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[David Maschke]

Is it annoying to you when a subscription form asks for you email address first, and then your name underneath?  Does that situation seem backwards to you?

When I'm speed surfing, and sign up for a newsletter, I'll usually put my name in first.   In the "real world", that is the first thing people ask for anyway.

I only ask because with my autoresponder, the form generator creates the email field first, and I have to manually change the sign up form myself.

Dave

[joblythe]

Hi Dave

Just a suggestion . . .

Why not use the form generator to produce your initial default opt-in form and then edit it (as you have to do now)  to what you would like it to look like - maybe not just the order of the Name and eMail fields but also field length, font, colours, button text, centering etc etc. 

If you then save that as a text file, you just need to alter the autoresponder series number (or whatever your system uses) and possibly the thank-you page url before pasting to your next opt-in page.

I sometimes find that easier than completing the form generator each time - then messing around with it.

Just a thought . . .

[Chris Lockwood]

> Is it annoying to you when a subscription form asks for you email address first, and then your name underneath? 

No, because my 6th-grade reading skills enable me to determine which field is for which piece of data, and there is no "right" order for those fields. 

[joblythe]

Chris?

Will your 6th-Grade reading skills go this far:-

An Excerpt from "How To Win Friends and Influence People"

The book has four major sections. The core principles of each section are quoted below.

Fundamental Techniques in Handling People

    * "Don't criticize, condemn or complain."
    * "Give honest and sincere appreciation."
    * "Arouse in the other person an eager want."
    * "Do not insult "

Six Ways to Make People Like You

    * "Become genuinely interested in other people."
    * "Smile."
    * "Remember that a man's name is to him the sweetest and most important sound in any language."
    * "Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves."
    * "Talk in the terms of the other man's interest."
    * "Make the other person feel important and do it sincerely."

Twelve Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking

    * "Avoid arguments."
    * "Show respect for the other person's opinions. Never tell someone they are wrong."
    * "If you're wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically."
    * "Begin in a friendly way."
    * "Start with questions the other person will answer yes to."
    * "Let the other person do the talking."
    * "Let the other person feel the idea is his/hers."
    * "Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view."
    * "Sympathize with the other person."
    * "Appeal to noble motives."
    * "Dramatize your ideas."
    * "Throw down a challenge."

Nine Ways to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment

    * "Begin with praise and honest appreciation."
    * "Call attention to other people's mistakes indirectly."
    * "Talk about your own mistakes first."
    * "Ask questions instead of giving direct orders."
    * "Let the other person save face."
    * "Praise every improvement."
    * "Give them a fine reputation to live up to."
    * "Encourage them by making their faults seem easy to correct."
    * "Make the other person happy about doing what you suggest."

[David Maschke]

Thanks guys,


Joblythe:

I am actually doing what you suggested.   I took me hours of playing around, but I even
got the background of the fields to show up as a light purple color.   But as for putting
in a text file for future use, no I have not done that.   Great idea.

And I think Chris was poking fun at himself, and not at me or my question.

I copied your post about how to win friends, I lost my copy of the book and been meaning to get another one.

Chris:

Thanks for your input.   Maybe using the order from my autoresponder would weed out speed surfers like myself, and narrow a list to those really reading my squeeze page

Dave

[joblythe]

Dave

You are welcome!

P.S.  I love Chris to bits, really!

[Chris Lockwood]

Jo, next time you go out you might get yourself a sense of humor. It comes in handy.

[joblythe]

Hi Chris

Problem is - I never get out!!   

Love
Jo

[JHardin]

Hi Joblythe, Thanks for the reminder, It has been awhile since I read the list.
About the form order, Everyone appreciates their name listed first and as a rule  if your out to win friends or influence a buyer than ask for their name first.

[Mike1MB]

How many people do you think use Google Toolbar and Autofill for these sign up forms?
Remember to use Autofill friendly field names and perhaps you''l get more opt-ins.

[paperkool]

I thaught about that a few years ago.    Actually it's better to get the email address first.  If something goes wrong, at least you'll have a sort of viable contact.

[Joreymay]

I thaught about that a few years ago.    Actually it's better to get the email address first.  If something goes wrong, at least you'll have a sort of viable contact.

It doesn't work that way, in most cases. The form does not go through until all the "required" fields are filled in and the submit button is clicked (or "enter" is pushed). So you don't "get" the email address without the name. The first/second issue is just a question of placement of the fields on the page (within the form).