Placement of the registration form in the home page

[Susmita]

I am redesigning my site and like to include the registration form in the home page itself along with the Sign Up options for the existing members. Logically where should I place the registration form. Left side of the page and the content in the right side or should I follow the opposite rule. Also like to place the text box for sign up option for the existing members which will include text box for email and password. Where do I place this one.

My motive is to redesign the page for better experience for the users not to change their behavior.

Any help will be well appreciated. Any article on the above mentioned problem will be more helpful for me.

Thanks
Susmita

[Tubby]

I tried experimenting with forms, I decided that forms are better of at the other end of a link.
I found using a page that attracts visitors to be a little non productive. I think it better use the space to convert the user into someone who wants to sign up. .

Having the sign up page thrust into your face before you even have had a chance to see if you like the site is a bit like putting the cart before the horse.

Members log in - I prefer top right. .

[Susmita]

Members log in - I prefer top right.

Me too.

Hi guys I am searching for expert comments on the subject mattered mentioned by me. That will help me take a firm decision to choose the proper place for a sign up form.

[schachin]

I would definitely test. However, I can also tell you that when I did a search on eyetracking studies for a similar question we had at my work I found that the eyes stops at the form. So if you have content you want people to read before they get to your form, eyetracking seems to indicate right side placement. In addition, make sure the spider hits text before your form. This can be done in a number of ways, but don't feed the spider a form first. Our testing on this has shown it definitely will affect organic rankings (someone removed text from above the form on two sites of ours and both dropped dramatically in the rankings.)

Good luck!!

[Chris Taylor]

The question that needs to be asked is "what is the purpose of the index" page?

Typically it's is too make sale, get registrations as is with this case or some other purpose. Having said that I would have your "sign in" box lower down the page or even a link to a "sign in" page.

After registration where clients sign in can be mentioned in the welcome email so there is no confusion.

As stated in previous comments it comes down to testing, sales copy and relevance of your page topic to what people are searching for. If your sales copy is rubbish it won't matter where you place your registration form.

These are my thoughts/what I have found to be the most effective...

1. Most people are right handed so I put the sign up/registration box in the the RH sidebar. Just seems easier and logical.

2. The sign up box in the sidebar should be noticable but not intrusive to the main sales copy.

3. Unless you have an amazing copy writer, keep the registration form short. It is harder to get more personal information out of someone than say a name and an email address.

4. Stick to benefits in your sales copy.

5. Also place the sign up/registration form at the end of the sales copy.

6. Potential customers need to be convinced that the information will be of benefit and that it is "safe" to get that information. Therefore testimonials and "trusted site" logos go a long way.

7. Test and re test copy.


Cheers, Chris.

[Zishan]

Hi,

Redesigning the website is an essentail tool for any website owner to retain its exsiting user and at the same time attracting new visitiors everyday and getting them registered. But, the user should not be boomed with sign in option and dark page upfront, the site owner must give the user a little describtion about the site, what they are offering, what are the benefits of the site and at the end of it all he/she will be a member of the site. I am not a expert on the designing concept, but as new user i must look for the above information upfront to get register and to use the service that the site owner has to offer.