Online Marketing
Do Small Businesses Need To Create Proper Landing Pages?
No matter what type of business you are involved right now, it makes a big difference if your website has an impressive landing page. Many owners of small businesses are still unaware of the amazing benefits of having proper landing pages because of lack of information on how this specific web page could make their businesses prosper. Remember, in any business, the success of one’s online advertisement is also dependent on how effective is your landing page.
Having this idea in mind, let us first discuss the meaning of a “landing page”. It is often referred to as the page where most of your online visitors get to land on when they click on an advertisement. Landing pages are created for the following reasons:
- Increase relevant leads.
- Encourage a call-to-action on the part of the reader, either making a purchase or availing your free 30 day trial subscription.
- Provide detailed and useful information on your product or service offers.
- If you are into affiliate marketing lead the visitor to your business site.
Now, that you have a clearer understanding on how a landing page generally works for your company’s success, here are some valuable tips in creating a better landing page:
1. Make it simple
For your landing page to capture a visitor’s attention, try to make it simple as the word itself implies. You can probably use a brief description about your product or service. Don’t make it too long. Remember, based on surveys, most of your online visitors are busy individuals and they usually have only 30 seconds to stay glued on a certain web page, so try to use this precious time to direct them to a call-to-action move like downloading your freebies or signing-up for a free trial.
2. Think of colors
Another area you have to give careful analysis is your choice of colors for your landing pages. Think of colors that aren’t too bold or distracting to the eyes of your visitors. Try to incorporate themed colors that are refreshing or inviting to your target niche while at the same time giving a solid representation of your company’s uniqueness.
3. Avoid too many links
Don’t’ bombard your visitors with a landing page that is crowded with too many links or other unnecessary pop-up advertisements that would irritate your clients, thus, giving them reason to leave your page or discontinue any sign-up form they are starting to fill-in. Provide only relevant links and details geared towards leading them to where you want them to stay or make a call-to –action move.
Top recommendation:
An impressive landing page should represent your business as someone genuine and trustworthy. You can only achieve this goal by making your landing page valuable of information without being too pushy on your offers. Make use of testimonials, reviews, product or service information, tips, free downloads or trials. Keep in mind that online users like to receive something free, so when they get anything useful from the sites they have visited, they will surely come back to your site. Lastly, always consult an expert web designer if you are a newbie in landing page creation.
Tagged advertising, business, Conversion rate, Internet marketing, Landing page, Uniform Resource Locator, Web Design and Development, Web page
DazAugust 30, 2012 at 9:19 am
I’ve never used a landing page for any of my sites, although I don’t sell anything so the only call to action that I could really go with would be to get users to register / subscribe to RSS / mailing lists etc and I wonder if a landing page would be a bit overkill for this?
I would be interested to see some landing pages that aim for this kind of user activity if anyone has any that they think work well?
dhintakaAugust 30, 2012 at 2:52 pm
I like the article but I think few samples of crowded landing pages & few that are considered as the best would really help us identify the dos & don’t s.
I like the fact that we must use the expert for doing this if we feel we are too new.
KennyKAugust 30, 2012 at 9:12 pm
I think it would be a bit overkill, without a product to sell. You could however advertise a landing page that tells you about your site, and maybe add a small opt-in form for people to subscribe to a newsletter that you create. You can set up some newsletter and send out messages regularly about topics that might interest your site visitors.
If you send useful information, they might also visit your site , register,etc.
ohheyguysAugust 31, 2012 at 3:23 am
I agree with what others are saying. A landing page isn’t vital for every online business. While it is very versatile and useful for most, there are simply those without a product or service that adequately fits into a simple landing page. However, if you could find evidence to the contrary, I’d love to see some products that use it.
But one thing I definitely do agree with is the fact that you should seek expert advice when constructing one. How many times have you gone to a site and found a poorly constructed landing page? If I do, it tends to immediately turn me off from that product/service and I will take my money or time elsewhere. Great points!
ohiotom76August 31, 2012 at 6:30 am
Landing pages are critical to running campaigns on paid search channels such as AdWords and AdCenter. Since you’re paying for that traffic, it’s important to place the consumer into the conversion funnel rather than encourage them to just browse your site and possibly leave. At the same time, if you give them no other options but to convert, it can have a negative effect on your quality score, driving up your cost per click to maintain a given position on all your keywords.
BloomaticSeptember 1, 2012 at 2:01 am
This is an interesting aspect of web creation. It`s true that many people don’t think too much when they are creating a site, and later pay their errors. I think the “links issue” is very important . Many times, when you visit some websites, we are overwhelmed by the amount of “visual offering” that exists. That confuses a lot. The simplicity, at least in my case, is a factor that makes me appreciate and have a positive reaction against a web product. Thank you very much for the little tips you offer in each article, they are really practical.
gerkmeisterSeptember 1, 2012 at 8:18 am
I think landing pages are vital. As an affiliate marketer I have used several landing pages to capture leads by giving away something free like an ebook or report related to a product I am promoting. This allows me to follow up automatically using an autoresponder with pre-written messages providing more related information, the benefits of the product I’m promoting and a repeated call to action.
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TashWordSeptember 3, 2012 at 7:10 pm
I agree with many of these comments – a landing page has a place but can easily be overdone.
If you are making a special offer or highlighting a particular thing in an ad then a landing page can continue that theme and make the website experience better (I hate clicking an ad about something only to be directed to a homepage so I have to search for the offer on the site).
But a landing page isn’t always needed – if I am linking to my business generally, the homepage should already work as a landing page; if I am linking to a specific service I offer or a specific topic, a link directly to my services page or relevant blog item answers the need without wasting people’s time on a landing page.
Oh, and if you have a website, the style of a landing page is obvious – just match the rest of your site for colours, fonts, layout, etc.
KennyKSeptember 4, 2012 at 1:19 am
That’s right. Don’t use a landing page if you just use it to redirect people to your home page. It doesn’t make sense t o me, but I often see it. You can make your homepage attractive enough, and put a call for action in there as well.
Felix KenyonSeptember 5, 2012 at 6:10 am
About landing page, You’ve briefly described here, which is very important and also helpful to me. Thanks for sharing.
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cmartenSeptember 11, 2012 at 1:08 am
I actually hate landing pages, as I understand them. When I search for information or a product, I want to get to the meat of the matter with as few clicks as possible. The home page of the site should have everything I want, or direct links to everything I want, displayed in a clear, easy-to-use manner. I don’t want to have to click an extra time just to get to that.
zilyasSeptember 13, 2012 at 1:15 pm
I think a landing page is essential for small businesses. Visitors need to know what your business is about, and a landing page is a great way to give them that information, as long as it is clear and concise. Personally, if I can’t tell what a website is about in as little as 10 seconds, I’m clicking away from that page. That may sound unreasonable, but that’s pretty indicative of how quickly a visitor to your website decides to stay or go.
PurpleRoseOctober 21, 2012 at 4:11 am
Landing pages offer first impressions for viewers. So, it is important that the page is not too busy, but it will gain the reader’s attention. Personally, I feel your landing page is much like offering your online business card to viewers.
allswlOctober 23, 2012 at 4:05 pm
Depending on the kind of business you are in your landing page is very important as t can determine whether or not a visitor stays on your site and explore or simply moves on without reading or looking at anything. The key is to create one that is appropriate for your type of business.
HereWeGROWOctober 28, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Great article with a lot of useful information. I am currently in the process of designing a landing page for my new website and determinately have some food for thought. Knowing that I have an average of 30 seconds to draw in my traffic is good to know.
rewasNovember 4, 2012 at 11:32 pm
Landing pages are very important when it comes to Internet marketing and trying to sell your product. Those are nice tips for people who are thinking about making their own landing pages. In my opinion they are the most important part of Internet marketing. Especially the way you design it.
gregc24November 7, 2012 at 1:03 pm
This is a very helpful article. People overlook the value of landing pages. But, now with smartphones and tablets, it’s even more important to design a good landing page. Thanks for the insights.
vida_llevaresNovember 9, 2012 at 2:20 am
Yes. Landing pages should no longer be ignored since marketing strategies are now getting mobile. Online marketing is now a thing of the past.
johnthomas1433November 14, 2012 at 3:42 pm
Most of the advertisers these days still use Landing pages, and I certainly dislike them. They are ever scrolling, and we shall never reach the end of the page even after scrolling down for some time. They all have these annoying popups that asks us whether we need discount or something else, when we try to leave their landing page.
If this is the case of landing pages these days, then its not worth making them, as people are indeed frustrated with them.
akanbiNovember 21, 2012 at 2:07 pm
One of the key points that may have been missed in this great article is the importance of also having great SEO content on your landing page. This way your audience can find you in the first place. But I do agree that when they get their they must be enticed to stay.
akanbiNovember 28, 2012 at 1:42 pm
I want to add that this article definitely hit it on the head, as far as landing pages. I myself have very little patience when I go visit a website and I already know what I want, so simple is definitely the way to go.
Lloyd L.December 6, 2012 at 7:44 pm
I dont think landing pages are good for blog type websites. For example this site wouldn’t look nice with a landing page on the first visit asking for an email. If you have a product to sell or are trying to upsell something then I think a landing page is a must.
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