Exercise: Create Your Opt-In Page

Objective: To get your opt-in page professionally designed. What You’ll Accomplish: You’ll have all the information you need to send y...

Objective: To get your opt-in page professionally designed.
What You’ll Accomplish: You’ll have all the information you need to send your opt-in page to a designer.
Estimated Completion Time: 15-20 minutes

Before you begin: Don’t forget, Sendlane.com and LeadPages.net are the easiest and fastest ways to create your opt-in page. By using Sendlane or LeadPages.net you can essentially skip ALL OF THE BELOW Steps

STEPS TO TAKE if you want to create your optin page from scratch on YOUR OWN HOSTING and DOMAIN NAME:

If you decide to create your page from scratch, be sure to download the “Fast Easy Outsourcing” and “Winning Opt-In Page Wireframes” Packages from the Bonus area. And then follow the steps below to create your own

However, we highly advise to get started you use Sendlane.com or LeadPages.net

Step 1: Be sure you have a domain name and hosting.

• Go the Resources Section.
• Watch the video on “How to Buy a Domain Name.” Choose a domain for your opt-in page and buy that now.
• Watch the video on “Buying Hosting” and order your hosting package. IMPORTANT: Make sure you save ALL the instructions your hosting company sends you. Those will include your “Cpanel” login, “Nameserver” and “FTP” information which you’ll need later!
• Watch the video on “How to Change Nameservers” after you get that information from your hosting company.

Step 2: Choose an opt-In page layout.

• Open up the “Winning Opt-In Page Wireframes” Package
• Look at the layouts and pick one.

Step 3: Write the copy.

• If you haven’t already downloaded “Anik’s Favorite Headlines Swipe File,” do that now. It’s in the Bonus section.
• Use this file to help you write your headlines and bullet points.

Step 4: Sign up for accounts at freelance sites.

• Choose one or more freelance sites as discussed in the “Fast Easy Outsourcing” package.
• Sign up for employer accounts. They’re free.
• Set up payment information in your employer accounts. It’s a good idea to do this now, since some sites may require a credit card verification process which can take a few days.

Step 5: Customize a job posting.

• Pick an opt-in page job posting from the “Fast Easy Outsourcing” Package.
• Change the deadline, instructions about graphics and colors, and any other information that applies to your opt-in.
• DO NOT INCLUDE ANY FTP INFORMATION in the job posting! You will do that when you follow up with the person you hire.

Step 6: Post the job and choose a freelancer.

• Now you can post the job.
• Review the bids and choose your freelancer.

 Step 7: Work closely with your freelancer.

• Send them the wireframe of your layout, along with your copy.
• Work on the design first, before you send them your hosting info.
• TELL THEM YOU WILL SEND THE FORM CODE AFTER YOU SET UP YOUR AUTORESPONDER. You’ll do that in Step 4.
• Once the design is finished, send them your FTP information so they can upload the opt-in page to your hosting plan.

For DIY Types…

If you have some experience with hosting, domains, code and/or graphics and want to make your own opt-in page:

• As stated above, be sure you have your hosting and domain name.
• Grab some html templates from the Resources section.
• Watch the video on “How to Edit an HTML Template.”
• Make your changes and upload the design to your hosting account.

You’ll come back and add your form code to the web page later, when you sign up for an autoresponder account in Step 4.
Congratulations! You’ve taken your first major step towards getting your email marketing business up and running.

NEXT…

It will take your designer anywhere from a couple of days to a week to get your opt-in page designed. In the meantime, though, you’ll keep working on your business. You can do the next two steps while waiting for your opt-in page to be ready. In the next step I’ll share my secret Thank You Page Strategy, which is going to help you recover all your startup costs – and continue to bring in revenues forever.