One day as I was testing my Autoresponder system, I thought I had a bright idea. Turns out it it was indeed a bright idea, but not a new idea.
I was setting up my AWeber account to automatically send the download page for an eBook I sell when I noticed there was a place to fill in a confirmation page link. I wondered what this was, so I checked it out.
I found out that after a person opts in to your mailing list, you can have them automatically sent to a page on your site. The alternative is to use AWeber’s generic response. This response takes you to a very white page with a thank you note on it and a link back to your site.
I’ll never use that generic link because it does nothing for me! This person has already been to the home page of the site – it’s where they subscribed to the newsletter in the first place. You need to send them to a special “Thank You” page, with a link to an Affiliate Product (or two). That way they return to your site, see what else you have to offer, and possibly buy something!
There is one more step you need to do to place your upsell in your subscribers email box, and that is to use your first and second emails as another upsell opportunity.
I was using the confirmation email correctly, but didn’t think about using it in my first email because that’s where I give the download instructions for the book. However, think about it for just a second. Those first and second messages (even if they are instructions) will get the customer used to seeing your name come into their email box – and they will open the email because they know it contains something for them.
So get used to using these emails to your best advantage. Don’t just send instructions. Try sending them a few extras. First, be sure to reinforce the fact that the customer has made a great decision by buying your product or signing up for your list. Then, the “extras” might include:
- An opportunity to try another one of your products.
- An unadvertised freebie that they can download (possibly a branded eBook with your links in it).
- A recommendation for an affiliate product that you promote.
- Anything else that makes your new contact feel comfortable with you as a person or company.
The opportunities to increase your sales using your first emails and confirmation pages are endless. It just takes a little creativity – and a good autoresponder set-up.
Very informative article!
Personally, as a “struggling newbie”, I am finding it quite difficult to grasp (and implement) the full extent of possible uses for a “Confirmation / Thank You” page.
For example, I use Xsite-Pro to build my web sites. Because of the CSS template structure, any page I build – including a “Thank You” page – will have all the templated inclusions that every other page has i.e. testimonials in the right-hand margin; navigation menu in the left-hand margin…etc…etc…etc…
This is NOT very appropriate for a clean, simple approach to a “Thank You” page.
Would you suggest I use a different tool such as Front Page Express or perhaps Dream Weaver? At least I can customize any given page for the above-mentioned purpose!
Perhaps you might like to expand on just how YOU create these Confirmation / Thank You pages and what type of html editer or web building tool YOU use:)
Regards,
Bruce
Hi Bruce,
Actually, I use Xsite pro to build a lot of my web-sites. I have no problem sending visitors to a thank you page that has all of my links on it. That way, it’s already familiar to them, and if they want, they can look around the site more, now that they have gotten the registration part out of the way.
I did see another thing today on a Thank You page that you might want to consider – if you don’t want to use your full site structure. You can just add your banner to the generic Thank You page. At least that brings some familiarity to the user (don’t ask me how to do this though, because, as I said, I just send the to a thank you page on my site.)
Good Luck
Evelyn
It would be great to see a short video describing this procedure for new marketing folks!
Thanks!
Nice article on talking the features of AWEBER… althought I am using GetResponse. I feel both are still equally good =)
Actually you can go one step further and customized the after opt-in page to provide the name on to the page.
You can try opt-in at my website at http://www.gathersuccess.com and you will get what I mean =)
Alvin Phang
http://www.GatherSuccess.com
Hi Evelyn… in view of what you said (to me) in your reply above, would you be kind enough to share with me (and whoever else reads this comment) the link/s to a name squeeze page that directs a visitor to a “Thank You” page on one of your personally built Xsite-Pro sites.
Or, if that’s not the structure you’ve put in place, then simply a link to one or two Xsite-Pro sites so that I can sign up for your newsletter (or whatever you’re offering) and actually see ‘first-hand’ exactly HOW you’ve designed your “Thank You” pages in these circumstances?
Honestly, it would help so much to be able to see how you’ve done it / them.
Perhaps, if you don’t wish to post such information on this blog you might like to send the links privately to my email address – the one that I first used to comment on here:)
Thanking you in advance:)
Bruce
It’s not a problem at all. You can check out my self-help site at http://www.reawakener.com – feel free to go through the entire process.
Evelyn
Thanks for the infos. I will apply them asap. Hope this will work
Dominique.
Hi Bruce,
I just thought of something. In XSite pro you CAN get a blank page, without all of your sidebars included if you want. Just go into your Info tab and click on “Ignore Page Layout Settings.” That will give you a clean slate for your Thank-You page – and you can add and format however you want.
Evelyn
this is great! we have a hard time what and what not to include in our confirmation email. thanks for the ideas! =)