Having opt-ins for an enticing lead magnet is one of the best ways to grow your email list quickly and effectively. But, do you know exactly where opt-ins should be placed in order to produce the most successful conversion rates? I want to share the top 5 places to put opt-ins on your website so you can start building that email list FAST.
Email lists are one of the best ways to convert your audience into paying clients and customers. That’s why opt-ins are super important for your business strategy. Knowing how to effectively use opt-ins in combination with an awesome lead magnet can drastically increase your subscription rate.
So where should you be placing these super important opt-ins on your website?
1 – Hello Bar or Floating Bar
This is a thin graphic at the top of a webpage that provides a simple form that entices visitors to subscribe directly or send them to a landing page for the opt-in of your choice. I love this option because it’s an easy way to boost lead generation without disturbing your visitors’ experience on your website. Plus, it’s always visible and extremely versatile in what you want to convey to your audience. From announcements, subscribing to your email list, or running a sale or limited time offer, hello or floating bars are great for business!
Jenna Kutcher has a great example of one and so does Amy Porterfield – although Amy uses her floating bar to promote her latest podcast episode rather than an opt-in.
2 – Splash Page or feature box on home page
In my personal opinion, this is one of the best places to have an opt-in because it’s an instant focal point for visitors when they land on your page. Your home page is likely the most popular page on your website, so having an opt-in on this page can be a shoe-in for easy subscriptions. Make sure this opt-in has a clear call to action that – once subscribed – rewards visitors with a valuable gift.
Tarzan Kay has a great example (and a few other opt-in examples, too)
3 – Footer
This under-appreciated opt-in location is another fantastic spot to sneak in a little email subscription form or lead magnet. When web visitors scroll to the bottom of your page, that usually means they are still curious about your business and want to know more.
Your visitors are looking for the ‘next step’ to take in your website. So give them one! This is the perfect time to remind them of your compelling content and offer them an opt-in or CTA they’ll have a hard time refusing.
Ashlyn Carter has a beautiful footer opt-in for her freebies that encourages her visitors to learn more about copywriting once they’ve consumed her page’s content.
4 – Pop-ups (or slide-ins)
Ok, these are slightly controversial, so take this particular opt-in placement with a grain of salt. In a nutshell, pop-ups and slide-ins DO ‘work’ – as long as they are functioning properly and they offer a compelling offer that your audience can’t refuse. Because of their attention-grabbing qualities, both pop-ups and slide-ins can actually accelerate the growth on your email list exponentially!
However, there can be a huge setback with your audience’s reaction to pop-ups that can potentially damage your relationship with them. And that’s definitely not a good thing. Copyblogger has a great article that goes in-depth on why visitors can have a strongly adverse reaction to pop-ups or slide-ins.
But to sum up Copyblogger’s pop-up policy:
“There is no question that pop-ups “work” — but to what end? We’re not willing to risk the relationship with our audience for a spike in opt-ins.”
Slide-ins are a little less intrusive to your visitors and are often considered more tasteful than pop-ups
We know that these particular types of opt-ins work, but what cost are you willing to gamble? If you do use pop-up or slide-ins, make sure they are delayed or triggered after a reasonable time period. Nobody wants a pop-up the second they land on a site.
Whatever you do, make sure a pop-up AND a slide-in don’t show up on the same page! Also, remember to design the pop-up or slide-in to balance out your user’s experience as they navigate through your site.
5 – Sidebar
Last but not least, a sidebar can be a great opt-in location depending on what your website theme or hosting site offers. This is a classic location for opt-ins because it’s always accessible – no matter what page your visitors land on. The sidebar can serve as a highlight reel of all the important content or information you want your visitors to have at a glance.
Unlike pop-ups or slide-ins, having your opt-in on the sidebar doesn’t affect your visitors’ experience as they read through your content – which is probably the reason they landed on your page in the first place. Having your opt-in on your sidebar also means you have the opportunity to tantalize your visitors to subscribe or take action no matter where they navigate to on your site.
If you do have a sidebar, I recommend adding in the opt-in towards the top. Think of order in terms of priority. You want them to subscribe, so opt-ins should be one of the first things visitors see!
Bonus Location: At the bottom of your About Page
Did you know that your About page is one of the most visited pages on your site? This page is where your visitors will usually head to when they’ve finished reading your blog post or home page that they’ve landed on.
So why not put an opt-in on this page? It’s really the perfect opportunity to encourage your visitors to subscribe. Your About page has just told them what kind of person you are and what you can offer them. Follow this up with an opt-in that provides them with a beneficial offer!
Conclusion
Whether you are offering an eBook, an email course, a toolkit, a how-to guide, promoting a podcast or video series, or offering a sale or discount, your opt-ins need to have a placement strategy and a benefit-driven value offer that your audience wants to subscribe to. When these two elements are implemented correctly, you can watch your email list grow like wildfire!
If you are interested in boosting your branding or social media strategy, we would love to hear from you! Use our contact page to get in touch or sign up for a Discovery Call today.
