How To Design Above-The-Fold Landing Page Experiences

Make a Powerful First Impression and Increase Conversion by Focusing on the Vital Space “Above the Fold”
Newspapers & Touchdown Web page ‘Above-the-fold’ Ways Aren’t All That Totally different (Image Source)

Should you’re simply getting began with touchdown web page design, an ideal place to begin is to focus your consideration and most necessary web page parts above the fold.

The phrase “above the fold” originates from the newspaper trade and makes for a great analogy. Consider a broadsheet (bigger format) newspaper like The New York Instances or The Wall Avenue Journal. The area above the fold is just the area above the crease within the newspaper.

The eye span of your touchdown web page guests is simply as fleeting as these studying a newspaper headline as they move a newsstand. If it doesn’t seize their consideration straight away, they gained’t trouble to cease and skim.

Your job because the creator of your touchdown web page, is to inform your introductory story as shortly and succinctly as attainable.

Let’s have a look at some examples

Right here’s the area above the fold on The Charlotte Observer.

Discover the core parts: eye-grabbing headlines and attention-grabbing pictures. The principle objective is to seize your consideration and keep your curiosity.

The Charlotte Observer - Above The FoldThe Charlotte Observer - Above The Fold

Newspapers use the identical tactic on-line with their digital variations. Right here’s The Los Angeles Instances above the fold.

The Los Angeles Times above the foldThe Los Angeles Times above the fold

And right here’s The Day by day Telegraph from London. Discover that newspapers additionally use ‘tease’ techniques to entice the reader to proceed to learn.

“tease” tactic - The Daily Telegraph“tease” tactic - The Daily Telegraph

Newspapers are within the information enterprise however they’re additionally within the promoting enterprise. The web page stops you with a surprising photograph but in addition goals to seize your consideration with an obnoxious advert. The objective is to maintain you scrolling down — or get you to click on on the a banner advert.

Transfer to the Web and the area above the fold is just the content material the reader sees as quickly as they land in your web page. Right here’s what Unbounce shows above the fold on its residence web page.

Unbounce Above The FoldUnbounce Above The Fold

The ethical of the story: what you place above the fold is very necessary. Whether or not on a newspaper, web site or touchdown web page. However how do you select what to put above the fold?

Select What You Place Above the Fold

Hold the next 10 factors in thoughts when crafting your highly effective and high-converting above the fold area.

  1. Check out your rivals…particularly the super-successful who pay to generate a ton of site visitors. I’m not endorsing plagiarism however make an inventory of the weather your rivals embrace above the fold.
  2. Set a selected conversion objective to your touchdown web page. A direct sale? Or an opt-in? This can decide which parts you select above the fold. Should you’re constructing a database, you’ll need a type above the fold. Guests will shortly determine whether or not they wish to keep or depart primarily based on their preliminary impression. Be sure to are crystal clear. Give clients who’re able to convert the chance with an enormous CTA above the fold.
  3. Begin with a ‘How To’ headline. In April, I attended a copywriting convention run by one of many extra profitable Web entrepreneurs. In that firm’s testing, the “How To” headline wins 90% of the time. Should you’re promoting a remedy for Zits, a “How To” headline may be, “ Finish Zits in Simply 12 Days.” You’ll be able to take a look at different headlines down the highway however begin with the previous basic.
  4. Hold it super-simple and super-clear. This takes work. However the worth proposition have to be simple to know as quickly because the potential consumer or buyer sees the area above the fold. Belief simplicity and readability.
  5. Hold the design freed from graphic muddle and noise. Comply with the Unbounce look greater than the L.A. Instances strategy—which has an excessive amount of happening for my style.
  6. Preserve alignment. Many entrepreneurs create conversion leaks by failing to maintain the area above the fold aligned with their site visitors era. For instance, a PPC advert would possibly say, “14 Day Zits Assure.” However the headline above the fold on the touchdown web page reads “All-Pure Zits Cream Rocks!” Hold the messages aligned.
  7. Select happiness when selecting graphics. Whether or not you’re promoting an answer to an issue or a conceit product, you’re promoting happiness. So select photos of joyful, smiling individuals. You’ll be able to pair these joyful, smiling individuals with a canine if that reinforces conversion.
  8. TELL THE READER WHAT TO DO…Within the very important area above the fold, you have to persuade the reader to click on to a brand new web page or scroll down. Inform the reader to “Click on Right here Now” or “Scroll Down Now.” First particular person buttons can outperform third particular person buttons. For instance, copy for a button would possibly learn, “Sure! Make Me Zits-Free in 14 Days!”
  9. Attempt a proof component above the fold. This will embrace logos of main clients, buyer testimonials, a rely of consumers or an trade assessment snippet.
  10. Bear in mind a very powerful rule. The reader is asking, “what’s in it for me?” Reply that query above the fold however ONLY with the first profit – aka the distinctive promoting proposition.

Comply with the steps above and also you’ll have a stable basis to your touchdown web page that you should use as the start line to your future A/B checks.

Now let’s have a look at some touchdown web page examples with these 10 above-the-fold techniques in thoughts.

Above-the-Fold Touchdown Web page Examples with Commentary

Certainly one of my purchasers, Advertising Outcomes, primarily based in Brisbane, Australia, created this touchdown web page for one among their purchasers. I can’t give precise conversion charges however let’s simply say that everybody’s extraordinarily happy. Right here’s the area above the fold.

Rental Specific

Rental Express - Above the foldRental Express - Above the fold

It’s a touchdown web page so discover the ultra-clear type. The rhetorical query headline is efficient as a result of the audience already is aware of the reply. There’s a stable 3-month ‘free’ provide. You additionally see social proof within the type of logos and the 647 clients who switched…I additionally like the 2 bullets. Examine this above the fold area carefully for 2 causes:

  • The objective is to influence the reader to fill out a type.
  • It’s not a ‘learn how to’ headline however the audience is aware of the reply to the query.
  • Is that this web page super-simple and super-clear? You wager.
  • It’s freed from graphic muddle and noise.
  • Maybe what I like essentially the most in regards to the web page: it tells the reader what to do in tandem with a powerful provide.
  • There’s a robust social proof component…the 647 joyful purchasers.
  • Lastly there’s a solution to the “what’s in it for me?” query. The three free months of service. That’s an enormous financial savings for a property proprietor.

X Out – Zits Therapy System

acne product landing page - above the foldacne product landing page - above the fold
  • The objective of the web page is obvious: purchase! And there are two super-clear CTA buttons.
  • There’s a “learn how to” headline; the copywriter merely left off the “learn how to.”
  • There’s nothing super-complicated in regards to the web page. It’s extraordinarily clear.
  • One of many graphics makes use of a smiling picture of a buyer.
  • I just like the proof component above the fold; on this case the chance to observe a video. I just like the subhead on the button.
  • The reply to the “what’s in it for me?” query: a straightforward method to management pimples.

Fly With Class

Fly with Class - Above the FoldFly with Class - Above the Fold
  • The pre-head gives a profit…one-stop procuring.
  • I just like the picture of the smiling and engaging flight attendant.
  • Logos of journey organizations and airways for social proof.
  • Clear profit within the headline. It’s plausible. Once more…it’s a “” headline.
  • The subsequent steps are clear.
  • The shape isn’t overwhelming.
  • You get two choices to reply: name or full the shape.
  • The headline for the physique copy is obvious: you’re going to save lots of on enterprise and first-class journey.

Break the Guidelines. And Take a look at.

Simply bear in mind, tips are nice to ascertain a baseline design to your web page, but it surely’s not the place it is best to finish the method.

It’s at this level that you have to begin studying about your web page and it’s affect, by gathering buyer suggestions and checking your analytics. This can can help you begin making knowledgeable design adjustments in your landing page optimization process and A/B take a look at concepts.

Do you will have any above the fold methods you’d prefer to share? I’d love to listen to your ideas within the feedback.

— Scott Martin