How to Create a Thank You Page that Engages and Converts

The Thank You page is the page that a lead (aka, a potential customer) will land on after filling out a web form, making a purchase, or completing another online task that you, the business, deem worthy of recognition.

• What to do before your thank you page is live
• Thank you page strategy tips
• After your thank you page is live
• FAQ: How can I optimize my thank you page to engage users and boost conversions? 

By taking the action that led to the Thank You page, your customer, or potential customer, has proverbially tapped you on the shoulder to let you know they are interested in your product or service. They acknowledge you, and they like you! Now what? How do you nurture your relationship with them so they will remember you and feel inspired to take the next step? How can you use the Thank You page to funnel your qualified leads to the pages you want them to visit next?

Whatever you do, it’s critical that you make sure that you leave them feeling satisfied and engaged, not confused.

To help you get started creating Thank You pages that convert leads into sales and strangers into brand loyalists, this blog post offers suggestions for approaching Thank You page creation in three stages: creating a foundation and getting ready to launch; on-page content creation; and using analytics to track success after your page or pages go live. On Thursday, I’ll be back with part two of this series to go into more detail about how to choose a Thank You page call to action that is focused, engaging, and in alignment with your brand goals.

What to Do Before Your Thank You Page Goes Live: Setting Goals

There’s really no way to optimize your page, know if your page is performing well, or determine what call to action is the best choice for your page if you haven’t decided what you want to get out of your page.

For this reason, before you can begin crafting an optimal Thank You page experience it’s critical to establish some goals. Of course you want to thank the person who took the action, then, in a perfect world, what do you want them to do after that? Stay on your website and click through to read more content? Look at more of your products? Follow you on Twitter, Facebook, or another social networking site? Subscribe to your blog? Learn more about your company?

Fill in the blanks to help clarify what is it you want to accomplish and why: “After they [A], I want my lead to [B] from the Thank You page so that [C].”

Replace [A] with whatever specific action they took to get to the Thank You page, like “fill out the form” or “buy a paddleboard.” Replace [B] with whatever action you want them to do as a follow-up to their initial action. This could be “Like my brand’s Facebook page” or “look at more products on my website.” Replace [C] with the reason why you want them to take the follow-up action.

For instance, “After they fill out the request a quote form, I want my lead to Like my brand page on Facebook from the Thank You page so that I can stay connected with them throughout the buying cycle.”

With your goals established you are ready to start thinking about page content and calls to action.

5 Thank You Page Content Strategy Tips

1) First, actually say “thank you.” This may seem obvious, but it’s too important not to mention here. Make sure your thank you note is written in a brand voice that is consistent with the voice and language that you use across all your web pages.

2) Tell them what to expect. Will you call them within 48 hours? Are you sending them a PDF? Are you going to email them? Never promise them anything you can’t deliver on, but be specific if you can. The last thing you want is for them to feel disappointed or confused about what they should expect to happen next.

3)  Keep your text and call to action above the fold. “Above the fold” means they don’t have to scroll to see the text or call to action; it’s conveniently in front of them, ready to be acted on. Remember, once they land on the Thank You page, you have seconds to catch their attention before they close the window or click on another website, so it’s critical to pique their interest right away and make it as easy as possible for them to take action.

4)  To help them learn more about you at a glance, you might choose to include an image that shows some of your personality or visually engages your lead. Are you a family business? If so, maybe you can include a picture of you and your family holding a sign that says “Thanks” in one of your brick-and-mortar locations.

5) Based on the goals you established in your pre-page strategy session, extend a call to action (CTA) that encourages your lead to take the action that you want them to take.

After Your Thank You Pages Are Live:  Analytics and Performance Measuring

After your Thank You pages are live, it is essential to keep an eye on how your calls to action are performing using Google Analytics (or another analytics tool) for internal links and a tool like Bit.ly for external links that direct traffic to websites that you don’t own, such as Facebook. You may also consider doing heat-map testing to see how your customers are interacting with your pages and, accordingly, what is working and what is not.

Regularly (monthly or bi-monthly), ask yourself, “Are people doing what we want them to do?” If not, can you identify where the break-down is and brainstorm potential solutions? Make sure to learn from what is working and what is not.

See you back here on Thursday when we pick up this topic again with four different goal-focused approaches you might take to create calls to action that engage, inspire, and convert.

In the meantime, have you seen any Thank You page experiences that you love? What did they do right that made them stuck in your mind?

For more examples, check out these resources:

• 4 Thank You Page Examples That Got It Right
• 7 Newsletter Thank You Page Examples That Got It Right

FAQ: How can I optimize my Thank You page to engage users and boost conversions?

Where user engagement and conversion rates are paramount, optimizing your Thank You page is an often overlooked but crucial aspect of your overall strategy. While the Thank You page is typically the final step in the user journey, it holds tremendous potential for keeping visitors engaged and nudging them further down the conversion funnel. As an expert in digital marketing and user experience optimization, I am here to guide you through creating a highly effective Thank You page that expresses gratitude and drives conversions.

Understanding the Thank You Page

The Thank You page is the gateway to continued user interaction. Its primary function is acknowledging a completed action, such as a purchase or a subscription. However, optimizing this page goes beyond simple politeness – it’s an opportunity to maintain the user’s attention and encourage further actions.

1. Personalized Thank You Messages

To enhance user engagement, start with a personalized thank you message. If possible, address users by their names and express your appreciation for their specific actions, such as a purchase or sign-up. Make it clear that their interaction matters to your business.

2. Relevant Recommendations

Use this page to cross-sell or upsell related products or services. You can recommend items based on what the user has just purchased or offer complementary products. These tailored recommendations can pique the user’s interest and drive additional sales.

3. Social Sharing Options

Encourage users to share their recent actions on social media. This spreads the word about your brand and provides social proof, boosting credibility and trust among potential customers.

4. Feedback Mechanisms

Implement feedback mechanisms such as surveys or review requests on the Thank You page. This is an excellent way to gather insights and understand user satisfaction while engaging them in a constructive dialogue.

5. Clear Next Steps

Include clear calls to action (CTAs) that guide users to the next steps in their journey. Whether accessing an exclusive resource, signing up for a newsletter, or exploring other areas of your site, make the path forward apparent.

Enhancing Conversions

Engaging users on the Thank You page is essential, but the ultimate goal is to boost conversions. Here’s how to do it effectively:

6. Limited-Time Offers

Create a sense of urgency by showcasing limited-time offers or discounts on the Thank You page. This can encourage immediate follow-up purchases or actions.

7. Exclusive Access

Offer exclusive access to premium content or services to reward users for their actions. Make sure this offer aligns with their previous behavior.

8. Trust Signals

Reiterate trust signals on this page, such as security badges, money-back guarantees, and positive customer testimonials. These elements can help alleviate any lingering doubts and lead to conversions.

9. Remarketing Opportunities

Implement remarketing strategies by including tracking pixels on the Thank You page. This allows you to retarget users with relevant ads, keeping your brand fresh in their minds.

Your Thank You page is an untapped goldmine for user engagement and boosting conversions. By personalizing messages, offering relevant recommendations, and providing clear calls to action, you can significantly enhance user experience and drive business growth. Remember, a well-optimized Thank You page is not just an end but a new beginning in the user journey. It can be a powerful tool for your digital marketing strategy when utilized effectively.

To fully answer the question on optimizing your Thank You page, follow the detailed steps outlined below:

Step-by-Step Guide to Optimizing Your Thank You Page

1. Begin with a personalized thank you message.
2. Offer relevant product or service recommendations.
3. Encourage users to share their actions on social media.
4. Implement feedback mechanisms for user input.
5. Include clear calls to action for the next steps.
6. Create a sense of urgency with limited-time offers.
7. Provide exclusive access to premium content or services.
8. Reiterate trust signals to build user confidence.
9. Implement remarketing opportunities with tracking pixels.

Following these steps, you can optimize your Thank You page to engage users and boost conversions effectively.

This article was updated on November 11, 2023.

Chelsea Adams Brooks is a long-distance cyclist, aspiring cob house builder, schema/analytics/algorithm obsessor, and a former senior content writer at Bruce Clay Inc.

See Chelsea's author page for links to connect on social media.