- \n
- A prelander is a versatile, strategic web page used to engage and qualify users before they see the main offer. It builds excitement about your main offer and increases the likelihood of a conversion.<\/li>\n
- Pre-landing pages are posted between the ad and the landing page and can take many forms depending on the campaign\u2019s goals and audience (including surveys, games, product showcases).<\/li>\n
- Prelanders can be handy for improving credibility, especially if they include expert endorsements, testimonials, certificates, and so on.<\/li>\n
- You can also create a pre-landing page if you want to comply with the policies of certain advertising platforms by adding softer messaging and avoiding direct claims.<\/li>\n
- However, omit prelanders for generic products, warm audiences, or popular brands that need no introduction.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What Is a Prelander?<\/h2>\n
A pre-landing page, or prelander, is a web page shown to users before directing them to the main offer. It sits somewhere between an advertisement and the main landing page<\/strong> with the core offer.<\/p>\n
A prelander\u2019s main function is to warm up the audience<\/strong> and make them desire the promoted services or products. It aims to build interest, engagement, and trust prior to showing the main conversion point or presenting the sales pitch. This approach is commonly applied in affiliate marketing<\/a> as it helps filter qualified leads and maximize conversions.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s say you create an ad, your audience interacts with it, and then clicks a call-to-action (CTA) button. But, instead of landing them on the product page and trying to sell to them right away, you build a connection with them through a prelander, introducing your offering as the solution to their problem. A prelander could be a strategic step in the marketing funnel that may give context, address objectives, or even entertain the potential customer, urging them to proceed to the landing page or product offer page.<\/p>\n
![\"Prelander](\"https:\/\/www.redtrack.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/what-is-a-prelander__RedTrack-1024x614.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhere do you post prelanders? And how do they work? Pre-landing pages are typically created on the affiliate marketer\u2019s main domain or campaign domain. In turn, ads link to this prelander, which redirects the user to the product or landing page of the merchant or advertiser.<\/p>\n
What are the key elements of a prelander<\/strong>? Effective ones typically feature the following:<\/p>\n
- \n
- a catchy headline that grabs attention;<\/li>\n
- persuasive messaging and tone in usually concise and brief copy;<\/li>\n
- a highlighted discount, offer, or incentive;<\/li>\n
- a bold and clear call to action button;<\/li>\n
- attractive visuals (photos, GIFs, animations, videos, etc.);<\/li>\n
- could have engaging and interactive elements (like games, quizzes, and so on);<\/li>\n
- possibly social proof (reviews, testimonials, ratings, user comments, etc.).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Don\u2019t mistake it for a pre order landing page, though. Also referred to as a pre sale landing page, it also creates hype around a new product or service, but gets visitors to place orders even though it\u2019s not available for purchase yet.<\/p>\n
What Does a Prelander Do?<\/h3>\n
For most affiliate marketing campaigns, a prelander is a ticket to more conversions. But how exactly does it help you achieve this? Let\u2019s consider four ways:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Filters your audience<\/strong> \u2014 you can filter out unqualified leads and direct interested users to the main landing page (for example, a prelander in the dating vertical can sift through users who didn’t select their gender, ensuring only those who show genuine interest proceed).<\/li>\n
- Builds anticipation<\/strong> \u2014 images and expert copy make the audience excited to learn more about your offer.<\/li>\n
- Establishes trust<\/strong> \u2014 you can demonstrate product value and build credibility through user-generated content (UGC), customer success stories, and other methods for credibility.<\/li>\n
- Provides context<\/strong> \u2014 provides sufficient space to prime the audience, hammer on customer pain points, introduce your products as a solution, and tell prospects the kind of results to expect.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
How Are Prelanders Used in Affiliate Marketing?<\/h2>\n
As an affiliate marketer, you can create a pre-landing page for different industries and niches, and there are lots of examples you can encounter across various verticals. It’s especially valuable in verticals with compliance challenges or where direct-to-offer approaches may be less effective or restricted altogether. Here are a few of the possible use cases.<\/p>\n
![\"affiliate](\"https:\/\/www.redtrack.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/affiliate-verticals-that-use-prelanders_RedTrack-1024x614.jpg\")
<\/p>\n- \n
- E-commerce<\/strong> \u2014 often include product demos and in-depth reviews to highlight features from different perspectives.<\/li>\n
- Health and Wellness<\/strong> \u2014 typically have images and videos of users who have improved their health using such offerings.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Beauty<\/strong> \u2014 show before-and-afters of satisfied buyers who have achieved great results using the beauty products you\u2019re marketing.<\/li>\n
- Finance<\/strong> \u2014 may explain complex finance or insurance products and how they work using visual aids (e.g., graphs, charts, and infographics) to drive engagement.<\/li>\n
- Dating<\/strong> \u2014 usually utilize user reviews and success stories as tools to build excitement in the audience and make them sign up for matchmaking platforms or relationship coaching services.<\/li>\n
- Gambling and Casinos<\/strong> \u2014 show off juicy bonuses and life-changing reviews of users who won lots of money playing their favorite games, and such prelanders usually focus on intriguing visitors enough to make them register and deposit.<\/li>\n
- Technology and Software<\/strong> \u2014 affiliate marketing for SaaS<\/a> drives the most conversions with video walk-throughs, falling back on the idea that prospects shouldn\u2019t have to commit financially to see how a tool works, just let them see it in action.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
When Not to Use Pre-Landing Pages<\/h3>\n
While pre landing pages are great tools for affiliate marketers, there are instances where you can do without them.<\/p>\n
For example, when you\u2019re targeting a warm audience<\/strong> (people who have already shown interest in the product or service you\u2019re promoting), prelanders could be excessive. They could be your social media followers, website visitors, or perhaps email subscribers. They may just be looking to compare your offers with competitors and make a final decision. To keep them engaged, quickly serve up the information they need without a pre lander.<\/p>\n
Similarly, if you\u2019re advertising a well-established brand<\/strong>, there\u2019s no reason to create a prelander. The brand\u2019s reputation precedes it, and your audience already trusts its products. That\u2019s less work for you, since prospects are more likely to convert.<\/p>\n
Also, you can omit a prelander when marketing generic or unbranded products<\/strong>, such as everyday essentials, groceries, and household items. These products have no unique features that could foster customer loyalty. In such scenarios, it\u2019s best to skip this additional step of the buyer\u2019s journey.<\/p>\n
Types of Pre-Landing Pages<\/h2>\n
What does a prelander look like? And which forms can it take? There are plenty of formats available, which allow you to select the style that best aligns with your offerings and appeals to your audience.<\/p>\n
![\"Types](\"https:\/\/www.redtrack.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/common-prelander-approaches_RedTrack-1024x614.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBonuses and discounts<\/strong> \u2014 Entice prospects with exclusive offers and promo codes they can\u2019t say no to. These are best paired with limited-time countdowns to create a fear of missing out (FOMO), driving users to act quickly before the time elapses.<\/p>\n
Gamification<\/strong> \u2014 Games are exciting. Why not create a fun atmosphere that makes visitors stay? Such prelanders engage the audience through bonus boxes, spinning wheels, roulettes, and other minigames that create a sense of luck and drive action (like claiming a prize by visiting the main page).<\/p>\n
Before and afters<\/strong> \u2014 Instead of writing about product benefits, show them. Before-and-after comparisons highlight product effectiveness and encourage sales, especially in the beauty and fitness industries.<\/p>\n
Surveys or quizes<\/strong> \u2014 Another interactive approach that offers users who click on an ad to answer a few short questions. Afterward, they can qualify for a special offer based on their replies by visiting the main page.<\/p>\n
Sign-up incentives<\/strong> \u2014 This pre-lander type works well in SaaS marketing, where you can give new users a discount code or provide free access for a specific period.<\/p>\n
Interviews and testimonials<\/strong> \u2014 An interview-style prelander features satisfied users and their \u201csuccess stories\u201d. When potential customers see that others have had pleasant experiences with the advertised products, they\u2019ll most likely click through to the main offer.<\/p>\n
Storytelling<\/strong> \u2014 Prelanders of this kind are used to build an emotional connection. They\u2019re similar to blog articles or news pieces that share a personal story of how the product or service solved a problem but not through an interview.<\/p>\n
Expert opinions<\/strong> \u2014 This type of prelander shares the opinions of thought leaders in an industry. The credibility of these experts is thus leveraged to build your own reputation.<\/p>\n
Product benefits<\/strong> \u2014 Unveiling product benefits generates interest among the audience, showing users what\u2019s in it for them. It frequently features product demos, walkthroughs, and other persuasive content.<\/p>\n
Comparisons<\/strong> \u2014 This type is used for promoting software or financial products. It highlights unique advantages that differentiate the offer from competitors by placing solutions or products side-by-side.<\/p>\n
Catalogs or product recommendations<\/strong> \u2014 Often applied in the e-commerce vertical, this method showcases a curated product selection or the best-sellers that can nudge users to visit the shop or product page.<\/p>\n
Fear triggers<\/strong> \u2014 Fear is a strong motivator, especially in purchase decisions. Some pre-landing pages take advantage of this emotion by warning potential customers about the consequences of not taking a specific action, for example, what can happen if you don\u2019t safeguard your personal data or don\u2019t secure your files without specialized solutions.<\/p>\n
Gender selection screens<\/strong> \u2014 Include a screen where users can select their gender to personalize content for a particular gender. This allows for targeted marketing and helps understand user demographics, not only for dating verticals.<\/p>\n \r\n
\r\n\r\nUnlock Insights!<\/h2>\r\n
Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive tips on ad tracking, affiliate marketing, and targeted advertising strategies.<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n - Health and Wellness<\/strong> \u2014 typically have images and videos of users who have improved their health using such offerings.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Builds anticipation<\/strong> \u2014 images and expert copy make the audience excited to learn more about your offer.<\/li>\n
- Filters your audience<\/strong> \u2014 you can filter out unqualified leads and direct interested users to the main landing page (for example, a prelander in the dating vertical can sift through users who didn’t select their gender, ensuring only those who show genuine interest proceed).<\/li>\n