If you’ve ever seen a web page with just one product or service and no other navigation other than a space for your name and email, then you have probably seen a squeeze page.  Squeeze pages, also called opt-in pages or lead capture pages, are created for one reason and one reason only – to capture the readers name and/or email address.

Squeeze pages used to be a very common practice for marketers in any and every niche.  The idea of being able to grab a reader’s contact information, even if they didn’t buy anything from you right then is a pretty remarkable concept.  Now that you have their contact information, you have the ability to communicate with them on a regular basis.  What a win/win.

Changing Landscape

Unfortunately, it hasn’t always been seen as a win/win from the customer standpoint.  Too many crazy emails and too many shady marketers have created a defensive shield that the Internet consumer keeps up all the time.

The days of flashing arrows and incredible graphics are getting numbered.

Picture this example – you happen to receive an email for a new product that sounds appealing.  From the text, it sounds like something you’d be interested in – a new WordPress plug-in perhaps.  And the best part is, it’s a free offer – you already know it’s free because it said so in the email.  When you click the link, it takes you over to a squeeze page so loaded with flashy arrows and graphics that it’s an eye sore.

These are the old days.

In Comes Relationship Marketing

Welcome to the new way of marketing and the new way of doing business.  No more flashing lights, no more interruptions.

Instead, you may see a page that is not a standalone page.  Sometimes there is a navigation bar at the top of the page.  There may or may not be big fonts and bold colors.

Now, more than ever, the idea of being more attractive to the right target market is more important than grabbing the wrong people’s contact information.

You could spend a lot of time trying to squeeze a name and email out of the wrong market or you could just realize that not everyone will want what you are offering and that is ok.  You only want to the interested readers anyway, right?

Other Options with Squeeze Pages

Though the traditional concept of a squeeze page is changing, there are still some cases where a squeeze page is the best option.  For example, in the instances that you’re casting a wide net as with paid traffic.  Since you’re paying per click or per view or by impressions, a squeeze page is a necessity as you are paying for their visit.  To make your investment pay off, you want an effective squeeze page with no other navigation options.

While squeeze pages are still a good option in some cases, the style and design of them are completely different than what they used to be.  Call it “moving with the times“ or an “update to the landscape”, but a squeeze page is not the hot commodity they once were.

I would challenge that a simple landing page, attached to your blog with a navigational bar along the top might just win over a traditional squeeze page any day.  I may be wrong, but it’s worth a test…  Here’s one I’m testing right now - http://christinebrady.com/success/create

What is your answer: Are Squeeze Pages a Thing of the Past?

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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