Even if they don't reply to my autoresponder, I still get their email addresses. :-)

Still can't figure out how this works? Then see it in action! Just go to http://www.profitjump.com and do a subscription request. You'll get picture in a minute.

Now I'm not going to leave you hanging there. You can implement what I've done right away. Here are resources:

1) To set up a form page (where subscribers give you their email addresses):

http://cgi.tj/scripts/alienform - what I use

http://cgi-resources.com - choose from a collection of CGI scripts

2) Autoresponder:

http://www.autobots.net - I prefer this to others as it does not carry any annoying advertisements

3) Software to organize and send your personalized emails:

http://www.group-mail.com - This award winning software will solve many of your email management problems.

When you ask for your subscribers' names right from start, they become defensive and may even reconsider subscribing to your ezine. Or they may just give you fake names which really defeats whole purpose. Don't let them! Ask for their names only after they have subscribed. It is usually easier that way.

Remember: More Subscribers + Personalized Emails = Double Your Sales!

For example, offer a referral bonus or discount. Offer free gifts, extra entries into a contest, whatever is appropriate for your business. And ALWAYS send a thank- you note and possibly even a small gift to referrer ... regardless of whether or not person he referred becomes a customer. This will show that you appreciate him thinking of you. Everyone likes to feel appreciated, and he'll be more likely to continue to send referrals your way. You never know -- someone he refers in future might very well become a customer!

Another example of how to generate referrals is to write articles and distribute them around Internet. Once again, if you get published you instantly have more credibility -- you build an "expert" status, so to speak. Many article syndication sites offer a feature that allows reader to email article to a friend... and articles are often passed around from person to person through email.

In both of above cases, your business automatically has more "clout" than, say, if a prospect were to simply visit your website. In case of a referral, prospect has already been at least partially influenced by his or her friend or contact... which makes your job of converting him to a paying customer that much easier!

A referral-friendly business is one which can continue to send you new customers day after day, year after year. Encourage it and reward it!