Hey folks! I've been using AWeber for years, collecting newsletter signups from my blog. But I'm trying to get a little better about capturing potential customers, so I decided to use the tried-and-true method of giving away a free report. So, I wrote a report and made a landing page with an opt-in box. Here's my question: which method should I use for delivering the product? Method A: 1. They submit info from the sign up form. 2. The 'Thank You' page is the download page. 3. They receive the 'opt-in' email. Method B: 1. They submit info from the sign up form. 2. They see a 'Thank you for signing up' page that says they will receive download instructions in their email. 3. They get the opt-in message from AWeber. 4. ONCE THEY OPT IN, they get the auto-response, which includes instructions and the link to the download. My thoughts: neither is ideal, but with A, they get the free report with no guarantee that they will actually opt-in. With B, I guarantee they opt-in, but it's some extra steps involved to get the report. Which method is better? Is there a way to configure AWeber so that when they opt-in, instead of getting the AWeber thank you page, that it takes them directly to a page with download instructions. (The thank you page on the Web Form at AWeber is the page they go to when they hit Submit, not when they opt in from the confirmation email.) Thanks!
I've used Method B for years with a slight twist. My free report IS the autoresponder series that I send out over the course of a few weeks. One new message goes out every couple of days. The double opt-in means: 1) They are more serious. 2) They had to take SOME action. 3) You know you have valid email addresses. By distributing my overall report over a few weeks instead of just one file they put on their computer, my message, name, and offer stay in front of them over a longer period of time. It feels a little more "relational" that way. How many times will someone download a PDF and then never read it, much less apply the information in it? But if you are constantly sending out a chapter or section at a time, you have (IMO) a better shot at building rapport, establishing credibility, and bringing them back to your site/offer. Just my 2 cents.
I use: Method B when I'm sending out a free report. Method A when I need to build a customer list after they've paid via paypal. When my customers gone through all the steps paying me, I wouldn't want them to double opt in again.
which one is better? B of course.. with A, once they get the goods, they will not have any incentive to go any further.. you will have a lot of abandoned opt-in...
I do Method C, exactly what you are trying to do in AWeber. Confirmation email link goes straight to the download page. They still get another email with the download page link just in case. Also it gives me a chance to to more formally introduce myself and such things.
B...think about a short informative newsletter....gives you a chance to market them over and over.....