This code can be added to your themes functions file or your plugins main functions file.
It generates a dashboard widget like this:
The widget helps build your list and you could easily modify the code to give away an eBook or another incentive to subscribe.
To make this widget display your latest post links, simply change RSS feed URL in the code.
You’ll also need to change the URL’s to the icon images.
Here’s the dashboard widget code for logged in members: