Do you give web site visitors the opportunity to download a free trial of your
product or service with the intention that they will come back and purchase? How
are you following up with these visitors? Asking them to fill out a form and immediately
giving them the download on the next page is not the best way to generate a quality
opt-in list. Collecting accurate opt-in information from these visitors is essential
to follow up education and making the sale.
Download giveaway opt-in conversion is extremely simple when done with the correct
process. Unfortunately many businesses are leaving significant profits and subscribers
on the table by using the wrong methods.
The Wrong Way
A visitor comes to your site and they fill out a form to request your free download.
Upon submission of the form they are taken to your thank you page where you provide
the link to download.
This person has been given your download but you have not given them a reason
to subscribe to your list. They might have given you a fake email address and in
all likelihood did give you a fake email knowing that they just need to get to the
next page to receive your information. Since you can't follow up with them you might
have lost a sale.
The Correct Way
Insert the AWeber opt-in form on your site. Within eye site of this form provide
information about the importance of subscribing to your list. Add value to your
list by giving them compelling reasons to subscribe. Make it clear that the download
link will be provided in the email they receive after confirming their subscription.
On your thank you page (or redirect page) they are taken to after they fill out
the form you need to provide information on verifying. Verified opt-in allows you
to ensure that the person subscribing did so with his or her own email address and
didn't provide a fake or malicious email. Let the visitor know that they should
check their email inbox. Tell them what the subject line of the email says so they
know what to look for. Convey that they must click on the link inside to verify
and receive the download link to your product.
In the autoresponder they receive after verifying, give them the download link.
Since they are subscribed to your list and have confirmed that the address they
provided is valid you can effectively follow up providing more information about
using the free or trial software, training tips, and further benefits or features
earned by becoming a customer.
Using these techniques you are sure to increase your sales when converting free
downloads to paid customers.
