Is Including a Name Really That Important?
| Share |
If you have an opt in on your blog (which you really should), let me ask you three important questions…
- What causes people to stay on a list?
- What causes people to open an email?
- What causes people to take action in an email?
Now, the reason I ask is because the less actions you request of your visitor the higher your conversions are going to be and because of that I recently tested having the opt in form with “name and email” versus “email only”.
The page I tested with only the one email field improved the opt in conversions by 7.8%
Now you you might think…
but then I can’t put ‘Hi firstname’ and that seems so unfriendly!
Well, lets take a moment and look at the answers to the above three questions.
- Getting value: If they feel it is worthwhile to stay on your list, they will stay on your list.
- A Killer Subject Line: No different then a sales page headline, your subject line needs to get their attention or they will delete/ignore your message.
- Interest + Desire + Action: You then need to get them interested in what you have to say (such as started with a question), create a sense of desire for what they could have/achieve and then tell them exactly how to take action to quench that desire.
So now (because i hate theory and you need to prove this to yourself), do a split test… the next time you email your list, create one with their name and one with out, and look at the response rate difference.
If your tests go like mine, you will see that the increase in list growth out weights any negative drawback the name issue “might” cause… which means that it is more profitable to get more people on your list.
use video tutorials, knowledge base articles, and a user forum where you can go to for help, or to bounce your ideas off of other Affiliate Theme users. Click Here Now to Check out Affiliate ThemeIs Including a Name Really That Important?Posted: 16 Mar 2009 07:25 AM PDT If you have an opt in on your blog (which you really should), let me ask you three important questions… What causes people to stay on a list? What causes people to open an email? What causes people to take action in an
These are some excellent tips. Your main headline is everything. That is what is going to grab the reader’s attention. And yes, I actually believe the name is that important.
i havent tried the split testing, im gonna working on it, thx for posting this
Nice post, I totally agree with you..
that is the truth!
Hey cow
Good advice and good to see you back on writing regularly.
This is true. I agree with it. You have mentioned it in a proper way. Nice work….
very well said then. I have to try the test that you have made. excellent observation you have. thanks
leanie Belle
How To Earn Your First 100 Dollars Online
I like the 3 component interest + desire + action. In everything that we will undertake be it in business or any other thing this 3 things will surely be applied. thanks
so you have proved that you can get more “optins” but is that the point?
How about tracking a bit further and seeing who converts to be a buyer and who does not?
My own feeling is that the name is a negative qualifier…
and I’m saying “feeling” because I haven’t done the tracking either
Alex
Sorry I thought I was clear on that. For my tests, the name did not increase the link clicks in the email AT ALL.
You need to test this for yourself though.
Isn’t it funny how what we think and what actually happens is quite often different. Just goes to show that testing is most important to get maximum results! Great post, thanks.
On point Cow man! I’ve found it really depends on the market. If it’s internet marketing…usually just an email is fine, they aren’t “tricked” by the first name stuff anyway.
More importantly, it’s how you write in your emails. Making sure you’re writing to “one person” instead of a list is key.
I write my emails the same way I would when I email you, and doing just that has increased response over when I tried first starting out and “writing to a list”.
Making things personal by use of “you” instead of you guys, or everyone…makes a difference.
I get email responses to my messge, people respond because they feel I am talking to them, and I am.
But you’re right, it’s always good to test.
Superb addition to original post. Thanks from a newbie who appreciates tips.
Interesting Results,
I would have thought higher “personalization” would have been best. But the great thing about math, stats and numbers, they rarely lie to you. If this is the result you see, then one needs to give some serious thought into how to configure the capture….
Very interesting
Cheers!
Jeromy (AKA Hillbilly)
Hmm interesting… but yeah I agree… it’s all about the testing. May not work in every niche…
Umm food for thought? I have a free auto responder
that I can try it out on. Will get back to you on this one!