How to Make a Capture Page
A capture page is also known as a landing or squeeze page, and its purpose is to capture a visitor's email address and other contact details. This enables you to make contact and creates an opportunity to sell him your products or services after he leaves your website. Although in theory a capture page only needs to provide a description of your offers plus a form where a visitor can input his contact details, there are several elements a squeeze page should have to increase your chances of capturing a lead.
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Instructions
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Open your HMTL editor. Create a new page and give it a name you will be able to easily distinguish as your capture page. "Optin" or "capture" are easy-to-remember choices.
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Enter a teaser. A teaser is a pre-headline that goes above the main headline on the page. Its function is to intrigue your prospect and pull them in to the main headline. A simple way to create an effective teaser is to place a testimonial from an existing satisfied customer in quotes. As people are usually eager to hear the opinions of others, providing a testimonial at the start of the page is a convenient method to entice others to sign up.
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Write your headline. The headline is the text that is first read by the majority of visitors to your capture page. The purpose of the headline is to generate enough interest so your visitor continues reading the remainder of your page. Due to the fast nature of online marketing, you only have a split second to arouse interest in your prospect; therefore, your headline should be carefully composed. Popular types of headlines include question headlines, such as "Do you suffer from these miserable symptoms of clinical depression?" The goal of a question headline is to arouse curiosity and create empathy with your visitor. Alternatively you can use a direct headline such as "Free Solutions to Depression eBook - One Week Only!" A direct headline gets to the point immediately, and should invoke enthusiasm in your prospect.
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Describe your offer. Visitors are more likely to relinquish their email addresses if you give them something in return. This could be a free downloadable report, or an audio recording that provides information appealing to your target niche. If your main product is a weight loss plan, you could provide a sign-up incentive of a list of diet motivation tips, for example. If you are offering a local service, such as house painting, you could give your visitor a free consultation in return for their contact details. When describing the offer, focus on the benefits your prospect will gain from owning your offer or consulting with you personally, rather than the features of the report or consultation.
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Insert your opt-in form. For your prospect to sign up, he will need to fill out a form with his details, and submit them to you. An uncomplicated way to make this possible is to use email marketing software. There are several companies offering this service, those with established online presence and branding include Aweber and Get Response. For a small monthly fee you are provided with customizable forms to add to your website, and the ability to send a broadcast mailing to your leads or an automated series of mailings.
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Add a conclusion. The conclusion of a squeeze page is straightforward and should consist of a line or two below your opt-in form encouraging your visitor to sign up. Remind your visitor of the benefits she will receive after filling out your form and why she should not pass the offer up.
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Sign off. Having an actual signature at the end of the page helps to personalize your message and makes you appear more credible. You can make a signature in a basic graphics program such as Microsoft Paint, or scan a handwritten on into your computer. Alternatively, use a free service such as mylivesignature.com for a realistic alternative.
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Save your page. Upload it to your website.
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Tips & Warnings
The font, font size, spacing and font colors you use can affect how effectively your capture page converts. Test different colors and text sizes on your page while recording results. There are several free tools to help you do this, including Google's Website Optimizer.
References
- Aweber Communications: What Is a Squeeze Page?
- GetResponse: Features
- "Squeeze Page Secrets"; Justin Michie; 2010
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
