If you're just starting out with Internet Marketing, you probably don't know where to begin when creating your first list building page. Tracking and testing of whatever page you create is important, and you should start doing those things right away. But before you begin, you really have no stats to base your business on, so you may find it useful to use the stats of others. MarketingExperiments.com is one place to find them.

A little more than 3 years ago, MarketingExperiments.com conducted a study on subscription rates. They based their findings on many different variables, and though the tests are old, the principles still apply. I'd like to share some of the results with you here, as they apply to list building, but you can see the entire report at http://tinyurl.com/2ymexr:

1) Be sure your value proposition is prominent.

When you tell customers or potential list members what's in it for them, you're letting them in on your value proposition. How will the special report that you're giving away in exchange for their name and email address solves their problem? For example, if your niche is computers and your report tells them minimum requirements for selecting a new laptop, people who don't know computers quite so well would be interested .You're going to show them what they need to make an informed decision before they buy. This value proposition should probably be your headline.

2) Make signing up quick and easy

When you design your list building page, it's smart to stick to basics. Use a headline 3 to 5 bullet points and an opt-in box. That's really all you need. Let people know why they're signing up, what they'll get for doing it, and then, make the process as simple as possible. Don't make them fill out a lengthy form for your free report, just ask for a name (even first name) and an email address. You can get more information from people who join your list later on, when they become customers and actually buy your product.

3) Make sure they realize they're secure

Just below the opt-in box on your list building page should be a statement of privacy, such as "We will never rent, sell, or otherwise distribute your information to anyone for any reason." Though it's true that everyone can put such a statements on their websites and not mean it, just having it there increases the public's security level and may help them to make the decision to opt-in to your list.

4) Advertise your low-risk factor.

Let people know they can unsubscribe at any time, without hassle.con How full is your inbox? People are reluctant to sign up for one more list because there are so many messages every single day. But, if you remind them that they can unsubscribe, they may feel more comfortable opting-in for your free report, knowing they can cancel at any time.

5) Your list building page should be the beginning of your sales funnel.

Most list building has selling subsequent products to the customer over time. So, make your list building page the top of your sales funnel. Once someone signs in, your thank you page should be your sales letter for the product you want to sell .Even so, they may still not buy, and that's what autoresponder messages are for. Though you've advertised your product in your special report that people got for signing up, you want to continue to send a series of informational messages with the product in mind via your autoresponder. If you give them good content, a greater number will be willing to buy.

List building and conversion will see a boost if you incorporate these ideas into your list building pages. Just remember that your customer's question, "What's in it for me?" should always be at the top of your mind. If you can show them what's in it for them, if you help them solve their problems, you'll not only have a valuable list member, but you'll have a customer for life.