Results of short survey on AWeber default Thank You Pages

Last week I used MonkeySurvey to ask 5 short questions on one particular feature/option the AWeber program has: the 2 Thank You Pages. The 1st page you are directed to after submitting your details in the webform and the 2nd page you are directed to after clicking the confirmation email link.

For both you can use AWeber default pages. Or you can use Thank You Pages you create yourself either on your website or blog (as page).

The questions in the survey concentrated on which option (Default or Custom) AWeber account holders use and why. If you've taken part in the survey I'm very grateful to you.

I was happy to note that most (no matter how long they have been using AWeber, from 1 year to 6+ years) are using custom Thank You Pages. The few ones using the default 1st Thank You Page state: "it saves time".

I'm sure it does, but it will costs you prospects. Leads coming from your own website/blog, where you have put so much effort in the wording and the offer to entice your web visitor to submit their details, are left hanging in the dark. All they read on the next page - which is a large empty white page with one single sentence: Please Check Your Email and Click the Confirmation Link to Activate Your Subscription.

Not very welcoming, not very conversational, not very 'polite'. It is always much better and will definitely increase the conversion rate of leads to prospects if you - as one of the contributors to the survey puts - "maintain the look and feel of my website". Don't interrupt the flow of conversation you are having with your lead/prospect because 'it saves time'. Don't let them wonder where you, your website and your conversation went.

The same applies for the 2nd Thank You Page - and happy to note that even most of those using the default 1st page use a custom 2nd page. Maintain the look and feel of your website.

There is however a rather worrying - in my eyes - practice mentioned by 50% of those using a custom 2nd Thank You Page: immediate access to downloads. They are in fact leaving the back door wide open. Even more worrying if you use AWeber as 'delivery' vehicle for your knowledge products (like E-books) or software products your prospect has paid for.
"This gets the report/software into the visitor's hands as soon as possible."

It sure does, but so would the first follow-up messages from your AWeber list. Granting access to reports/software on your 2nd Thank You Page (or as I like to call it: the request confirmed page) also grants access to it for 'clever web surfers'. Just try this search on Google to see how many free reports and software products you can 'collect' without submitting your name and email address or pay for. (Actually doing so would be illegal, so just look - don't 'touch')

Thank you for your purchase = download

Close the door!

In the Best AWeber Strategies and Tactics for Small Businesses you will find: "TACTIC S1-2: The ongoing conversation during the opt-in process" about the use and benefits of custom Thank You pages and which also explains very simple methods on how to close that back door. If you subscribed to the pre-launch news you have received access to the pre-view area and this lesson is now uploaded.

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Comments

[Carol B]

Hi Karin,

very interesting results you've got here. And I must admit I am occasionally guilty of delivering the sign-up gifts with the 2nd thank you page for ease and speed.

Ah - just not enough hours in the day sometimes... but at least I'm not upsetting my subscribers by breaking the conversation ;)

[Karin H.]

Hi Carol

I think the latter - not breaking the conversation at the very start of the relationship - is a very important matter, one that should be used by all email marketers.

Like I mentioned in a comment on your own blog, ending up on a empty white page with that single 'pathetic' sentence, isn't really needed. Creating general Thank You Pages on your own website or blog can be done very quickly - and in most cased you only have to do it once to direct all subscribers, no matter what you offer, to those pages. Doing this will save you time in the end anyway AND will definitely keep the conversation flowing ;-)

Thanks for dropping by.
Karin H

At 10:31 15/04/2009, you wrote: