Imagine having a store that’s got the best of goods but a shabby front. Potential buyers wouldn’t want to walk in and buy, would they?
That’s what landing pages are – your digital storefront.
So it only makes sense that you make your landing pages not only stand out but convert, especially considering how your potential buyers are probably going to walk by just once!
We asked the BoostMyDomain community of business leaders and SEO experts the one unconventional landing page optimization trick they’ve tried and tested with proven results. As usual, they shared with our readers a range of tricks and also how to put them to work on your landing page.
Read on!
Optimize Meta Title
One of my favorite tricks for getting more out of landing pages is to not worry about the brand name on the meta title and just optimize the full length for the topical keywords.
There are only 55-60 characters to optimize so get the most out of it.
Google changed the way SERPs look and now the brand name doesn’t get shown most of the time even when it’s present in the meta title.
It’s better to just optimize the keywords rather than including the brand name.
Salvatore Surra
Director of SEO & Content, Seamless.AI
Using Micro-Interactions
One of my favorite unconventional landing page optimization tricks is using micro-interactions to guide user behavior subtly. These are small, interactive design elements, like a button pulsing when hovered over or a progress bar that fills as a form is completed.
In one previous role, we implemented a ‘smart’ scroll indicator adapted based on the user’s activity, encouraging them to explore the whole page. It created a sense of accomplishment, and engagement metrics soared.
The magic lies in how micro-interactions enhance the user experience without feeling like an intrusion. They make the page engaging and intuitive, often leading to higher conversions.
Ryan Jones
Marketing Manager, SEOTesting
Integrating Calendly and FOMO-Driven Colored Bar
Integrated Calendly Calendar for Seamless Scheduling: We incorporated a small, embedded Calendly calendar directly on our landing page, allowing visitors to book appointments or demos without navigating away.
This seamless integration reduces friction in the user journey, providing real-time availability and automated reminders.
As a result, we’ve seen a 30% increase in scheduled consultations without having to put our phone number on the home page and reduce spam calls.
FOMO-Driven Colored Bar for Immediate Engagement: At the top of our landing page, we added a vibrant colored bar highlighting a limited-time offer.
This Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) tactic creates a sense of urgency. We’re in the works of adding this to more pages within reason as some don’t have optimal offers.
Adnan S.
Creative Director, Nitro Media Group
Adding a Sense of Urgency With Timers
I believe one unconventional landing page tactic we’ve found shockingly effective is adding a sense of urgency through dynamic, user-specific timers.
Rather than bland countdowns, we used timers specific to each visitor’s experience: “Book your seat within the next 10 minutes to receive a discount.” Just like when you walk into a store, and the sales end right as you leave, it forces people to act instead of avoiding them.
In a one-course enrollment campaign, for example, this method increased conversions by 35%. It capitalizes on FOMO while making the experience seem like it’s specifically designed for each user.
If a consumer is considering making a purchase but the clock ticks down in real-time, they are inclined to commit in the way that you would consider purchasing concert tickets before they go on sale.
Arvind Rongala
CEO, Edstellar
Subtle Micro-Interactions
One surprising landing page optimization tactic that resulted in better performance was to add little “micro-interactions” on the page that helped lead a user through.
Since it seemed like a norm years back was to overwhelm visitors with static blocks of content we tried to keep it subtle and use animations, hover states, clicks and anything interactive to create a similar feeling flow.
For example, when a user hovered over an essential call-to-action button, it would subtly pulse to bring the necessary attention without being too invasive. Key benefits or testimonials slid into view as users scrolled through the page: an interactive story in itself.
It was not just making the landing page visually dynamic but it also helped increase engagement metrics drastically. The design subconsciously guided users into staying on the page and instead of being aggressive with the CTA, it felt natural.
The result? 28% higher conversions than the static version of the page.
What it did teach us, though, was the importance of forging an empathetic and personable relationship with our users, a rapport that increased engagement and encouraged natural behavior.
Darryl Stevens
Founder & CEO, DIGITECH Web Design
Reduce Page Weight
Cut down the page weight.
I didn’t expect much, but stripping everything down to the essentials worked better and the page loaded way faster.
I started noticing that faster load times, especially on mobile, kept people engaged longer. And by removing distractions like extra links or too much text, the focus was solely on the offer and the call-to-action.
People just want to make quick decisions without being overwhelmed, and when I kept the page clean and focused, conversions actually increased.
Paul Chow
CTO, 3DGearZone
Variations in Website Forms
With website forms, you’ve probably heard that the fewer fields, the better. With more steps for the user resulting in higher friction and a lower conversion rate.
We tested this theory, adding an extra question and step to our form, which previously contained three steps and 12 questions.
Here’s how the test played out:
- Control (3 steps) = 2.12% conversion rate
- Variation (4 steps) = 2.58% conversion rate
Why the variation won: Adding an easy question at the beginning built compliance. Increasing users’ likelihood of completing all questions in the form. Additionally, by placing only one question on the first screen, the form feels less intimidating, which could’ve also increased completion rate.
Takeaways: Start your forms with non-threatening asks. Leave invasive questions concerning budgets or contact information until later when commitment has built.
Use multi-step forms if you’re asking many questions. Long lists of questions may be off putting for users.
James Reynolds
SEO expert & Managing Director, SEO Sherpa
Optimizing Meta Description and Open Graph Image
One tactic that works extremely well for us is optimizing the meta description and open graph image on a page for CTR.
CTR optimization is completely overlooked by most agencies but it’s super simple to do, is essentially a free optimization and can pay off big time. Moving the CTR of a page from 2% to 3% is 50% more traffic with the same rankings or paid traffic.
For meta descriptions, simple changes such as using capital case and all caps for important words like FREE, FAST or INSURED can make a big difference to CTR.
For open graph images, creating a simple but high contrast image in a similar style to what you would use for a Facebook Ad can make a huge difference to traffic.
For open graph images, start with the tool Open Graph; it’s a quick and simple way to see the open graph images of a landing page.
Brendan Tully
Principal Consultant, WP Speed Fix
Using Pop-Ups
One unconventional trick that I find (surprisingly) working well on landing pages across several industries (education, mental health, fintech, home improvements) is the use of pop-ups. Theoretically annoying, they do a good job for several campaigns.
Emanuel Petrescu
SEO & Digital Marketing Consultant , Emanuelp
Live Testimonial Feed
For Chiri, one landing page optimization strategy was the addition of a live testimonial feed on the landing page, where real users’ trip photos and reviews were updated with time.
Initially, I worried it might clutter the page, but it turned out to be a trust magnet. Visitors spent more time on the page, and sign-ups jumped up within two weeks.
What blew me away was how many people mentioned they felt inspired seeing actual travellers using Chiri, not just reading generic claims. It showed me that people don’t just want promises. They want proof that others like them are already benefiting.
This simple addition made the platform feel relatable and trustworthy in a way that no polished design could replicate.
The BoostMyDomain team thanks these experts and leaders for taking the time to share their valuable tips on landing page optimization.
BoostMyDomain invites you to share your insights and contribute to our authoritative publication. Reach a wider audience, build your credibility, and establish yourself as a thought leader in an industry that caters to every business with an online presence!
