm not interested."

Visitors who click the “Yes! I want early access” button will be prompted to enter their email address. Then, you can continue marketing to that new lead with your promotional email campaigns.

Launch Stage

  1. Execute Marketing Campaigns
    • Email Blast: Send out launch announcement emails to your entire list.
    • Social Media Blitz: Launch coordinated social media campaigns across all platforms.
    • Paid Advertising: Place targeted ads on Google, social media, and relevant websites.
    • Influencer & Partner Promotions: Collaborate with influencers and partners to promote the product.
  2. Engage With Media
    • Press Release Distribution: Send out your press release to media outlets and industry publications.
    • Media Interviews: Schedule interviews or guest appearances on relevant podcasts, webinars, or blogs.
  3. Monitor & Respond to Customer Feedback

OptinMonster can help you with feedback collection. We offer multiple templates for customer feedback surveys, such as this one:

OptinMonster popup that includes fields for First Name, Email address, and a text area asking "What do you love about our brand."
  1. Track Early Performance
    • Real-Time Analytics: Monitor KPIs like website traffic, conversion rates, and sales figures.
    • Adjust Strategies: Be prepared to tweak marketing tactics based on initial performance data.

Post-Launch Stage

  1. Evaluate Performance
    • KPI Assessment: Compare actual performance against your initial goals and KPIs.
    • Customer Feedback: Compile and analyze your customer surveys.
    • Sales & Support Processes: Identify any areas for improvement.
  2. Continue Marketing & Engaging

Here’s an example of an Exit-Intent® popup we’ve used on our own site:

OptinMonster popup that says "Special Offer! Complete your checkout now and get 20% off!" CTA buttons say "Claim My Discount NOW!" and "I have a few questions first"

OptinMonster’s Page-Level Targeting lets you show a cart abandonment popup just to visitors who exit your site from a cart or checkout page. Alternatively, you could also target a popup to visitors exiting from the product page for your newly-launched product. These visitors have shown a high level of interest in your product. A special discount might be enough to win that sale.

  1. Plan for Future Launches
    • Post-Mortem Analysis: Conduct a detailed review meeting with your team to discuss what went well and what could be improved.
    • Document Findings: Compile insights and lessons learned into a report to guide future launches.
    • Plan Next Product Updates or Launches: Use your launch data to optimize the next phase of product development and marketing efforts.

Create a Product Launch Plan & Grow Your Business!

If you follow this 14-step product launch guide, you’ll be on the right track to meeting your business’s goals for your new product.

Want to learn even more about promoting new and existing products? Here are a few resources:

No matter what kind of product you’re launching, OptinMonster can help you convert more of your website visitors into customers. There’s no better way to build your email list, offer exclusive discounts, and build excitement for your new product.

Get Started With OptinMonster Today!

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YouTube SEO: 10 Steps to Skyrocket Your Video Search Rankings https://optinmonster.com/youtube-seo/ https://optinmonster.com/youtube-seo/#respond Thu, 22 Aug 2024 16:30:00 +0000 https://optinmonster.com/?p=138763 If video is a major part of your digital marketing strategy, then YouTube SEO is pivotal to growing your brand. YouTube is the world’s 2nd most popular search engine, and researchers estimate that it contains about 14 billion videos as of 2024. That’s a lot of videos to compete with. How can you get your …

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If video is a major part of your digital marketing strategy, then YouTube SEO is pivotal to growing your brand. YouTube is the world’s 2nd most popular search engine, and researchers estimate that it contains about 14 billion videos as of 2024.

That’s a lot of videos to compete with. How can you get your brand’s videos to rank in YouTube searches? You’ll need to master SEO for YouTube, so you can boost your visibility, engagement, and subscriber base.

We’ve accomplished all of those goals and more on OptinMonster’s YouTube channel. Using the tactics I’m sharing in this post, we’ve reached a subscriber base of nearly 10,000. That’s a big accomplishment for a niche channel, and it’s exponentially higher than the channels for our competitors.

Screenshot of OptinMonster's YouTube channel, showing 9.82K subscribers.

In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to improve your YouTube video ranking. I’ll share YouTube SEO tips ranging from keyword research to advanced optimization techniques, and I’ll give actionable steps to rank higher and get more views on your videos.

Throughout the article, you’ll also see examples of how we implement these tactics at OptinMonster. That way, you can understand exactly how each tip works for a real brand.

Just Getting Started on YouTube?

Check out our popular guide: How to Get Your First 1,000 YouTube Subscribers (13 Tips!)

What Is YouTube SEO?

YouTube SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the process of optimizing your videos to rank higher in YouTube search results. It can also include improving ranking in Google search results. Like traditional SEO, YouTube SEO involves keyword research, but there are also several platform-specific optimization strategies.

YouTube’s algorithm considers several key factors when ranking videos. Some of the most important factors are:

  • Relevance: How well your content matches the user’s search query
  • Watch Time: How long viewers watch your videos
  • Click-Through Rate (CTR): Percentage of people who click on your video after seeing it in search results
  • Engagement: The number of likes, comments, and shares on the video and on the channel overall

Throughout this article, I’ll discuss tactics to improve these factors and increase your YouTube video rankings.

Keyword Research: The Foundation of SEO for YouTube

Before you can start optimizing your YouTube videos, you have to find the right keywords to target.

Keywords and search queries are the terms and phrases that users type into the YouTube search bar when looking for content.

By identifying and using the right keywords, you help YouTube understand the content of your videos. That makes it more likely that your video will appear in search results. Smart keyword research not only drives more views. It also attracts the right audience: people who have a genuine interest in your content, brand, and products.

Here are some of the best ways to conduct keyword research to help your YouTube video ranking.

1. Use YouTube’s Autosuggest Feature

YouTube's search bar with "best dog food" types in. Automatic suggestions include "best dog food brands," "best dog food for pitbulls," and "bet dog food for puppies."

YouTube’s search bar is an excellent starting point for keyword research. As you type a word or phrase, YouTube automatically suggests popular searches. These autosuggestions reflect what users are actively searching for, making them valuable keywords to consider.

This process helps you both:

  1. Identify keywords for videos you’ve already made
  2. Find keywords to make new video content for

Example: If your video is about “yoga for beginners,” start typing “yoga for” into YouTube’s search bar. You might see autosuggestions like:

  • “yoga for beginners”
  • “yoga for flexibility”
  • “yoga for stress relief”

These suggestions show what people are actively searching for. This information provides specific angles or subtopics to focus on in your video. For example, a specific phrase like “yoga for stress relief” could help you reach a new segment of your target audience.

Tip: Try typing a few variations of your main topic into the search bar, and take note of the autosuggested phrases. These can often reveal niche keywords you might not have considered.

2. Use Google Trends for YouTube Search

Screenshot of using Google Trends YouTube SEO keyword research. It  shows a search for "healthy smoothie recipes" with "YouTube Search" selected in a dropdown menu. There's a line graph showing interest over time.

Google Trends is a free SEO tool that helps you discover trending keywords and topics. It offers a dedicated section for YouTube search data, allowing you to explore the popularity of specific keywords over time. You can also find trending topics within your brand niche, along with seasonal search trends.

Google Trends also offers a comparison feature. You can enter 2 search terms and see how their popularity compares over time. This free YouTube tool can help you determine the best main keyword for your video.

Example: Let’s say you want to make videos for healthy smoothie recipes. You can enter that main keyword into Google Trends and select YouTube Search. You’ll see a line graph of the term’s interest over time. If you scroll down, you’ll find a list of related keywords. You can see both:

  1. Top Related Queries: Similar keywords with the highest level of interest. For “healthy smoothie recipes,” I got results like “weight loss smoothie recipes,” “healthy breakfast recipes,” and “healthy breakfast smoothie recipes.”
  2. Rising Related Queries: These are search terms that are rapidly growing in popularity. They help you take advantage of keywords that are on an upswing. For “healthy smoothie recipes,” the rising related queries were “healthy snacks recipes” and “healthy green smoothie recipes.”

Tip: Use Google Trends to compare the search volume of different keywords. Opt for keywords that show consistent or rising interest over time, rather than those that spike and drop quickly.

3. Use Advanced YouTube SEO Tools

The YouTube search bar and Google Trends give you a great starting point for YouTube SEO research. But if you want to dig deeper, you’ll need a more advanced tool. Here are my top suggestions.

Semrush & Rank Tracker for YouTube

Semrush is the most thorough and effective tool for SEO keyword research. In fact, we list it as #1 in our list of best keyword research tools. Semrush focuses on traditional web search SEO, so it can help you get your YouTube videos ranking higher in Google searches.

Semrush also offers the Rank Tracker for YouTube app, which includes these features:

  • Keyword tracking for up to 200 YouTube keywords
  • Competitor video analysis
  • YouTube rank change monitoring

Both Semrush and Rank Tracker for YouTube offer free trials.

TubeBuddy:

TubeBuddy is a browser extension and app for YouTube. It helps you optimize your YouTube videos to improve search rankings and engagement.

Here are some of TubeBuddy’s top features for SEO:

  • Keyword Explorer: See detailed insights on keyword search volume, competition, and overall score, specifically for YouTube.
  • Tag Management: Quickly discover and copy your competitors’ best-performing video tags.
  • SEO Studio: This suite of SEO tools walks you through the process of optimizing all aspects of your YouTube video.

You can try out basic features, including the Keyword Explorer, with TubeBuddy’s free version. For full access, you’ll need to sign up for one of TubeBuddy’s paid plans.

Tip: Use these tools to identify long-tail keywords, which are more specific and less competitive. A long-tail keyword can be something like “what are the best ingredients for a protein smoothie.” This phrase probably has a lower search volume. However, if you’re selling protein powder, you want to target videos to people using that search term.

How to Optimize YouTube Videos for SEO: 10 Steps & Best Practices

OptinMonster's YouTube SEO Checklist:
Optimize Your Video Title

Write Engaging Video Descriptions

Tag Videos for Better Visibility

Categorize Your Video Appropriately

Add a Custom Thumbnail

Include Timestamps to Create Chapters

Add Subtitles or Closed Captions

Include Cards and End Screens

Group Videos Into Playlists

Track & Analyze Your Video's Performance
  1. Optimize Your Video Title
  2. Write Engaging Video Descriptions
  3. Tag Videos for Better Visibility
  4. Categorize Your Video Appropriately
  5. Add a Custom Thumbnail
  6. Include Timestamps to Create Chapters
  7. Add Subtitles or Closed Captions
  8. Include Cards and End Screens
  9. Group Videos Into Playlists
  10. Track & Analyze Your Video’s Performance

1. Optimize Your Video Title

Your video title should include your video’s main keyword. That lets the YouTube algorithm understand your content’s topic. Additionally, your title needs to entice users to choose your video over others in the search results.

When users are searching YouTube, your video title is one of the first things they see. That makes titles extremely important for click-through rates (CTR). Giving your video a catchy title is essential for getting more people to click on it, just like having a good email subject line increases open rates.

Here’s an example of a title we’ve used for a video on OptinMonster’s YouTube channel:

An OptinMonster YouTube video with the title "Upselling Vs. Cross Selling: Which One Is More Effective?" The title is optimized for SEO.

The title starts with our keyword phrase: “Upselling Vs. Cross Selling.” It continues with a question that shows exactly what information searchers will learn if they watch the video.

YouTube Title Best Practices:

  • Use keywords early: Use your main keyword early in the title. For example, if your keyword is “YouTube SEO,” a good title might be “YouTube SEO: 10 Tips to Rank Your Videos Higher.”
  • Incorporate keywords naturally: Your keyword phrase should make grammatical sense in your title. Don’t force it in a way that sounds awkward.
  • Keep Titles Concise: Aim for titles around 60 characters to avoid truncation in search results.
  • Consider Using Numbers, Parentheses, or Brackets: Variations from regular text can draw a searcher’s eye. For instance, you can say “Top 5 Tips” instead of simply “Tips.” Or you can add “(2024 Update)” to a new video guide.

A well-written, keyword-focused title won’t magically rank your video content at #1, but it’s an important first step.

2. Write Engaging Video Descriptions

Video descriptions help the YouTube algorithm understand the content of your video and provide context to viewers. You can also include important links in your descriptions.

Here is the description we use for our “Upselling vs. Cross Selling” video:

YouTube video description for an OptinMonster video. It starts "What’s the difference between an upsell and a cross-sell? These two strategies may sound similar but there are important differences. And, the most effective sales tactic will depend on the situation. In this video, I’ll explain the difference, and share examples of when to use each strategy."

Then there are a variety of links to related content and social channels. Getting more clicks improves YouTube SEO.

The description starts with a long-tail search term: “What’s the difference between an upsell and a cross-sell?” After the brief summary of the video’s content, the rest of the description consists of links to related content and OptinMonster’s social channels.

YouTube Description Best Practices:

  • Include Keywords: Include your main keyword, or an important variation, within the first few lines of the description. Avoid keyword stuffing.
  • Include CTAs and Links: Guide viewers with clear calls-to-action (CTAs), such as “Subscribe for more tips!” Include links to relevant content. YouTube descriptions are also the perfect place to add affiliate links.
  • Focus on the First Few Lines: The first 100-150 characters should be catchy and informative. This portion is what appears in search results and above the fold in the description box.

Remember, YouTube’s search algorithm prioritizes user engagement. So if viewers regularly click links in your descriptions, YouTube will see that you’re providing helpful content.

3. Tag Videos for Better Visibility

Tags are a type metadata. They help YouTube understand the context of your video and improve its discoverability. Essentially, you’re providing a list of topics that your video falls unders. While not as powerful as titles or descriptions, tags still play a role in ensuring your content appears in relevant searches.

For our “Upselling Vs. Cross Selling” video, here are some of the tags we used:

  • upselling vs cross selling (always include your main keyword as a tag)
  • upselling and cross selling
  • upselling tips
  • how to upsell
  • email marketing
  • email marketing strategy

As you can see, we included several keyword variations that relate to the content of the video.

YouTube Tagging Best Practices:

  • Start with your main keyword: Make your primary keyword the first tag.
  • Include Related Terms: Use tags that are semantically related to your main keyword.
  • Add spelling variations: If your topic or product is regularly misspelled, include common misspellings as tags.
  • Use a YouTube Tag Generator: If you use TubeBuddy, you’ll get tag suggestions as you fill out your YouTube video’s details. You can also try TubeRanker’s YouTube Tag Generator Tool, which is free for limited use.
TubeRanker's YouTube Tag Generator Tool. This screenshot shows a search for "email marketing." The tool has generated tag suggestions such as "email marketing for beginners," "email marketing strategy," and email marketing course." These tags can improve SEO for YouTube videos.

4. Categorize Your Video Appropriately

During the publishing process, YouTube will ask you to select a category for your video. While that sounds simple, it can be tricky to choose the best one. YouTube only offers 15 categories, and not every video will fall neatly into just one of them.

For example, it can be difficult to decide between 2 similar categories, such as “Comedy” or “Entertainment.” Or, you might have a video that demonstrates how to use a piece of software. Should you select “Science & Technology” or “Howto & Style”?

These best practices can help guide your decision.

YouTube Category Best Practices:

  • Consider your audience: Think about who your target audience is and which category they’re likely to browse or search within. For instance, you might have an educational video about eco-friendly beauty products, and you’ll feature affiliate links in your description. While the video could fall under “Education,” your target audience is more likely to search for “Howto & Style” videeos.
  • Stay consistent across your channel: If you regularly post content on a similar topic, keep your videos in the same category. Consistency helps build a clear brand identity and makes it easier for viewers to find related content on your channel.
  • Reassess over time: As your channel grows and evolves, it may be worth reassessing your category choices. Your audience may shift over time, or your content focus may change. Don’t hesitate to update the category of older videos when needed.

5. Add a Custom Thumbnail

It’s easy to just let YouTube select a screenshot from your video to use as a thumbnail. However, these images are rarely eye-catching or effective. Your thumbnail is your visual hook to get searchers to click on your video, and a well-designed custom thumbnail can significantly boost your CTR.

For OptinMonster’s YouTube videos, we always create thumbnails that are fun, attractive, and intriguing:

OptinMonster YouTube thumbnails. Most of them include the host's face, and they all include bright contrasting colors and bold text.

YouTube Thumbnail Best Practices:

  • Stay on-brand: Use consistent colors, fonts, and design elements to make your thumbnails easily recognizable.
  • Use faces and text: Thumbnails with faces tend to perform better because they create an emotional connection. Adding text can also clarify the video’s content at a glance.
  • Choose high-contrast colors: Use bright colors and high-contrast images to make your thumbnail stand out. You want your thumbnail to be easy to see, even on small screens.
  • A/B Test your thumbnails: YouTube has recently rolled out A/B testing for thumbnails. This feature lets you try out up to 3 thumbnails to see which performs the best.

6. Include Timestamps to Create Chapters

Timestamps are specific time markers added to a YouTube video’s description. They allow viewers to jump directly to a particular moment or section of the video. They’re perfect for longer videos or tutorials, where viewers might be interested in specific segments.

For example, we uploaded our webinar about A/B testing to YouTube and added timestamps in the description:

YouTube video description that includes timestamps for chapters. The timestamps start:
0.00 Introduction and Webinar Overview
02:04 The Concept of Split Testing
04:26 Defining A/B Split Testing

Timestamps provide context that help YouTube video rankings.

When timestamps are added to a video, YouTube automatically generates chapters, which are clickable segments on the video progress bar. Here’s what that looks like on our webinar video:

Screenshot of a YouTube video featuring chapters along the video timeline. The chapter currently highlighted is titled 'Creating Split Tests in OptinMonster' at the 18:52 timestamp.

Timestamps help your YouTube SEO strategy in 3 ways:

  1. Increased watch time and engagement: Timestamps and chapters make it easier for viewers to find the information they want, which leads to better audience retention and more clicks. In turn, that helps your videos’ search rankings.
  2. More context for search algorithms: The titles of your timestamps give YouTube and Google more information about your video’s content. That can help your video rank for more search terms.
  3. “Key moments” in Google search: Google uses your chapters to create “key moments” that show up in Google video search results. Here’s an example of key moments that display on an OptinMonster video in Google search:
A Google video search page where the first result in a YouTube video from OptinMonster. The search result has been expanded to show "10 key moments in this video."

Best Practices for Adding Timestamps:

  • Identify key sections: Before adding timestamps, identify the main sections or topics covered in your video. These sections should be natural breaks in the content that a viewer might want to jump to.
  • Use descriptive labels: When labeling your timestamps, use clear and descriptive text. For example, instead of just writing “1:23 – Tip 1,” give more information by writing “1:23 – Tip 1: Optimize your video title.”
  • Start with a 0:00 timestamp: Always start your list of timestamps with “0:00” and use a label like “Introduction.” This sets the stage for the viewer and lets them know they can jump to other sections if needed.
  • Be consistent: If you’re creating multiple videos with timestamps, try to maintain a consistent format. Consistency helps regular viewers know what to expect and makes your videos more user-friendly.

7. Add Subtitles or Closed Captions

Accessibility is the #1 reason you should add subtitles or closed captions to all your videos. It’s also helpful for your YouTube SEO strategy and can help your videos get higher rankings.

Subtitles increase audience retention by catering to viewers who prefer watching without sound. More importantly, they help non-native speakers and users with hearing impairments. Your subtitles also give YouTube and Google more text to index and rank your video for, which directly impacts SEO.

YouTube Subtitle Best Practices:

  • Create Accurate Subtitles: If you followed a script for your video, you can always upload your script using these transcript formatting guidelines. Otherwise, start with YouTube’s automatic captioning feature, or use a third-party service to generate subtitles. Make sure you always review and edit the transcript for accuracy.
  • Decide between subtitles and closed captions: Subtitles only include the words that are spoken during your video. Closed captions also include descriptions of any noises, such as sound effects, music, or even sighs and laughs. Use closed captions if your video includes non-verbal sounds that are important to the video’s meaning.

8. Include Cards and End Screens

Cards and end screens are interactive, clickable elements that you can add to your YouTube videos. They help keep viewers engaged, promote additional content, and guide them towards specific actions. Cards and end screens can encourage viewers to subscribe to your channel, watch another video, or visit an external website.

These in-video links let you encourage viewers to take a desired action. For example, the end screens for many of our videos include a link to sign up for OptinMonster:

End Screen for an OptinMonster video. It includes a link that says "Use the code OMVIDEOS. OptinMonster.com. Sign Up"

Clicks on your cards count as engagement, which helps your YouTube SEO.

Best Practices for Cards:

  • Focus on timing: Place cards during moments when viewers are highly engaged or when they might be interested in exploring more content. For instance, if you mention a topic that you cover in another video, that’s the perfect moment to suggest it through a card.
  • Keep it relevant: Make sure your card is highly relevant to the current video. You might link to a related video, a playlist, or a poll to engage your audience further.
  • Limit the number of cards: Too many cards can be distracting. Stick to a few that provide real value and are well-timed.

Best Practices for End Screens:

  • Keep it simple: Use a clear call-to-action (CTA) that encourages viewers to take the next step, such as subscribing or watching another video.
  • Make it look great: Design end screens that are visually appealing and consistent with your brand. Use contrasting colors to make buttons and CTAs stand out.

9. Group Videos Into Playlists

YouTube playlists are collections of videos on a particular topic or related to a specific interest. They help you organize your content and keep viewers engaged for longer periods. Playlists create a seamless viewing experience that encourages binge-watching. That will increase overall watch time and improve the ranking of your YouTube videos.

OptinMonster’s YouTube channel is organized into a number of playlists, including this one called “How to Grow Your Email List”:

OptinMonster YouTube playlist called "How to Grow Your Email List." It includes 22 videos, starting with:
"5 Places to Add Email Signup Forms for Higher Conversions" and "First 5 Steps to Start Your Email List."

YouTube Playlist Best Practices:

  • Group related content: Organize your videos into thematic playlists, so viewers can easily find the content they’re interested in. For example, a fitness channel might have separate playlists for beginner workouts, advanced routines, and nutritional advice.
  • Optimize playlist titles and descriptions: Just like with individual videos, use keywords in your playlist titles and descriptions to help them show up in search results.
  • Use a logical order: Arrange videos in a logical order within the playlist. For tutorial or educational content, this might be chronological or step-by-step. For entertainment, it might be by popularity or release date.

10. Track & Analyze Your Video’s Performance

SEO for a YouTube video isn’t a one-and-done process. You need to monitor each video’s performance so you can continually optimize your YouTube search rankings. Analyze metrics such as watch time, click-through rate (CTR), audience retention, likes, comments, and shares. This data lets you know which strategies are working and which ones you need to adjust.

Best Practices for Analyzing Performance:

  • Use YouTube Analytics: YouTube’s built-in analytics let you easily track key metrics. Pay specific attention to any spikes and drop-offs in your videos. That helps you understand what keeps your target audience engaged and where they’re losing interest.
  • Experiment and test: Use your data to test different strategies. For instance, if your CTR is low, experiment with different thumbnails and titles. If your watch time is low, consider adjusting your video’s length or structure.
  • Monitor Engagement: Keep an eye on likes, comments, and shares. These interactions play a significant role in video performance. Respond to comments to encourage more interaction.

Generate More Leads From Your YouTube Videos

When you apply these YouTube SEO tips and best practices, you’ll start getting more views and engagement on your videos. But if your YouTube channel is part of a larger brand, then getting viewers is just the first step. You also want to encourage those viewers to take another action, such as purchasing a product or joining your email marketing list.

In other words, YouTube videos are a powerful way to generate more leads for your business. You just need the right tools and strategy to make that happen.

OptinMonster is the best lead-generation tool on the market. You can use our popups, floating bars, and other onsite campaigns to grow your email list and offer enticing coupons and lead magnets.

Popup with a photo of a woman holding shopping bags. "Want to get an extra 5% off your order?" CTA button says "Yes please!" and linked text below says "No thanks, I don't like saving money.

If you want to convert more of your YouTube viewers into leads, I suggest using these 2 strategies:

  1. Add OptinMonster campaigns to any web pages you link to in your videos or descriptions. You can use OptinMonster’s Referrer Detection to create special offers just for visitors coming from your YouTube channel!
  2. OptinMonster lets you create MonsterLinks™, which are links that directly open an OptinMonster campaign. In your video description, you can include text such as “Get more tips in our email newsletter,” “Download our free ebook,” or “Enjoy a 20% off coupon.” Use a MonsterLink™ to link that text to your OptinMonster campaign, which will ask for their email address to receive that perk.

That’s just a tiny glimpse at what you can accomplish with OptinMonster. Here’s a quick overview of our features:

Give it a try today with our 14-day money-back guarantee!

Related Resources:

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34 Clever Scarcity Examples to Skyrocket Your Conversions https://optinmonster.com/scarcity-examples-to-boost-your-conversions/ https://optinmonster.com/scarcity-examples-to-boost-your-conversions/#respond Wed, 21 Aug 2024 17:00:00 +0000 https://optinmonster.com/?p=103968 Have you ever seen a countdown timer on a sale or an “Only a few left!” message on a product page? That’s scarcity marketing in action. Scarcity marketing works because it increases the perceived value of a product. When something feels rare or exclusive, we tend to want it more. This can lead to higher …

The post 34 Clever Scarcity Examples to Skyrocket Your Conversions appeared first on OptinMonster.]]>
Have you ever seen a countdown timer on a sale or an “Only a few left!” message on a product page? That’s scarcity marketing in action.

Scarcity marketing works because it increases the perceived value of a product. When something feels rare or exclusive, we tend to want it more. This can lead to higher sales and a competitive edge for businesses that use it effectively.

In this article, we’ll share 34 scarcity examples to help you boost conversions.

What Is Scarcity Marketing?

Scarcity marketing is a strategy that leverages the fear of missing out (FOMO) by creating a sense of urgency through limited availability or time-sensitive offers. It’s a powerful technique for increasing perceived value and driving immediate action.

Here’s how it works:

  • Limited Supply: This could involve limited quantities of a product, exclusive collections, or limited-time offers.
  • Time Pressure: Countdown timers, flash sales, and “only a few left” notifications create a sense of urgency and encourage people to buy before it’s too late.
  • Exclusivity: Making a product or service feel exclusive can make it more desirable. This could involve VIP access, limited edition releases, or high-end products.

By using these tactics, scarcity marketing aims to:

  • Increase Demand: When something feels scarce, people are more likely to want it, leading to higher sales.
  • Boost Perceived Value: Limited availability suggests a product is more valuable or desirable, making people more willing to pay a premium.
  • Drive Action: The fear of missing out encourages people to make a purchase decision quickly before the opportunity disappears.

Scarcity marketing can be a powerful tool, but it’s important to use it ethically. If done wrong, it can come across as manipulative or inauthentic.

Let’s take a look at 34 examples of scarcity marketing.

Scarcity Marketing Examples

We have curated these scarcity examples from real-life brands that have used the scarcity principle in their online campaigns. The examples offer several ideas on how to apply the scarcity principle in your marketing.

  1. Cracku: Urgency Through Countdown Timers
  2. Wildist: 50% Discount for 2 Days
  3. Tinder: Fear of Missing Out
  4. Booking.com: Book Before It’s Too Late
  5. Chemical Guys: Beat the Clock Sale
  6. Bud Light: Limited Edition Pack
  7. JACK1T: Only 2 Pieces in Stock
  8. Clubhouse: Invite-Only Sign-Ups
  9. Amazon Prime: Discount While Supplies Last
  10. Bed Bath & Beyond: Top Deals Are Scarce
  11. BookMyShow: Seats Filing Fast
  12. Netflix: Only On Netflix
  13. Tesla Apparrel: Notify When Available
  14. MasterClass: BOGO Meets Limited-Time Offer
  15. Coke: Share a Coke
  16. Airbnb: Rare Find
  17. Float: Request Access
  18. Moto Z: Limited Time Offer
  19. HappySales: Join the Waitlist
  20. Nokia: Black Friday With a Twist
  21. Amazon: Today’s Lightning Deals
  22. Ninety9: Happy Hour Deals
  23. Best Buy: Flash Sale
  24. iHerb: 13 Sold in 24 Hours
  25. Fleet Feet: Clearance Sale
  26. Thread Up: End-of-Year Sale
  27. Pulp & Press: Abandoned Cart Email
  28. Asos: Black Friday Deal
  29. Catalina Crunch: Early Access SMS Marketing
  30. Jeffree Star: A Different Take on Scarcity
  31. G Fuel: Giveaways Worth $10,000
  32. Eightvape: Christmas Holiday Offer
  33. Udemy: Sale Ends Today
  34. Growth Marketing: Last Chance to Register

1. Cracku: Urgency Through Countdown Timers

Countdown timers are the best scarcity examples in marketing. Cracku, an online student coaching portal, used OptinMonster to create countdown timers on its website.

They combined it with a limited-time offer and increased conversions by 300%.

scarcity examples

2. Wildist: 50% Discount for 2 Days

scarcity marketing examples

Wildist offers people to sign up for its workshops at half price, but only for 2 days.

Notice the testimonials from past customers on the top-right of the page. Social proof earns you trust and improves website conversions by 34%.

Pro-Tip: Check out this list of social proof notification apps you can use to add credibility to your site! We recommend TrustPulse. It’s the best social proof notification tool out there.

3. Tinder: Fear of Missing Out

examples of scarcity marketing

Tinder uses a push notification for its mobile app users to improve product adoption. They notify inactive users that their profiles won’t be visible to possible matches if they don’t start using the app.

The clever use of scarcity triggers fear of missing out (FOMO) in buyers. Research suggests that about 69% of millennials experience FOMO, and 60% make impulsive purchases because of it.

In other words, FOMO works wonders in convincing people to take action.

Pro-tip: Want to create push notifications like Tinder’s? Take a look at PushEngage. It’s the world’s best push notification software that’s easy to install and set up.

4. Booking.com: Book Before It’s Too Late

Scarcity examples are more common in marketplaces with fluctuating supply and demand of goods and services. For instance, the travel and hospitality industry.

Booking.com is a master at scarcity marketing. Take a look at how they imply that this deal on a hotel won’t be available for very long.

scarcity principle

5. Chemical Guys: Beat the Clock Sale

Car detailing company Chemical Guys creates urgency for website visitors with multiple limited-time offers.

The sooner buyers book a service, the more discounts they get.

scarcity principle examples

6. Bud Light: Limited Edition Pack

scarcity marketing examples

Bud Light collaborated with the Philadelphia Eagles to launch a special edition commemorative beer pack to celebrate the team’s Super Bowl victory.

The beverage company produced 20,418 packs to honor the victory date: 02/04/2018. Special edition marketing also allows brands to sell products at higher prices. Fans don’t mind buying limited quantities of special merchandise at a premium.

7. JACK1T: Only 2 Pieces in Stock

what is scarcity principle

JACK1T lets you know when they are running low on a particular item. This is a good scarcity example that highlights how creating urgency in marketing can improve conversions.

8. Clubhouse: Invite-Only Sign-Ups

what is scarcity marketing

Remember when Clubhouse was a rage? One of the reasons it became so popular in such a short time was because it created an illusion of exclusivity.

Only people who had an invite from existing Clubhouse members could join the social audio platform. This drove a huge demand for Clubhouse sign-ups.

Clubhouse had another level of scarcity baked into its platform. Initially, it was available only in iOS. A year later after its launch, it was launched on the Android platform.

Although the craze for the platform has died down, it remains a shining example of how to use a sense of scarcity and exclusivity to increase sign-ups.

9. Amazon Prime: Discount While Supplies Last

Amazon Prime Now has a weekly ad with a time-sensitive discount.

For more examples like these, read our post on how to use discount codes to increase conversions.

10. Bed Bath & Beyond: Top Deals Are Scarce

scarcity marketing tips

Bed Bath & Beyond uses a unique promo offer for each product category in its website’s Top Deals section. All deals have footer text to create urgency in buyers:

  • Limited time
  • Valid thru 2/2
  • While supplies last

This is to let the buyers know they’ll get the most value for their money if they buy sooner.

11. BookMyShow: Seats Filing Fast

scarcity marketing ideas

India’s largest online movie and events booking platform BookMyShow uses a popup to convert movie lovers to buy its most expensive tickets.

Let’s see how it works.

The most expensive seats have better reclining, extra leg room, and the best view of the screen. The booking page suggests that people might lose out on the premium experience if they don’t act fast.

They also use ember color text for the fast-selling seats. This is an example of demand-induced scarcity. What color you choose for CTA buttons can impact conversions.

12. Netflix: Only On Netflix

netflix scarcity marketing

Netflix knows that movie lovers will go to any extent to watch their favorite movies and shows. It buys the copyright of high-demand content like Kill Boksoon and Money Heist.

It even has an entire genre called Only On Netflix for non-subscribers to browse. Netflix drives new subscriptions by making high-demand content available only on its platform.

13. Tesla Apparrel: Notify When Available

how to use scarcity in marketing

Tesla has an eCommerce shop that sells vehicle accessories, battery chargers, and apparel. The website has a functionality for buyers to receive an email notification for out-of-stock items.

This is a genius scarcity marketing example on many levels.

  • First, it implies that out-of-stock products are scarce resources. People are more likely to opt in for notifications if they think it’s going to fly off the shelves.
  • Second, it’s also a lead generation technique. Buyers who optin for a notification will also start getting marketing emails from Tesla for other products in the future.

Pro-tip: Want to target and convert website visitors based on their past interactions? Use OptinMonster’s Onsite Retargeting®. It lets you optimize campaigns for returning visitors and boost your eCommerce sales.

14. MasterClass: BOGO Meets Limited-Time Offer

how to use scarcity marketing

Buy one get one (BOGO) is a great way to convert customers and increase your average order value.

In this scarcity example, MasterClass offers 2 memberships for the cost of 1. It combines the discount with a holiday offer that’s ending soon.

Product bundling like this gets buyers to convert faster because they get a 2x return on investment (ROI) on their purchase.

15. Coke: Share a Coke

how to use scarcity technique

The world-famous beverage company Coca-Cola’s Share a Coke campaign was a hit when it came out. The campaign allowed customers to buy Coke bottles with the names of their friends and family members.

The campaign sold 1.25 million drinks in the U.S. and improved sales by 11% in a year.

Coke ran the campaign at the expense of replacing its brand name from the bottles. It’s a classic example of scarcity advertising coupled with emotional intelligence.

Depending on where you live, you can still order personalized Coke bottles from their website. Notice not 1 but 2 website notification bars on the website.

scarcity examples in marketing

The company sure knows how to create multiple sale opportunities on a website!

16. Airbnb: Rare Find

airbnb scarcity

Airbnb makes its customers feel lucky to find properties that aren’t sold out. It’s the company’s way to highlight resource scarcity for their premium property listings.

17. Float: Request Access

scarcity marketing hacks

Float asks new users to request access to the app instead of handing out free signups. This means their platform isn’t easy for everyone to sign up for.

The message is clear: you might not be allowed if you don’t fit the bill. The scarcity of access makes it immediately appealing.

18. Moto Z: Limited Time Offer

limited time offer

Moto Z offers its customers a scarce opportunity to buy its new smartphone for only $200.

Limited-time offers convert like crazy.

An online clothing company ran an experiment offering one of its products with and without a limited-time next-day shipping offer. The one with the relative scarcity offer increased sales by 226%.

19. HappySales: Join the Waitlist

happysales ai

HappySales is a business-to-business (B2B) sales technology software that’s yet to launch. Its website allows users to join the private beta. When you click the CTA button, it takes you to a sign-up form.

But instead of asking users to sign up for free, Happysales encourages joining privately. This implies that they don’t entertain everyone. It’s an exclusive circle of users.

20. Nokia: Black Friday With a Twist

scarcity principle tips

Nokia sent this marketing email to its customers a few years back. Instead of offering instant discounts or pre-orders, Nokia made it easy for customers to create a personalized wishlist.

This is among the best Black Friday-related scarcity examples.

21. Amazon: Today’s Lightning Deals

amazon scarcity examples

Amazon’s “Lightning Deals” are offered daily for only a few hours.

22. Ninety9: Happy Hour Deals

what is scarcity

Protea Hotel in Kampala uses happy hour discounts to drive traffic to its retro bar. You can get amazing discounts on a limited variety of drinks, but only between 5-7 pm.

23. Best Buy: Flash Sale

what is an example of scarcity

Best Buy’s flash sale offers multiple scarcity examples rolled into one.

The sale is live only for 48 hours. The website notification bar lets users know the exact time and date when the sale will start and end. This heightens the sense of scarcity.

Best Buy also reminds buyers of the limited availability of products. And that they won’t accept rainchecks.

24. iHerb: 13 Sold in 24 Hours

what is an example of scarcity in marketing

iHerb’s website has multiple cues to convert visitor traffic. It uses a notification bar to offer a 20% discount, While also reminding buyers that the offer ends on a specific date.

Further down, iHerb lets people see the number of products other buyers have bought in the last 24 hours. If you don’t act on time, the product might run out of stock.

The limited availability of resources is one of the causes of scarcity.

Pro-tip: Are your customers dropping off of your website due to out-of-stock products? Read our guide on how to win more sales with out-of-stock pages.

25. Fleet Feet: Clearance Sale

best examples of scarcity marketing

A lot of online retailers use clearance sales to sell surplus products at reduced prices. Online apparel stores especially have clearance sales because they are closing down or need to clear old stocks to make room for new product inventory.

In any case, a clearance sale implies that the discounted offering is going to run for a short time. Here, Fleet Feet has an entire product category called Clearance with discounted products.

26. Thread Up: End-of-Year Sale

best examples of scarcity principle

End-of-year sales are similar to clearance sale campaigns. Thread Up, a second-hand apparel store, combines its year-end sale with multiple other promotions.

The copy on the website offers a discount code and free shipping. It also reminds customers about the sale ending date and time to trigger buyers’ scarcity mindset.

27. Pulp & Press: Abandoned Cart Email

Pulp & Press sends buyers a limited-time discount on their orders to reduce cart abandonment. This is a great way to create artificial scarcity and convert lost opportunities into sales.

28. Asos: Black Friday Deal

examples of scarcity marketing online

Asos offers a Black Friday discount code. It follows its promotion by reminding people to stay safe and be ahead of the surge.

This is among the best scarcity examples that explicitly communicate the limited resources and time.

29. Catalina Crunch: Early Access SMS Marketing

scarcity marketing technique

Catalina Crunch offers users early access to its Black Friday deals. When visitors click on the signup button, the website asks them to enter their phone number.

These kinds of optin campaigns are trade-offs between what buyers want and what sellers can offer.

30. Jeffree Star: A Different Take on Scarcity

scarcity examples online

Jeffree Star has a different take on creating scarcity.

Instead of creating scarcity with limited-time offers or discounts, they do it with delivery times.

Jeffree Star uses a website alert banner to let customers know that orders after 12/19 will be delivered after Christmas. This means the earlier people place their orders, the earlier they will receive them.

Nice way to evoke scarcity!

31. G Fuel: Giveaways Worth $10,000

tips for scarcity marketing

G Fuel runs a giveaway contest on its website for visitors to enter a chance to win 1 grand prize. Or, they can enter to win 10 runner-up incentives.

Either way, G Fuel’s scarcity example is not based on time. It’s built on the probability of winning by participating in the sweepstakes and answering a simple question.

Pro-tip: Do you want an easy way to run giveaways in WordPress? Get RafflePress. RafflePress is the best plugin that lets you run successful giveaways in WooCommerce.

32. Eightvape: Christmas Holiday Offer

how to use scarcity principle in marketing

Eightvape displays a banner on its website hero section, offering customers tempting Christmas offers for a limited period.

The website also uses a Yes/No campaign to convert visitors into leads. Yes/No campaigns offer people a no-brainer choice: to choose an easy option or skip it for an opportunity cost.

scarcity examples of brands

33. Udemy: Sale Ends Today

scarcity examples inspiration

Udemy has a one-day flash sale for visitors to enroll in one of its online courses. The website also offers a discount code and has a notification bar with a countdown timer.

34. Growth Marketing: Last Chance to Register

scarcity marketing for lead generation

Growth Marketing’s email uses an image of a clock to suggest the need to act fast and create urgency. The CTA adds to the sense of scarcity further.

These CTAs work well both on your site and in your email marketing copy. Read our guide to creating the perfect call to action for more tips to improve conversions.

Time Is Running Out: Use These Scarcity Marketing Examples Now

See what we did there? Scarcity can be a great incentive for buyers to act sooner. Take inspiration from the examples in this post to apply in marketing your business.

If you’re new to marketing, you may also want to check out our comprehensive lead generation guide. Lead generation is the starting point for most things in marketing.

If you’re already running lead generation campaigns on your website, get started with OptinMonster. OptinMonster is the #1 lead generation tool that helps you build marketing campaigns to capture leads through popups, floating bars, sidebar optins, and more.

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7 Ways Digital Marketing Agencies Can Use OptinMonster to Increase Revenue https://optinmonster.com/ways-agencies-can-use-optinmonster/ https://optinmonster.com/ways-agencies-can-use-optinmonster/#respond Wed, 21 Aug 2024 16:26:54 +0000 https://optinmonster.com/?p=179002 Ready for your digital marketing agency to earn more revenue, WITHOUT adding more developers or designers? The marketing landscape is always changing and getting more competitive every day. Your agency needs to be creative and efficient in order to stand out and evolve. Fortunately, OptinMonster can be your competitive edge. In this article, we’ll go …

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Ready for your digital marketing agency to earn more revenue, WITHOUT adding more developers or designers?

The marketing landscape is always changing and getting more competitive every day. Your agency needs to be creative and efficient in order to stand out and evolve.

Fortunately, OptinMonster can be your competitive edge.

In this article, we’ll go over 7 ways that you can use OptinMonster to give your digital marketing agency a boost in the marketplace. First, we’ll look at how you can use OptinMonster to get more of your own clients. Then we’ll look at ways OptinMonster can add new offers and diversify your revenue streams.

Let’s get started!

What is OptinMonster?

OptinMonster is the best lead generation tool in the world that makes it easy for you to exponentially grow your email list and fill your lead pipeline.

With its drag and drop builder, you can create eye-catching popups and other lead generation forms that are optimized to deliver the highest conversion rates.

You can use OptinMonster on any website or eCommerce platform you can think of, including:

The leads collected by OptinMonster can go to all sorts of email service providers and CRM tools, such as:

You can set up multiple integrations for each campaign, which makes lead sharing super easy for your clients and their marketing partners.

OptinMonster is a hosted app, meaning you can manage your own campaigns and your clients’ campaigns all from the same place. You can also create sub accounts to give clients different levels of access to their campaigns.

For example, if you want them to be able to review campaigns without editing them, you can set them up as a Viewer. More hands-on clients can be given Author access to make their own tweaks, but your team of experts gets final say before a campaign goes live.

You can use OptinMonster to increase your own lead generation efforts as well as bring in more traffic and income for your clients. Talk about a win-win!

Now let’s look at some specific ways you can drum up more business with OptinMonster, for your agency and for your clients.

How to Increase Agency Sales With OptinMonster

First, let’s go over some ways to get more marketing clients for your agency using OptinMonster.

1. Build Your Email List

As an experienced digital marketer, you probably already know how important email marketing is. But when was the last time you paid attention to your agency’s email list?

We totally get it. You’re busy running your business and getting great results for your clients. Fortunately, OptinMonster can help automate your email lead generation with popups, slide-ins, and other forms.

Once those leads are on your email list or CRM, you can send more information about your agency and services or have your sales team reach out to schedule a call. The important thing is growing that list of email subscribers who are ready to learn from you, and eventually hire you.

Vital Design is a digital marketing agency that used OptinMonster to grow their own email list by 97%. They used clever exit-intent popups that didn’t disrupt the browsing experience. Their results were so good that they started using OptinMonster for their clients. One of their restaurant clients saw a 75% increase in conversions using OptinMonster. You can read the full Vital Design case study here for more details on how they did it.

2. Qualify Leads

Not only can OptinMonster bring in new leads, but you can also use the many advanced design and targeting features to qualify leads. There’s no point in getting tons of new leads if none of them are actually ready to hire you. So you want to make sure that your leads are qualified.

One way to do this is by building a custom lead generation form. OptinMonster makes this super easy with the Fields block in the drag and drop builder. Without any coding at all, you can add text boxes, dropdowns, radio buttons, and other custom form fields to gather the information you need about potential clients. You can then send this data to your email platform or CRM and use it to segment your leads.

Another strategy is to use OptinMonster’s targeting rules to display your lead gen forms to specific segments of your audience. For instance, you could target visitors based on geolocation. Inbound Marketing targeted their lead magnet popups to Australian visitors and increased their conversion rates by 189%.

You can also use page-level targeting to display tailored popups for different topics on your agency website. OptinMonster makes it incredibly easy to duplicate and edit campaigns to match different pages or blog posts. CPC Strategy created 110 customized offers throughout their site and converted a whopping 76% of targeted visitors.

OptinMonster even has a fully automated lead verification feature called TruLead™. TruLead can weed out entries from spam bots, temporary email addresses, and other bad leads before they ever hit your inbox. This saves time, money, and your email sender reputation.

3. Increase Conversions

OptinMonster is full of conversion rate optimization features you can use to get more leads. We’ll go over just a few of the ones that real digital marketing agencies have used with great success.

Multistep forms like the one below are proven to improve conversion rates. Someone who clicks on Yes is more likely to finish the process of filling out the form once they’ve begun. Similarly, a lead who takes the time to click through to the next screen is likely more interested in what you’re offering. This means they may be more likely to become paying clients later.

OptinMonster can turn any campaign into a multistep form. Every template has a Yes/No view already available. You just have to enable and customize the first step.

You can also use MonsterLinks to turn any link, image, or button on your website into a multistep form. When users click a MonsterLink, the signup form launches. That’s how Lead Guru achieved a 26% increase in conversions on an already popular lead magnet video.

Split testing is another essential practice for improving your conversion rates. Split testing, or A/B testing, is the practice of testing different versions of the same headline, call to action, or offer. Once you see which version performs better, you can use that on your website.

OptinMonster makes it easy to run split tests. You can create your variations with the drag and drop builder, and then OptinMonster will automatically show each version to different visitors at random. As the test runs, you’ll see detailed analytics about which campaign is performing better. The marketing agency Whole Whale used split testing to raise the conversion rate of an optin by 62%.

4. Sell a Digital Product

Digital products are a great way to bring in some additional revenue for your digital marketing agency. These products can be downsells for clients who aren’t able to work with you for budget or scheduling reasons. You can also use a digital product to generate leads. You might sell a DIY course that teaches an early part of your process, and then reach out to those customers later to see if they’re ready for a full-service digital marketing package.

As you might have guessed, OptinMonster can help you sell your digital product too. Reliablesoft.net used an OptinMonster slide-in campaign to redirect visitors to the agency’s SEO courses page. They also built a simple floating header with a countdown timer that increased course sales by 20%. That’s a continuous source of income without any additional work from the agency.

Now, let’s look at some ways that OptinMonster itself can form new revenue sources for your agency.

How to Add New Revenue Streams With OptinMonster

In addition to bringing in new clients for your digital marketing agency, OptinMonster can create new offers and income sources. Let’s look at 3 ways to do this, including both low effort and ongoing partnership options.

1. OptinMonster Affiliate Program

The first revenue stream is very simple to set up but can have big payoffs. OptinMonster has an affiliate program, which means we’d love to pay you a commission for recommending us to your clients.

Our affiliate commission rate is 20% of the initial sale after the first 37 days. Multiply that by all of your digital marketing clients and you’ve got a lot of revenue potential.

What you do with the client’s OptinMonster account after the affiliate sale is up to you. You can offer managed services or form a revenue-sharing partnership, which we’ll discuss in more detail below. But if you don’t want to, you can still profit from sharing a reliable marketing tool with your clients.

2. Managed Lead Generation Services

The second revenue stream is to sell packages of OptinMonster lead generation campaigns to your digital marketing clients. You can either run these campaigns from the client’s account, or from your agency’s OptinMonster account. Using OptinMonster to create and execute lead generation campaigns adds a ton of value to your agency services. You can then charge a premium for this valuable service.

OptinMonster has Sub Accounts and folders, which you can use to keep your client campaigns separate from your agency’s own promotions. You can also give your clients different levels of access to their campaigns depending on how involved they want to be.

Medstar Media used OptinMonster’s exit-intent popups to boost a client’s conversions by a full 500%. After this successful campaign, they started creating OptinMonster campaigns for other clients. The agency took advantage of OptinMonster’s easy split testing and page-level targeting to help their clients generate millions more in revenue.

Fastrack also used OptinMonster for their clients in the hotel and travel industry. One targeted exit-intent campaign converted over 53% of abandoning visitors with a coupon code application button.

Logic Inbound combined their marketing expertise with OptinMonster’s features to skyrocket a client’s conversion rate by 1500%. The agency optimized the offer messaging, targeted abandoning users, and split tested a variety of design options. As a result, this client saw 500% more in-person visitors compared to before they started using OptinMonster.

3. Revenue Sharing Partnership

When you start getting these huge results for your clients by using OptinMonster, you can unlock a third income source: revenue sharing.

With revenue sharing, your agency charges a small fee to set up and launch lead generation campaigns in OptinMonster. Then, as the sales roll in, your agency collects a portion of the revenue generated from those campaigns as your ongoing fee.

For example, let’s say your marketing campaigns generate $10,000 monthly for your client, like KnivesShipFree.com saw on the first day of their promotion. That client could then share 10% of that revenue with you, which is $1,000. You can run evergreen campaigns that continue to earn money for you and your client without additional work.

OptinMonster makes it easy for you and your client partners to track revenue. With the revenue attribution feature, you can see exactly how much each campaign is earning for your client. This kind of hard data about return on investment (ROI) improves customer retention and can even generate new business as your clients brag about their results to their colleagues.

Revenue sharing works well for ongoing clients who may not have the cash up front to hire your agency, want to see actual results before committing to a long-term contract, or just want a more collaborative partnership style.

Next Steps: Grow Your Digital Marketing Agency With OptinMonster!

We hope this gave you some ideas for how to use OptinMonster to improve lead generation for your digital marketing agency.

To sum up, here are 7 ways to earn more revenue with OptinMonster:

  1. Build an email list of interested leads
  2. Qualify new leads with OptinMonster’s many segmentation and targeting features
  3. Increase conversions with multistep optins, split testing, and other conversion rate optimization strategies built into OptinMonster
  4. Sell a digital product using OptinMonster’s eCommerce features
  5. Earn affiliate commissions for recommending OptinMonster to your clients
  6. Offer premium managed lead generation services using OptinMonster
  7. Share revenue generated by OptinMonster with your clients

If you want to discover the latest digital marketing trends, challenges, and opportunities, read Mind-Blowing Digital Marketing Statistics to Learn From.

Ready to add more clients and income streams to your marketing agency? Try OptinMonster risk-free today!

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What Is Gated Content and How to Create It (Examples & Best Practices) https://optinmonster.com/gated-content-marketing-strategy/ https://optinmonster.com/gated-content-marketing-strategy/#respond Wed, 21 Aug 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://optinmonster.com/?p=115133 Did you know that gated content could be the ultimate key to getting more email subscribers and customers on your website? When you require sign-up or sign-in to see some of your best content, you create a fantastic incentive for your website visitors. A gated content marketing strategy helps you boost your lead generation efforts …

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Did you know that gated content could be the ultimate key to getting more email subscribers and customers on your website?

When you require sign-up or sign-in to see some of your best content, you create a fantastic incentive for your website visitors. A gated content marketing strategy helps you boost your lead generation efforts and grow your email list.

In fact, our client Photowebo increased their conversions 3806% by using gated content!

Do you want to learn how to get results like this?

In this detailed guide, I’ll walk you through the ins and outs of content gating, so you can effectively engage your audience and generate high-quality leads.

Quick links:

  1. What Is Gated Content?
  2. Gated vs. Ungated Content
  3. When Should You Gate Content?
  4. Gated Content Examples
  5. Gated Content Best Practices
  6. How To Create Gated Content
  7. Which Content Gating Tool Should You Use?

What Is Gated Content?

Gated content refers to digital material that users can only access after completing a specific action, typically providing personal information. This online content—which may include articles, videos, ebooks, or infographics—is often used as a lead generation tool by businesses.

To access gated content, users usually need to fill out a form with details like their email address, create an account, or sometimes pay for a subscription. By restricting access, companies can gather valuable data about their audience while offering premium or exclusive content in exchange.

As we’ll discuss later, gating content has pros and cons. But when done right, it can

  • make your content more appealing
  • help you to engage with your target audience
  • result in better leads

OptinMonster is the most robust lead-generation software on the market, and our content-locking feature lets you implement a gated content strategy in minutes. Our clients have seen excellent results from content gating, including one website that got 11,000 new subscribers monthly with a simple content upgrade.

Case Study See how one digital agency used gated content to boost conversion rates by 62% and 2x their email list.

For more details, keep reading!

Gated vs. Ungated Content

Now that you know the basic meaning of gated content, let’s talk about the difference between gated and ungated content. Picture two paths in a garden:

  1. Gated Content: This path is like a VIP entrance. When you go down the gated path, you agree to provide some personal information, like your email or zip code. In return, you can access more in-depth, valuable, or exclusive content. Think of it as a way for websites to get to know you better and offer you something special in return.
  2. Ungated Content: Conversely, the ungated path is like a stroll in the park. You can enjoy the content without sharing any personal information. It’s a lot like watching a movie trailer. You get a taste of what’s inside but don’t have to give anything in return.

In essence, gated content is a secret club where you exchange a small piece of information to access premium content. In contrast, ungated content is freely available for anyone to enjoy without any strings attached.

When Should You Gate Content?

Let’s explore when you should consider gating your content.

1) When It’s Extra Special

Like you save your favorite treats for special occasions, consider gating your most exceptional, high-content. Do you have a post or guide packed with insights, solutions, or secrets? One that has information your audience can’t easily find elsewhere? It might be a good candidate for gating.

2) For In-Depth Guides and Resources

Long-form pieces are also excellent candidates for gated content. Gating content like comprehensive guides, ebooks, or webinars that dive deep into a topic can be a great idea. People are more willing to share their info for valuable, in-depth resources. Often, these are offered as downloadable lead magnets.

3) For Exclusive Events and Experiences

You can also think of content gating as a lot like handing out VIP passes to an exclusive party. Locking content can create excitement and exclusivity if you’re offering something unique, like a live webinar with an industry expert or early access to a product launch.

4) For Valuable Tools and Templates

Imagine you’re giving someone a toolbox filled with handy gadgets. One smart gated content strategy is to offer practical tools, templates, or checklists. These should be resources that your target audience can use to solve real problems. People are often willing to trade information for tools that make their lives easier.

5) When Building Your Email List Matters

Any great email marketing strategy starts with a strong list of highly-interested leads. Just like you’d collect keys to open different doors, gating content can help you build a list of interested people. If growing your email list or capturing leads is a priority, gating certain content pieces can be an effective way to achieve that.

6) For Advanced Learning

Imagine you’re sharing advanced secrets with those who are ready to learn. You can deliver true value to your users by gating content that caters to a more experienced or specialized audience. The leads you gain with this strategy are likely to become some of your most engaged users and customers.

7) When You’re Testing Waters

Think of gating content as trying a new recipe. You want to see if people like what you’re making before making a big batch. If you’re experimenting with new ideas, products, or offerings, gating the content can help gauge interest and gather feedback.

8) Balancing Gated and Free Content

Imagine you have a buffet with some special dishes behind the counter. If customers have to ask for every dish that they’re interested in, they’ll likely just go somewhere else.

That’s why it’s essential to strike a balance between gated and free content. Gating everything might turn people away, but offering a mix of both can help you provide value to different types of audiences.

You must make sure that you have a wide variety of high-quality content that website visitors can read for free. Once they trust your expertise, they’ll be more likely to sign up when they come across locked content.

Ultimately, the decision to gate content boils down to the value you’re providing, as well as your goals. Just like protecting precious items, gating content adds a layer of exclusivity, making your audience feel like they’re part of something special.

Understanding when and why to use gated content can create a strategy that enhances engagement, builds relationships, and opens doors to exciting opportunities.

Gated Content Examples

Here are some real-life examples of gated content that companies and organizations have used to engage their audiences and generate leads:

1) HubSpot’s Marketing Resources

HubSpot's Marketing Resources - Gated Content

HubSpot, a leading inbound marketing platform, offers a variety of gated content resources such as ebooks, templates, and guides. Users can access these valuable materials by providing their contact information, which helps HubSpot build their email list and nurture leads.

2) Neil Patel’s Advanced Marketing Guides

Neil Patel's Advanced Marketing Guides - Gated Content

A prominent digital marketing expert, Neil Patel, provides in-depth guides and courses on topics like SEO, content marketing, and social media. Access to these advanced guides often requires users to opt in with their email addresses and other information.

Due to the advanced nature of his content, Patel asks for a lot more information than you’d usually want to require. Neil Patel also has established authority in his field, which makes it more likely for users to be willing to fill out so many fields. With the information he gains from this form, he’ll have the data he needs to segment his leads and personalize his marketing strategy.

However, for most websites, your initial optin forms should just ask for an email address and first name.

3) Moz’s Whitepapers and Webinars

Moz's Whitepapers and Webinars - Gated Content

Moz, a well-known SEO software company, offers whitepapers and webinars on topics related to search engine optimization. Users can access these resources by filling out a form, allowing Moz to capture leads and provide valuable insights to their audience.

4) Salesforce’s Reports and Surveys

Salesforce's Reports and Surveys - Gated Content

Salesforce, a leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform, publishes industry reports and surveys that provide valuable insights into trends and best practices. These reports are often gated, requiring users to provide their information before accessing the data.

5) DigitalMarketer’s Training Videos

DigitalMarketer's Training Videos - Gated Content

DigitalMarketer, a platform focused on digital marketing education, offers training videos on various marketing strategies. Users may need to sign up and provide their email addresses to watch these videos.

6) The New York Times (News Publishing)

The New York Times (News Publishing) - Gated Content

The New York Times offers non-subscribers a limited number of free articles each month while gating the rest of their premium content behind a paywall for subscribers.

7) Medium (Content Publishing Platform)

Medium (Content Publishing Platform) - Gated Content

Medium offers a membership program where subscribers can access premium articles, curated content, and exclusive features created by a community of writers. As a major publication, they’re able to offer account creation through Google, Facebook, or manually with an email address.

The examples above illustrate how companies leverage gated content to offer valuable resources, insights, and education in exchange for user information.

Gated Content Best Practices

Now that we’ve thoroughly examined content gating, let’s look at some best practices.

1) Know Your Audience Inside Out

Before you create gated content, gaining a deep understanding of your target audience is crucial. It would be best if you answered the following questions:

  • Who are they?
  • What challenges do they face?
  • What information are they hungry for?

Tailor your gated content to address their needs, pain points, and aspirations, ensuring it offers real value and resonates with their interest along the buyer’s journey.

2) Choose the Right Format

Gated content comes in various shapes and sizes. From ebooks and webinars to templates and case studies. Select the format that aligns best with your audience’s preferences and the nature of the information you’re sharing.

A well-chosen format enhances engagement and encourages users to provide their information willingly.

Bonus content: What is a Lead Magnet? Proven Lead Magnet Ideas and Examples

3) Craft Irresistible Headlines and CTA

A compelling headline and call to action button are your golden ticket to capturing interest in the digital age of short attention spans. Craft headlines that promise a clear benefit or solution, sparking curiosity as we move along the customer’s journey.

A well-crafted headline is the first step toward convincing users that your gated content is worth their time and information.

Bonus content: 130+ Proven Opt-in Headline Ideas to Get More Email Subscribers (Cheat Sheet)

4) Deliver Value Beyond Expectations

Gated content should surpass your audience’s expectations. Offer insights, knowledge, or solutions they can’t easily find elsewhere. Strive to provide actionable takeaways that empower your audience to apply what they’ve learned in their own endeavors.

5) Design User-Friendly Landing Pages

A seamless user experience is essential. Design landing pages that are clean and intuitive, guiding users through accessing your gated content. Keep forms concise, asking for only the necessary information, and assure users of the value they’ll receive in return.

Bonus content: Expert Tips for Writing Landing Page Copy That Converts  & Anatomy of the Perfect Optin Landing Page (Tips & Best Practices)

6) Promote Strategically

Gated content is a treasure waiting to be discovered. Promote it across your marketing channels – from social media and email campaigns to your website and partnerships. Leverage teasers, snippets, and compelling visuals to create anticipation and drive interest.

7) Leverage Social Proof

Incorporate social proof, such as testimonials and user reviews, to boost credibility and increase conversions. When seeing others benefit from your gated content, people are more likely to provide information.

8) Decide How Visitors Will Access the Content

Knowing how you’ll give new subscribers access to the content you’ve gated is important. Some of the options include:

  • Unlock on-page content immediately. This is easy to do with the instructions we’re about to share for content-locking campaigns.
  • Sending the content by email, which I always recommend for downloadable content.
  • Providing an immediate download link.
  • Opening the content in a new window or redirecting subscribers to a page where they can access the content.

You can use any of these options in any OptinMonster campaign by customizing the success view.

The next section will show you how to gate content with OptinMonster.

How To Create Gated Content

Now, I’ll show you how to gate content by creating an inline form campaign for a particular page with OptinMonster. This type of campaign locks access to a particular blog post or page. Users must then sign up for your email list to access your content.

This tutorial assumes that you’ve already installed OptinMonster on your WordPress site or any other type of site. You’ll also need to integrate your email marketing software.

Step 1: Create Your Content Gating Campaign

First, click Create New Campaign from your OptinMonster dashboard.

Create new OptinMonster campaign button

You’ll asked whether you want to use one of OptinMonster’s Playbooks or Templates, or if you want to design your own campaign from scratch using our Canvas designer.

For our purposes, we suggest choosing Template:

Choosing the "Template" option under "Start Creating Your Campaign"

Next, you’ll need to choose a campaign type.

OptinMonster offers different campaign types, including:

  • Lightbox Popup
  • Floating bar
  • Fullscreen
  • Slide-in
  • Inline

We’ll need to select an Inline Campaign to create a content lock campaign and choose a template.

OptinMonster offers 65+ templates, and all work beautifully across all devices.

In the search bar, type in “gated content” to easily find the Unlock Gated Content template.

Selecting the "Unlock Gated Content" template in OptinMonster

Once you click Use Template, you’ll be prompted to name your campaign and choose the website you want to display it on.

Step 2: Activate the Content Lock

First, we’ll activate the content lock feature.

Choose the Display Rules tab at the top of your campaign design screen.

The Display Rules tab is at the top of the screen when designing your gated content campaign

Next, select the Actions tab at the bottom of the screen and click the Enable Content Locking toggle so it turns blue. In the dropdown menu, you’ll be able to choose whether you want to blur your locked content or remove it completely.

Enabling content locking in OptinMonster

Now, we’re ready to customize our content lock campaign.

Step 3: Design Your Content Lock Campaign

Changing anything about your content lock campaign form is easy in the OptinMonster drag-and-drop builder and editor. Go back to the Design tab to return to the editor.

All you need to do is click on any part of the campaign to change it.

To edit the text, click on it or highlight the text. This will bring up the editing tools, and you’ll be able to change the text, as well as the font, color, and alignment.

Editing a content locking campaign in OptinMonster

You can also change the images and button colors, or add or remove blocks.

Be sure to use the tabs at the bottom of the page to also edit the Success View. That’s the message users will see after signing up for your email list, informing them that the post will now be unlocked.

Step 4. Choose Your Display Rules and Publish Your Campaign

Next, go to Display Rules. Here, you’ll be able to precisely control who sees your gated content campaign and when.

Here we’ve set the optin to display when the content URL path exactly matches the URL of the page where we want the campaign to display. This allows you to choose which blog post you want to turn into gated content

display_rules_gated_url

More display rule options include:

  • How long a user has been on a page
  • How many pages the user has viewed on your website
  • The geographic location of the user
  • and much more

For more on OptinMonster’s Display Rules, check out our documentation:
How to Use Display Rules to Customize When a Campaign Will Appear

When you have everything set the way you want it save your campaign and choose the Publish tab at the top of the page. Change the Publish Status to Publish and follow any instructions based on your website platform.

Which Content Gating Tool Should You Use?

OptinMonster is the best content gating tool. It’s built-in content locking feature is proven to get results. Remember those stats I mentioned earlier?

You can deliver your gated content immediately with OptinMonster’s success themes.

OptinMonster also integrates with all the major email marketing platforms and content management systems, so you can use it for gating content on any site.

Want to learn more about gated content before you get started? Here are a few helpful resources:

Once you’re ready to start skyrocketing your leads with gated content, sign up for OptinMonster! Choose the Plus plan or higher to access our Content Locking features.

Get Started With OptinMonster Today!
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11 Proven Ways to Generate Organic Leads and Increase Traffic https://optinmonster.com/organic-lead-generation-methods/ https://optinmonster.com/organic-lead-generation-methods/#respond Tue, 20 Aug 2024 17:00:00 +0000 https://optinmonster.com/?p=175251 Do you want to get more sales and traffic without spending any money? You need some organic lead generation strategies! Organic lead generation can boost both your website traffic and business revenue, all without costing you anything. In this article, we’ll go over some tried and true organic lead generation techniques that you can start …

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Do you want to get more sales and traffic without spending any money? You need some organic lead generation strategies!

Organic lead generation can boost both your website traffic and business revenue, all without costing you anything.

In this article, we’ll go over some tried and true organic lead generation techniques that you can start using today.

What Are Organic Leads?

Organic leads are potential customers who discover your business organically, without paid advertising. This can include through search engine results, social media, or word-of-mouth referrals.

What Is Organic Lead Generation?

Organic lead generation is the process of bringing in potential customers without spending money on PPC ads, sponsored content, or other paid marketing. It’s a form of inbound lead generation where new leads find you rather than you reaching out to new prospects.

Your leads will generally find you through organic search for a product, service, or question, rather than clicking on an ad or a direct link to your website. Once they reach your website, you want to get their contact information so you can connect them with your sales team or bring them into an automated sales funnel.

organic lead generation can get your business onto the first page of google search results

Benefits of Organic Lead Generation

Organic lead generation has many benefits. Since organic traffic is free, organic lead generation has a much lower cost and better return on investment (ROI). The only cost is your time and labor spent on the lead generation process.

Organic search traffic generally brings in better qualified leads because in order to find your website in the first place, they were searching with high commercial or transactional search intent. This means they were already comparing brands and services or looking for ways to buy what you’re selling.

Finally, organic lead generation can give you long-term results through evergreen content and automated content marketing funnels that can be used over and over. This is in contrast to ads or sponsored content that you have to keep paying for if you want to keep using.

Let’s look at some specific lead generation strategies for bringing in organic leads.

11 Organic Lead Generation Strategies That Really Work

As with all effective marketing strategies, organic lead generation isn’t about “beating the algorithm” or somehow tricking your customers into buying from you.The point is to really understand your customers, then simply making sure that your lead generation efforts are aligned with what they need. That’s why our first strategy is audience research.

1. Audience Research

The first part of any lead generation strategy should be audience research. Through surveys, interviews, social media engagement, and analyzing purchase data, you can define your ideal customer:

  • what their pain points are
  • what solutions they’ve tried
  • what was missing in the solutions they tried
  • where do they hang out online
  • where do they get information
  • what influences their decisions to buy
  • what are their buying behaviors
  • what demographics do they belong to

With a deep understanding of your buyer personas, you can shape your website content and marketing offers to make your brand irresistible to your target market.

2. Search Engine Optimization

Organic lead generation is based on organic traffic, which means one thing: search engine optimization (SEO).

When potential customers enter a search term, they see a search engine results page, or SERP. The click-through rates on the first page are significantly higher than any other page, so if you want to generate more organic leads, you have to get your website onto that first page.

Fortunately, you won’t be stuck just writing content for mindless computers. Search engines are smarter than they used to be, so creating a good user experience for real humans will also boost your site’s search engine rank.

A full explanation of SEO best practices is beyond the scope of this article, but here are the basics.

First, conduct some keyword research to find out what your target audience is actually searching for. If you and your customers aren’t speaking the same language about your product, you won’t be able to find each other through Google search.

Next, make sure your page speed is fast enough that visitors won’t get tired waiting for your website to load and click somewhere else.

You also want to make sure that your site structure is easy to navigate and contains a logical internal linking structure. This will help both search engines and real customers find the information and products they’re looking for more easily.

Finally, look for opportunities to get your site linked by other reputable and relevant websites. This is another indicator to search engines that your website is trustworthy and gives searchers what they’re looking for.

3. Content Marketing

Content marketing is using high-quality content to support your customers on every step of their buyer journey. Based on the audience and keyword research you’ve conducted, you can create content that converts visitors into customers without slashing prices or giving too much away. See how Christopher Place converted 60% of their organic traffic without using discounts.

By adding relevant keywords to blogs, video content, white papers, and other content on your website, you can draw in search traffic looking for the answers that you’re providing.

Content creation can be a lot of work, so make the most out of every piece of content with OptinMonster.

OptinMonster

OptinMonster is the easiest way to generate leads from your website content with popups, inline forms, floating bars, scroll boxes, and other marketing campaigns.

floating bar templates for popup announcement

Use these campaigns to share newsletter subscription forms, discount codes, content and product recommendations, and so much more.

With OptinMonster, you can easily add advanced conversion-boosting features like 2-step optins, discount spin wheels, or geotargeting to any piece of content you’d like.

The targeting rules make sure that your message gets in front of the right customers at the right time.

display rules on OptinMonster
Get Started With OptinMonster Today!
BONUS: Done-For-You Campaign Setup ($297 value) Our conversion experts will design 1 free campaign for you to get maximum results – absolutely FREE! Click here to get started →

Now let’s look at some other examples of how to use OptinMonster for organic lead generation.

4. Social Media & Online Communities

Once you’ve created lead-generating content, don’t be shy! Share that content in social media posts to build brand awareness and a community around your brand.

Social media isn’t always the easiest place to sell, but it’s a great opportunity to engage with your customers before and after they buy. You can answer customer questions, and also ask your own questions about their needs and wants. Once your social media audience knows, likes, and trusts your brand, they’ll be more ready to buy.

Check out how Expat.com grows their community by 30,000 members every month with OptinMonster.

5. Guest Blogging & Content Partnerships

Publishing quality content on other platforms is a simple way to generate more organic leads, especially for early-stage businesses.

Maybe your target audience hasn’t heard of you yet, but they might read a thought leadership piece that you wrote for an industry publication. That might make them curious about your brand and lead them to your website.

When publishing content on other platforms, make sure to include your name or brand name and a link to your website like the example below. This will help drive some of those website visitors to your brand and make sure your content shows up in searches.

6. Contests & Challenges

Everyone loves to win, and contests or challenges are very effective for organic lead generation.

You might run a raffle-style giveaway that customers can sign up for with their email addresses.

User-generated content can boost your SEO, so hosting a UGC contest can help generate engaging content from real users. This is also a form of social proof that shows how popular your brand or product is.

Challenge funnels encourage participants to complete tasks for the chance to earn a reward. You can often create challenge funnels around high-intent search keywords, like “how to get more social media followers” or “how to train for a 5K.”

Another simple contest strategy is to regularly give away prizes to current subscribers on your email list. This encourages visitors not only to subscribe but to stay subscribed. To learn more, read about how KnivesShipFree.com used a giveaway to boost their revenue.

7. Webinars

Webinars are an amazing organic lead generation strategy. Webinars are informational presentations that show off your product and expertise, and often include the chance to answer customer questions. They are not supposed to be just a direct sales pitch, though you can make an offer at any point.

Leadfuze used OptinMonster to promote their lead generation webinars and converted 1.85% of abandoning visitors.

8. Mobile Lead Generation

Many users are browsing from phones, so make sure your lead generation forms and landing pages are optimized for mobile.

This includes factors such as page speed, image size, and special mobile display rules for any lead generation campaigns you’re using. Fortunately, OptinMonster campaigns are mobile-friendly by default, and there are also specific mobile-optimized campaign templates.

See how PortraitFlip converts over 3% of their mobile leads with OptinMonster.

9. Yes/No Forms

Everyone wants website visitors to say yes when asked to subscribe to an email list. A simple method for getting Yes more often is actually to offer a No!

You see, by presenting users with an option to say yes or no to an offer, you actually increase the chances that those who say yes will actually follow through with the next action of giving their email address. This is called the Zeigarnik effect and can improve your conversion rates significantly.

To see this in action, read about how Shotkit adds over 40 qualified leads to their list every day with Yes/No forms.

10. Geotargeting

Geotargeting is a digital marketing strategy that shows different marketing materials to users from different locations. This is a form of personalized marketing that can show your customers that you really understand and care about their specific needs.

OptinMonster has built-in geotargeting functionality, which is what Inbound Marketing used to increase local lead generation by 189%.

11. Page-Level Targeting

Similar to geotargeting, page-level targeting involves showing different lead generation campaigns for users on specific pages. A customer looking at a certain page is probably interested in that topic and at a certain stage in their buyer journey. It makes sense to show a lead magnet or call to action (CTA) that matches that stage.

Want to know how it’s done? Check out how American Bird Conservancy increased lead collection over 1,000% with OptinMonster’s page-targeted campaigns.

Get Started With Organic Lead Generation Now!

Now that you’ve got some fresh ideas, which organic marketing strategy do you want to try first? To recap, here are the organic lead generation strategies we covered:

  • Research your audience to know what they need and want
  • Optimize your site for search engines
  • Create discoverable content that helps your target audience
  • Share your content on social media
  • Run lead generation contests
  • Host informational webinars to bring in new leads
  • Use mobile-specific lead generation campaigns
  • Prepare visitors to become subscribers with Yes/No forms
  • Target lead generation campaigns based on geography
  • Show specific optin forms based on pages viewed

If you’re ready to try out some of these organic lead generation techniques, get started with OptinMonster today!

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Lead Generation 101: A Beginner’s Guide on How to Generate Leads https://optinmonster.com/lead-generation/ https://optinmonster.com/lead-generation/#comments Tue, 20 Aug 2024 15:00:00 +0000 https://optinmonster.com/?p=120203 Lead generation is now more important than ever. With 61% of marketers finding lead generation their biggest challenge and 79% making it their top content marketing goal, its importance cannot be overlooked. But what exactly is lead generation, and how can it be effectively implemented to drive business growth?  With years of experience in digital marketing and lead …

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Lead generation is now more important than ever. With 61% of marketers finding lead generation their biggest challenge and 79% making it their top content marketing goal, its importance cannot be overlooked.

But what exactly is lead generation, and how can it be effectively implemented to drive business growth? 

With years of experience in digital marketing and lead generation, we at OptinMonster have seen firsthand how our customers have transformed their businesses with the right lead generation strategies. 

Drawing from a deep well of expertise, this article will explain the fundamentals of lead generation and provide actionable strategies for generating high-quality leads.

Let’s dive into the essentials of what lead generation is and explore proven techniques to attract, engage, and convert your ideal customers.

What Is a Lead?

In marketing, a lead refers to an individual or business that has expressed interest in your products or services by providing their contact information and allowing you to engage with them further.

There are three types of leads commonly encountered:

  1. Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL)
  2. Sales Qualified Lead (SQL)
  3. Product Qualified Lead (PQL)

1. What Is a Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL)?

Marketing Qualified Lead is a prospect who has shown interest in your offerings but may not be ready to make a purchase yet.

They have engaged with your marketing materials, indicating a higher likelihood of conversion in the future.

2. What Is a Sales Qualified Lead (SQL)?

Sales Qualified Lead is a prospect identified as being ready for direct sales engagement. They have demonstrated a higher level of interest and intent, making them prime candidates for sales outreach.

3. What Is a Product Qualified Lead (PQL)?

Product Qualified Lead is a prospect who has experienced or interacted with your product or service. Their usage or engagement suggests a genuine interest and potential for conversion.

Let’s address the elephant in the room, lead generation.

What Is Lead Generation?

Lead generation is the process of attracting prospects to your business and increasing their interest through nurturing, all with the end goal of converting them into customers. This can be achieved through various strategies such as offering free e-books, hosting webinars, providing discount codes, and engaging through blog posts and social media content.

Let me explain this with an example.

A company that sells fitness equipment creates a series of blog posts and videos about effective workout routines and healthy nutrition tips.

They offer visitors a free e-book on “10 Essential Exercises for a Fit Body” in exchange for their email addresses.

As people download the e-book, the company collects leads interested in fitness and can nurture them with personalized content and offers.

Now that is lead generation in action.

You can generate leads at any stage of your sales funnel. In fact, you should make sure not to focus too intensely on any one stage.

Ideally, you want to have ways to reach customers who are in the Awareness, Evaluation, and Conversion stages.

If you only focus on building awareness of your brand, you won’t be able to convert as many of those leads into customers.

Likewise, if you optimize your Conversion strategies but neglect Awareness and Evaluation, you won’t have any leads to convert at all.

Let’s talk about the lead generation process and how lead generation works.

The lead generation process consists of two main components:

  1. Lead Generation Marketing: Attracting traffic to your website 
  2. Generating Leads: Convincing your visitors to share their email addresses

Let’s discuss the two components in more detail.

Lead Generation Strategies (Lead Generation Marketing)

Lead generation marketing involves implementing lead generation strategies to attract potential customers to your website and convert them into leads. Here are the most effective lead generation strategies to drive traffic effectively:

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO is a critical strategy for driving organic traffic to your website. By optimizing your site’s content, structure, and keywords, you can improve your search engine rankings, making it easier for potential customers to find you when they search for relevant terms. SEO helps attract high-quality traffic from people actively looking for products or services like yours.

2. Content Marketing

Content marketing involves creating and sharing valuable content that resonates with your target audience. By publishing blog posts, articles, videos, infographics, and other forms of content, you can attract visitors to your website. High-quality content not only drives traffic but also establishes your authority in the industry, increasing the chances of converting visitors into leads.

3. Social Media Marketing

Social media platforms are powerful tools for driving traffic to your website. By sharing engaging content, running targeted ads, and interacting with your audience on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram, you can attract a broader audience and direct them to your site. Social media also allows for precise targeting, ensuring you reach potential leads based on demographics, interests, and behavior.

4. Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising

PPC advertising, such as Google Ads or social media ads, allows you to place your website at the top of search results or social feeds for targeted keywords and audiences. By paying for clicks, you can drive immediate and highly targeted traffic to your website. PPC campaigns are particularly effective for capturing leads who are ready to make a purchase or take action.

5. Email Marketing

Email marketing is a direct way to engage potential customers and drive traffic back to your website. By sending out regular newsletters, promotional offers, or content updates to your email list, you can encourage recipients to visit your site. Personalized and segmented email campaigns are especially effective in driving traffic and generating leads.

6. Referral Programs

Referral programs leverage your existing customers to attract new leads. By offering incentives, such as discounts or rewards, to customers who refer others to your website, you can generate additional traffic. Referral leads tend to have a higher conversion rate because they come with a built-in recommendation from someone they trust.

7. Partnerships and Collaborations

Collaborating with other businesses or influencers in your industry can help you reach a wider audience. By partnering on joint content, co-hosting webinars, or running shared promotions, you can tap into your partner’s audience and drive more traffic to your website.

8. Influencer Marketing

Influencers have large followings on social media and can drive significant traffic to your website. By partnering with influencers relevant to your industry, you can leverage their reach and credibility to attract potential leads. Influencer marketing often involves sponsored posts, reviews, or collaborations that encourage their audience to visit your site.

9. Guest Blogging

Guest blogging on popular industry websites or blogs can help you reach a new audience. By writing high-quality content for other sites, you can include links back to your website, driving traffic from a relevant and engaged audience.

10. Webinars and Virtual Events

Hosting webinars or virtual events on topics of interest to your target audience can drive a significant amount of traffic to your website. These events not only attract potential leads but also provide an opportunity to capture their contact information for follow-up.

By implementing these lead generation strategies, you can effectively drive traffic to your website, attract potential customers, and convert them into valuable leads. Each method can be tailored to fit your specific audience and business goals, ensuring that your marketing efforts are both targeted and impactful.

How To Generate Leads

Once visitors arrive on your website, the next goal is to convert them into leads. Here are six lead generation strategies for how to generate leads:

  1. Offer Lead Magnets
  2. Create Landing Pages
  3. Implement Live Chat and Chatbots
  4. Optimize Website and Forms
  5. Showcase Customer Testimonials and Reviews
  6. Create Content Marketing

1. Offer Lead Magnets

Lead magnets are powerful tools for capturing the attention of potential customers and encouraging them to share their contact information with you. These valuable resources or incentives, such as free trials, demos, eBooks, white papers, or exclusive content, act as a compelling exchange for their details. The key to an effective lead magnet is relevance and immediate value—ensuring that the resource directly addresses a problem or need of your target audience. Strategically place these lead magnets on high-traffic areas of your website, such as your homepage, blog posts, or landing pages, to maximize conversions.

Bonus Content: How to Create a Lead Magnet: A Step-by-Step Guide (+Examples)

2. Create Landing Pages

Landing pages are standalone web pages created specifically for a marketing or advertising campaign. Unlike general webpages, landing pages have a single, focused goal: to capture leads. This is achieved by presenting a clear, compelling offer and a strong call to action (CTA) that encourages visitors to fill out a form or take another desired action. The best landing pages are optimized for a specific audience segment, product, or service and are designed to eliminate distractions, keeping the visitor’s attention on the conversion goal.

Bonus Content: Easy Landing Page Design Tips to Boost Conversions

3. Implement Live Chat and Chatbots

Live chat and chatbots provide real-time interaction with your website visitors, making it easier to address their questions and concerns immediately. This instant communication can significantly enhance user experience and reduce bounce rates. Live chat support can be particularly effective in converting visitors who are close to making a decision but need just a little more information or reassurance. Chatbots, on the other hand, can operate 24/7, offering automated responses to common inquiries and guiding users through your website to find what they’re looking for, thus capturing leads even outside business hours.

Bonus Content: Live Chat Best Practices: How to Streamline Customer Service

4. Optimize Website and Forms

Your website’s performance and design are critical factors in lead generation. A user-friendly, mobile-responsive website that loads quickly ensures a smooth experience for visitors, which is essential for keeping them engaged. Lead capture forms should be straightforward, asking only for essential information to reduce friction. Consider using progressive profiling, where you collect additional information from repeat visitors over time, rather than asking for too much upfront. Test different form lengths, button placements, and colors to find the most effective combination for conversions.

5. Showcase Customer Testimonials and Reviews

Social proof, in the form of customer testimonials and reviews, is a powerful tool for building credibility and trust with potential leads. Displaying positive feedback from satisfied customers on your website can reassure visitors about the quality and value of your products or services. Make sure to feature testimonials prominently on key pages, such as your homepage, product pages, and checkout pages. You can also create case studies that showcase how your product or service has helped other customers achieve their goals, further reinforcing your brand’s reliability.

How To Qualify a Lead

Once leads have entered your system, qualifying them to determine their readiness for conversion is crucial.

Let us discuss various methods of lead qualification.

  1. BANT Criteria: Assessing leads based on their budget, authority, need, and timeline helps gauge their potential.
  2. Lead Scoring Systems: Assigning scores to leads based on their engagement level and demographic data helps prioritize follow-up efforts.
  3. Qualifying Questions: Asking specific questions during lead interactions helps gather more information and assess their fit.

While having many leads is exciting, it’s important to appreciate the value of high-quality leads. These prospects will likely become customers and can significantly advance through your business’s sales funnel.

Bonus Content: What Is Lead Quality? And How to Measure It (+8 Bonus Tips!)

OptinMonster – Your Best Bet on Lead Generation

optinmonster homepage

OptinMonster is the best lead generation tool for easily converting website visitors into leads and customers.

OptinMonster, a SaaS, lets your marketing team create on-site lead generation campaigns like popups, slide-in toasters, floating bars, spin-to-win wheels, and more.

Even better? You can do it without needing a coder or graphic designer using our drag-and-drop editor and one of 500+ templates. Or, design it yourself using our Canvas templates.


But just because it’s simple doesn’t mean it’s not powerful.

OptinMonster’s personalization and targeting display rules put your campaigns in front of the right people at the right time. We have almost 100 different ways to choose where, when, and for whom your campaigns will appear.

I’m most fond of our query-parameter condition because it lets you align your PPC campaigns with your onsite lead generation.

Another feature I appreciate about OptinMonster is our Playbooks. Playbooks are fully pre-configured campaigns, eliminating the guesswork involved in launching a lead generation campaign.

OptinMonster is how AtHoc sales team increased sales qualified leads by 141% and how SnackNation adds 1200 segmented leads weekly. And it’s not just these two companies who have seen success with our lead generator.

OptinMonster has published dozens of lead gen case studies proving we deserve to be #1.

OptinMonster pricing starts at $9/month for our Basic plan, $19/month for Plus, $29/month for Pro (our most popular plan), and $49/month for Growth.

Get Started With OptinMonster Today!

BONUS: Done-For-You Campaign Setup ($297 value) Our conversion rate experts will design 1 free campaign for you to get maximum results – absolutely FREE! Click here to get started →

Want to learn more about lead generation? Check out these guides, reviews, comparisons, and top lists!

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Exit-Intent Popups: 40 Hacks To Boost Conversion in 2024 https://optinmonster.com/40-exit-popup-hacks-that-will-grow-your-subscribers-and-revenue/ https://optinmonster.com/40-exit-popup-hacks-that-will-grow-your-subscribers-and-revenue/#comments Tue, 20 Aug 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://optinmonster.com/?p=92580 Exit-intent popups are the not-so-secret weapon to increase conversions on your website dramatically. An exit-intent popup is a type of overlay that appears when a website detects that a visitor is about to leave the page, typically triggered by the movement of their cursor toward the browser’s close button or address bar. This popup aims …

The post Exit-Intent Popups: 40 Hacks To Boost Conversion in 2024 appeared first on OptinMonster.]]>
Exit-intent popups are the not-so-secret weapon to increase conversions on your website dramatically.

An exit-intent popup is a type of overlay that appears when a website detects that a visitor is about to leave the page, typically triggered by the movement of their cursor toward the browser’s close button or address bar. This popup aims to re-engage the visitor with a special offer, message, or call to action before they exit.

OptinMonster has spent a decade helping businesses improve their lead generation with our industry-leading exit popups. Should you trust our expertise on exit-intent popups? The answer lies in the success of our customers:.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Over 1.2 million websites rely on on our premiere lead generation software to convert their website traffic into subscribers and revenue.

In this article, I’ll show you 40 exit popup hacks that our customers have seen success with again and again. And along the way, I’ll share some of our favorite exit-intent popup examples, along with data from real-life case studies.

Let’s get started.

Feel free to jump to the category that interests you the most:

How Do Exit-Intent Popups Work?

Exit-intent® technology lets you make one last effort to convert visitors as they’re about to leave your site.

When you show abandoning visitors a popup with an enticing offer, you have a great chance of getting their email address, making a sale, or keeping them on your site for longer.

Optinmonster exit intent campaign trigger

When popups first started appearing on the web, many felt they were annoying. They were overused, and the same ‘special offer’ appeared to every visitor!

But tools like OptinMonster changed that.

With powerful targeting features, websites can now show each visitor the offer they’d be most interested in.

And exit-intent is a powerful trigger that has proven to work well in recovering abandoning users.

Using exit-intent targeting, Fastrack recovered 53% of abandoning visitors and increased sales.

You can also look at Medstar Media, which saw their conversion rates increase by 500% when they started showing visitors light box popups when leaving a site.

The bottom line is that if you’re not using exit-intent popups, you’re leaving a lot of money on the table.

Are Exit-Intent Popups Effective?

Yes, exit-intent popups work.

Our customers consistently see higher conversion rates with exit messages than other kinds of popups. Exit popups typically convert an additional 2 to 4% of your website visitors.

But what you’re wondering likely isn’t whether exit campaigns work, but how they work. On desktop, exit-intent tracks the user’s cursor and mouse movements to detect when visitors are about to click the back button or close the browser tab. Your visitors will then see your popup offer before they leave your site.

There are so many benefits to using exit-intent popups on your website. Here are just a few ways these campaigns will help your business:

  • Grow Your Email List: Attract new subscribers with fast results.
  • Distribute Lead Magnets: Entice new visitors with valuable content, coupons, freebies, and more.
  • Reduce Site Abandonment: Keep visitors engaged with your site long before they leave forever.
  • Reduce Cart Abandonment: Provide incentives to buy at a critical moment in the customer journey.
  • Boost SEO: Increase the time people engage with your site, redirect users to popular posts, and more to help your SEO.

And so much more. Exit-intent popups helped increase Ryan Robison’s email subscribers by 500%.

They also helped Crossrope EXPLODE its list by over 900%.

Ok, so this is all well and good. But is this an effective strategy for your entire audience? What about users coming from mobile?

Let’s address that question right now.

Do Exit-Intent Popups Work on Mobile?

Yes, exit popups work on mobile devices! The technology just works a bit differently, since there’s no cursor to track.

You have two options for showing exit messages on mobile:

  1. You can trigger a mobile exit-intent popup when someone scrolls up on their screen.
mobile exit intent popup in action
  1. Or, your popup can display when they hit the back button on their mobile browser.

We found these two actions usually indicated someone was about to leave your website, so they’re the best way to implement exit-intent on mobile.

Check out this article for more on How to Create Mobile Exit-Intent Popups That Convert.

Want to see exit popups in action? Click below to start your 100% risk-free OptinMonster account today (backed by a 14-day money-back guarantee):

Get Started With OptinMonster Today!
BONUS: Done-For-You Campaign Setup ($297 value)

Our conversion experts will design 1 free campaign for you to get maximum results – absolutely FREE! Click here to get started →

So, let’s talk exit popup hacks.

Whether you’re looking for an idea for your first exit-intent popup or new things to tweak and test, here are some useful ideas that work tremendously well for our customers.

Exit-Intent Popup Hacks To Boost Engagement and Sales

Personalization

Don’t let your popups be generic. Personalization can make all the difference, which is why it starts our list of exit popup hacks. You can personalize your exit popups through the text and format or by showing different offers to different visitors. When you personalize your popups, you can better appeal to your target audience.

1. Use Your Visitor’s Name

Imagine moving into a new neighborhood. You head down to the store on the corner and end up chatting with the owner for half an hour about your shared love of breakfast burritos.

As you’re walking by a few days later, one of the street vendors yells out at you, encouraging you to buy an apple from their cart. Then, you hear your name; it’s the shop owner you met the other day, smiling at you and inviting you into their shop.

Are you going to buy an apple from an anonymous vendor or the shop owner calling to you by name and smiling at you warmly?

Yeah, we’d pick the shop owner, too.

Guess what? Your website can do the same thing.

Before asking for a sale, ask your visitor for their name.

Later, when your visitor is about to abandon one of your product pages, you could grab their attention with an exit-intent popup with their name on it.

Here’s one such exit popup example:

exit popup hacks personalization example

You can get your visitors’ names when they subscribe to your email list, ask for their name in a previous popup, or detect an existing customer’s name.

2. Personalize by Referral Source

As we just discussed, personalization is key to making advertisements like exit-intent popups feel more friendly.

One super smart and simple way to do that is by personalizing the popup based on the referral source.

For example, let’s say the visitor got to your page through a guest post you wrote for a specific website. Or you got featured somewhere recently, and you want to get the most out of that traffic by personalizing your exit messages for that particular audience.

You can use referrer detection technology to detect when a visitor is coming from any specific domain and use that information to customize your exit popups.

Here’s a popup example from RebootAuthentic:

exit popup hacks referral traffic example

Notice that the headline is personalized for Smart Blogger readers. You can personalize your exit-intent popups for any audience you choose.

Another possibility is personalizing your popups for traffic from your social media channels. For example, if the referring domain is Pinterest, your exit popup could include a special offer that appeals to those visitors.

referral site popup pinterest

If the referring domain is Facebook, you could invite visitors to join the conversation on your Facebook page or private Facebook group.

Think like a detective: what information can you deduce about your visitors from the referring domain? How can you use that knowledge to personalize your exit message?

3. Give a Quiz

Quizzes are one of the most irresistible lead magnets because they provide personalized information based on how the user responds. Personality-type quizzes are especially popular.

Dana Flannery is Director and SEO Specialist at the advertising company TAC Digital. Here’s what she had to say about the effectiveness online quizzes:

“A massive issue in content marketing is that people come to your site, read the content and then leave again. They don’t spend too long on the page (which in turn affects your bounce rate, time on page, etc.) The first benefit to using quizzes is that they drastically increase user engagement. They spend longer on the page and they are more likely to click through to other content, especially when you suggest content related to their answer/result.”

When you add an attention-grabbing quiz to your website, you can keep your visitors more engaged. And you’ll gather important information from them that will help you show them the most appealing offers and content.

Your exit popups are the perfect place to link to your best quizzes.

VisualDNA uses quizzes to gather insights into audiences. People voluntarily take quizzes to uncover who they’re based on psychological theory, and VisualDNA gets to amass an enormous amount of audience data. It’s brilliant!

Who am I Quiz

But quizzes aren’t just limited to personality types. You can use quizzes to re-engage your abandoning visitors on practically any topic.

Here’s an example of an exit-intent popup quiz from Dr. Daniel Amen, the author of Healing ADD: Brain Type Test. This exit popup directs users to a test to find their ADD type:

ADD Quiz Popup

Once the user gets their result, Dr. Amen’s site has enough information to show the user the best resources for their needs.

4. Hide Popups From Existing Subscribers

If someone has already taken the action you wanted them to take, such as subscribing to your email list, don’t show them the same popup again! That’s a recipe for annoying your visitors.

You should, however, show a different popup with a different offer to those visitors.

You can do just that with OptinMonster’s display rules engine, especially by using follow-up campaigns and onsite retargeting tools.

Once you’ve gotten a visitor to subscribe to your email list through your popup form, you can show them a different exit popup. Your next popup should encourage them to take the next step in your sales funnel. For instance, you could direct them to a webinar or offer an exclusive discount.

Get Started With OptinMonster Today!
BONUS: Done-For-You Campaign Setup ($297 value)

Our conversion experts will design 1 free campaign for you to get maximum results – absolutely FREE! Click here to get started →

Offers

People love receiving gifts and winning prizes! You can use plenty of offers in an exit-intent popup to tempt visitors to stay. Check out our favorites below.

5. Offer a Content Upgrade

How about presenting your abandoning visitor with an upgrade to the content they were just reading?

By offering content upgrades, RazorSocial increased its conversion rate by a whopping 520%!

Here’s the exit popup example:

RazorSocial Exit Popup

A content upgrade is a more in-depth or a higher-value version of a particular blog post. So, if your blog post is about how to create an email newsletter, your visitors might read it and be very interested in getting started but think that they don’t have time.

As they go to close the browser, present them with a free download of a PDF version of the post or a checklist with the steps they need to follow.

If you need help creating your content upgrades, check out these 10 tools to help you create quality content upgrades.

6. Offer a Discount

It’s always a great idea to use an exit-intent popup to offer a discount  in exchange for the visitor’s email address. This tactic accomplishes 2 things at once:

  • Offering a discount code encourages shoppers to go through with a purchase they were on the fence about.
  • Even if they don’t buy today, offering a coupon lets you collect their email address, so you can market to them in the future.

Here’s a discount exit popup example from Shockbtyte. They doubled their sales conversion rate using exit popups.

Shock byte exit intent

And instead of a generic “Subscribe” CTA button, they’ve used much more compelling copy, “Claim discount.”

If you’re looking for a surefire way to recover visitors who are about to abandon your eCommerce site, coupon exit-intent popups are the way to do it. After all, if someone is interested in buying your products, why wouldn’t they accept an easy discount?

7. Offer Free Shipping

Did you know that shipping costs are the #1 reason for shopping cart abandonment? Offer free shipping in your exit-intent popup, and you stand to convert some of those abandoned carts into purchases.

So, free shipping exit popups are a no-brainer. However, there are two different ways you can approach them.

The first way is to give the free shipping coupon code right inside the exit-intent popup, as shown below:

free shipping exit intent popup example

To make the purchase easier, you might even include a link to the product they were viewing or a link to the shopping cart, similar to what Baby Age (now Baby Earth) did below with their “Apply Coupon Instantly” button.

Apply Coupon Instantly

The advantage of this method is that there’s no additional work needed on the shopper’s part to complete their purchase. If they were already thinking about buying, but shipping was an issue, they can make their purchase in just a few clicks.

The only disadvantage to this method is if they don’t buy now, you’ll have missed out on collecting their email address.

Here’s our suggestion:

On your shopping cart pages, your exit popup should provide the free shipping code directly, so you can prevent cart abandonment.

On all other pages, offer free shipping in exchange for an email address.

As with anything, you’ll need to use A/B testing  it to see what creates the best results.

8. Offer More Value

Some customers might leave your site because the product you offered wasn’t quite what they wanted. If that is the case, offer them an upgraded version of your product. This is known as an upsell.

Norwegian Cruise Line adds value by offering additional amenities to your reservation free of charge.

upgrade_norwegian

Don’t hold anything back on your exit offers. Your exit popup is your last chance to capture those leads, so this is where you should offer your very best deal!

9. Offer a Done-for-You

Sometimes your visitor enjoys your content but is too busy to implement your advice. Solve that problem for your visitors by offering a done-for-you solution.

For example, Betty Means Business offers 3 essential done-for-you scripts to attract more clients and optimize conversions.

Betty Means Business

You could offer something similar with a fill-in-the-blank PDF template, an Excel spreadsheet, a Photoshop file, a Word Document, or even audio clips.

On product pages, you could implement an exit-intent popup with an offer to configure the product for the customer. Or, if the product requires any work on the customer’s part, offer a complete done-for-you service.

Put yourself in your visitor’s shoes and think, “What can I do to make their life easier?” You’ll have the perfect hook for your exit message if you can save them time or frustration.

10. Give Visitors a Chance To Win

Sometimes visitors need a little extra incentive to take action by hosting a giveaway or contest. Free digital downloads are increasingly common prizes, but physical items tend to have a higher perceived value. So, why not give away something physical?

You don’t need to give everyone a physical gift. Just give them a chance to win the gift when they sign up for your newsletter.

For example, the design app Invision offered users an entry into their free t-shirt drawing in exchange for their email address.

Invision

Yorkdale, a shopping center in Toronto, offered an entry into their monthly drawing for a $150 Yorkdale gift card.

Yorkdale

You could also offer additional entries for other actions, like sharing on social media or referring a friend via email. Giveaways are a powerful means of driving traffic to your website, so put them to good use in your exit popup.

Helpful Hints

When someone’s about to leave your site, it’s likely because they couldn’t find something they needed. Encourage them to stick around by sharing some helpful hints.

11. Suggest Related Posts

Whether you’re a publisher or an eCommerce store, your website acts as your online storefront. The longer someone stays in your store, the better. So, sometimes your main objective is to reduce your bounce rate and have your visitors spend more time on your site.

A great way to do that is by using an exit-intent popup to suggest blog posts related to the one they were just reading.

Related Posts exit intent popup

Remember, there are several different reasons someone might click away from your site, and it doesn’t always mean they aren’t enjoying your content. Perhaps they simply got distracted by something, like a new email or social media notification.

Remind them why they visited your site in the first place: to get specific information from your content.

The key to the related posts technique is making sure that your headlines are highly clickable. Also, use enticing images that draw the eye and relate specifically to the post topic. If your related posts are appealing, you’re more likely to re-engage distracted visitors and persuade them to stick around for a while.

12. Suggest Related Products

Just like you can suggest related posts in an exit popup on a blog, you can also suggest related products on product pages.

If you have a wide range of products (like clothing or shoes), it’s extremely helpful to recommend other similar products related to the one that the shopper is viewing. The product they’re looking at might not be the right fit, but a similar product might be exactly what they need.

relatedproductpopup

13. Suggest Popular Products

Throw some social proof into the mix and suggest your most popular items in an exit-intent popup.

Not only does this help keep shoppers on your eCommerce site for longer, but it also reminds them that other shoppers love your products!

Muubbaa, a leather apparel company, used the headline “Most Wanted” to reinforce the desirability of their clothing.

Muubaa Popup

14. Overcome Objections

This is one of the best exit popup hacks for eCommerce product pages and checkout pages.

What if your potential customer is on the fence about purchasing your product? What if you could overcome that objection it would be the last nudge they need to make the purchase?

One of the biggest objections shoppers have is the worry they’ll buy your product and later regret it. The dreaded Buyer’s Remorse.

Thankfully, this is also one of the easiest objections to overcome when providing a money-back guarantee.

Another is uncertainty. People need to be sure your product or service has all the features they need. Highlight your most amazing features in a bulleted list.

In this exit message example, Neil Strauss focuses on the benefits of joining his membership community. The exit popup increased conversions by 125%.

Neil Strauss popup example for exit intent popup

Take inventory of all the likely objections your shoppers may have. Then make sure that you’ve thoroughly covered them all, either on your product or checkout page or exit-intent popup.

Most Common Objections

Here are online shoppers’ most common objections, along with ideas for how you can overcome those objections in your exit popup:

  1. I need to think about it. People make purchases based on emotion, so if you appeal to them on an emotional level, you’ll likely overcome this objection.
  2. I need to talk to my wife/husband/partner. Give them a reason why their significant other will be grateful that they got this product.
  3. I can find it cheaper somewhere else. Demonstrate that you’re the best value or the best price around.
  4. I’m happy with what I already have. Show them how their life will be better with your product.
  5. I don’t have the budget. Offer a payment plan. Or, calculate how your product will save them money or make them money in the long run.
  6. I’m not sure if it will work for me. Offer a free trial or money-back guarantee.
  7. How do I know my credit card information will be safe? Display a security badge.
  8. I don’t have time right now. Throw in a limited-time bonus.
  9. Why should I choose you instead of the other guy? Show what makes you better than your competitors.

15. Give a Reminder

When a shopper is about to abandon their cart, exit popups offer the best chance to recover them.

Simply remind them that they still have items left in their cart, creating a strong, sometimes irresistible, urge to get closure by completing the purchase.

Your copy could say something like, “Wait! You still have these items in your cart…” or “Wait! Don’t leave without your.” And then includes images of the items they’re about to leave behind.

Sometimes, however, shoppers just need more time to be ready to buy, even though they’re still interested. Offer to save their basket and collect their email in the process. Then it will be super easy for them to come back to your site and pick up where they left off, and you can even start sending them emails to remind them of what they’ve left behind. Check out our list of abandoned cart email examples for inspiration.

Save Cart to Email

16. Offer a Free Trial

It takes approximately 7 touches to make a sale. That means that potential customers interact with your business an average of 7 times before they make a purchase. Offering a free trial gives you a great chance to get your foot in the door and warm up your leads with multiple touches.

SnackNation understands this well. All you have to do to get a free sample box delivered is cover the $9.95 shipping and handling.

Snack Nation Exit Popup

Web Designer Depot offers 7 days of free downloads. This popup is smart because it highlights how valuable this free trial is, with over 250,000 graphics to choose from.

WebDesignerDepot

17. Offer To Chat

You’ve probably been on a sales page before where you saw a chat box pop up, like this one from Xchop:

XHTML Chop

This lets you give your potential customers answers to any questions they may have about purchasing your product or service.

However, you don’t have to offer 24-hour live chat to be helpful to your visitors.

You can also use your exit-intent popup to schedule a time to chat later.

Micro conversions

This category of exit popup hacks is about getting the visitor to take a small first step. Once they start, they’re more likely to continue. Making the first step easy can increase your overall conversions.

18. Give Visitors a Few Choices

The problem with so many exit-intent popups is that they need to offer something the visitor wants. This happens because many businesses have several different buyer personas, and each persona will respond to offers differently.

Sure, your popup might be offering the greatest ebook known to man about how to juggle 6 balls in the air. But what if a segment of your visitors has already mastered that technique? Then your offer is useless for capturing those visitors.

A simple way to get around this problem is to let them choose what they’re most interested in.

You can do it by first presenting an exit popup with 2-3 options to choose from:

Multiple Choice Popup

Once they select an option, present them with the optin form to get a lead magnet tailored to their chosen topic.

19. Present a Survey

Customer feedback surveys are a great way to learn more about your visitors and how you can make your website better. However, many sites use them at the wrong times, which makes for a terrible customer experience.

Imagine landing on a website for the first time and then being hit with a survey about how your experience has been on the website. Or being right in the middle of a purchase and getting interrupted by a popup survey. That would be annoying.

The good thing about exit-intent popups is that they don’t interrupt visitors as they’re reading your content. This makes exit popups great for surveys. Just make sure that you don’t include a survey on your homepage or on any other page where it wouldn’t make sense for a survey to be.

Also, be respectful of your visitor’s time and don’t expect them to fill out a survey for nothing. Give them something in exchange. Here’s an exit popup example of a quick 15-second survey with a free gift:

Survey Exit Popup

Quick Tip: You can also use the Field Mapping feature to add custom fields to your survey forms, like radio buttons, phone fields, text areas, number fields, lists, and more!

20. Use a 2-Step Optin

Psychologists have discovered that we all have a strong urge to be consistent. Once we make a decision or perform an action, we have the tendency to stick by that decision in all our future actions. This is known as a “decision heuristic:” a mental shortcut for making decisions.

Getting your visitors to take the first step is always the hardest. But if they just take that one step, all the next steps will become much easier. That’s because they’re building up mental momentum.

Strive to make that first step as easy as possible, so you can get the ball rolling. Then, you can ask for a more difficult action. Like a domino effect, you have to apply a bit of force to knock down the first domino, but all the other dominos fall much more easily.

Smart marketers understand this principle and put it to use in their optin forms by asking for an easy action first, such as clicking a yes or no button. Then, they ask for a more difficult action, such as submitting an email address. This is called a 2-step optin.

How to Use 2-Step Optins

How can you use a 2-step opt-in with your exit-intent popups? Simple.

Place a button on the exit popup that users must click before seeing the optin form. Use a call-to-action that would be a no-brainer for your target audience.

Two Step Popup

Many popup headlines can be easily converted into a 2-step optin.

For example, QuickSprout once used the headline, “Are You Doing Your SEO Wrong?” If this headline had been on a 2-step exit-intent popup, they could have had a button below it saying, “Click Here to Find Out.” Then after the click, they could have displayed the opt-in form for a lead magnet.

Treehouse has used the headline, “Change your Career. Change your Life.” If they put that headline on a 2-step exit popup, they could display a button below it saying, “Claim Your Free Trial.” Then, they’d reveal the form to enter your name and email.

See how that works? A simple button looks much more harmless than a form asking for information. Visitors won’t see the harm in taking that first action, but they’ll feel committed to following through.

21. Give a Yes/No Choice

Another version of the 2-step opt-in is a yes/no choice. But instead of just one call to action (CTA) button, you offer two: a “right” choice and a “wrong” choice.

Here’s an example from Social Triggers:

SocialTriggers-YesNO

This tactic increases conversions because of the psychology of choice: people are more likely to claim your offer if they’ve been given a choice to make.

Choices make us feel more in control and more powerful. When we feel powerful, we tend to act more quickly.

For this to work for your exit message, you must make the “right” choice obvious to the visitor.

The color of your call-to-action buttons is important for this exit-intent popup. We’ve been conditioned to associate bold colors with action and dull colors with inaction.

By making 1 button pop with a bright red color and the other button grayed out, the visitor gets the psychological message that they’re supposed to click on the red button, not the gray one.

Be sure to use your powers for good and not evil.

And remember, copy is key.

Your CTA button copy is important too. You want your users to feel they have a choice while still making it a no-brainer decision. This is an art, and many marketers tend to go over the line by writing copy that sounds too pushy or condescending.

Instead, just make sure the button you want users to click sounds much more positive than the alternative. The Social Triggers example above is great because of the contrast between the CTA button text:

  • Gimme the Free Ebook
  • I Reject the Free Ebook

Why would anyone want to reject something offered for free, especially if it delivers on the big promise in the headline (“Want to learn how to get 5,000 subscribers for free?”)?

FOMO

No one wants to lose the chance to get something they want or that’s valuable. Your exit popup is the perfect place to stir up some fear of missing out (FOMO) right before visitors leave your site.

22. Create Scarcity

It’s well-known that scarcity increases the urge to buy. Nobody wants to miss out on getting something they want, and it doesn’t feel good when someone else gets a great deal, and you don’t.

Discount retailer Zulily did an amazing job of creating scarcity. When you added an item to your cart, they included the number of items left in big red letters on the shopping cart page. In the example below, you can see a cart that says “HURRY—only 6 left!”

Zulilly Scarcity

Now imagine how effective this could be as an exit message that appears when someone is about to abandon their cart.

Booking.com used this popup during the reservation process to show how many other people are looking at the same hotel. This adds to the sense of urgency to book right away. Better act now before someone else gets your room!

booking scarcity popup

23. Add Urgency

It’s human nature to procrastinate. People tend to put off making decisions like completing a purchase or subscribing to a newsletter.

Urgency gets the ball rolling by giving a definite deadline. Either you claim this offer now, or it will be too late.

OptinMonster’s exit-intent popup highlights the limited-time discount with a yellow and a red arrow, so you’re sure to notice it.

Urgency Coupon Popup

Diamond Candles uses a countdown timer to create a sense of urgency. The timer runs out in just a few minutes, encouraging shoppers to check out right away, or they’ll miss out on free shipping.

Popup with Timer

24. Use the Word “Wait.”

Stop your visitors with the powerful word “wait.”

Perhaps it’s due to our need for closure, but there’s a sense of urgency and intrigue about the word “wait.”

This exit popup example combines “wait” with a free shipping offer.

Exit popup free shipping

Green Mountain Mustard knew you were thinking about buying mustard since you were browsing their site, so their exit popup gives you a friendly, tongue-in-cheek reminder.

Wait you forgot your mustard

Do the same on a landing page or a product page. Remind visitors what they’ll miss out on if they click away now.

Authority

We often look for external authority figures to help us make decisions. Appeal to that need for authority in your exit-intent popups to drive more conversions.

25. Use Social Proof

Social proof works because we tend to look to others to decide the right thing to do.

Over 100,000 web developers can’t be wrong, right?

Learnable

Or how about 310,000+ dog lovers? If you’re a dog lover, you might ask yourself, “Why didn’t I join this community sooner? If so many others have joined, they must know something I don’t.”

Numbers Popup

These are some impressive examples, but you don’t necessarily need huge numbers to leverage social proof in your marketing. You don’t need your numbers at all. A glowing testimonial or customer review can be just as effective as an impressive statistic. (More on testimonials later).

26. Use Your Credentials

Authority is a powerful tool that you can use to increase conversions on your exit popups.

Do you have any special certifications or qualifications that can give visitors greater confidence in your authority and expertise? Show that off on your exit popup!

Timothy Sykes displays his “Top Trader” badge right on his exit-intent popup:

Timothy Sykes

Have you written any guest posts for popular blogs? Have you been featured in any magazines? Display all of those logos at the bottom of your popup as PreneurGroup did:

PreneurCast

Remember, people have a natural tendency to follow authority figures. Position yourself as the expert, and it will be much easier to get visitors to take the action you’re asking of them.

27. Include Testimonials

We all know how important testimonials are on sales pages, but what about exit popups? The fact is, your exit-intent popup is a mini sales page. You may be giving something away for free, but you’re still asking for something in return, an email address, or a small action, like following you on Twitter.

Convince visitors to take action by using recommendations from your customers and subscribers. If you can include a photo of their faces, all the better.

Kevin Duncan of Be a Better Blogger used a subscriber testimonial on his exit-intent popup to drive home the value of subscribing to his blog.

Be a Better Blogger Optin

Design

Web design best practices also apply to popups. Here are some specific ways to use design in your exit-intent popup strategy.

28. Add a Progress Bar

There is a psychological phenomenon that makes people feel uncomfortable leaving things incomplete. It’s known as the Zeigarnik Effect, coined by the 20th-century Russian psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik.

Zeigarnik saw that waiters could remember long food orders and match the correct meal to each customer, but they promptly forgot these orders as soon as the food was delivered. She wondered why, so she conducted a series of experiments to figure it out.

Her theory was that the pending order created a state of “incompleteness” in the waiter’s mind, which made them unable to let go of the information until that state of mind was resolved through the delivery of the meal.

Through her experiments, Zeigarnik discovered that unfinished tasks are remembered twice as well as completed ones. Humans tend to have a child-like impatience to gratify this need for closure.

You can use the Zeigarnik Effect to coax your visitors into action by showing them that they have an incomplete task. By pointing out the “incompleteness,” you’ll encourage them to seek closure by finishing the task.

This can work for exit popups as well. All you have to do is display a progress bar at the top. Here’s a popup page from CoSchedule:

coschedule popup

29. Include a Picture of the Bribe

Images can make a huge difference in any online marketing campaign, and exit popups are no exception.

In eCommerce, shoppers often are drawn to the product photo before they notice the item’s name.

Images are vital to shoppers when deciding whether to purchase a product. They’re also crucial to getting them to do something smaller, like entering their email addresses for your free ebook.

Brian Dean of Backlinko included a mockup of his site traffic book in this exit popup example:

Backlinko Optin Form

Since he’s using an image of the product, which includes its title, he doesn’t even need that much copy to get the point across.

30. Use Arrows

Like great copy, great popup design can increase conversions on your exit-intent popups by drawing the eye where it needs to go.

Our eyes have the ability to take in so much visual information that it’s more than our brains can consciously process. So, we’re hardwired to focus on only the most compelling information, the information we believe to be the most important. We simply skim over the rest.

People naturally look for visual cues to tell them what information they need to pay attention to. Because of this, we can direct where the eye will look by guiding the eye using visual cues, like arrows.

Arrows help the viewer comprehend information better than written directions alone. They point the way, direct the viewer’s focus, and help the viewer filter out unimportant information.

Use arrows on your exit-intent popups to direct attention toward your call to action.

Here’s an exit popup example from Kindlepreneur:

Kindlepreneur Exit Popup

31. Use Animation

Another way to guide the eye toward your call to action is with movement.

An animation like the one below is nearly impossible for the eye not to follow. This animation points at the call to action button, combining a directional visual cue with movement. The result is an extremely powerful exit-intent popup.

YbBLDkjW31

Hard to look away, isn’t it?

32. Use a Striking Image

Sometimes, you need a striking image to grab your visitor’s attention.

For example, home furniture retailer Made used this unusual image of a model with chairs stacked on top of each other to grab your attention:

Made

FedEx used a map of the globe to illustrate their global delivery in a fun, unexpected way:

Fedex America

SolarWinds used animals and a dash of humor to spice up their ad campaigns:

Solarwinds Ads

Even something as boring as a Band-Aid can be made interesting with an eye-catching image:

Band-Aid Ad

Use a dramatic or unexpected image in your exit popup, and you’ll stop your visitors right in their tracks.

33. Use Color To Direct the Eye

Remember how we mentioned that our eyes could take in way more information than our brains can process?

Color is one of those important visual clues to find important information. The specific color you use isn’t so important, but using high-contrast colors is.

Studies show that the eye naturally skims a website from top to bottom, making forays into the middle from left to right, forming an “F” shape.

F shaped pattern

Once you understand this, you can place important elements along that natural F-shaped path and use color to place greater visual weight on some elements.

Take a look at this exit popup from Marie Forleo:

MarieForleo

Do you see how the color pink was used to place emphasis on certain words? “We can help” and “award-winning” pop right out at you just before your eyes land squarely on the signup form at the bottom.

Also notice that the “Subscribe Now” button is yellow, which contrasts with the pink background. It’s also the only element of that color, so it stands out even more than the pink text.

Copy

Good design is important, and so is clear and effective copy. Here are some specific tips to use on your exit-intent popup copy.

34. Make Them Laugh

Another reason visitors bail on your site is that they’re simply bored. But if you can make them smile or laugh, it’ll be hard for them not to take you up on your parting offer.

KlientBoost used “Is Your Marketing Poopy?” as the heading for their popup. That’s a line that’s certain to stop an abandoning visitor in their tracks.

klientboost_casualoptin

If humor fits with your brand, this is not the time to hold it in, so let it loose in your exit popup!

35. Use Numbers

Numbers can be used to increase conversions on your exit-intent popups.

For starters, numbers are great attention-grabbers. There’s just something about seeing a number that makes us take notice. Especially if it’s a very specific number, like 1,837.

We also know that people tend to infer larger volume from larger numbers. Basically, that means that 660 minutes sounds larger than 11 hours, even though they’re the same amount of time. Use this to your advantage in your popup copy by using smaller units when you want to give the impression of bigger amounts.

Of course, if you have big amounts to show off, like Syed Balkhi, then by all means, do it!

social proof popup

36. Use Compelling Button Copy

Is your call-to-action (CTA) button copy generic, like “Subscribe,” “Download,” or “Sign Up?”

Sorry, what? Dozed off a bit.

If you want your button to be clickable and compelling, kiss the generic copy buh-bye.

Instead, use copy that focuses on the benefits visitors will get from your offer.

For instance, Shoe Money offers free case studies as their lead magnet. Instead of a generic “Download Now” button, their button copy reads, “I Want Millions of Dollars Now.” How’s that for compelling?

ShoeMoney

You can also make your button copy more enticing simply by being more specific about what users are getting or the action they’re taking.

If you’re giving away a coupon, use a specific dollar amount on the button: “Get My $10 Off.”

Get My 10 Off Button Copy

To give you some inspiration, here are even more great examples of call-to-action button copy:

  • “Start writing” – Medium
  • “Give Basecamp a try – it’s free for 60 days” – Basecamp
  • “Find your gym & get membership” – Anonymous case study
  • “Show Me My Heatmap” – CrazyEgg
  • “Build a Manpack” – Manpacks
  • “Send a GiftRocket” – GiftRocket
  • “Talk to us” – Contently
  • “Let’s Do It!” – Less Accounting

37. Ask Visitors To Follow You on Social Media

Asking for an email address can be tough. Due to information overload, people can be fiercely protective of their email inboxes these days.

However, convincing them to follow you on social media is easier. Especially if your social media channels have a significant following (social proof), it should be relatively simple to get an abandoning visitor to click the “Like” or “Follow” button.

FourSignmaFoods

38. Assume the Close

A particularly gutsy move is to stop asking whether visitors want to take action and just assume that they do.

Neil Patel‘s exit-intent popup on his webinar registration page is a simple registration form.

assumetheclose_neilpatel

Notice he doesn’t try to sell you on the webinar at all. There’s no headline or any details about what the webinar is about. He simply assumes that you want to register.

CrazyEgg assumes that you want to buy one of their plans. Rather than trying to sell you on their plans, they simply ask, which one will you choose?

Crazy Egg Pricing Plans

39. Incite Curiosity

The information gap theory of curiosity states that we get curious when we think there’s a gap between what we know and what we don’t know. It’s like a mental itch that we just have to scratch.

If you want a surefire way of making your visitors stick around longer, use an information gap to incite curiosity. Once visitors get the curiosity itch, they’ll have to stick around to satisfy it.

In this popup, the headline promises to reveal the strategy that Gary Vaynerchuk used to get 832,241 YouTube views:

Gary Vaynerchuk

Because there is a perceived information gap, visitors will be driven to enter their email out of curiosity.

Derek Halpern offers five templates for crafting headlines that incite curiosity. These are perfect headlines for your exit popups:

  • How’d you like to learn about [new remarkable thing] that [desirable outcome]?
  • How can you earn [desirable outcome] with [new remarkable thing]?
  • There’s a way for you to [desirable outcome] with this [new remarkable thing].
  • If you heard about a [new remarkable thing] that could [desirable outcome], would you be interested in learning more about it?
  • The key to a [desirable outcome] is to use [new remarkable thing].

40. Get Inside Your Visitor’s Head

The best way to get big results from your exit-intent popups is by putting yourself in your visitor’s shoes. Then you can offer them exactly what they need and want at that moment.

Ask yourself the possible reasons for a visitor to leave this particular page on your website. Out of those, which are the most likely reasons?

CountryLiving knows their visitors would love to have a mouth-watering meal for dinner tonight. However, the main thing holding them back is time. Most people feel they simply don’t have the time to cook an elaborate meal. So, CountryLiving swoops in and saves the day with “26 Easy Dinners that Can be Made in 30 Minutes or Less!”

Country Living Exit Popup

This is an exit-intent popup at its best. Get inside your visitor’s head, solve their reason for leaving, and become their hero.

Bonus Tips: Best Practices for Exit-Intent Popups

There’s a lot of strategy that goes into creating the best exit popups, but these simple best practices will always be a good guide:

  1. Alignment: Your popup messaging and display behavior should always match your customer’s intent.
  2. Targeting: Each exit popup should be designed specifically for a certain part of your overall audience. One size does not fit all!
  3. Behavior Triggers: Browsing behavior can give clues about the visitor’s intent. Use these clues to trigger the appropriate popups. In Google Analytics, you can see your exit pages or the pages your visitors exit most.
  4. Interaction: Make it easy for visitors to take the first step. They’ll be more likely to take another step toward conversion once they do.
  5. Personalization: Show the customer that you understand their needs with customized messaging and display rules.

Ready to get started?

With OptinMonster, you can create exit-intent popups in 5 minutes or less! Learn more about our excluding Exit-Intent® technology in these articles and documents:

With OptinMonster’s powerful lead-generation tools, you can create exit popups that will get you more leads, sales, and subscribers right away.

Get Started With OptinMonster Today!

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