Everyone knows that in order to be successful online you need build a large (quality) list through some type of Opt-In offer.

You see them now on virtually every site you visit on the internet, some type of form, whether from a pop-up window or directly on the site itself, that is asking for your name and email address in exchange for some type of offer (newsletter, e-course, free chapter etc.)

Unfortunately, many web site owners (yes, even the gurus) are not doing everything they can to maximize the number of people who opt-in from their website. In fact, many site’s opt-ins may actually be hurting their sales.

Here are a few tips on what to do and what not to do with your opt-in offer:

• You should definitely have a pop-up window with an opt-in form. While you may hate pop-ups, the fact is they work. There is even software available that makes it easy to create pop-ups that can not be blocked such as Armand Morin’s POPOver Generator. (http://www.money-teacher.com/popovergenerator.htm)

• Of course, you also need to place your opt-in on your web page. However, where you place it is extremely important. Your opt-in should be on the first fold in the upper left hand corner of EVERY page on your site.

• Always give a strong special bonus for people who opt-in. For example, “Sign up for my Teaching Newsletter and receive a free special report: How to Increase Reading Comprehension in the Classroom”

• DO NOT offer a free chapter of your e-book or even a free e-course. You may actually lose sales this way.

If you give away a free chapter of your e-book you are giving your customer the opportunity to not buy your book! Same is true with offering an e-course.

In both cases you may actually be providing enough free information so that the customer doesn’t actually have to buy your product. If nothing else, you are putting off the purchase which only gives the customer more time to not buy your product.

Again, what you want to do is capture your customer’s email address without giving them a reason to put off buying your product.

• DO offer something that compliments and is related to the product you are selling.

For exam