Most Websites are gathering e-mail addresses. When you submit
your e-mail address, you will be redirected to a thank you page.
There is nothing wrong with it, but that page can do more than
saying "thank you."
--The Result--
A while ago, I added some affiliate links to my
thank-you-for-subscribing page. (You can see it at
http://www.thatswise.com/popups/redirect hanks_subscribe.html .)
Even though you can close the window or go back to the home
page, 98.8% of viewers of that page have clicked one of the
links listed. This is astonishing when compared to the
click-though ratio of banner ads on my site, which is about
0.9%. And, 98% is not a stat of one lucky day. It's an average
of one year.
--They Will Listen--
98% sounds unrealistic, but it makes sense. Visitors subscribe
to your newsletter because they liked your site in some way. So,
they will listen to you as they listen to their friends. When
you recommend some places to go, most people will go.
Additionally, you will get better results if you link to a page
with one product rather than linking to a page with a lot of
products. People who have submitted to you an e-mail address are
open minded. This is the time to tell them your recommendation
(your favorite product), not to show them options (list of your
products).
--Note--
However, do not use this technique on a thank-you-for-ORDERING
page. If you send buyers to another Web page asking them to buy
more things, visitors will feel you are trying to suck all the
money they have. You may add links on this thank-you page, but
be selective which pages you'll send buyers to. I am not saying
up-selling won't work. Up-selling does work. You have to up-sell
before receiving payments, not after you received payments.
Chasers at McDonald's ask, "Would you like to have French fries
with that?" when you order a burger, not after you have paid for
your order, don't they?
About the author:
Though his Web site, http://www.thatswise.com Akinori Furukoshi
has been providing e-commerce related information since 1998.
His unique way of thinking has helped online businesses to
improve their performance.
