STO34: Website Optimization Series – Thank You Pages

By John Dennis on Jun 8, 2014 in Podcast | 0 comments

Click here to subscribe to the ‘Smart Time Online Podcast’ in iTunes

Very recently, I was working later than usual to finish up some last-minute client stuff and decided to run over to a local fast-casual drive through for a quick salad. My wife wasn’t feeling well and was down for the count, so I drove alone.

It had rained all evening… the roads were wet and of course it was dark out, so I decided to take it slow and brainstorm some ideas for my next few podcast episodes. By the time I arrived at the place I was grabbing a salad from, I wasn’t quite satisfied with my ideas… I was having “podcasters’ block”.

Pulling into the drive-through, I took a reprieve from the brainstorming session and focused my attention on what toppings I wanted on my salad and whether I wanted to add a side of their delicious fresh-cut, all-natural fries to my order.

I don’t know about you, but when I’m really hungry and my brain knows that I’m about to eat what my body is craving, I get all excited and giddy.

My excitement was soon met with a lady’s voice on the other end of the speaker, who told me to go ahead with my order. The cravings-excitement grew – I was about to order just what I wanted!

I put my order in, and was abruptly told to drive up. “Did I customize my order too much? She sounds irritated” I thought while creeping up to the window.

Oh well – maybe when I pull up, she’ll turn out to be a nice person who loves her job working late night drive-through.

Boy, was I was wrong.

The entire transaction took place without even a hint of a smile, not even a slightly nice tone in her voice, and without a single “thank you.” Forget asking me if I wanted to add in a milkshake or a pair of cookies to my order. I actually pulled away quite appalled … and thus the idea for this episode was born.

See, while pulling away, I realized that in real life, we expect so much to have pleasant experiences at the places we visit. Especially at local businesses. But what about online? Are you genuinely thanking your visitors for doing business with you?

Thank you pages are one of the most under-utilized and under-optimized pages on most websites. In this episode, I kick off the Website Optimization Series, a series of podcast episodes focused on helping you optimize specific pages on your website so you can better automate and grow your business, while growing your influence and authority.

In this episode, I talk about specific strategies on how to expertly craft your thank you pages and post-conversion funnel systems so you can better support your business goals.

We also talk about why, like (most) fast-food restaurants, you should offer a ‘cookie’ or ‘milkshake’ upsell on your thank you pages, if applicable.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

The ONE THING you should ask yourself that will lead to crafting the best thank you page possible.
Why your Lead Magnet thank you page is more important than you are probably aware of.
A start-to-finish example of thank you pages as they relate to an email opt-in conversion funnel.
Why you must keep warm leads warm, and not let them cool off (while not losing focus on leads being real humans who should be treated as such).
What NOT to include on your thank you pages (most people don’t do this, and lose out on tons of profit because of it).
The ONE THING every single product thank you page should have, and why (this could double or triple your income this year).
The copy that converts thank you page visitors from leads into customers.

ACTION STEPS:

Ask yourself, “what is a logical next step to offer my new lead?” when creating your thank you pages. Sometimes, this means to offer them a low-priced product or service, and other times it may mean links and resources to more relevant information.
At the end of the day, your thank you pages are a place where you should deepen the engagement between your business and your visitor. Remember that people are human – like you – and treat them as you would want to be treated.
Don’t hesitate to offer an entry-level product or service to visitors who sign up for a relevant, free lead magnet offer.
Recognize the opportunity for your thank you pages being a perfect place for people to share your offer. Connect your social share buttons to your landing pages, though – not your thank you pages.
Schedule a FREE Thank You Page Evaluation with me. I’ll assess your entire process and report back on ways to improve with specific optimization tips. You’ll also get the opportunity to work with me 1-on-1, if desired. Click here to sign up.