Comments on: Should the Subscribe Button be Above the Fold? http://www.techipedia.com/2007/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/ tamar weinberg is a digital marketing specialist, social media consultant, and tech geek at heart Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:06:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Increase customer loyalty and sales « The OpenSky Project http://www.techipedia.com/2007/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-92917 Increase customer loyalty and sales « The OpenSky Project Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:47:22 +0000 http://www.techipedia.com/2007/02/25/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-92917 [...] Be careful how you display your subscribe/sign-up form [...] [...] Be careful how you display your subscribe/sign-up form [...]

]]> By: Darrin http://www.techipedia.com/2007/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-48338 Darrin Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:51:39 +0000 http://www.techipedia.com/2007/02/25/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-48338 Guess I found this post a bit late as it seems you now have the subscription box above the fold. Lol It looks awesome there and you gave me a great idea to add the search on top of the left category. I just realized you are from the same borough. Nice! Guess I found this post a bit late as it seems you now have the subscription box above the fold. Lol It looks awesome there and you gave me a great idea to add the search on top of the left category.
I just realized you are from the same borough. Nice!

]]> By: 10e20 Blog Update Tamar Weinberg » 10e20 - Search, Design & Social http://www.techipedia.com/2007/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-3220 10e20 Blog Update Tamar Weinberg » 10e20 - Search, Design & Social Mon, 12 Mar 2007 15:57:32 +0000 http://www.techipedia.com/2007/02/25/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-3220 [...] here at 10e20. She learned quickly and has put together some really amazing posts professionally and [...] [...] here at 10e20. She learned quickly and has put together some really amazing posts professionally and [...]

]]> By: Tamar Weinberg http://www.techipedia.com/2007/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-2752 Tamar Weinberg Mon, 26 Feb 2007 23:15:19 +0000 http://www.techipedia.com/2007/02/25/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-2752 Well, perhaps it's me, but I'm drawn to the white textbox at times -- the clear indications around the box would hardly make much difference. ;) The Blair website does do it right with the email in the middle of the page and the search on top. Above the fold is where it's at for me. Again, if email signup is a one-time event, it really shouldn't be in our faces in lieu of a search function. I would say that in the case of <a href="http://www.seroundtable.com/" rel="nofollow">Search Engine Roundtable</a> with the search on top of the RSS signup form (equivalent of email for my purposes), this is a perfect way of putting both above the fold while keeping the site owner and the users in mind. Well, perhaps it’s me, but I’m drawn to the white textbox at times — the clear indications around the box would hardly make much difference. ;) The Blair website does do it right with the email in the middle of the page and the search on top. Above the fold is where it’s at for me.

Again, if email signup is a one-time event, it really shouldn’t be in our faces in lieu of a search function. I would say that in the case of Search Engine Roundtable with the search on top of the RSS signup form (equivalent of email for my purposes), this is a perfect way of putting both above the fold while keeping the site owner and the users in mind.

]]> By: Shaun Ryan http://www.techipedia.com/2007/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-2741 Shaun Ryan Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:51:18 +0000 http://www.techipedia.com/2007/02/25/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-2741 Hi Tamar, Good point. As a site search vendor I see this all the time. I'll often go to a site just to check out their site search and start typing in the wrong text box. I often wonder how many others do the same thing. In many cases the site has a newsletter that they are trying to get people to subscribe to - so they still need the text box for the email address. If you are going to have text boxes other than the site search then another good idea is to add some cues as to what is expected in the box. For example at <a href="http://www.blair.com/" rel="nofollow">Blair</a> the newsletter sign up box has at least 3 cues hinting that you should put an email address into the box - the envelope image above it, the text in the box, and the dummy email address below it. Hi Tamar,

Good point. As a site search vendor I see this all the time. I’ll often go to a site just to check out their site search and start typing in the wrong text box. I often wonder how many others do the same thing.

In many cases the site has a newsletter that they are trying to get people to subscribe to – so they still need the text box for the email address.

If you are going to have text boxes other than the site search then another good idea is to add some cues as to what is expected in the box. For example at Blair the newsletter sign up box has at least 3 cues hinting that you should put an email address into the box – the envelope image above it, the text in the box, and the dummy email address below it.

]]> By: Barry Schwartz http://www.techipedia.com/2007/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-2712 Barry Schwartz Mon, 26 Feb 2007 01:34:11 +0000 http://www.techipedia.com/2007/02/25/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-2712 Thanks Tamar... Was just curious what you thought of our implementation. Thank you! Thanks Tamar…

Was just curious what you thought of our implementation.

Thank you!

]]> By: Tamar Weinberg http://www.techipedia.com/2007/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-2708 Tamar Weinberg Sun, 25 Feb 2007 20:27:59 +0000 http://www.techipedia.com/2007/02/25/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-2708 Eugene, this is a good point. I think, though, that most people want to <b>use</b> the website for search rather than a sign-up which is a one-time event. I find myself visiting sites such as SEJ often for the specific reason for search. Since I already am an RSS subscriber, I don't need to sign up for their mailing list. In my eyes, usability is about paying attention to what the users will utilize frequently, rather than once (if ever). Eugene, this is a good point. I think, though, that most people want to use the website for search rather than a sign-up which is a one-time event. I find myself visiting sites such as SEJ often for the specific reason for search. Since I already am an RSS subscriber, I don’t need to sign up for their mailing list. In my eyes, usability is about paying attention to what the users will utilize frequently, rather than once (if ever).

]]> By: Eugene Loj http://www.techipedia.com/2007/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-2707 Eugene Loj Sun, 25 Feb 2007 20:22:51 +0000 http://www.techipedia.com/2007/02/25/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-2707 Tamar,

Good question!

One main emphasis of web usability is on high quality content. If you have the opt-in box above the fold I don’t believe you’re neglecting the user. The catch is you must provide the user high quality information via their subscription. Most posts, books, and articles also recommend an opt-in box above the fold. Maybe consider adding a text link to the end of each article. As long as you’re providing the user value without forcing them to sign-up go for it.

]]> By: Tamar Weinberg http://www.techipedia.com/2007/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-2706 Tamar Weinberg Sun, 25 Feb 2007 20:12:08 +0000 http://www.techipedia.com/2007/02/25/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-2706 I should have said something sooner, Barry -- so sorry about that. I love the new design and the integration of Google Custom Search is pretty neat. :) Perfect location, especially with the RSS button right underneath! I should have said something sooner, Barry — so sorry about that. I love the new design and the integration of Google Custom Search is pretty neat. :) Perfect location, especially with the RSS button right underneath!

]]> By: Barry Schwartz http://www.techipedia.com/2007/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-2705 Barry Schwartz Sun, 25 Feb 2007 20:09:30 +0000 http://www.techipedia.com/2007/02/25/should-the-subscribe-button-be-above-the-fold/#comment-2705 So what you think of the new design and implementation of the subscribe button at <a href="http://www.seroundtable.com" rel="nofollow">Search Engine Roundtable</a>? So what you think of the new design and implementation of the subscribe button at Search Engine Roundtable?

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