Email

Opt-ins

Convert your visitors to

subscribers like a pro!

Opt-in form in email

Why is the time now for brands to better their opt-in workflow?

We’ve noted that the amount of global traffic increased 3x but more importantly, the number of websites increased 14x, which means the competition levels are higher in most markets.

1% delay in website’s page load time leads to a 7% decrease in conversions.

60% of traffic is “smart” which means having a great conversion mechanism for on-the-Go recipients is vital.

That being said, opt-in forms are the best way to capture visitor information and in turn use big data to nurture and convert these leads.

10 opt-in Form Examples

  • Sign up Opt-in form Example

    Exit-intent

    A pop-up box that appears once the user moves their mouse pointer to close the page/tab

    • Pros: Grabs attention and might give you a last chance to convince your visitors to stay connected, in the long run could help you improve your churn rate
    • Cons: Similarly to light-boxes, can be overused and cause annoyance especially if difficult to close
    • Pro tip: Make sure that the presented benefit is something they are truly interested in and is worth their time.
  • Sign up Opt-in form Example

    Light-box

    A pop-up box that appears after a certain amount of time passes once the user enters a website

    • Pros: Instantly grabs attention and drives user action, thus helping to maximize conversions
    • Cons: Easy to become overly used and can cause annoyance
    • Pro tip: Test the amount of time before the light-box appears and try using funny/clever, graphic elements to motivate sign-ups.
  • Sign up Opt-in form Example

    Embedded email sign-up form

    A regular good ol' sign-up form embedded onto your website.

    • Pros: If designed well i.e. fits the overall design, good copy, clear benefits and CTA - can motivate to sign up
    • Cons: May not be enough to catch attention unless your visitor is looking for a newsletter sign-up
    • Pro tip: Should be visible on all the major pages of your website.
  • Sign up Opt-in form Example

    Bar

    A short sign-up form that looks like a bar that can be placed on top, side, or bottom of your page

    • Pros: Instantly visible yet subtle
    • Cons: Limited space, but can be part of a two-step sign-up process
    • Pro tip: Use contrasting color and a catchy line to quickly grab users’ attention.
  • Sign up Opt-in form Example

    Slide-in form

    A sign-up box that appears from the side or bottom of the page after a user scrolls down to a particular part of the page

    • Pros: Shows up only to users that are engaged and have scrolled down the page or blog post
    • Cons: Appears only to users that are engaged in your webpage
    • Pro tip: Make sure to include it next to your best articles or high-traffic websites in addition to your other sign-up forms.
  • Sign up Opt-in form Example

    Download box

    A sign-up form used to gate your content such as educational course, whitepaper, or free report.

    • Pros: Great way to generate leads with valuable content
    • Cons: Easy to overuse - not all content is worth gating
    • Pro tip: Make sure that what you're gating is valuable and unique.
  • Sign up Opt-in form Example

    Shake box

    A neat web form that pops up on the screen and shakes

    • Pros: Engaging and attention grabbing. Hasn't been used too often yet!
    • Cons: May not fit all target audiences
    • Pro tip: Choose it instead of your regular light-box and test its effectiveness. The element of surprise may improve your conversions vastly.
  • Sign up Opt-in form Example

    Webinar sign-up

    An additional check-box allowing your users to sign up for a newsletter as well as a webinar of their choice

    • Pros: A great way to attract new subscribers who are already interested in your topic
    • Cons: Visitors may be reluctant as they might assume that they'll receive purely sales-oriented communication
    • Pro tip: Clearly communicate the frequency and the content of messages that your visitors are likely to receive if they sign up.
  • Sign up Opt-in form Example

    Twitter Lead Generation Cards

    A sign-up form that allows you to turn your Twitter followers into newsletter subscribers

    • Pros: The easiest way to attract leads from Twitter other than redirecting your traffic to dedicated landing pages
    • Cons: You have to pay for the generated leads, which means you need to devote additional financial resources
    • Pro tip: Select your audience carefully and design your ad with their personas and preferences in mind to make the best use of your budget.
  • Sign up Opt-in form Example

    Video opt-in

    A lead form that appears to users after they have watched a part of your video content

    • Pros: A growing number of users prefer to watch videos and if you can entertain and educate them, building a list won't be a problem
    • Cons: Users may be annoyed by ads and other similar elements that prevent them from watching the video
    • Pro tip: Great videos are worth waiting for. Serve them enough content to gain their interest and convince to leave their details with you.

OK, now you know which opt-in forms to use. Just remember to do it the right way.

Here are some practices you should avoid.

Not so cool opt-in forms:

7 Bad practices!

  • 1

    Too many mandatory fields hampering the UX

    Capturing information is good, but a lot of information makes visitors skeptical about how it will be utilized. Above all, it also hampers the UX. Limit the form to a few fields and use surveys to find out the rest, after they've already signed up!

  • 2

    No adherence to the law like privacy links, address, and other related information

    In your preference center or sign-up forms it is always advisable to provide information which is required by law. Even the best marketers forget to provide this information, enabling users to choose between opting-in and skipping.

  • 3

    Animation overdose or animation that hampers action

    A little animation always prompts users to actually browse the fields and accomplish the desired action, but overdoing it might distract the user leading to exiting the form.

  • 4

    Improper sizing for on-the-go subscribers

    It is recommended that your opt-in form is designed keeping with mobile visitors in mind. Proper sizing leads to a great user experience.

  • 5

    Problems exiting the form while viewing the website

    Some opt-in forms are so bulky that they occupy the entire screen, while others are small but there is no way to exit them.

  • 6

    Misleading copy in the form

    If the copy in your form is misleading or dubious, it might not communicate your intention well.

  • 7

    Only providing single opt-in and not double opt-in confirmation

    While some marketers are providing double opt-in forms, others are still relying heavily on single opt-in, which isn’t a best practice.

Alright, so now you know what to avoid, let’s go through some clever ways that will make your sign-up forms effective.

Super cool opt-in forms that convert:

10 Best practices

  • 1

    Identify your audiences’ preferences and deliver a form that actually helps your customers through the sign-up process.

  • 3

    Keep the form simple and with few number of fields.

  • 5

    Keep the copy clean and attractive.

  • 7

    Keep the form optimized for mobile users in terms of its size, button placement and content.

  • 9

    Test a few opt-in forms and see which ones work best for you.

  • 2

    Provide your audience with an opt-in offer that is specific, valuable, and easily understandable.

  • 4

    If you want to include animation or add interactive elements, make sure they don’t distract

  • 6

    Make it easy to close the opt-in form.

  • 8

    Make sure your form is placed in the right eye-path to attract conversion.

  • 10

    Make sure your opt-in forms carry your brand personality.

Craving some inspiration?

Check out these interesting ideas for mitigating the opt-in challenges!

to Get The optin Solutions cheatsheet visit :

www.email.uplers.com/getoptincheatsheet.html

It's great to start with these tips

but remember - you know your audience best, so run a few A/B tests to check what really works for your audience!