Squeeze pages matter in Internet marketing. By definition, a squeeze page is a Web page that gives visitors the option to sign up or opt-in for some type of list. Usually, a visitor opts-in by providing his e-mail address on the squeeze page.

A squeeze page may be the landing page or the home page of a particular Web site. Using squeeze pages is one of the most effective ways of building a subscriber list, an indispensable part of e-mail Internet marketing.

The definition of a squeeze page may sound simple enough, but there is more to squeeze pages than just soliciting e-mail addresses. Squeeze pages may have very little text, images, and coding, but don’t estimate their importance as a valuable Internet marketing tool.

Veterans of the Internet marketing game know about the importance of squeeze pages and why more and more online marketers are making use of them. However, a mere handful actually use them properly and fewer still are those who get the results they want out of squeeze pages.

Before anything else, why do online marketers use squeeze pages? Believe it or not, it is because they think that first-time visitors to their Web sites will not want to buy anything at all. In order not to lose these first timers, online marketers use squeeze pages to collect their e-mail addresses to make them part of their ever-important subscriber list. After getting confirmation and permission, the next Internet marketing thrust is to send subscribers newsletters, brochures, and other product information in the hope of turning those same first-time visitors into customers.

A truly effective squeeze page contains only the necessary information that will entice a visitor to provide data about himself and to sign up for the mailing list. In this type of Internet marketing, it is of absolute importance that the visitor is made aware of what he will get once he opts-in. The squeeze page must also be presented in a manner that entices visitors to sign up or opt-in. Try offering them an exclusive download, gift or other freebies in return.

Online marketers may also drive traffic to their squeeze pages by sending e-mails through joint venture partners. These e-mails should do all the selling. Hence, by the time the visitor goes to the squeeze page, they are already looking to sign up.

Important: the information that is being promised on the squeeze pages should not be accessible even if the visitor does not provide his e-mail address. Some Internet savvy users know how to get to the next page without going through the squeeze page by viewing the page’s source code. This can be avoided by encrypting the URL or by e-mailing the promised information to the e-mail address that the visitor provides.

An ingenious way of using squeeze pages in Internet marketing is to apply the data provided on the squeeze page to the next follow-up Web pages. For example, if the visitor provided his physical address on the squeeze page, the next Web pages that he browses may be filled with information pertaining to his geographical location. The visitor is given a more personalized experience and will feel that the Web site is more relevant to him.

Some Internet users deem squeeze pages as an inconvenience but online marketers can’t deny the fact that squeeze pages greatly increase the number of people who sign up for their subscriber list. When used properly, squeeze pages are a powerful Internet marketing tool that yields great results.