I’ve recently had a lot of questions about exactly which tools I use to create squeeze pages, sales page and membership sites.
I think these have been prompted in part by my recent post explaining that I am not using OptimizePress 2.0 in my business.
So here are 4 short videos which walk you through the key WordPress tools (3 plugins and 1 theme) that I use.
I’ve also included some real life examples and split testing results which I think you’ll find interesting 😉
1. LeadPages
This is probably the fastest and easiest way to create high converting pages for your web-business. In this video you’ll also see how I used it to get a 21% increase in optins…
2. Hybrid Connect
This has the most amazing point-and-click design system. Out of all the tools this is the one I love using the most! Great for split testing on your blog as well…
3. InstaBuilder
Not perfect this one but still very useful and as you’ll see it’s especially good for sales pages. Another split test result here with a simple change in page design that took me about 3 minutes leading to an almost doubling in conversions…
Instabuilder
4. Canvas by WooThemes
This is brilliant to create niche blogs, membership sites and download areas for products you sell.
I should point out that you can simply use a plugin such as InstaBuilder to create your entire members area. However, my personal choice is to use Canvas as it’s just so nice to work with and gives a brilliant feel for customers…
Canvas by WooThemes
Wishlist Member
Here’s the link to the step by step tutorials in the GHG members area: EXACTLY How To Build a Membership Site In 11 Steps. If you’re not already a member you can get instant access here.
If I had to use only ONE of these tools…?!
This is tough but on balance if I was forced to run my business just with one of tools we have looked at in the videos above then I’d have to say LeadPages. If I was allowed 2 then I’d also choose HybridConnect.
Did you find this useful? Please Like/Tweet if so and also drop comments and/or any questions you have below. Kind regards, Rob 🙂
I have been following Rob for a few months now and this latest post is typical of the time and effort Rob puts into all his teaching. These videos are an excellent additional resource to the content in his membership site and clearly give those of us disenchanted with the latest version of Optimize Press, a number of very useful marketing tools for reasonably low outlay.
I for one plan on investing in LeadPages making it the second most important resource I pay for. The first is my membership of Gain Higher Ground and for newbies especially, it should be yours!
You are very kind Alex – glad to hear you found this useful and I think you’ll really like LeadPages too 🙂
Hi Rob,
Thank you for taking the time to demonstrate the tools which have been working well for you.
I have just purchased Hybrid Connect and after a bit of a shaky start am now a convert!
At present I’m just putting the finishing touches to my Free Report – ‘Tips & Tricks of Affiliate Marketing’, which I’m be giving away to my Opt-Ins, (I know it was a long time in the making), so I’m looking forward to my new H. C. Opt-In box appearing on my site soon!
I use Optimize Press, the older version, for my Squeeze Pages etc. and as it is so user friendly I’m happy enough to carry on with it at the moment.
Thanks for sharing such useful info and for your great Membership Site!
Hi Stephanie,
Yes, all the tools really take a little while to get into but glad to hear you are a convert and putting it to good use as well! I still have a bunch of old OP pages around and it seems fine to use going forward although I’m a little reluctant in case they decide to remove it.
Cheers,
Rob
Hi Rob,
Nice post – this has come at a good time actually because I am going to start list building again! I got sidetracked for too long and now its time to focus again. I was actually thinking to myself as I read this email on my phone “I wonder if he has covered Hybrid Connect?” – and you did. This for me looks the business, and the multi-site license is incredible value. I think I paid somewhere in this region for OptinSkin and whilst this has great opt-in forms you cannot do half what you can with Hybrid Connect.
Regards,
John
Good timing is always nice John – glad you found it helpful and yes, Hybrid is really unbeatable in my view in terms of optin forms! Cheers, Rob
Hello Rob, when you said there are so many options out there, you were not kidding. All the options you mentioned are good. Yet not good enough to make me change. We tend to get used to what we work best with!
Hi Sean,
Great to see you here on the blog 🙂 That totally makes sense. If you feel comfortable it definitely makes sense to stick with what you’ve got!
Cheers – Rob
Rob,
How do you embed these YouTube videos? Also, how do you stop advertising from appearing on them? I clicked “Do not allow advertisements to be displayed alongside my videos” but I still get advertising messages but from YouTube themselves!
Louise Lewis
Hi Louise,
Go to your YouTube video, click on Share and Embed and uncheck “Show suggested videos when the video finishes”. Then paste the embed code into the Text tab of your WordPress Page/Post editor.
You might find this link useful for the ads too: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2475463?hl=en
That’s it! 🙂
Cheers, Rob.
Hi Rob!
I’ve seen a lot of people talking about lead pages (and their founders seem like cool guys!), so I was considering trying them out. However, if you recommend them, then there’s no way that I can say no!
Wish me luck! 😀
Best,
Cheryl
Hi Cheryl,
I think you’ll like it! And hey, if not, then you can always just cancel. It’s not as customizable as a typical WordPress theme would be but I can tell you from testing that they sure do convert well which for lead capture pages is all you need 🙂
Cheers, Rob
Just wondering why you’d need leadpages in addition to hybrid connect. It seems hybrid connect allows you to build full lead capture pages anyway.
Hi Matt, Good question and my first answer is basically speed as it’s just so quick to set up pages in LP. Hybrid does give you much more control over the optin form designs and as you say, you can do squeeze pages as well. But the templates are pre-tested, already high converting in LP and there’s a wide variety of them (squeeze pages, thank you pages, sales pages, etc etc). So you could just Hybrid quite happily but for me I really like the luxury of the best of both worlds. Cheers, Rob
So you don’t use op 1.0 anymore than or are you stuck with 2.0? I don’t see an option for buying op version 1.0. Between leadpages and op 1.0 which would you choose?
Hi Tou, To my knowledge you can’t buy OP 1.0 anymore. So I’d go for LeadPages. Less customization available but super fast to set up pages.
Cheers, Rob
Hi Rob. Have you tried SeedProd? http://www.seedprod.com/ I’s a WP plugin so not for everybody. For creating a one-off landing page in minutes (with or without optin) it’s hard to beat.
Its other appeal is that it’s a one-off cost as opposed to LeadPages being an ongoing cost. Clearly LeadPages is so much more, but if you’re just starting-up then SeedProd could be an option for some.
V useful article!
Thanks for the suggestion Darren 🙂
Cheers, Rob