Most people in the Internet marketing arena know what a squeeze page is. However, most marketers that I've seen try to implement one do a terrible job. Therefore they get less than desirable results.

For the uninitiated, here's a quick definition. A squeeze page is a webpage that, when the visitor "lands" on it, he is asked to opt-in to some type of list in order to proceed further. On some squeeze pages, your only options are to opt-in or leave. On others, you are given a method to continue exploring the site without opting in. Purist would argue that the second type isn't a real squeeze page.

The rationale behind using a squeeze page is that most Internet marketers realize that the vast majority of visitor will not buy from a site on the first visit. So, these marketers make list building their top priority. If they can just collect the email address, along with permission to follow-up, then they'll get other opportunities to make the sale later.

A squeeze page, generally, has some enticing bullets on it, and does a thorough job of describing what you'll be able to access after you enter your data. The enticing offer on the squeeze page, that has the visitor salivating to get at what's behind that "door," is essential.

The most effective squeeze pages that I've seen, used enticing emails to drive traffic to the sites. These emails were either emailed by joint venture partners, or by the product owner who was introducing a new product.

That email that drove traffic to the squeeze page, sent them there already READY to sign up. That email, if it did its job, thoroughly described what was waiting on the site, and so the squeeze page was only a slight inconvenience. It was not enough of an inconvenience to be noticeably objectionable to those who were already thoroughly sold on the product concept.

The enticing email that does the pre-sell is a step many less- savvy marketers skip. Because their visitors aren't pre-sold, their conversion rates are much lower than they would otherwise be.

Squeeze pages often experience "leakage" because many visitors knows how to view the page's html source code, and locate the url of the follow-on webpage. So they can just enter that url to access what's behind the door.

A good way to prevent this type of leakage (if you want to) is to encrypt the url for that follow-on webpage. Another way to do this is to EMAIL what was promised on the squeeze page. So, if the visitor doesn't provide an email address (or provides a bogus email address) they don't get to enjoy what was promised on the squeeze page.

If you'd like to see an example of one of the most effective squeeze pages that I've seen lately, check out http://ButterflyMarketing.net

On the page above, notice that if you try to circumvent the squeeze page, you CANNOT just access the information. Instead, you are simply given another chance to opt-in. This is a brilliant implementation of a squeeze page.

By the way, you should go ahead and opt-in at http://ButterflyMarketing.net That way you can study the rest of the process being used. You need to see the full picture in order to set up your COMPLETE process correctly!

One other nice implementation of a squeeze page that I've seen is one that passes information from the squeeze page on to the next page. So, the next page that you get to after filling in the form may have your name, or some other personal data, right in the copy on the page.

An example of the above might be a site selling pet toys. The form might ask what type of pet you have and your pet's name. On the next page, as you read through the copy you might see your pet's name scattered throughout the page, or you might see mention of the specific type of pet that you have.

The type of squeeze page described above can be very powerful if done correctly. If it's not too blatant, your visitor may not even consciously notice that the page is personalized and specifically targeting him. For example, if that page only mentions the type of pet that you have, or some other seemingly innocuous fact, the personalization will still make the copy talk to YOU more. However it won't be as "in your face" as when the copy uses your name.

There is actually a piece of software that will generate this type of squeeze page for you. That way, you don't have to understand how to set up coding that tells the page how to pass variables from one page to the next. This software is called Squeeze Page Generator. You find it at: http://WillieCrawford.com/squeezepage.html

When you visit the page above, enter your name and email address, and the demo will show YOU what your visitors will see when you use this software on your site.

I've tested Squeeze Page Generator on some of my sites, and it DOES increase conversions. I prefer using it where it's less "in your face" as I've described above ;-)

When you use Squeeze Page Generator that way, your visitors feel more connected to you and your copy, but they don't really know why. I think that makes it more effective.

Many online marketers do use squeeze pages, because, while they may irritate a small percentage of your visitors, they have been proven to increase your signup percentages. If they don't opt-in to your list, then there's no way for you to follow-up with those who don't buy on that first visit. Consider adding squeeze pages to your marketing arsenal today.