Use these guidelines to build landing pages that convert like crazy and fuel business growth.
Perhaps the number one rule of landing page conversion rate optimization is to remove your website navigation from your landing page header and footer. You do this in order to limit the user's options so that they are focused on the one action that they should take - convert via your form. This creates an obvious conversion path for your user.
Return the navigation it on a confirmation page that renders upon form submission so that users can continue to browse your website post-conversion.
2. Tell visitors what to do.
A landing page is not the right place to be coy about what you want.
If you want your landing page visitors to complete the form, tell them! Use your landing page to quickly get to the point. Don't leave lead conversion up to chance. Explicitly explain to your users exactly what they are expected to do on your landing pages. Use action-oriented language to describe what steps are required and items they'll need to do next. Use directional cues like arrows or contrasting colors to carve out a clear path to action.
Often, the single most important factor when it comes to landing page conversion rates is the form used on the page. When a client is looking to increase their conversion rate on any landing page, the form is almost always the first place I focus.
The best advice I have is to consider interacting with your landing page through the eyes and mind of your website visitors. Would you want to or be willing to complete a form with 14 different fields, just for a tip sheet? Probably not. Would you be willing to disclose intimate financial details about your company or your direct phone number in exchange for an infographic? Unlikely (even though this information is gold for initiatives like lead scoring and account-based marketing).
For top-of-funnel content, like ebooks, free guides, or infographics, request or require up to four fields (typically first name, last name, email address, and company name).
Middle-of-funnel content, like webinars, case studies, or online assessments, can demand a bit more, such as industry, job title, role, or location. Including no more than 7 fields here is generally best for optimal conversion rates.
For bottom-of-the-funnel content, like software demos, in-person assessments, or consultations, you can ask for the most information. Fill in details like company website, phone number, address, and more at this stage. However, you should still try to keep your form fields under 10, even for bottom-of-the-funnel offers.
Another effective strategy is to utilize progressive form fields. When a previously converted lead or prospect returns to your website and accesses a form, progressive form fields automatically replace one or more fields to capture new information from your visitor.
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Headlines are a critical part of successful landing pages. Your primary headline (h1) is the first thing that your user will see when they hit your landing page, so it needs to be attention-grabbing and powerful, yet still descriptive. Usually, it is best to clearly describe the offer presented on the landing page, and to speak as directly as possible to the pain point or question that the user is seeking to solve or answer at that moment.
Use secondary headlines (h2, h3, etc.) to call the user's attention to important elements of your landing page. Keep in mind that search engine crawlers give heavier weight to words that are included between any header tags in the html, and while many landing pages are short and succinct, don't underestimate the organic traffic they can drive.
Make good use of bulleted and/or numbered lists.
Use your bullets to artfully and directly describe what the user will learn or gain in exchange for providing their contact information via your form. Make your offering irresistible, and be sure to write in a language that your target audience uses and understands.
Including a relevant image on your landing page will increase your conversion rate substantially. Studies show that adding an image to a landing page increases conversion rates substantially. Use good judgement - don't include images that are overwhelming or distracting, and definitely don't include anything that's offensive.
Interestingly, industry research suggests that including an image of a human face works best. The philosophy is that users see themselves in the image, and including an image of a human face is a great way to foster that connection.
More often than not, a visitor arrives at your landing page because they have clicked through from a call-to-action (CTA) of some kind, placed either on your website, blog, social media, or digital ad. The more closely your landing page matches the CTA that drove a user to your page, the higher you can expect your conversion rate to be.
Use similar or identical phrasing, and be sure to align the imagery you use on both assets. If you're unsure how this might impact results, try A/B testing a new CTA for each landing page first.
One clever way to improve your landing page conversion rates is to personalize the information and experience for your visitors. How, you ask? Use dynamic content that populates automatically based on what is known about the user. This can be accomplished by setting up a series of rules on the backend of your page.
You can even go as far as to show and hide entire sections on a page. For example, you could include a testimonial for anyone that came from outside of the your website. It is easy to get carried away, ask yourself if specific dynamic content is going to drive more conversions.
The most effective landing pages don't become that way by accident. Rather, they are improved continuously over time through the effective use of A/B testing.
There are so many variables you can A/B test on a landing page to improve your conversion rates: headlines, images, copy, forms, length, colors, etc.
Keep a detailed record of your A/B tests and results so that you can apply your learnings to future pages.
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