Blunder 2 -- trying to unsubscribe to spam using ‘unsubscribe' link in email -- 18% of respondents Some users are naive enough to think that spammers really won't send any junk mail to their addresses if they tell them not to. Haven't they heard that spammers use unsubscribe link solely to identify active email accounts. When individual email addresses or entire domains are found to be active, they are doomed to flood of spam.

Blunder 3 -- What's more: Over 10% of respondents have purchased products advertised in spam. Sending out huge volumes of spam is very cheap, so let's face it--spam is an effective means of advertising. Spam is booming, and these 10% users who actually bought anything advertised by spam, are partly to blame for it.

The consequences can be very serious when such a user is at work. Online criminals find more and more ways of stealing valuable information, some of these techniques include spam. Spam filters won't solve whole problem; much still depends on end users. Marcel Nienhuis, analyst from Radicati Group, was absolutely right when said " no technology in world can protect an organisation if users exercise bad email behaviour."

6. Give away something for signing up. People love free stuff. Give away an ebook, a t-shirt, consulting services, whatever you want.

7. Have visitors fill out a survey on your website. Offer a free gift as an incentive to complete form.

8. Offer a free online service from your website. They have to sign up to receive service.

9. Host free classifieds. Grab their e-mail address, then let them post their ad.

10. Offer a free training course via email. They gotta sign up if they want course.

11. Let their voices be heard. When they sign up, give them access to a forum, chat room, or guestbook.

Make sure to provide a privacy link where they can click and read that their email address is safe with you and you won’t sell it to anyone. Also include that they can opt-out at anytime they don’t want to receive your emails anymore. Most people won’t read through entire privacy policy, but they will look to see if it’s their before giving out their info.

Getting your visitors to leave you their email address is not hard to do if done right. If people think they will get information they are looking for, then they will most likely hand over goods.

Leah West