Think of how or why you would respond to a survey. If youre targeting people towards your own market, then you probably have some bait or teaser to offer them. Offer something of value to them, since youre creating your own newsletter, you can follow up on what your offering in your newsletter, and let people know that you will. That way they will be looking forward to getting the newsletter. Getting input from them on what your newsletter should offer helps them feel like they have a part in it too. Aweber for my money does great output for learning responses.
This really is the way to go. By offering freebies you tend to get an awful lot of people registering. The only downside to that is a lot are sort of like freebie groupies who have only really signed up for the goody. Although it is free you still want a list that will be fairly selective. I use a splash page as well as entry points on my actual website for viewers to sign up to my newsletter, but I have now gone away from offering a freebie as I find you get a better quality of person on your list if you just make your newsletter sound appealing and worth their while. I would rather be sending a message to a 100 people that are interested in what you have to offer or say than to a 1000 people who just scan your message for anything free, that is providing they open it at all. Kind Regards Clive Anderson
I would create a product to sell or buy a PLR product you can sell at a low price to gather email names/subscribers. There is NO POINT in having a list of 10,000 people who just want something for nothing. The whole reason for going through the trouble of building and promoting a site and building a list is to make money, WHY have 9,000 people who are never going to buy and will report you as a SPAMMER? It is FAR BETTER to have a list of buyers than a list of freebie seekers - I am speaking from experience having done it both ways. Gregg
Create a free report that inspires interest in your final product (even if it isn't done yet, it allows you to gauge people's interest) and VALUE to the subscriber. This prevents them from getting pissed, feeling duped, and canceling their subscription.