I have just added a squeeze page to Thesis Theme HQ with its own unique styling to giveaway my FREE eBook Top 20 Blogging Articles.
Read about how I quickly create squeeze pages without coding custom page templates for Thesis Theme. See how easy it is to use either a Contact Form Plugin to collect emails and provide the link to the download or AWeber for a professional looking opt-in email autoresponder that sends a link with style and builds your email list.
Below is a screenshot of my Squeeze Page.
- I created a YouTube video to show off the contents.
Initially I used a Contact Form Plugin to collect emails and provide a link to the download that appears after the email is validated.
- I originally used an image of the eBook using a great new program I bought for making eCovers, boxes, folders and hundreds of other bits and pieces to give your electronic product that physical feeling (more on that later).
Screenshot of original squeeze page below…
Then I decided to go upmarket and do it properly using a professional autoresponder program with AWeber.
Before I reveal the secret to my squeeze page on Thesis Theme HQ (shown above), let me share with you my initial problem…
The Hunt for a Squeeze Page Creator
I bought a premium theme a while ago to add squeeze pages to this site. My intention was to install a second instance of WordPress in a new folder at the url of http://thesisthemehq.com/downloads and then add a few words depending on the item being downloaded – for example http://thesisthemehq.com/downloads/top-20-blogging-articles.
You can have multiple themes if you install multiple instances of WordPress on your server – but you will have to upgrade each WordPress installation and theme whenever it needs upgrading – a major headache – but it may suit some people. For example – if you want a gallery but don’t want to rely on plugins that do this, you can use a special gallery theme.
Squeeze Theme
For about $150 I bought a licence for Squeeze Theme and was able to use it on as many sites as I wanted (like a developer’s licence).
- With the standard licence you can create as many squeeze pages, landing pages and sales pages - as well as amazing looking galleries, a blog and normal pages with custom backgrounds, headers and lots of other bells and whistles that Thesis Theme has.
But, as Thesis Theme HQ is all about the Thesis Theme my intention was to style the Squeeze Theme so it resembled Thesis Theme and then use its squeeze page functions for unique pages.
However, the Squeeze Theme proved to be too unreliable in its first few weeks of release, so I got a refund and found myself back at square 1 wondering how I was going to do squeeze pages.
Custom Page Templates in Thesis Theme
A custom page template in Thesis allows you to have individual styling with unique headers and footers, backgrounds and columns with or without the usual nav menu and sidebars and many other tricks.
However, you need to get somebody to code a page template using PHP and CSS, or do it yourself by deciphering the few tutorials out there (I tried and failed miserably) or if you are clever enough to do it yourself you don’t even need to read the rest of this post.
I don’t want to learn how to code custom page templates. I simply do not understand enough about php. I want the easy solution!
How to Add A Squeeze Page or Landing Page or Sales Page to your Thesis Theme
Grab yourself the WP Squeeze Page Generator for $47 and you will not look back.
- You can keep your uniquely designed Thesis Theme and not interfere with any of your customizations. It simply gives you additional styling options (very flexible ones at that) to use within your Thesis Theme or any other WordPress theme.
Here is a video by Ron, the creator of WP Squeeze Page Generator. Watch the video and see how easy it is to use. I can vouch for the authenticity of the video.
Another video by Ron showing you how to customize a 2 column squeeze page:
Using WP Squeeze Page Generator
I downloaded the zip and within 30 minutes I had my squeeze page created.
- I followed the instructions and created a sales page to start with and then simply changed the page template to a 2 column squeeze page and it was changed instantly.
- You have to make a quick tweak for Thesis Theme – delete one line of code in each template as per the instructions because Thesis Theme already has it included by default.
You can choose to have a single or two-column design squeeze / landing/ sales page for images, videos and web copy where you want it. It is just like writing a post / page but the formatting is already done for you.
- I chose to use my existing header and a basic black background.
- I added additional styling to the custom fields to use my own colours for the headline font.
Contact Form Plugin Vs Email Autoresponder
Like most people who aren’t yet classified as ProBloggers, I am not comfortable spending money on an email auto responder until I have a good reason for it.
* * UPDATE * *
I was fiddling with my web host’s email autoresponder unsuccessfully and decided to use AWeber for a contact form. So, I have updated this post to include the Contact Form Plugin method and AWeber.
Contact Form Plugin Method
Initially I simply used the Contact Form 7 plugin and created a new contact form and included a URL to the PDF download that appears after a name and email is submitted successfully (in the thank you field of the message in the contact form configuration).
The result is reasonable. You end up with a small outlined block of text below the send button with your hyperlinked text. If you use bold letters it stands out reasonably well. (Not shown above).
However, I ended up with many emails in my inbox not really knowing if they discovered the link was below the send button.
My father told me that he had sent off for the eBook but he hadn’t received an email yet! I explained that he had to click on the link below the send button after he entered his email address and that the link would only appear after he hit the send button. Now that he had closed his browser he would have to go back to the page and do it again. Nup! Not happening. I understood.
Lesson: if you want to rely on the text that appears below the contact form after the email is entered, I would strongly suggest explaining to your visitor what will happen so they don’t rely on an email that they will never get!
So, I learnt my lesson and decided to use a proper email autoresponder so my readers will always have something to go back to. Also, for those trained by the web to look for an email, they won’t be disappointed when they don’t get one!
AWeber Autoresponder Method
I signed up for AWeber – $1 for the first month and then $19 per month after that for the basic package. I went through the steps and created a form that is really snazzy (just ask me!) that has the double opt-in process to comply with anit-spam laws and Thesis Theme HQ eBook readers can always find the eBook because they have the link.
Here is are some screenshots that show some of the results using AWeber. Much more professional don’t you think?
If you want a more sophisticated solution, you might want to try AWeber (the leading autoresponder on the market) or see what options PayPal has if you are taking payment for a product.
Go ahead and try out the form yourself and grab the eBook while you’re at it. I recommend it as a good read.
Examples of WP Squeeze Generator Pages
My squeeze page is just one example of what you can create easily with this amazing squeeze page tool. There are more examples at the WP Squeeze Page Generator site.
Our squeeze page is also featured!
Summary
Grab the WP Squeeze Page Generator and upload it to your WordPress Theme folder e.g. Thesis Theme- Install Contact Form 7 or another contact form plugin. Create a form and include the URL to your download in the Thanks field that appears after the email is validated.
OR
- Grab AWeber for $1 trial for the first month (cancel anytime). Create a professional opt-in form and start building your email list.
- Create a squeeze page using WP Squeeze Page Generator and add the [code for your contact form] to where you want it to appear.
- Hit PUBLISH.
- Repeat as necessary with as many different looks as you want. Experiment with different layouts and backgrounds.
Show Off Your Squeeze Page
Leave a link to your Squeeze Page or Sales Page if you use WP Squeeze Page Generator and Thesis Theme for WordPress.
Squeeze Page on JCD Fitness
This Thesis site uses a page with no sidebars, no footer and the site's standard header and nav menu. It's design is very nice - however a squeeze page shouldn't give the reader too many links to click away on before entering their email address.
The page was coded based on the tutorial How to create a sales letter landing page with WordPress Thesis Theme @ How to Make My Blog and is only for Thesis Theme.
The WP Squeeze Page Generator is for any theme.
Note:
Unlike my squeeze page above with a 2 column format - JCD's squeeze page has a full page width of text which can get a little difficult to read as a person's natural arc of reading is about 4 inches. Anything more and it is too easy to lose track of where you are up to.
Related Posts
- Get MORE Leads, MORE Customers, and MORE Conversions Using Squeeze Pages
- Thesis Theme HQ Squeeze Page Featured on WP Squeeze Page Generator Site
- Launch of YouTube Video Channel for Thesis Theme HQ
- New Squeeze Theme for WordPress Not User Friendly
- Quick Simple and Effective Prelaunch Strategies for New Blogs
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I think the web developers should try the squeeze page for once atleast, the customers will surely like the new trend. Nice sharing by the way!
Hey Scott,
Thanks for the kind words!
I’m glad you found my product useful. I love what you did with it, one of the better squeeze pages I’ve seen so far.
If you liked this version, you will love the next version coming out in a month or so!
Ron – WPSqueezepage´s last blog ..Wordpress 2 Column Video Squeeze Page
I’m creating a squeeze page without the use of anything extra other than Thesis CSS styles. You can see my work in progress squeeze page here:
http://www.biblemoneymatters.com/ebook
Peter´s last blog ..Tax Documents Have Been Sent. Time To E-File Your Taxes For Free With Our TurboTax Giveaway!
Nice design Peter. I invite you to guest post and write a tutorial, sharing your code with Thesis Theme HQ readers. George Serradinho’s guest post Tutorial: Customizing Thesis – Standard to Unique in 6 Easy Steps is a very popular post.
Linking to your squeeze page from your guest post will give you a lot of traffic if you use it for your example. Drop me a line using the contact form if you are interested :-)
Actually, the tutorial isn’t mine, I found it on howtomakemyblog dot com:
http://www.howtomakemyblog.com/thesis/how-to-create-a-sales-letter-landing-page-with-wordpress-thesis-theme/
Peter´s last blog ..Financial Considerations Of Selling Your Home: Should You Sell Your House?
Great work Peter!
Just some advice. To the grey box with ‘Full Table Of Contents’
add this CSS and it’ll look better (after adding class to the table):
.table_class {
border-radius: 5px;
-webkit-border-radius: 5px;
-moz-border-radius: 5px;
padding: 5px;
}
.table_class h2 {
text-shadow: 1px 1px #fff;
-moz-text-shadow: 1px 1px #fff;
-webkit-text-shadow: 1px 1px #fff;
}
What it will do is give the gray box (table) a decent padding and rounded corners also a ‘letterpress’ effect to the headings. Try it, would love to see it.
King Sidharth´s last blog ..Zen Story: Why You Must Throw it Away
Wow! Thanks for the awesome tutorial Somone!
I am going to use it as reference when I create a squeeze page for my upcoming e-course on the Meditation Rocks which is already running on thesis. Do check it out, I’d love to know what you think.
Btw I am in middle of redesigning my Official Site . What do you think?
Love the new full width footer btw.
King Sidharth´s last blog ..Zen Story: Why You Must Throw it Away
Awesome header and great angle to a sometimes sedate topic. I’ll take a look back in the near future and see how it’s all going.
Wow!!
Thank you so much!
King Sidharth´s last blog ..A How-to on Hardcore Motivation
Great article Somone… just what I was looking for.
One thing. Your link to your Youtube video isn’t working. Would be great to watch
David Glendinning´s last blog ..Best Blogging Sites For Business – Day Spa Example
I fixed it now. I just upgraded to the new Firefox version 3.6 and had to update Adobe Flash player. I changed the squeeze page into an html page a few weeks ago to deal with excessive cpu usage issues with my hosting provider and forgot to update the link to the new page. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. The video is the same as the one in the sidebar, top right with cool Aussie music.
Hi,
Thank you for a useful post….
It happens that I’m looking to do pretty much the same thing you’ve done..
I just went to the Squeeze Page Generator only to find out the price
went up to $49:) Very nice – I’m late again.
I’m thinking very intesively about purchasing, but bought a few pieces of software lately and don’t want to go overboard.
All the best
JJ
Best