If you’re going to be successful in internet marketing, you need to build a list. It’s the number one key to opening the success floodgates. Because you can market to your list whenever you want. It’s a resource you can tap at any time and generate income.

OK, but how?

Here’s what you need to build your list:

• Your Landing Page
• The Bribe
• The Thank You Page

The Squeeze Page – The squeeze page is the first thing your visitor is going to see. This page is the one that asks them for their email. That’s why it needs to look like a professionally designed page. It’s also got to be free from distractions. And your call to action must be clear!

Failure to include a great “call to action” will result in failure. Your call to action tells the visitor what to do. You opt-in rates will take a dramatic nose dive without it. Oddly, if you don’t make it clear, people will be confused and end up doing nothing.

One way to really spice up your squeeze page is to add a compelling video to the page. Adding video will help keep your visitors attention. And you can repeat the call to action several times int he video. And you can have the video just tell them to fill in your form after it’s done playing.

If you don’t know how to make video, don’t worry. Hiring out-sourced help to do it for you only costs $150 – $250. Or you can get email list tools that give you squeeze page templates.

The Incentive – The second component is the reason they are opting into your list. People need a good reason to part with their email address. Email privacy is very important to most people. This means your bribe needs to be very attractive.

The only way to make this work is to provide real value. That means you make it something people would actually want to receive. And can benefit from. This can be:

• A PDF report
• Software
• A video tutorial
• An email series

You’ve got to create some great content. And make it both helpful and informative. And nothing sells like “free”. If you make it good enough, they will give you their email in exchange.

Once again, don’t worry if you don’t know how to create the freebie. It’s super easy to hire someone to create it for you. Simply tell them what the topic is and they can write the content. For example, you could have them write a 5-part email course. You can have ghost writers create emails for under $25 an email. And whole thing will only cost a hundred and fifty buck.

Or again, you can find complete list building packages for sale online that include an email series. There are two important things about the email series. First, it must provide value to your subscribers. And it’s nice if it earns you some money, too. 😉 Mixing some affiliate products into your email series is a great way to do this. Affiliate products are easy because you don’t have to do anything at all. And it enables you to generate cash right away from your new list.

Your Confirmation Page – Finally, you need to consider your opt-in confirmation page. After subscribing to your list, your visitor is redirected to this page. It’s a great idea to give them some valuable information right on the thank you page. This helps them feel they’ve made the right decision giving you their email. It also sets the foundation for your relationship with them. It also makes them more likely to open your emails.

Again, a simple solution to this is to get an email marketing package that includes everything. Or you can go the DIY route. You can either write the content pages on your own. Or have someone ghost write for you.

Final thoughts

It makes no difference whether you build your opt-in, bribe and thank you page. Or pay a freelancer to write produce it all for you. Or if sign up for a “complete package” solution. It’s just important that you start today building your opt-in list. Because as soon as you’ve got your own list . . . You can basically write your own meal ticket.