Instapage vs. GetResponse
The landing page is one of the most important aspects of a successful online marketing strategy. Whether you are sending traffic from social media, from a PPC campaign, or in the most common case, from your mailing list, the main scope is inviting users to complete an action.
So, which tool are you using to build the perfect landing page?
Time ago, it used to be a challenge, but today, thanks to simple to understand builder tools, it's easy to create a landing page that converts.
In this post, we are going to take a look at two of the most popular services available: Instapage VS GetResponse.
Instapage
Unlike GetResponse (which offer also other marketing services, like autoresponders and webinars), Instapage is focused just on the creation of landing pages.
It's a valid online platform, that stands for the rationality and simplicity of its interface.
When you start creating your landing page with Instapage, you have three options:
- URL Importer, which lets you import any landing page you've built with other tools (it's still on beta, but it works for most of the cases).
- Drag & Drop. I like this kind of feature. It's basically a visual editor, where you can create your pages dragging and dropping the different elements (choose from many available).
- Upload. Use this feature if you already have any .instapage files you want to edit or customize (you can find them from ThemeForest.net).
Once you finished designing the landing page, before clicking the publishing button, you have four options:
- Custom domain: get it published on your own web host.
- Instapage: this is the easiest solution, as it will be published on an Instapage sub domain.
- WordPress: with a plugin, you can publish the landing page directly to your blog.
- Facebook: use this option to get your page published on a tab on your Facebook fan page.
Pros
- the editor is quite simple to understand and use;
- templates are responsive;
- price is reasonable: starting from $29 with the basic plan, for the professional version you need to pay $55, while the premium plan is at $79;
- templates gallery is divided according to the objectives: lead generation, coming soon, click-through, webinars or thank you page;
- integration with many online services such as Mailchimp, Wufoo, Zapier, Salesforce, Zoho, Twitter, Facebook and Google analytics;
- integration with WordPress.
Cons
- performance statistics are not in real time and they are not so evolved as GetResponse;
- complete tutorials are missing;
- there is not a custom HTML form option (in other words, you can just use email providers that are actually supported);
- for advanced users, this service may be a little too poor.
GetResponse
Aside the feature of creating landing pages, GetResponse offers also autoresponders, email creator and webinars services.
It has more than 100 nicely designed landing page templates to choose from and the drag'n'drop WYSIWYG editor is really easy to use.
Once you start the creation process and you have chosen your favorite template, you can add a built-in web form, so to match your campaign strategy and capture leads and user data. You can customize input fields, labels and custom fields.
Plus, with the image editor, you have the option to add catchy photos, choosing from more than 1000 free high-quality pictures available. The built-in toolkit includes filters, stickers, brushes and much more.
Once you finished to build your landing page, the funny part starts. You want to run A/B testing, changing a few elements, to discover the version that converts more!
I particularly like the social media compatibility, as the landing page created with GetResponse can be published not just on your Facebook fan page, but also on YouTube (which is great, if you are planning to create webinars too).
Also, the PayPal integration lets you easily add PayPal buttons to encourage immediate shopping and enjoy increased sales and orders.
Pros
- more than 100 professional landing page templates;
- simple to use drag and drop editor;
- more than 1000 free quality images to choose from;
- 100% responsive design;
- A/B testing;
- no HTML coding required to modify the templates or the images;
- 100% integration with Google Analytics, CRM, email marketing and other software;
- the price starts from $15 a month, which makes GetResponse one of the most convenient solution in this niche.
How to Create a Facebook Landing Page
If you don't have a website or if you just want to get the most out of your fan page, adding a landing page on the Facebook tab is quite easy, both with Instapage or GetResponse.
According to HubSpot, there was an increase of 75% of the businesses that believe Facebook is critical to their success.
What you want to create is a clean and well optimized page, with a catchy image and a targeted message. Don't forget the killer headline and the contrasting CTA button.
And if you have experience with Facebook ads, you can set up a campaign to send visitors interested in your niche to your landing page.
The following is a well crafted example:
The message is clear and it's highlighted in the title.
Using words like "free", "easy" or "quick" will help you improving conversions.
There's a optin box to sign up (whether you are looking for new subscribers for your mailing list or for new leads to your sales funnel).
Description is clear, with a limited amount of words. I believe the simpler the better, in this case.
As you know, Facebook users prefer a funny message, rather than a boring text, focused on your business.
Also, consider adding gamification principles, to engage more with your fans.
Whether you are choosing Instapage or GetResponse, building a landing page to be published on a tab of your Facebook fan page is really easy. Just follow the procedure, while playing with the editor.
The Final Verdict
Instapage offers a valid platform that, for most of the times, is simple to understand and use but, for some cases, is more time consuming than it needs to be.
GetResponse has a simple editor that lets you build your landing page in a matter of minutes. It has also many more features than Instapage and I particularly like the fun with the A/B testing process.
Also, if you dig more into the advanced features, GetResponse seems to have integrated them into their platform better.
Plus, the basic plan of GetResponse is prices at $15/mo, which is almost half of Instapage one ($29/mo) and offers indeed more services!
After analyzing the characteristics of both services, I believe that, compared to Instapage, GetResponse is the best landing page tool.
Are you already using Instapage or GetResponse? Please share your views in the comments below, thanks!
