Believe you can just toss up any random thank you page? Think again

Fantastic! A new visitor just converted on your website – be it a white paper download, webinar registration, or a purchase. That’s great news! But hold on before celebrating – your thank you page needs attention. It can’t be just any thrown-together page; to fully capitalize on your valuable converted user, you need a thank you page that truly shines.

What is a thank you page?

It’s the page visitors land on after completing a desired conversion on your website. As you might guess, it often features a “thank you” message acknowledging the visitor’s order or download. However, a truly effective thank you page goes beyond just that…

Why is a thank you page important?

For starters, it’s simply good manners. More importantly, it allows you to continue engaging with the user. A visitor who has accepted your offer holds significant value – they’re now a qualified lead with the potential to become a loyal follower, even a paying customer, if guided well. Don’t miss this opportunity! Utilize your thank you page to encourage further interaction with your brand. You might even secure another conversion!

9 Best Practices for a Powerful Thank You Page

Make the most of your thank you page by implementing these best practices:

1. Confirm the Conversion

Begin by confirming the specific offer the visitor claimed. For example, Thank you for registering for our How to Hypnotize Your Dog 101 Webinar – clearly confirms their enrollment in that specific webinar.

An appropriate Sylvia comic from Bad Girl Chats If there’s content to download, include a prominent download button in vibrant colors. If you’re sending physical content, assure them it’s on its way. One clever strategy by LeadPages recommends following the confirmation with a message like this: Your guide to dog hypnosis will arrive in your inbox shortly. Meanwhile, check out these resources to maximize your free guide. Here’s the catch… it leads to a sales page! Well, a modified one combining guide information with an upsell. Clever, right? You’re using the free offer’s thank you page to guide users toward a potential purchase.

Knowing the type of whitepaper or guide they requested gives you valuable insight into their interests. Instead of letting the lead fade away, the best thank you pages captivate visitors with other relevant offers and pages on your website. Incorporate videos, infographics, blog posts – anything they might find valuable. Amazon brilliantly implements this strategy with their “you might also be interested in” sections after purchases. Take inspiration from the masters!

Encouraging visitors to connect with you on social media via your thank you page is another effective way to nurture the relationship. While simply having buttons is good, take it a step further and explain why they should follow you. For instance: Discover more expert dog training advice by joining us on Twitter and Facebook.

4. Encourage Referrals

Don’t hesitate to ask visitors to share the offer with their network. While seemingly obvious, visitors often need a nudge to take action. They’ve already validated your offer’s value, making them more likely to share it via email, tweets, or Facebook posts directly from your thank you page. Encourage sharing while they’re still enthusiastic about the offer.

Even after a conversion, there’s no harm in reassuring visitors with testimonials or impressive figures on your thank you pages.

Testimonial from Social Sprout Remember, this initial interaction can blossom into something much bigger (a visitor might download a white paper today, sign up for a free trial next week, and become a paying customer soon after). Continuously build trust and credibility with potential clients.

6. Encourage Account Creation

This tip applies mainly to e-commerce thank you pages. Getting customers to create an account is a major win. However, forcing it before purchase can lead to 30% of users to abandon their cart! Instead, offer the option after the sale, incentivizing it with future discounts, easy order tracking, etc.

7. Promote a Special Offer

Did a customer just buy a photo book? Offer them a 50% discount on a custom calendar on the thank you page. Or, remind them about your Summer Sale with limited-time free shipping on all photo gifts!

Promo from Sierra Trading Post It doesn’t have to be Black Friday, but the offer should feel exclusive and personalized. Add a time limit to grab their attention. Use phrases like “limited time special offer for valued customers” or “free gift just for you” to make them feel special and appreciated.

If they’re engaging with your offers, they clearly see you as a credible information source. You know they like you, but are they ready for a deeper connection? Find out by inviting them to subscribe to your newsletter! A robust newsletter system can turn those new converters into loyal customers in no time. Highlight the benefits, like “Get weekly tips and tricks for hypnotizing your dog, delivered straight to your inbox.”

9. Send an Auto-Responder Email

An auto-responder email after a conversion is another powerful way to build on the newfound relationship. Many businesses repurpose their website thank you pages into email format for this purpose. You’re offering the same incentives, delivered directly to their inbox!

Real-World Thank You Page Examples

What better way to understand effective thank you pages than to see them in action? Let’s analyze some excellent (and not-so-great) examples. (P.S. Check out these 16 thank you page examples, rated from 1-20, when you’re done here. You’re welcome!)

Punchbowl

Our first example is Punchbowl’s thank you page, which appears after a visitor downloads a free white paper.

Punchbowl excels in several areas, particularly with its use of visuals.

Confirmation of the offer is provided through both text and imagery, reassuring the visitor.
While the white paper download starts automatically, they also include a link in case of download issues.
Punchbowl leverages the thank you page to encourage social media follows (Twitter and LinkedIn) using eye-catching images. They clearly explain the benefits of following and provide easily accessible links.
In addition to social media, they invite visitors to explore their blog, further showcasing their expertise.

Emergen-C

Next, we have Emergen-C’s thank you page after a visitor signs up for a free sample.

This energy supplement provider misses the mark with a rather underwhelming thank you page. Here’s why:

While they express thanks and acknowledge the request, it lacks specifics. A more effective approach would be: “Thanks, your free sample is on its way!”
They encourage liking them on Facebook, which is a start. However, why not link to other social media platforms?
The page has a lot of wasted space that could feature popular product images, customer testimonials, or promotional codes.

HubSpot

HubSpot demonstrates what an excellent thank you page looks like.

HubSpot confirms the specific offer, adding a touch of personalization.
Sharing the resource is incredibly easy with options for email, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
HubSpot uses the extra space to promote their free trial, emphasizing that no credit card is required (a great tip for boosting sign-ups).
Even better, they include the free trial form directly on the thank you page, pre-filling the information provided earlier for a seamless signup process.

Cherishables

This Cherishables page exemplifies an e-commerce thank you/order confirmation page for a free custom Father’s Day card. It has significant room for improvement.

Order confirmation is provided through text and image, which is positive.
However, the page offers little beyond order confirmation. While Print, Shop More, and Feedback buttons are present, they are dull and uninspiring.
Consider collapsing the order details behind a View Invoice or View Order Details button. A detailed reminder of the purchase is unnecessary immediately after checkout.
Use this space to showcase top-selling cards or, since they know I appreciate promo codes, offer another one to encourage a repeat purchase. For example, “As a special thank you, enjoy 50% off your next birthday card!” This could remind me to order a card for an upcoming birthday.

Yogi

Yogi opts for a thank you pop-up message instead of a dedicated page.

The offer is confirmed, stating that the tea sample will arrive within a few weeks.
It offers additional options, but neither link appears very appealing. Simply visiting the Yogi Homepage isn’t enticing.
The Send Your Own Well-Wish option might work, but the button lacks visual appeal. Some bright colors or an image would significantly improve its clickability. A dedicated thank you page would provide more space for offers and incentives, making it more effective than this pop-up message. How are you utilizing your thank you page space? What resonates with your audience? What doesn’t? Share your experiences in the comments.