A pre-lander is an intermediate page between an ad and its final offer. It can explain a product, compare options or help a visitor decide whether to continue. It also adds a step to the journey, so it is worth testing against a direct product or service page.
The six outlines below are planning examples, not tested winning templates or evidence of campaign results. Choose a format around the information your customer needs.
Show a real, documented use case: the original problem, what the customer tried, how they used the product and what the available evidence supports. Obtain permission for any testimonial or photograph. If the example is hypothetical, label it clearly rather than presenting it as a customer result.
Outline: situation → product use → relevant evidence → limitations → next step.
Use this when technical details help a buyer decide. Identify the author or reviewer accurately, explain the relevant mechanism in plain language and connect claims to evidence. Do not invent credentials or imply an endorsement that has not been given.
Outline: question → explanation → evidence → practical considerations → product details.
A list can organize useful buying criteria or use cases. For a compact desk lamp, an example might be “Five Things to Check Before Buying a Lamp for a Small Desk.” Each point should add information, rather than delaying access to the offer.
Outline: clear purpose → distinct criteria → product fit → price and next step.
Ask only questions that affect the result you can actually provide. Explain what the result means and what information is collected. Do not simulate a medical diagnosis, invent eligibility or use a fake analysis delay to imply a calculation that never happened.
Outline: purpose and data explanation → relevant questions → transparent result → optional contact step.
Compare options on consistent criteria. State how the options were selected, what was checked and any commercial relationship. Do not claim independent testing, scores or an editor's award unless those statements are supported.
Outline: buyer need → comparison criteria → evidence and trade-offs → suitable use cases → next step.
Use a documented development to explain why a product matters now. Date the information accurately and identify the publisher and sponsor. A sponsored page should not impersonate an independent news outlet.
Outline: verified change → practical relevance → product information → source links → next step.
Realize provides landing-page guidance and template resources. Outbrain's guidelines address page quality, advertorial disclosure and misleading techniques. Check the current rules for the platform, market and offer before submitting.
As a suggested test design, compare a pre-lander with a direct page while keeping the offer and traffic conditions as consistent as practical. Set a spend limit and a decision metric such as cost per qualified lead or completed purchase. A higher click-through rate alone does not establish a better business result.
A landing page does not replace account onboarding or funding checks. Review Taboola account services, Outbrain account services or the native media overview. Send YC your website, business type, target countries and expected monthly spend to discuss available account terms. Campaign management and page production require a separate scope.
Reviewed 17 October 2026. Page outlines and test suggestions are YC editorial recommendations, not campaign case studies.
Need help with an ad account, fees or funding terms? Talk to YC about your requirements.
Get a Quote on WhatsApp