Social Login: The Next Step in B2B Landing Page Optimization?

4
822

Share on LinkedIn

Lead generation is the most critical aspect of the B2B marketing initiative. We are constantly exploring ways to improve conversion rates for client landing pages through form field changes, layout and design enhancements, and offer/asset development.

Social Login Example
Example of the Gigaom Pro social login screen


As the use of social media platforms continues to increase, social login becomes functionality B2B marketers need to consider. Social login allows users to register and sign-in to a website by way of popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

According to data released by Gigya, users logged in to a social network spend 50 percent more time on a site. The data also concluded that users logged in with a social platform will view twice the number of pages compared to users with a standard login.

Not Just A Facebook Social Login

Facebook was responsible for the largest percentage of logins with 61 percent, but according to the Gigya infographic, “Although the majority of users choose Facebook as their preferred identity provider, online businesses should consider providing multiple social login options as nearly 40 percent of users prefer Yahoo!, Google, Twitter, or other identity provider.

The Janrain Social Login Study

Gigya is not the only vendor offering supporting survey data on this subject. As I wrote in my latest Search Engine Land column, Marketingsherpa highlighted a Social Identity study from Janrain, in coordination with research conducted by Blue Research.

  • 86% of respondents reported being bothered by the need to create new accounts at websites
  • 90% admitted to leaving a website if they couldn’t remember their login details rather than taking the time to recover their login information.
  • 41% would prefer social login over creating a new user account or using a guest account.
  • 77% responded that social login is “a good solution that should be offered”.

According to the Janrain website, customers using their social login solution have experienced 15-50% increase in registration and conversion rates. B2B marketers should consider how the impact of higher conversion rates may balance out the loss in specific form requirements.

In the same way search marketers might argue developing social media assets for all places their customers are active, it also makes sense to offer registration leveraging the same social media credentials.

Thoughts and Considerations for B2B Marketers

Gigya and Janrain survey data reveals social networking logins and plugins may have an impact in conversion rates and overall visitor engagement. Incorporating the ability to login or “enable” form registration though popular social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+ could further prospect development as users interact through comments, shares, and registrations.

What are your thoughts on the use of a social login, in place of traditional form submissions? Even though B2B marketers would lose some control of form field requirements, the increase in conversion rates might outweigh this obstacle. In addition, there are accessible metrics that can be obtained in the social login process.

Would the metrics and data points accessible make this type of functionality even more likely to implement? I would love to read your thoughts and perspective via comments below.

The Gigya Infographic: Social Login and Social Plugins Increase Page Views / Time Spent On Site

Republished with author's permission from original post.

Derek Edmond
As a part of the team of Internet marketing professionals at KoMarketing Associates, Derek focuses on developing online marketing strategies - search engine optimization, search engine marketing, and social media - for clients, ranging from small start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. As Managing Partner of KoMarketing Associates, Derek leads strategy, direction, and growth of the organization.

4 COMMENTS

  1. Great insight in this article. It speaks to the need for speed signing up or logging in. Better yet, no one wants to be slowed down getting their next dopamine fix.
    We’re behavioral marketers with our focus on personality types and how they process information and decide. Interesting to note is that of the four personality types two of them would definitely be more likely to appreciate this part of the user experience and convert, perhaps over time decide to buy.
    Best wishes,
    Jay

  2. As more and more coverage pops up about privacy across platforms (Google being the most recent) – do you think this trend will continue to be important? Or do you think that B2B marketers will stand out more from a privacy perspective by eliminating the need for social sign-on altogether?

    -April
    http://www.digitalanalytics101.com

  3. In October 2011, Blue Research conducted research to assess consumer attitudes about traditional online registration processes and perceptions of using existing social identities to login across the web. Surveying a cross-section of 600 U.S. consumers, the results show a growing preference for social login since similar research was conducted a year earlier. The study also reveals the challenges associated with website conversion and obtaining accurate information about consumers from traditional registration.

  4. I guess FB and Twitter logins do make sense. Users feel like they are in control and can revoke access when they want.

    However, the intermediate page at FB which shows that everything you had – email, name, photo, age is now available with the vendor, might kill your conversion. One should ask for information that is really needed for sign in/ sign up to happen – rest can be asked gradually.

    Also, many websites use FB Login only partially – asking you to create an account after syncing your FB account. That sort of defeats the purpose. However, allows you to give a better user experience.

    At Online courses on WizIQ, we have discussed and debated FB Login for a while now. It seems like we will go with the second option for now. Let’s see how it goes.

ADD YOUR COMMENT

Please use comments to add value to the discussion. Maximum one link to an educational blog post or article. We will NOT PUBLISH brief comments like "good post," comments that mainly promote links, or comments with links to companies, products, or services.

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here