I really don't get this in splash pages, when people have an audio explaining why they think you are at that page. WRONG. I'm at that page because someone put it into rotation and I happened to get to view it.
You are only wasting your time making up reasons why people are at your site. Who cares? They are there right? So sell to them quit telling them what they already know. Or even worse, coming up with lame reasons for them being on your site that all don't have anything to do with why they really are at your site.
One of the most common mistakes people do with making their ads is too much content that distracts. There's a reason sales pages only have links to the buy page. It's because that page is there to sell to the person, and the only thing the person wants them to do is buy. Having other links will just get that person off the sales page and forgetting about it.
You should look at traffic exchanges ads as having the only goal of getting someone to subscribe to your list, or click to view the sales page. That's it. Quit putting banner ads, hover ads, adsense, popups, and audios blabbering away on your advertisement. It only distracts!
Every item, and I mean EVERY item on that ad should be targetted to specifically get the person to do what you want them to do. If it doesn't help, get it off!
You know the splash pages I make have a counter on them. Distracting? yes, but with a purpose. That counter shows the viewer I've got THOUSANDS of subscribers. I'm legit. It increases my results. Otherwise I wouldn't put it there. That kind of distracting is great. People might notice the 9,000 subscribers before even reading the headline. But I don't care because if they see that many subscribers they then read the headline with interest.
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Hello Everyone,
Yes, Yes, Yes.
I whole heartedly agree with this subject matter. When I am surfing the quickest way to get me to leave and disregard your offer is to have too much content. The page doesn’t load correctly or the worse is AUDIO and the very worse is Audio that cannot be turned off quickly.
That is my number 1 pet peave on TE’s. As a matter of fact we do not allow audio that does not have a quick way to turn off at our TE, it just does nothing for you positive when you do this.
Thanks Tim for this post, While I am surfing, most of the time I am listening to something else anyway and when I have to scramble to shut off the surfing nightmare, it just P*%^^% me off to no end, so the first thing I did when we opened Explosive is to make sure no one does this.
Make you splash completely targeted towards getting a sign up and not by angering members. Remember also that when your page is too cluttered, we on the viewing end know or think that you do not know what you are doing at all, So, if you don’t know, why would we continue……………….???
Great Day to all,
Douglas J Gregory
I’m not saying don’t have audio. I’m saying don’t have pointless audio. This audio the first 20 seconds was someone explaining why I was at their site. I appreciate audio that is straight to the point and along the lines of the entire ad.
I am in total agreeance with this one Tim.
But my number One hate is autoplaying videos if I want to watch I will click play.
Try supersurfing and get 2 or 3 going my browser don’t like that one and neither do I.
Keep it short and sweet people most people on TE’s only see your page for 10 seconds What can you absorb in that time mentally. Not Much!
Keep up yor effort Tim I am sure the message will get through. Just takes time and perserverance.
Finally!
Someone with some clout and a “name” tells it like it is.
Audio/video on a Splash page,OR as the only form of instruction is the fastest way to drive people away.
Thanks Tim
Actually no, video increases results substantially. I’m saying keep it targetted not nonsense talking.
There is a page rotating at almost all the exchanges on it with about 40-50 banners on it (including for different TEs) and every time I see it I just wince.
The comments about audio/video… I don’t really know where I stand on that but I know I’ve seen so much negative commentary about audio in the last several months – yet nearly all the experts insist video (and of course with audio) is the way to go now and where the future will be, so I get torn about that. I personally surf with the sound off sometimes (the NPN ad that I’m so sick to death of hearing has driven me to that) but then there are other times when I have joined something or bought something because of the video and/or audio.
Your videos are brilliant and hilarious so they’re excepted, but I guess that’s my point… I’ve seen too many others where it’s not always in their best interest to use video or audio, I think. But when all the “experts” say video is the way to go and will be the wave of the future, of course more and more people will be trying to use it – which will be a downside for the many TE users that don’t like video & audio. I don’t know how that can/will be resolved in the future. (It’s great that the audio/no audio option is available at TEs like StartXChange, tho!)
Hi Tim,
WOO-HOO! Way to go! I could not agree with you more! Before I owned my own TE’s and was surfing that was and still is my #1 pet peeve about TE’s…all that darn audio and videos that play automatically!! If I want to listen to something I want to be able to push a button to do so…I don’t want it just blaring at me.
Now that I have my own TE’s that is one thing I definitely do not allow. If the audio/video do not have a button to push so that someone can watch/listen if they WANT TO then it is not allowed.
The other reason I do this is because I think about ALL my members and many people are still on dial-up. All that crap slows those members down because dial-up can not load them or does so extremely slow.
Thanks for this great post Tim! I hope more people will listen to you!
Marilyn Martin
Couldn’t agree more – can’t wait for the 10 seconds to be up when audio or video is blaring at me – nothing turns me off faster, and I pay no attention to the content at all!
I’ve commented before about auto playing audio and video…my opinion is that it doesn’t belong in the TE’s. If I click to go to your site and it is there, fine. But just for surfing purposes, it only drives me away FAST from the site.
Hi All, I agree with the comment about “rocking out that $10 business opportunity”. I always surf with the sound off!!! Oh except when I am listening to TE Live :D :D :D As for splash pages yes the 1 aim is to get ppl to click to go to the sign up page for affiliate programs or your list. My results show that I get better sign up % at my main website page from click thru’s on a splash page than having a squeeze page in circulation in the TE’s which I never thought would be the case. Thats why you need to track!!!
Cheers
Martin
I’m with you all the way Tim. I too surf with my sound turned off so I don’t have to listen to them. Leave them out folks (audio/video)!
Also I hate the flashing banners some websites have on their viewing pages! On many sites it just seems to stop the timer or hold it up too long. Don’t know if that is just something that my computer does-or do others have that problem?
And also, I hate the advertisers that do not use splash pages but put in so much information it takes forever to load. I’m not likely to read any of that information if they are slowing down the surfing process!
I have to agree with everyone else.
The audio is really irritating, and sometimes even more so, when I can’t find the OFF button.
I used to hate all the noise until early lat year my computer began to lose sound. One by one the sound of each video disappeared until I was left with the one I found the most irritating was left.
Eventually that computer broke down and I bought a new one. I made sure there was an on off button on the speakers and have surfed in silence ever since.
What amuses me about these videos now is that most off them just have the top of their head showing.
Surely these videos are really meant for the search engines not for TEs yet all the big MLM companies teach that it is the way to go.
A few words that will make people want to click the splash page to find out what it is has to be the best.
I think tantalising is what they need to be.
I frequently click on a splash page only to find I already belong. It worked.
They are just as irritating on the safelists.
You all are so right…
Why dont we have a thankyou page with Audio to explain why they signed up. Make sure our splash page is eye catching then let audio do the rest of the work later…Then you would not mind listening.
Just a thought from a newbie..
Karen
I don’t know some are good some are bad or just too loud. Use what works I guess try both check results move on. As said on TE Live KISS-keep in simple stupid and this stupid person does
I do not like automatic playing video. I want a choice. If I have seen the same ad 1000 times, I want to move on.I really enjoyed your video with the New Jersey dolfin thing. A personal touch is needed.Most important is family and sharing with your people.
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