High Converting Landing Pages: Best Practices

Creating high converting landing pages involves a strategic mix of compelling headlines, effective copy, user-centric design, and continuous optimization through A/B testing and load time improvements. By focusing on these best practices, businesses can enhance user experience, drive higher conversion rates, and achieve sustained growth in the competitive digital landscape.
July 12, 2024

Conversions have stagnated, leading to concerns about the current landing page's effectiveness.

Despite increasing traffic to their site, they saw minimal growth in leads or sales, suggesting issues with their landing page.

This can frustrate even the most seasoned marketer, leaving them questioning what went wrong with their efforts and why their landing pages aren't high-converting. The solution often lies in creating high converting landing pages that captivate and convert.

Effective pages make a difference.

Creating a compelling landing page is not merely about aesthetics; it’s about strategically designing every element to enhance user experience and drive conversions. From the headline to the form, each component must work in harmony to pull the visitor deeper into the sales funnel. This page serves as the first impression and potentially the last chance to convert a visitor into a customer, so it must be optimized meticulously to highlight its value proposition for achieving high results.

Designing with User Experience in Mind

Designing high converting landing pages begins with a deep understanding of user experience (UX). A seamless, intuitive design not only captures attention but also guides visitors effortlessly towards the desired action. Prioritizing UX means creating a visually appealing layout, ensuring fast load times, and providing clear navigation. By focusing on the user's journey, businesses can build trust, reduce bounce rates, and significantly increase conversions. This foundational approach sets the stage for implementing other best practices that will be discussed throughout the article.

High converting landing pages are designed with meticulous attention to detail, where every element serves to engage, inform, and seamlessly guide the visitor towards conversion.

Clear and Compelling Headlines

One cannot overemphasize the importance of headlines in capturing the visitor’s attention immediately.

Since 2016, numerous studies, including one by Nielsen Norman Group, underscored that a web surfer decides within seconds if a page is worth their time.

Thus, it’s no secret that those few moments are instrumental in enticing a prospect into delving deeper into the content or converting, making the value proposition clear and compelling.

Crafting a headline that is both informative and enticing is akin to capturing lightning in a bottle; it's the heart of a landing page, driving curiosity and instilling the desire to know more.

An effective, clear, and compelling headline should resonate with the target audience, instantly conveying value.

Crafting Compelling Headlines

Creating compelling headlines and copy is crucial for high converting landing pages. Here are some tips to ensure your content captures attention and drives conversions:

Crafting Headlines

  1. Be Clear and Concise: Headlines should immediately convey the value proposition. Avoid jargon and ensure the message is easily understood.
  2. Use Power Words: Words like "exclusive," "proven," and "guaranteed" can evoke strong emotions and prompt action.
  3. Incorporate Numbers: Statistics and numbers can make headlines more compelling. For example, "Increase Your Sales by 50% in 30 Days."
  4. Ask Questions: Engaging questions can pique curiosity. For instance, "Want to Double Your Leads?"
  5. Highlight Benefits: Focus on what the user will gain. A headline like "Achieve Financial Freedom with Our Proven Strategies" is more enticing than a generic one.

By implementing these strategies, you can create headlines that not only capture attention but also drive conversions.

Examples of Compelling Headlines for E-commerce Landing Pages

  1. "Unlock Exclusive Deals: Save Up to 50% on Your Favourite Brands"
  2. "Shop the Latest Trends: New Arrivals Just for You"
  3. "Transform Your Home: Discover Our Best-Selling Decor"
  4. "Limited Time Offer: Buy One, Get One Free on All Items"
  5. "Upgrade Your Wardrobe: Premium Quality at Affordable Prices"
  6. "Join the Movement: Eco-Friendly Products for a Sustainable Future"
  7. "Experience Luxury: Handcrafted Goods with a Personal Touch"
  8. "Flash Sale: Unbeatable Prices on Top-Selling Products"
  9. "Your Perfect Fit: Customizable Options for Every Style"
  10. "Shop Smart: High-Quality Essentials at Unmatched Prices"

These headlines are designed to capture attention, highlight key benefits, and encourage users to explore the e-commerce landing page further.

Engaging Visual Elements

Images speak a thousand words, and well-chosen visuals enhance engagement and credibility instantly, contributing to the creation of high-converting landing pages that draw users deeper into the page.

These elements support the brand's story, enriching the visitor’s experience.

Incorporating high-quality visuals that resonate with the target audience can turn an ordinary landing page into a dazzling showcase of professional competence and brand authenticity.

Using a prudent mix of images, videos, and infographics not only breaks up the text to make it more digestible but also underscores the brand's message, fostering an atmosphere of trust and intrigue. For optimal effectiveness, consider A/B testing different visual approaches to ensure maximum impact and engagement.

27 ecommerce landing page examples to sell more in 2024

Strong Call-to-Action (CTA)

A high converting landing page is incomplete without a strong call-to-action (CTA) that guides visitors towards a desired outcome.

Every aspect of the CTA should be meticulously crafted to inspire action.

Precision in wording ensures clarity and urgency, compelling users to follow through.

Effective CTAs employ action-oriented verbs that leave no room for ambiguity, ensuring they are a key component of high-converting landing pages.

Strategically placing the CTA button in a prominent location, combined with a contrasting design, draws immediate attention and enhances click-through rates.

Ultimately, it’s about making the visitor’s next steps intuitive and irresistible. Confident CTAs create a straightforward path to conversion, reducing user friction significantly.

Refining Your Call to Action: Tips and Best Practices

Here are some tips and best practices to refine your CTA and maximize conversions:

  1. Be Clear and Direct: Ensure the CTA clearly states what action the user should take. Avoid ambiguous language and be specific about the next step.
  2. Use Action-Oriented Language: Phrases like "Download Now," "Get Started," or "Claim Your Free Trial" encourage immediate action and convey a sense of urgency.
  3. Make It Stand Out: Design the CTA button to be visually distinct from the rest of the page. Use contrasting colours and bold fonts to draw attention.
  4. Position Strategically: Place the CTA above the fold so it’s immediately visible without scrolling. Additionally, consider repeating the CTA at the bottom of the page for users who scroll through the content.
  5. Create a Sense of Urgency: Incorporate time-sensitive language such as "Limited Time Offer" or "Only a Few Spots Left" to prompt quick action.
  6. Highlight Benefits: Emphasize what the user will gain by clicking the CTA. For example, "Start Your Free Trial and Boost Your Productivity" clearly outlines the benefit.
  7. Keep It Short and Sweet: A concise CTA is more effective. Aim for a few words that pack a punch and convey the essential message.
  8. Test Different Variations: Conduct A/B testing to experiment with different wording, colours, and placements. Analyze the results to determine which version performs best.
  9. Ensure Mobile-Friendliness: Optimize the CTA for mobile users by making it large enough to tap easily and ensuring it’s prominently displayed on smaller screens.
  10. Use First-Person Language: Phrasing the CTA in the first person, such as "Start My Free Trial," can create a more personal connection and increase engagement.

Examples of Clear Calls to Action for E-commerce Landing Pages

  1. "Shop Now"
  2. "Add to Cart"
  3. "Get Yours Today"
  4. "Claim Your Discount"
  5. "Buy One, Get One Free"
  6. "Start Saving"
  7. "Explore Our Collection"
  8. "Order Now"
  9. "Join the Club"
  10. "Get Started"
  11. "Subscribe for Exclusive Offers"
  12. "View Best Sellers"
  13. "Check Out New Arrivals"
  14. "Upgrade Your Style"
  15. "Discover More"

These CTAs are designed to be direct, action-oriented, and compelling, encouraging users to take the next step in their shopping journey.

Mobile-Friendly Design

An effective landing page must cater to the increasing number of users accessing content through mobile devices.

Since 2016, mobile internet usage has surpassed desktop, necessitating mobile-responsive designs for high converting landing pages.  Ensuring fast load times, intuitive navigation, and concise, compelling content are critical to maintaining user attention on a 4- to 7-inch display—where every pixel counts and every interaction matters. A mobile-friendly design thus not only expands reach but profoundly enhances conversion rates, solidifying the foundation for marketing success.

Today, it’s essential that every landing page's functionality is optimized to provide a seamless experience on smaller screens, ensuring that all elements function correctly and are engaging.

Ensuring fast load times, intuitive navigation, and concise, compelling content are critical to maintaining user attention on a 4- to 7-inch display—where every pixel counts and every interaction matters.

A mobile-friendly design thus not only expands reach but profoundly enhances conversion rates, solidifying the foundation for marketing success.

Best Practices for Mobile-Friendly Design

  1. Responsive Design: Ensure your landing page automatically adjusts to fit various screen sizes and orientations, providing a seamless experience across all devices.
  2. Simplify Navigation: Use a clear and concise menu, often a hamburger menu, to make navigation intuitive and easy on smaller screens.
  3. Optimize Load Times: Compress images, leverage browser caching, and minimize code to ensure fast loading times, which are crucial for mobile users.
  4. Use Readable Fonts: Select font sizes and styles that are easy to read on small screens, typically at least 16px for body text.
  5. Touch-Friendly Elements: Design buttons and links to be large enough for easy tapping, with sufficient spacing to prevent accidental clicks.
  6. Prioritize Content: Place the most important information and CTAs above the fold, ensuring they are immediately visible without scrolling.
  7. Minimize Pop-Ups: Avoid intrusive pop-ups that can be difficult to close on mobile devices, potentially frustrating users and increasing bounce rates.
  8. Streamline Forms: Simplify forms by reducing the number of fields and enabling features like autofill and input masks to make data entry easier.
  9. Test Across Devices: Regularly test your landing page on various mobile devices and browsers to ensure consistent performance and appearance.
  10. Use High-Quality Images: Optimize images for mobile by using high-resolution files that load quickly and display clearly on high-density screens.
  11. Enable Mobile-Specific Features: Utilize mobile-specific functionalities, such as click-to-call buttons and location-based services, to enhance the user experience.
  12. Consider Thumb Zones: Design interactive elements to be easily accessible within the natural reach of a user's thumb, typically in the lower half of the screen.

Persuasive Copywriting

One can never underestimate the power of persuasive copywriting.

To create high converting landing pages, it is crucial to craft a compelling narrative that speaks directly to the target audience’s needs and desires. By addressing their pain points and presenting solutions, the copy can foster a deep emotional connection and guide the visitor towards a desired action.

Moreover, using a conversational tone can make the content feel personal and engaging. This approach helps build trust and rapport, positioning the brand as an ally rather than just another advertiser, ultimately easing the pathway to conversion.

In addition, leveraging compelling headlines and call-to-actions (CTAs) is paramount. Each headline should capture attention immediately, while the CTAs need to be clear, action-oriented, and aligned with the visitor’s journey. This strategic alignment ensures that visitors are not only informed but intrinsically motivated to proceed further, achieving optimal conversion rates through persuasive copywriting.

Writing Effective Copy

  1. Know Your Audience: Tailor the copy to address the specific needs and pain points of your target audience.
  2. Focus on Benefits, Not Features: Highlight how the product or service will improve the user's life. Benefits resonate more than technical details.
  3. Use Social Proof: Incorporate testimonials, case studies, and reviews to build credibility and trust.
  4. Create a Sense of Urgency: Phrases like "limited time offer" or "only a few spots left" can encourage immediate action.
  5. Keep It Skimmable: Use bullet points, subheadings, and short paragraphs to make the content easy to read.
  6. Include a Strong Call to Action (CTA): Ensure the CTA is clear, compelling, and directs the user to the next step. Phrases like "Get Started Now" or "Claim Your Free Trial" can be effective.
  7. A/B Test Your Copy: Continuously test different versions of your copy to determine what resonates best with your audience.

By following these seven strategies, eCommerce brands can craft compelling copy that effectively engages their audience and drives higher conversion rates on their landing pages.

Testimonials and Social Proof

Incorporating testimonials and social proof is indispensable for creating high converting landing pages. These elements add credibility and foster trust, essential components for effective conversions.

When potential clients see others vouching for a product or service, they feel reassured.

Testimonials should be strategically positioned to highlight real stories and experiences that resonate with the target audience. This not only validates the product's value but also establishes authenticity, overcoming skepticism and driving confidence in the offering.

Lastly, integrating diverse social proof such as user reviews, case studies, and expert endorsements can significantly amplify the impact. By showcasing a range of positive feedback from various sources, it becomes easier to create a persuasive and trustworthy narrative, validated by third-party perspectives. This fortifies credibility, positions the brand as a leader, and enhances overall conversion effectiveness.

7 Social Proof Examples For High-Converting Landing Pages - MailerLite

UGC Video

Utilizing User-Generated Content (UGC) videos offers a dynamic approach to fostering connections and enhancing trust. These authentic snippets allow potential customers to see genuine experiences.

UGC videos can be powerful assets for high converting landing pages.

They provide relatable insights, showcasing real people using the product, thus building a connection through authenticity.

Highlighting these videos also offers an avenue for diverse perspectives, further enriching the landing page content.

In fact, incorporating UGC videos can bridge the gap between brand promises and actual user experiences, leading to increased trust and a higher conversion rate.

Ultimately, a well-placed UGC video honours the user’s voice and can effectively convert hesitating visitors into confident customers.

Minimalist Layout

A minimalist design significantly reduces distractions and helps visitors focus on the essential elements.

It simplifies the user experience, leading to improved navigation and engagement.

By emphasizing white space, clear typography, and concise content, a minimalist layout encourages visitors to concentrate on the key messages.

This approach leverages the power of simplicity to guide users toward a specific call to action, minimizing the chance of confusion or overwhelm. When done correctly, a minimalist layout can transform a landing page into a potent tool for driving high converting landing pages, all while maintaining an elegant and professional aesthetic.

Form Optimization

Simplify the form for higher conversions.

One of the critical aspects of creating high converting landing pages is form optimization. The goal should be to make the form easy to fill out by minimizing the number of fields, ensuring that every field is truly necessary. Importantly, brevity is key—a concise form can improve the user experience and reduce drop-offs.

Avoid unnecessary information.

Utilize smart defaults to streamline the process, such as auto-filling data fields where applicable—this can significantly enhance usability.

Integrate progress indicators to reassure users and display social proof elements like testimonials or trust badges near the form. These strategies reinforce credibility and encourage visitors to complete the form. An advanced form can contribute to the overall success of a high converting landing page, ensuring a smooth and intuitive user journey.

Tips for Optimizing On-Page Forms

  1. Keep It Short and Simple: Minimize the number of fields to only essential information, reducing friction and increasing the likelihood of form completion.
  2. Use Clear Labels and Instructions: Ensure each field has a clear label and provide concise instructions or examples to guide users through the form.
  3. Implement Inline Validation: Provide real-time feedback as users fill out the form, highlighting errors immediately to prevent frustration and improve accuracy.
  4. Group Related Fields: Organize fields into logical sections or steps, making the form easier to navigate and less overwhelming.
  5. Use a Single Column Layout: Arrange form fields in a single column to improve readability and streamline the user experience.
  6. Highlight Required Fields: Clearly indicate which fields are mandatory, using asterisks or bold text, to avoid confusion and ensure users provide necessary information.
  7. Optimize for Mobile: Design forms to be mobile-friendly, ensuring they are easy to complete on smaller screens with touch inputs.
  8. Provide Autofill Options: Enable autofill functionality to save users time by automatically populating fields with previously entered information.
  9. Include a Clear Call to Action: Use a prominent and compelling CTA button that clearly indicates the next step, such as "Submit" or "Get Started."
  10. Test and Iterate: Continuously test different form designs, field arrangements, and CTAs to identify what works best and optimize for higher conversion rates.

A/B Testing Strategies

Creating high converting landing pages often involves leveraging A/B testing to refine each aspect effectively. Regular experimentation with different headlines, images, CTAs, and layouts can uncover insights into what resonates most with the audience. This iterative process enables marketers to make data-driven decisions, optimizing various elements to boost conversions continually.

It enables marketers to pinpoint key elements that drive engagement.

By comparing different versions, they identify which modifications yield the highest conversion rates. This could involve testing headlines, imagery, or call-to-action buttons.

Successfully implementing A/B testing requires a systematic approach to gather actionable data. When changes are measured and analyzed effectively, it offers valuable insights into visitor preferences, leading to informed decisions that optimize landing page performance. Ultimately, meticulous A/B testing accelerates the path to creating a landing page that resonates with the target audience.

A/B Testing Best Practices

  1. Define Clear Goals: Establish specific objectives for what you want to achieve with your A/B tests, such as increasing click-through rates or improving conversion rates.
  2. Test One Variable at a Time: Focus on a single element to test, such as the headline, CTA, or image, to accurately determine its impact on performance.
  3. Use a Significant Sample Size: Ensure your test includes a large enough audience to produce statistically significant results.
  4. Run Tests Simultaneously: Conduct A/B tests at the same time to avoid external factors, like seasonal trends, affecting the results.
  5. Split Traffic Evenly: Distribute your audience evenly between the control and variation groups to ensure fair comparison.
  6. Monitor Test Duration: Allow the test to run long enough to gather sufficient data, but avoid extending it unnecessarily, which can lead to skewed results.
  7. Analyze Data Thoroughly: Examine the results carefully to understand the impact of the tested variable and identify any patterns or insights.
  8. Use Reliable Tools: Utilize reputable A/B testing tools and platforms to ensure accurate tracking and analysis of your tests.
  9. Document Your Tests: Keep detailed records of each test, including the hypothesis, variables, duration, and results, to inform future testing efforts.
  10. Iterate and Optimize: Use the insights gained from A/B testing to make informed decisions and continuously refine your landing pages for better performance.

Ensuring Fast Load Times

Fast load times are crucial for the success of high converting landing pages. They ensure visitors have a seamless experience.

Since 2016, Google has indicated that faster page load times significantly influence search rankings and conversion rates. Slow pages can deter potential leads.

To achieve fast load times, it is essential to prioritize optimizing the website's technical aspects. This could involve compressing images, using efficient coding practices, and implementing caching techniques.

Evaluating the current load time of the landing page, aiming for it to be under 3 seconds, can vastly improve user satisfaction, reduce bounce rates, and enhance overall engagement.

Ultimately, quick-loading pages are integral to delivering a professional and efficient user experience that encourages conversions.

Tips to Optimize Load Time

  1. Compress Images: Use tools to reduce the file size of images without compromising quality, ensuring faster load times.
  2. Enable Browser Caching: Store static files locally on users' devices to reduce the need to reload them on subsequent visits.
  3. Minimize HTTP Requests: Reduce the number of elements on your page, such as scripts, images, and CSS files, to decrease load time.
  4. Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN): Distribute your content across multiple servers worldwide to ensure faster delivery to users based on their geographic location.
  5. Optimize CSS and JavaScript: Minify and combine CSS and JavaScript files to reduce their size and the number of requests.
  6. Leverage Asynchronous Loading: Load JavaScript files asynchronously to prevent them from blocking the rendering of the page.
  7. Enable Gzip Compression: Compress your website files using Gzip to reduce their size and speed up the transfer between the server and the browser.
  8. Reduce Server Response Time: Optimize your server's performance by using a reliable hosting service and ensuring your server is configured correctly.
  9. Optimize Web Fonts: Limit the number of web fonts and use modern formats like WOFF2 to reduce load times.
  10. Prioritize Above-the-Fold Content: Ensure that the content visible above the fold loads first to improve perceived load time.
  11. Clean Up Your Code: Remove unnecessary code, comments, and whitespace to streamline your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files.
  12. Use Lazy Loading: Delay the loading of images and other non-critical resources until they are needed, improving initial load times.
  13. Monitor Performance Regularly: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, or Pingdom to regularly check your website's performance and identify areas for improvement.

Creating high converting landing pages is an intricate process that demands a strategic blend of compelling headlines, effective copy, and user-centric design. By focusing on clear and concise messaging, businesses can immediately capture the attention of their audience and communicate their value proposition effectively. Utilizing power words, numbers, and questions in headlines, along with benefit-driven copy, ensures that the content resonates with visitors and encourages them to take action.

Optimizing the user experience is paramount, as a seamless and intuitive design builds trust and reduces bounce rates. Prioritizing mobile-friendly design, fast load times, and easy navigation ensures that users have a positive experience regardless of the device they are using. Additionally, refining on-page forms and calls to action can significantly enhance the user journey, making it easier for visitors to complete desired actions and convert.

A/B testing remains a crucial component in the optimization process, allowing businesses to experiment with different elements and identify what works best. By adhering to best practices for A/B testing, companies can make data-driven decisions that continually improve their landing pages. This iterative approach ensures that the landing page evolves to meet the changing needs and preferences of the audience, leading to sustained improvements in performance.

Moreover, the importance of load time optimization cannot be overstated. Fast-loading pages not only improve user experience but also positively impact search engine rankings. Implementing strategies such as compressing images, enabling browser caching, and minimizing HTTP requests can significantly reduce load times, ensuring that visitors remain engaged and are more likely to convert.

Ultimately, the success of a landing page hinges on its ability to engage, inform, and convert visitors. By implementing the best practices discussed in this article, businesses can create high converting landing pages that not only attract but also retain and convert their target audience. This holistic approach to landing page optimization paves the way for sustained growth and success in the competitive digital landscape. With continuous refinement and a focus on user experience, businesses can achieve higher conversion rates and drive meaningful results.

Join the winners' locker room.

Get expert eCommerce insights sent to your inbox every week.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Looks like we're having trouble

The Locker Room

Your Recommended Articles