Pick a platform, authenticate your domain and build a one-goal landing page that converts visitors into subscribers.
You’ve got a promise and a lead magnet. Now you need a place where strangers become subscribers. Today you’ll set up your email platform, build an opt-in form, and create a simple landing page designed to do one job: get the signup.
Step 1: Choose an email platform (quickly)
Don’t lose a week comparing features. Most mainstream email service providers handle the basics well: forms, landing pages, automations, and tagging. A few broad categories to consider:
- Creator-focused platforms (Kit, Beehiiv) lean into newsletters, audience growth and monetization features.
- Small-business all-rounders (MailerLite, Mailchimp, Brevo, AWeber, GetResponse) balance ease of use with marketing tools.
- Automation-heavy tools (ActiveCampaign) shine when you need complex, behavior-based workflows.
- Self-hosted or DIY setups (Sendy on top of Amazon SES) can be budget-friendly at scale but need more technical care.
Pick one that has a free or low-cost starting option, supports automations, and lets you export your list. You can always migrate later.
Watch out: Before you send a single email, set up authentication for your sending domain (SPF, DKIM and DMARC). Major mailbox providers expect it, especially for bulk senders. Our DMARC & SPF Builder helps you generate the records, and your email platform will show you the DKIM record to add.
Step 2: Build your opt-in form
Keep the form simple. Every extra field adds friction.
- Fields: email only, or first name plus email if you’ll personalize
- Headline: the name of your lead magnet or the core benefit
- One line of expectation: “Plus my weekly tips every Tuesday. Unsubscribe anytime.”
- Button text: specific and active, like “Send me the checklist” instead of “Submit”
- Privacy link: a link to your privacy policy
Single or double opt-in?
Double opt-in asks new subscribers to confirm by clicking a link. It usually means slightly fewer signups, but a cleaner list with fewer typos, bots and fake addresses. Single opt-in grows faster but needs stronger bot protection. If you’re worried about spam signups or you’re collecting from audiences where proof of consent matters, double opt-in is a smart default.
Step 3: Create a focused landing page
A landing page is a page with one goal. No menu, no sidebar, no ten links to your other stuff. Use this proven structure:
- Headline: the outcome. “Get your first 100 Etsy sales without paid ads.”
- Subheadline: what they get. “Download the free 12-point Listing Checklist, plus a practical tip every Tuesday.”
- Form: above the fold on desktop and near the top on mobile.
- Three bullets: what’s inside or what they’ll be able to do.
- A little credibility: who you are in one or two sentences, and any genuine testimonials you have.
- Second form or button: at the bottom for people who scroll.
Example bullets
Inside the checklist you’ll learn: the photo mistake that makes listings look amateur, the 3 title tweaks that help buyers find you, and the simple pricing check to run before you publish.
Step 4: Set up the thank-you page
After signup, don’t waste the moment. Your thank-you page should:
- Confirm what happens next (“Check your inbox. Your checklist is on its way.”)
- If using double opt-in, tell them to click the confirmation link
- Suggest adding your address to their contacts or moving your email to their main inbox
- Offer one next step: a popular article, a community link, or a low-cost starter product
Pro tip: Put your form in more than one place. A landing page for links, an inline form at the end of blog posts, a link in your social bios and a subtle pop-up or slide-in (triggered after some engagement, not the instant someone lands) each catch different visitors.
Step 5: Test like a stranger
Before you share anything, sign up with a personal email address and walk through the whole flow:
- Does the form work on mobile?
- Does the confirmation email arrive, and does it land in the inbox?
- Does the lead magnet link work?
- Is the tag or segment applied correctly in your platform?
- Is your physical mailing address and unsubscribe link in the email footer?
Today’s homework: Pick your platform, authenticate your sending domain, build a form and a one-goal landing page, and connect the lead magnet delivery email. Then test the whole thing on your phone as if you were a brand-new subscriber.
Key takeaways
- Choose a platform fast; make sure it supports automations and list export.
- Authenticate your domain with SPF, DKIM and DMARC before sending.
- Fewer form fields, specific button text and clear expectations win.
- A landing page has one job. Remove every distraction from it.