By clicking one button, you could instantly pull out a tightly filtered sub-list by geographic location; age bracket; gender; favorite color; Pepsi or Coca-Cola; winter or summer; cats or dogs; smoker or non-smoker; roller, folder, or tosser (re: how they pack a suitcase) … anything, really.

With that information, you could write targeted copy that would convert like gangbusters.

Alas, however, there’s the real world.

Down here on Planet Earth, an opt-in form that requires 10 different fields in exchange for a video or PDF just won’t convert; and even when you add all these fields as “optional”, few people will give you more than their name and e-mail address.

So, NOW What?

If, up until now, you’ve built your list using a one-size-fits-all freebie and now you need to start segmenting, how can you segment your subscriber list?   

Here are some starting points:

1) Offer “Free Resources” Based On Specific Topics. This is the most straightforward approach.  Build targeted special reports or free offers, then drive visitors to them.  They’ll segment themselves.  For example, visit this website and click “FREE Consumer Guides” in the navbar, then explore the drop-downs beneath it.

2) Host Free Webinars. Just like teleseminars, webinars can be replayed over and again.  Using the Evergreen Business System, you can create any number of webinars – either live or autopilot – and plug them into your opt-in system.  For an excellent, high-converting example of this method in action, visit Higher Profits Webinars.

3) Fan The Flames… On Facebook. Think beyond your “opt-in e-mail list” for a moment. While you’re only allowed one Facebook account, you’re not limited to one Fan Page (or Discussion Group). Build one for each topic area.

4) Okay, Okay… Ask ONE Additional Question. While asking for your visitor’s entire life history on your opt-in form will decimate your conversions, you may want to test asking for one additional piece of information – so long as you justify the reason.  This means, don’t ask silly questions.  Be smart and thoughtful.

It’s Up To You…The Sky IS The Limit!

Out of all of these easy-to-do-by-you list segmentation techniques, which ones have provided you food for thought?  What will you do next?

Whatever you do… just remember…

Yes, you can.

- ARH

P.S. I’ll bet you could get your next website done much faster if someone took time to walk you through what pages you needed to create, brainstormed with you on where to find the content using information you already have, then gave you a written plan to follow.  The good news is: I’m that “someone.”  Click here to learn more!

In Part 1, you’ll see how to activate and apply the custom template, as you watch over my shoulder and discover my thought process for diagnosing these sorts of issues.

Part 2 will cover how to apply different headers to different WordPress pages within the same theme.  Exciting, eh?

The website used in this demo is Cheryl Lynn International – Mobile Marketing And Local Internet Marketing.

- ARH

P.S. Leave a comment below and tell us what other tech tips you’d like us to provide.

Remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice so you have the opportunity to try.

- ARH

“My opt-in offer is awesome! It contains five e-books and two special reports. It’s a cornucopia of knowledge.  It’s loaded with value!  Yet, my opt-in rates are very low.  What gives?”

First of all: your cornucopia isn’t “awesome” – no, it sucks really bad.  

If your opt-in rates are low enough to concern you, then you’re not showing value to your visitor. The value won’t increase even if you add 25 more free e-books.

In short, your offer is too damn good for its own good. 

How Does Your Visitor Decide Whether
They Will Opt In To Your List?

A key practice for optimizing your website conversions and increasing your opt-in rates – whether your offer contains one special report or video, a cornucopia of your greatest hits, or something in between – is to put yourself in the customer’s seat.

Follow these steps EXACTLY.  Do NOT jump ahead or add things.  Just follow this process to the letter:

First, imagine yourself AS the kind of prospect you want knocking on the door.  Do not visit your webpage or landing page yet.  Write down your answers to these questions:

1. What problem do I need solved?
2. What benefit do I hope to gain, today?

Second, navigate to your webpage and place the opt-in offer in front of you. Do NOT opt in.  Just sit with it for a minute.  HERE is where the website conversion conversation is taking place between you and your visitor!

Now, from the webpage visitor’s perspective, answer these questions:

1. How does the language of just the opt-in offer in front of me, right now, answer the questions from above?
2. Am I gaining confidence, again just viewing the opt-in offer or landing page, that I will start seeing answers and benefits within a few seconds after I fill in and submit the opt-in form?
3. Do I feel, based on what I know so far, I’ll be able to consume this in an easy, systematic way that won’t take too long – even though I haven’t seen the actual gift yet?
4. Has my time, thus far, been wasted, or have I already learned something?

Note your answers.

Third, go to that friend or family member who annoys you with irrelevant questions about your business every time you see them, who gets all sad and says “I just want to know more about you!”  when you can’t help but show how annoying you find their endless “20 questions”.  You know who I’m talking about.  Now’s the time where their annoying inquisitiveness works in your favor.

Have them do the same thing you just did (answer the first 2 questions, view the page, don’t opt-in, but answer the other 4 questions based on just seeing the offer) and report back to you with their findings.

Based on their likely response, I pretty much guarantee you’ll wonder if they even bothered to visit your webpage and are just telling you something so you’ll take them to lunch like you promised.

Try this. I’d love to hear what you come up with. Leave a comment below or send me an e-mail.

Yes, you can.

- ARH

P.S. Our Video Website Conversion Critiques contain “here’s-exactly-how-to-fix-it” coaching, captured on video. You can forward it to your web designer and say “Here’s what we need to do to fix the opt-in box.”  Sound good?  Then click here!!

Their original question was, “What other aggregators do you know? I like a one-click approach.”  My response: You have your cake and eat it too.  Plus, my solution gets you benefits that go beyond social media.

- ARH

P.S. Leave a comment below and tell us what other tech tips you’d like us to provide.