Optmizing the landing pages to generate ROI..

[Bowdii]

Does anyone do anything special to there landing pages/? I.E. extra downloads, contact info centered out differently, etc?

Thanks for any info!

[shorebreak]

There are two interesting firms that are trying to automate a lot of the work required to do ongoing multivariable landing page A/B testing:

Optimost
Offermatica

[Syzygy]

From the simplest of perspectives (because that's easiest for me): undoubtedly like a lot of people here (the greater majority?), I have different ads pointing at different landing pages.

One has to try to ensure that the ads reflect the nature of that landing page, so that when someone clicks on an ad (which they perceived as relevent to them), the page strongly reflects their needs.

That at least is the theory and, if the right kw's are used in conjunction with well written copy, (basically, if the ad "does exactly what it says on the tin" when someone clicks through it) it works in practice, IMHO.

So, tailor your ads to the landing page - and vice versa...

Others here will be able to offer much more detailed advice - just my tuppence ha'penny's worth.

Syzygy

[Robsp]

Bowdii

Just start trying a number of variants and test their conversions. We've seen staggering differences between landing pages.

Don't change to many variables at the same time or you will not know what caused success or failure.

[AdWordsAdvisor]

One has to try to ensure that the ads reflect the nature of that landing page, so that when someone clicks on an ad (which they perceived as relevent to them), the page strongly reflects their needs.

Well said, Syzygy, and I agree with your entire post above.

May I just mention one of my 'landing page pet peeves'?

As we all might agree, folks on the Internet can be pretty impatient. So reeaaaalllly slooooow looaadiiing landing pages are to be avoided, in my opinion. Speaking for myself, if I have to wait more than about three seconds, I am both irritated and gone.

One other thing: sometimes it is useful to forget everything you know about your business and your site. Put on your 'consumer' hat for a half hour, search on your keywords, take a look at your ads, and go to your landing pages.

Now:

* What was your experience?

* Did anything annoy you?

* Did you trust you?

* Would you do business with you?

* Would you give you your credit card number?

* What could be improved?

AWA

[Bowdii]

Fantastic advice guys/gals!

Thank you!

I take everything into consideration.

Please, keep them coming!

Thanks again:)

[edit_g]

So reeaaaalllly slooooow looaadiiing landing pages are to be avoided, in my opinion

Good point AWA - I'd just like to add a few cents - the best landing pages are sometimes search results or product pages which change quite often and can't be cached using server side caching solutions because they change so often - so there's sometimes a bit of a toss-up between a slow loading page which is the best page for the user and a more lightweight or static page which may scrimp on details and/or live availability.

[eWhisper]

Very good thread about A/B testing. It's in the Supporters Forum:

[webmasterworld.com...]

[Bowdii]

Hi eWhisper,

The link you sent goes to a private fourm, I believe?

I do not know if it is possible if you could copy and paste the thread to me? Most likely not, but thanks for the link none the less.

Bowdii