Checklist: Optimizing Your SaaS Product Landing Page
October 2024
Want to turn visitors into customers? Here’s how to create a killer SaaS landing page:
- Clear headline and value proposition
- Clean, mobile-friendly design
- Product benefits and features
- Customer proof and testimonials
- Transparent pricing
- Trust-building elements (security badges, certifications)
- Optimized forms
- Fast page load speed
- A/B testing
- Pre-launch checks
- Post-launch improvements
Key takeaways:
- First impressions matter: Your landing page is your digital storefront
- Keep it simple: Clean design, clear messaging
- Build trust: Show security badges, customer testimonials
- Test and improve: A/B test elements, monitor metrics
| Element | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Headline | Hook visitors | Short.io‘s link pitch |
| Design | User-friendly | Simple, mobile-ready |
| Benefits | Problem-solving | Bullet-point advantages |
| Proof | Credibility | GreenGeeks‘ testimonials |
| Pricing | Transparency | Easy plan comparison |
Remember: Your SaaS landing page isn’t set-it-and-forget-it. Keep testing, tweaking, and improving to boost conversions and grow your business.
Related video from YouTube
Main Parts of a Good SaaS Landing Page
A killer SaaS landing page can skyrocket your conversions. Here’s what you need:
Clear Headline and Product Value
Your headline is make-or-break. It needs to grab eyeballs and explain your product fast. Short.io nails this with a headline that speaks directly to businesses wanting custom-domain link shortening.
Clean Design
Keep it simple and on-brand. And for Pete’s sake, make sure it works on mobile. A messy page will send visitors running.
Product Benefits and Features
Bullet point your main selling points. Focus on problem-solving, not tech specs.
Customer Proof
Show off your happy customers. GreenGeeks puts social proof front and center on their reseller hosting page. Smart move.
Clear Pricing
No surprises here. Lay out your plans so folks can easily pick what’s right for them.
Here’s a quick rundown:
| Element | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Headline | Hook ’em quick | Short.io’s link pitch |
| Design | Keep it clean | Simple, mobile-friendly |
| Benefits | Solve problems | Bullet-point advantages |
| Proof | Build trust | GreenGeeks’ testimonials |
| Pricing | Be transparent | Easy plan comparison |
These parts should work together like a well-oiled machine. Your goal? Turn visitors into users.
"The awareness stage is crucial for lead generation, where capturing email addresses is a common desired conversion."
This means tailoring your page to where visitors are in their journey. New to your product? Focus on education and easy sign-ups.
And don’t just set it and forget it. Keep testing and tweaking. What works today might bomb tomorrow.
2. Building trust
Trust is key for SaaS businesses. Without it, you’re dead in the water. So how do you build it on your landing page?
Let’s start with security badges. These little icons show you’re serious about safety. Consider:
- SSL certificates
- PCI-DSS compliance
- SOC 2 Type II
Place these strategically, like near sign-up forms or payment sections.
Certifications are next. They’re proof you meet industry standards:
- ISO 27001
- HIPAA compliance
- GDPR readiness
Choose the ones that matter most to your audience.
Guarantees can also ease minds:
- Money-back promises
- Uptime guarantees
- Data protection pledges
Be specific. "99.9% uptime" beats "high availability" any day.
Real-world examples? Dropbox and Amplitude nail it. They put security front and center on their landing pages.
Does this trust-building work? The numbers say yes:
- 75% say trust badges boost credibility
- A VeriSign badge increased conversions by 42%
- 61% have abandoned purchases without trust logos
Bottom line: Trust elements aren’t optional. They can make or break your SaaS landing page.
3. Making forms better
Forms can make or break your SaaS sign-ups. Here’s how to craft forms that convert:
Cut the fat
Long forms? Conversion killers. 27% of users bail on lengthy forms. The fix? Ask only what you need.
Asana nails this. Their sign-up? Just an email. That’s it. They get the rest later. Smart move.
Crystal clear labels
Confused users don’t convert. Use simple labels. Need to explain a field? Keep it short and sweet.
Show progress on multi-step forms
Can’t avoid a longer form? Break it up. Add a progress bar. It’s like a little pat on the back for users.
Airtable does this right. Two steps, clear progress. Users know exactly where they stand.
Mobile matters
10% of form ditchers blame mobile unfriendliness. Don’t be that guy. Make sure your forms work on phones.
Quick mobile form tips:
- Big, tappable buttons
- Stack fields vertically
- Use the right mobile keyboard
- Autofill when possible
Catch errors on the fly
Real-time validation is your friend. It stops mistakes before they happen. Less frustration = more sign-ups.
Build trust
Asking for personal info? Make users feel safe:
- Link to your privacy policy
- Use trust symbols
- Explain why you need certain details
Social sign-up shortcut
Let users sign up with social accounts. It’s fast, it’s easy, and it works.
sbb-itb-4c080d3
4. Speeding up page load
A slow SaaS landing page can kill your conversions. Here’s how to make it zippy:
Slim down those images
Images are often the biggest culprits. Here’s the fix:
- Compress with TinyPNG or ImageOptim
- Resize to fit (no giant hero images)
- Use PNGs for graphics, JPEGs for photos
Cut HTTP requests
Each page element needs its own request. Fewer is faster:
- Combine CSS files
- Merge JavaScript files
- Use CSS sprites for small, repeated images
Use browser caching
Don’t make visitors download the same stuff over and over.
Try a CDN
CDNs put your content on servers worldwide. Closer to users = faster load.
Trim your code
- Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML
- Load non-essential scripts asynchronously
- Ditch unused code and plugins
Boost your server
- Pick a speedy host
- Turn on Gzip compression
- Optimize database queries
Here’s why this matters: Google found that 53% of mobile users bail on sites that take over 3 seconds to load. Don’t let a slow page cost you customers.
Check your speed with Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix. They’ll give you specific tips for your page.
5. Testing different versions
A/B testing helps you boost sign-ups on your SaaS landing page. Here’s how to do it:
1. Test one element at a time
Change just one thing – like your headline, button color, or page layout. This way, you’ll know exactly what caused any changes in your results.
2. Create two versions
Make version A (your current page) and version B (the page with your change).
Acuity changed their offer from a "Free for life" plan to a "14-day free trial" PRO plan. This tiny tweak led to a 268% jump in paid sign-ups.
3. Split your traffic evenly
Half your visitors see version A, half see version B. Fair comparison, simple as that.
4. Get enough data
Run your test for at least a week. Aim for 1,000 visitors per version. This gives you reliable results.
5. Check your results
Look for a clear winner with 90-95% confidence. That means you can trust which version will keep performing better.
| Test This | Like This |
|---|---|
| Headlines | Short vs. long, problem vs. benefit focus |
| Buttons | Color, size, text, placement |
| Page Layout | Long vs. short, single vs. multi-column |
| Offers | Trial length, pricing, bonus features |
Small changes can be HUGE. Expedia axed one field ("Company name") from their checkout and saw $12 million more in yearly conversions.
Don’t stop testing. Top SaaS companies always tweak their landing pages. Each test teaches you what your customers want, helping you convert better over time.
6. Before you launch
Get your SaaS landing page ready for action:
6.1. Check all content
Go through your page with a fine-tooth comb:
- Fix typos and grammar
- Make sure your value prop is clear
- Test all links
"A broken sign-up link cost us 500 potential customers before we caught it", – Tom Tunguz, VC at Redpoint.
6.2. Test technical parts
Put your page through its paces:
| Test | What to do |
|---|---|
| Browsers | Check Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge |
| Mobile | Test iOS and Android |
| Speed | Aim for <3 seconds load time |
| Tracking | Verify analytics tools work |
6.3. Follow legal rules
Cover your bases:
- Add a privacy policy
- Include terms of use
- Meet GDPR rules if serving EU customers
Accenture found: 91% of consumers prefer personalized offers, but 73% say privacy trumps personalization.
7. After launch improvements
Your SaaS landing page is live. Great! But the work’s not over. Here’s how to keep it performing:
7.1. Watch how it’s doing
Track these key metrics:
| Metric | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Conversion rate | % of visitors who sign up | Shows page effectiveness |
| Bounce rate | % of visitors who leave quickly | Indicates initial appeal |
| Average time on page | How long visitors stay | Measures engagement |
| Click-through rate (CTR) | % who click your CTA | Tests CTA effectiveness |
Use Google Analytics to gather this data. Look for trends and drop-off points.
7.2. Keep making it better
Your page shouldn’t be static. Update it based on what you learn:
- Use heatmaps to see where people click and scroll
- A/B test different elements
- Get feedback from real users
- Update as your product and market change
Bandwidth, a communications API company, used heatmaps to study user behavior. They tweaked their product pages and saw a 12% boost in visit-to-lead conversions.
Small changes can make a big impact. Open Mile tested a new top section on their lead gen page. Their conversion rate jumped from 3.95% to 13.11%.
Keep testing. Your SaaS landing page can always improve.
8. Wrap-up
Your SaaS landing page isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it deal. It needs ongoing love and attention.
Why? Because:
- It’s often the first impression for potential customers
- A good page can boost conversions and grow your business
- The SaaS world moves fast, and your page needs to keep up
Here’s what to focus on:
- Keep testing: A/B test to find what clicks with your audience
- Watch your numbers: Keep an eye on conversion rates, bounce rates, and time on page
- Listen up: Use feedback to make your page better
- Stay fresh: Update as your product and market change
| Do This | Get This |
|---|---|
| A/B test regularly | Find what works best |
| Monitor metrics | Spot improvement areas |
| Collect user feedback | Make users happier |
| Update content | Keep your page relevant |
Focus on these areas and you’ll build a landing page that doesn’t just attract visitors – it turns them into customers.
"Put your users first. Understand their needs and pain points. That’s how you make smart choices about your product and create a better experience."
Keep tweaking your SaaS landing page. Small changes can make a big difference. Your hard work will pay off with more conversions and happier customers.