Hi,

I've found at http://www.mercola.com/2002/may/8/distilled_water.htm a kind of see-through layer or popup that forces the visitors of the page to opt-in before they are able to read the content of the page.

Is this doable with Hoover Ad?

Thanks,
Jan

Hi Jan,

Our Hover Ad software does not have this feature at this time unfortunately...however, on the flip side I don't see why anyone would want to 'force' the opt-in.

I can see increased frustration and people leaving a website if they absolutely do not want to sign up. People's level of patience on the Internet is very slim, as in under 30seconds usually.

Hi Jan,

I happened across the mercola site you mentioned and was interested in the see-through layer pop-up that is used there. I recently came across another site which sells a web program to create this effect. You can check it out at iPopBox.com. They have not yet released the product, but I joined the mailing list for a discount when it comes out.

Here's a question for IMC: What do you think of this approach to gathering opt-ins? I like the idea, as long as it doesn't get annoying. I assume it would be on every page, but would be disabled with a cookie. Also, how would this solution compare to a squeeze page in your opinion?

Thanks,
Todd

Hi Todd,

Thanks for the link to iPopBox.

I have not used this software before and am not aware of anyone using it. To comment as to whether it is effective or not would be premature. Like any new software that is released, you need to test it. So I recommend you test it to see what results you get.

Ideally you would want to do a split test between the iPopBox and Hover Ad. Run both of them at the same time and see what opt in rates you get between them both. That's really the only way to see which is superior.

Again, squeeze pages are mainly used to build lists quickly. If your main goal is to build a list, then squeeze pages can be quite effective. Again, run a split test between a squeeze page and a hover ad on your main salescopy and then compare conversion results.

Test, test,test, is really the answer to all internet marketing strategies

All my best,
Geoff

Hi Geoff,

I hear you about testing. I'm still new at this though. Can you tell me how I can split my site like that?

Thanks,
Todd

Hi Todd,

It's quite simple. Create 2 hover ads (each with a different offer or free report) and then make a copy of your homepage/salescopy. Drive traffic to both pages and see which hover ad/opt in gets the most conversions.

All my best,
Geoff

Thanks, Geoff,

Can you give me a link to the hover ad creator. I hear a lot of talk about them, but I have yet to see where to go.

Thanks,
Todd

Hi Todd:

To access Hover Ad creator, go to www.marketingtips.com/hoverad.

Cheers,

The IMC Team

Thanks, for the link.

I have one question about hover ads: Do they work with a cookie so that, for example, my opt-on hover ad does not show every time a person navigates my site? I want to capture new subscribers, but I don't want to keep bugging them once they've opted-on or declined the opt-on.

Thanks,
Todd

Hi Todd,

Yes it absolutely does have this feature and it can create a session cookie so that it does not prompt the user to opt-in again if they refresh the page or come back to it later.

Excellent! This is great. Thanks, Todd

Another tool that is just coming out tomorrow may be worth checking out...

http://www.virtualsmartagent.com/videos/video1/index.php

It is a virtual live agent that comes up when people leave your site. It's apparently getting good results from people who have been testing it.

I think it is half price for this week of the launch.

Todd