Go to site/Download - which converts better?

[cmdenny]

Would be interested to poll people to see whether they prefer to set banners for Casino/poker (2 different animals I know) promos to "go to site" or "download"?

Ultimately I will do some testing with different tracking links but was interested to see everyones opinion.

[universal4]

I almost always set banners to point at the site.

If you want to use download links, they should be defined as such.

As a personal reference I really hate it when I click on any link and a download starts (unless the link was defined as such) If the link is not defined as a download link, then I always feel like the site was trying to take advantage of me by trying to get software installed on my system without giving me the option to install.

Rick
Universal4

[rak]

There is definitley less trust if you send a download to a user without telling them first.

If the link said "download casino now" - and that gave them a download, thats 2 fewer clicks then if they went to the casino.

But your site has to look trust worthy, and the link should telling them, that they are able to get a downloadable file.

[universal4]

Agreed Rak,

I have a few sites where I use download links, but when I do I always provide a visit link and another link for the download to give the visitor the choice.

Rick
Universal4

[FictionNet]

Ditto to what's already been said. Offer the download link but make it clear that's what the visitor will be getting. I try to offer both, where possible.

Edited to add: I guess we're not really answering the OP's question. I'm not sure as to what converts better. I'm assuming that if someone wants to download then they're more likely to convert but I have no figures to back this up. I think we'll need a casino rep to offer some input.

[cmdenny]

thanks for the input guys.

[baldidiot]

Something else to think about is if I visit a site and a download starts automatically, or starts to download whilst navigating the site (a lot of places do it) I generally close the site and walk away.

Downloading should be your choice.

[Ann_32Red]

I tend to agree with what's been said by others, if a player doesn't know the next click will lead to a download I'd guess 9 times out of 10 they'll cancel the download.
Maybe the happy medium is to offer both options in a casino review? something like click here to visit the site or choose the banner below to download it straight away?
Just some thoughts I don't have any figures to really back them up!

[SlotsAff]

I can't speak on behalf of all gambling operators but conversion rates/numbers in general are better with players who visit the site.

Download links do work though and in 2 cases, offered better life time revenue for affiliates as opposed to the visit site links.

I would recommend you offer both on your portals and then test what works better for your audience.

[Casinorep]

I would include all three if possible. Different players will respond to different visual adverts.

[Nandakishore]

I prefer to use a banner linking to the site together with a download link below the banner or in text.

[Sivan]

Traffic that is sent to the site or to a landing page converts better. Providing the user with as much information as possible is always best-- it allows for trust and let's the user see exactly what product and what benefits s/he is getting.

[ocreditor]

Something else to think about is if I visit a site and a download starts automatically, or starts to download whilst navigating the site (a lot of places do it) I generally close the site and walk away.

Downloading should be your choice.

Same here baldidiot; nothing more off-putting in my opinion.

[Nandakishore]

I think the best conversion you have when you can send your traffic to game-specific, bonus-specific or event-specific landing pages. But most of the sites don't provide such landing pages very often.

[universal4]

The major problem I see with many many MANY landing pages created by the programs are the LACK of navigation at the said landing page.

If I read an ad that interests me, and I follow the link to a landing page about a specific game or promo, in many cases once on the landing page I have 2 choices, download the software/sign-up or leave. Too often there is absolutely nothing else on the page excpet that, no way to get to home page, no way to click thru to the bonus terms or go read the about us, or the standard promotional pages to see what other bonuses etc are offered....

Rick
Universal4

[baldidiot]

The major problem I see with many many MANY landing pages created by the programs are the LACK of navigation at the said landing page.

If I read an ad that interests me, and I follow the link to a landing page about a specific game or promo, in many cases once on the landing page I have 2 choices, download the software/sign-up or leave. Too often there is absolutely nothing else on the page excpet that, no way to get to home page, no way to click thru to the bonus terms or go read the about us, or the standard promotional pages to see what other bonuses etc are offered....

Rick
Universal4

Totally agree - I don't like using landing pages that don't have navigation like this and often opt for the regular home page.

[FictionNet]

I know we're kinda getting off the OP's point - and I'm only adding to that - but I totally agree with Rick here. I've had casinos offer me numerous "amazing, converts like a mutha, honest!" landing pages that I simply can't try because they're 'bonus or bugger all' pages. My outgoing links say 'visit the casino's website' and so I kinda have to give them that. If I send them to a deadend page, it's not right.

[universal4]

Yea we did get a little off track, but landing pages are sorta related.

Take a casino home page, the have links and navigation to get to many of the spots a visitor might read....promos, about us, terms specials, info about the games.....then somewhere there will be a clearly marked download link.

Our review pages are similar in that we often try and answer a number of those same visitor questions and provide a link to the website...which is why I also offer the download link in hopes that if I did in fact answer enough of the visitor's questions I give them the opportunity to download.

Rick
Universal4

[rak]

I think the best conversion you have when you can send your traffic to game-specific, bonus-specific or event-specific landing pages. But most of the sites don't provide such landing pages very often.

I would have to agree with this. Off course the landing page should have the same quality of information as a standard front end.

I would call a landing page, a page with information about the casino, terms, contact us etc.
I would call a splash page, a page which is generally one page, pumping and pushing a promo with a big join now button.

Splash pages can work, when the advertiser shows all the peritent information to educate the player on the way through to the splash page.

[universal4]

Call it whatever Rak,

....but a visitor to a "splash page" (using your terms) that isn't 100% sold is a LOST VISITOR to both the casino and often the affiliate if there is no navigation or any other existing links to get the visitor over to the home page or some other page within the casino property where they can get the questions answered and their objections overcome.

This is the point that a few of us are trying to make....too often the marketing and design teams just don't understand that these pages lose traffic as well as gain signups.

Rick
Universal4