Landing page CRO analysis skill

Landing Page CRO Analysis

Skill Purpose

Perform a comprehensive Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) analysis on any landing page. This skill produces a section-by-section teardown with prioritized, actionable fixes that directly impact conversion rates.

When to Use

• User provides a landing page URL and asks for conversion optimization
• User asks for landing page feedback, review, or audit
• User wants to improve signup, lead capture, or purchase rates
• Triggered by /market landing <url> or /market cro <url>

How to Execute

Step 1: Identify the Page Type

Determine which type of landing page you are analyzing. This affects benchmark expectations and scoring weights.

Page Type	Primary Goal	Good CR	Great CR
Lead Capture	Email/form submission	5-10%	15%+
SaaS Signup	Free trial or freemium signup	3-7%	10%+
E-commerce Product	Add to cart / Purchase	2-4%	5%+
Webinar Registration	Register for event	20-30%	40%+
App Download	Install app	10-15%	20%+
Waitlist	Join waitlist	15-25%	35%+
Consultation Booking	Schedule a call	5-10%	15%+
Nonprofit Donation	Make a donation	2-5%	8%+

Step 2: Run the 7-Point CRO Framework

Analyze each section in order. Score each section 1-10 and provide specific findings.

Section 1: Hero Section (Weight: 25%)

The first screen a visitor sees. This is where 80% of conversion decisions begin.

Checklist:

• Headline is visible within 2 seconds of page load
• Headline communicates the primary benefit (not a feature)
• Headline is under 10 words
• Subheadline expands on the headline with specificity
• Primary CTA is above the fold
• CTA button color contrasts with the background
• CTA text is action-oriented (not "Submit" or "Click Here")
• Hero image or video supports the message (not generic stock)
• Trust badges or social proof visible above the fold
• Page loads in under 3 seconds
• No navigation menu competing with the CTA (for dedicated landing pages)

Scoring Criteria:

• 9-10: Headline is benefit-driven, specific, and compelling. CTA is clear and contrasting. Visual supports the message. Trust indicators present.
• 7-8: Strong headline and CTA but missing one element (trust badges, supporting visual, or specificity).
• 5-6: Generic headline or weak CTA. Missing multiple above-the-fold elements.
• 3-4: Headline is feature-focused or vague. CTA is below the fold or unclear.
• 1-2: No clear headline or CTA. Visitor cannot understand the offer within 5 seconds.

Section 2: Value Proposition (Weight: 20%)

How clearly the page communicates WHY someone should convert.

Checklist:

• Clear statement of what the product/service does
• Specific outcomes or results promised
• Differentiation from alternatives (why THIS solution)
• Target audience is clear (visitor knows if this is for them)
• Benefits are quantified where possible (save X hours, increase Y%)
• Value proposition is scannable (not buried in paragraphs)

Evaluate Using the 4U Framework:

1. Useful - Does it solve a real problem the visitor has?
2. Urgent - Is there a reason to act now?
3. Unique - Is it different from competitors?
4. Ultra-specific - Are claims concrete, not vague?

Section 3: Social Proof (Weight: 15%)

Evidence that others trust and benefit from this product/service.

Types of Social Proof (ranked by persuasion power):

1. Revenue/results metrics ("$2.4B processed", "500K users")
2. Named customer testimonials with photos, titles, and companies
3. Recognizable client logos
4. Case studies with specific results
5. Star ratings and review counts
6. Media mentions ("As seen in...")
7. Certifications and awards
8. User-generated content
9. Social media follower counts

Checklist:

• At least 2 types of social proof present
• Testimonials include real names and photos
• Testimonials mention specific results or outcomes
• Social proof is placed near decision points (close to CTAs)
• Numbers are specific (not rounded - "11,847" beats "10,000+")
• Logos are recognizable to the target audience
• Social proof is recent and relevant

Section 4: Features and Benefits (Weight: 15%)

How the page presents what the product/service includes.

Checklist:

• Features are translated into benefits (what the feature DOES for the user)
• Content is scannable (icons, bullet points, short paragraphs)
• Visual hierarchy guides the eye through features
• Most important features/benefits are listed first
• Each feature section has a clear mini-headline
• Screenshots, demos, or visuals accompany feature descriptions
• Feature list is comprehensive but not overwhelming (3-7 key features)

Feature-to-Benefit Translation Check: Bad: "AI-powered analytics dashboard" Good: "See exactly which campaigns drive revenue -- AI analyzes your data so you don't have to"

Section 5: Objection Handling (Weight: 10%)

How the page addresses reasons a visitor might NOT convert.

Common Objections by Page Type:

Objection	How to Address
"Too expensive"	ROI calculator, price comparison, money-back guarantee
"Not sure it works"	Case studies, free trial, demo video
"Too complicated"	Setup wizard, onboarding support, "get started in 5 minutes"
"Not sure I need it"	Problem agitation, cost of inaction
"What if I don't like it?"	Free trial, money-back guarantee, cancel anytime
"Is my data safe?"	Security badges, compliance logos, privacy policy link
"I need to ask my team"	Shareable comparison page, team trial, ROI one-pager

Checklist:

• FAQ section addresses top 3-5 objections
• Risk reversals present (guarantee, free trial, cancel anytime)
• Pricing transparency (no hidden fees or surprise costs)
• Security and privacy indicators where relevant
• Comparison with alternatives (if applicable)

Section 6: Call-to-Action (Weight: 10%)

The conversion mechanism itself.

CTA Button Checklist:

• CTA text describes the VALUE, not the action ("Get My Free Report" vs "Submit")
• CTA button is visually dominant (size, color, whitespace)
• CTA appears multiple times on long pages
• Secondary CTA exists for visitors not ready to commit
• CTA has supporting microcopy (e.g., "No credit card required")
• Button text uses first person ("Start MY trial" vs "Start YOUR trial")
• CTA is specific to the offer (not generic)

CTA Copy Scoring:

• Weak: "Submit", "Click Here", "Learn More"
• Medium: "Sign Up", "Get Started", "Download Now"
• Strong: "Start My Free Trial", "Get My Custom Report", "Claim Your Discount"

Section 7: Footer and Secondary Elements (Weight: 5%)

The bottom of the page and supporting elements.

Checklist:

• Final CTA present at bottom of page
• Contact information or support options visible
• Privacy policy and terms of service linked
• Trust badges repeated near final CTA
• No competing links that lead away from conversion
• Copyright and legal information present
• Social media links (only if they support conversion, not distract)

Step 3: Copy Scoring

Score the overall page copy on 5 dimensions (1-10 each):

1. Clarity - Can a visitor understand the offer in 5 seconds?
2. Urgency - Is there a reason to act NOW vs later?
3. Specificity - Are claims concrete with numbers, timeframes, outcomes?
4. Proof - Are claims backed by evidence, data, or testimonials?
5. Action Orientation - Does the copy drive toward a specific next step?

Calculate the Copy Score: average of all 5 dimensions, multiplied by 10 for a score out of 100.

Step 4: Form Optimization Audit

If the page has a form, evaluate:

Element	Best Practice
Field count	Every additional field reduces conversion ~7%. Lead capture: 3-5 fields max.
Labels	Use inline labels or floating labels. Avoid placeholder-only labels.
Button text	Match the value proposition. "Get My Free Guide" > "Submit".
Error handling	Inline validation. Specific error messages. Don't clear the entire form on error.
Multi-step	Break long forms into steps with progress indicator.
Required vs optional	Mark optional fields, not required ones.
Auto-fill	Enable browser auto-fill for standard fields.
Field types	Use appropriate input types (email, tel, url) for mobile keyboards.

Step 5: Mobile Responsiveness Audit

Mobile accounts for 60%+ of web traffic. Check:

• CTA is thumb-reachable (bottom half of screen)
• Text is readable without zooming (16px minimum body text)
• Forms are usable on mobile (large tap targets, appropriate keyboards)
• Images resize properly and don't break layout
• No horizontal scrolling required
• Page loads under 3 seconds on 4G
• Click-to-call for phone numbers
• Sticky CTA bar on scroll (if applicable)

Step 6: Page Speed Impact Assessment

Reference these conversion impact benchmarks:

Load Time	Conversion Impact
0-2 seconds	Baseline (optimal)
2-3 seconds	-7% conversion rate
3-5 seconds	-20% conversion rate
5-8 seconds	-35% conversion rate
8+ seconds	-50%+ conversion rate

Check for common speed issues:

• Unoptimized images (use WebP, lazy loading)
• Render-blocking JavaScript
• Missing browser caching
• No CDN
• Excessive third-party scripts
• Unminified CSS/JS

Step 7: Generate A/B Test Recommendations

Format each test as a hypothesis:

Template: "If we [CHANGE], then [METRIC] will [IMPROVE/INCREASE] because [REASON]."

Example tests to consider:

1. Headline variations (benefit-focused vs outcome-focused)
2. CTA button color and text
3. Social proof placement (above vs below fold)
4. Form field count (reduce by 1-2 fields)
5. Hero image vs hero video
6. Long-form vs short-form page
7. Adding urgency elements (countdown, limited spots)
8. Price anchoring and presentation
9. Testimonial format (text vs video)
10. Adding a chatbot or live chat widget

Step 8: Heat Map Interpretation Guidance

Even without actual heat map data, provide guidance on:

• Expected attention zones based on page layout
• F-pattern vs Z-pattern reading based on content density
• Scroll depth predictions based on page length and content breaks
• Click probability zones based on visual hierarchy
• Rage click indicators (elements that look clickable but aren't)
• Dead zones where content may be ignored

Output Format

Generate a file called LANDING-CRO.md in the project root or output directory with:

# Landing Page CRO Analysis
## [Page URL]
### Analysis Date: [date]

---

## Overall CRO Score: [X/100]

## Page Type: [identified type]
## Current Estimated Conversion Rate: [estimate based on findings]
## Target Conversion Rate: [realistic improvement target]

---

## Section-by-Section Analysis

### 1. Hero Section [Score: X/10]
**Findings:**
- [specific observations]

**Fixes (Priority: HIGH/MEDIUM/LOW):**
- [specific, actionable recommendations]

[Repeat for all 7 sections]

---

## Copy Score: [X/100]
| Dimension | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Clarity | X/10 | [notes] |
| Urgency | X/10 | [notes] |
| Specificity | X/10 | [notes] |
| Proof | X/10 | [notes] |
| Action Orientation | X/10 | [notes] |

---

## Form Audit
[findings and recommendations]

---

## Mobile Audit
[findings and recommendations]

---

## A/B Test Recommendations
1. [Hypothesis format test]
2. [Hypothesis format test]
3. [Hypothesis format test]

---

## Prioritized Fix List

### Quick Wins (implement this week)
1. [fix with expected impact]

### Medium-Term (implement this month)
1. [fix with expected impact]

### Strategic (implement this quarter)
1. [fix with expected impact]

---

## Before/After Wireframe Suggestions
[Text-based wireframe descriptions of current vs recommended layout]

Key Principles

• Always tie recommendations to REVENUE IMPACT. Don't just say "change the button color" -- say "changing the CTA button to a contrasting color typically increases clicks 15-30%, which at your current traffic could mean X more conversions per month."
• Prioritize fixes by effort-to-impact ratio. Quick wins first.
• Be specific. "Improve your headline" is useless. "Change your headline from 'Welcome to Our Platform' to 'Cut Your Reporting Time by 75% -- Automated Analytics for Growth Teams' because it adds specificity, a quantified benefit, and targets a specific audience" is actionable.
• Reference industry benchmarks so the client understands where they stand.
• If you have access to the page via browser tools, take screenshots and reference specific elements.
• If the user has run /market audit previously, incorporate those findings into the CRO analysis for a more complete picture.