So far we have explained how you can use free tools to create responsive sales pages, add in forms that can be designed to pop up when you want, and also how to connect the forms with your autoresponder or mail service.

Now we will discuss how other forms can further enhance your sales by targeting opportunities for upsells, cross sells, etc. The tools for creating these forms we explain in this section are once again free and they are quite effective if you plan their use.

They are called Icegram and Rainmaker. You will have already loaded them onto your WordPress site in step #1. Now we will drill down on how, why, and where to use them in addition to explaining what can create with them.

Let's talk about pop-ups...

Pop-ups - Yes or no?

These days even Google has weighed in and is penalizing websites using "intrusive interstitials". In layman's terms they are talking about those intrusive, pesky, and crappy popups you see too often.

So here is the question: Should we use pop-up forms on our sales pages, on our websites, or our landing pages?

I think the answer is yes, BUT...

I mean by this that do not just add any old pop up you happen to come across - plan for the judicial use of them and with the idea that they will increase engagement WITHOUT being too intrusive...

Pop-ups need to complement the user experience...

Some Tips For Designing Good Pop-ups:

1. Make Sure Your Giveaway or Offer Is Relevant and Valuable.

Pop-ups by their very design and intent are disruptive to the viewer and they are intended to draw the attention of the prospect. If the pop-up is offering something totally unrelated to what you are promoting, the disruption is not going to be accepted in a positive manner by the site visitor.

Therefore if you want to boost engagement with the pop-up and enhance their experience, make sure to offer both valuable and relevant content to them, one that matches the page and content they're visiting. For example, if you are writing a blog post on sales funnels, offer a free training ebook on this topic.

2. Put yourself in the page viewer's shoes.

If you use pop-ups, use them at strategic times when they will disrupt the viewer least and instead build on the content you have on the page. An example here would be using them as they exit your page.

Another good option is to have them appear after they have scrolled down through a protion of the page, as in one third of the way. You know at that point they are interested and engaged, and it does not put them off as much should a pop-up appear.

Yet a third option is to have them appear based on time on page. People who have stayed on your product or pricing pages for more than 30 seconds are highly engaged and are taking the time to read through and consider their options.

If you use a time- based pop-up that appears when a visitor has been on the page for a specific number of seconds you will find less resistance and likely also have more conversions.

NOTE:

This is where Google Analytics data, such as bounce rate and average time on page can help. Not a subject for this training, but definitely worth learning more about. Data is the key to success with online marketing. If you do not know what people are doing on your site, you don't know your business.

You can also invest some money and use tools like HotJar or Crazy Egg, which will record what users on your site. They will build heat maps of pages so you can see where site visitors are clicking and scrolling. This will give you a better sense of how people engage with your on page content.

3. Watch Your Copy

As you know, pop-up forms are fairly basic with their layout. There is a headline, the body copy, and maybe an image or a video. All this in a limited space. There is no way to add a LOT of copy.

Of course what this means is that you HAVE to nail the copy you add to your pop-up form. Your copy must be specific, it must be actionable, and it must sound human: That sounds easy right? Ha!

Let's look at these key points:

Be Specific: You must let the visitor know EXACTLY what they are getting if they click on your pop-up. Don't say an ebook, say a '10 Chapter training guide that has 25 actionable tips" - something they know can be immediately implemented. Instead of asking them to join your email list it is better to ask them if they would like to get emails with actionable free tips 2-3 times a week from you.

Make Them Actionable: Make sure that your Calls To Action (CTA) is very clear. They need to be told exactly what you want them to do. Instead of "Click Here," or "Subscribe Now" try "Download Our Free Guide." You want to compel them to take action immediately with your CTA.

Stay Human: Try to keep the human element in your copy as it will be more readily accepted and help raise your conversions. Use language that makes your forms appear friendly to the reader. Examples might be "Do you mind if we send you an email twice a week?" or try "We would be happy to notify you whenever we have a new sale to save you money."

4. Watch the Mobile Experience.

Did you know that Google is penalizing websites using "obtrusive interstitials" (pop-ups) that mess with the user experience. This means that if you use them for mobile devices, you may not come up in a search.

Therefore avoid using them if possible for mobile devices. If you do use them, do not use ones that take up the entire screen on mobile. Most pop-up tools today offer this functionality, but check and change if what you are using doesn't.

OK, NOW we are ready to discuss the use of these two tools Icegram and Rainmaker. I thought it important to add this portion in so you do not overuse or misuse pop-ups and hurt your Google search results and traffic.

==> Next Page: See the Icegram and Rainmaker Plugins In Action