Putting a easy mailing selection on your site need not be that complicated. In fact, there are a few very easy ways to do this and to then make certain that you are getting the best from your efforts. There are several steps to take to ensure that that you are seeing the very best results.

Personally, I use two different ways to run mailing lists. There is a third way that people sometimes try thinking it is best, but in fact it turns out to be very problematic. And that is the manual approach. Do not try this! Some people think that if they have a straightforward contact form to collect email addresses and then send emails through outlook they can run a basicmailing list. Do not bother – it is doomed to failure through spam detectors and upsetting your ISP.

So, what are the realistic mailing selection choices? Well the first is to install a plugin, such as the imaginatively titled Newsletter pluggin and to use that. It is very straightforward to install and set-up and really needs no explanation. The just issue is the bulk sending of emails might offend your ISP.

Therefore, the next best solution is a free mailing collection provider. For this I use ymlp.com and sign up for their free service once the trial period is in excess of. This is a good one to use, even though there are a lot of alternatives. Again this is simple to install. You merely tell them what fields you want to collect (for example name and email) and they give you the html for the form. Copy and paste that into a suitable page on your site and you have your double opt in mailing collection set up.

That is the sourcing of the mailing list sorted, but where do you collect the information? Ideally on every page! Within the side bar of your weblog copy and paste in the mailing list form and this way every visitor gets to see the opportunity to join. But, will they be convinced? Possibly not, so you also need a clear link to a page around the newsletter.

On this page repeat the sign up form and talk a little round the newsletter. Perhaps mention how often you send a newsletter (with me, not very often!), make an offer or incentive for signing up (like my free ebook!) and promise not to sell or misuse email addresses. There is nothing worse than signing up for amailing collection and then getting masses of spam.

Perhaps even, if you are using a service for example YMLP, link to earlier copies of the newsletter, this shows the quality of it and might convince more people to sign up. Also, tricks for example the so call slide ups (the new versions of pop ups), which show to new users might also make sure that lots of people are joining yourmailing collection.

So, to put a mailing selection on your blog, grab the pluggin or sign up for a free service, install the capture form in relevant places and make an offer that readers cannot refuse!

Written by Keith Lunt of Starting A Blog. Call in if you need any help or advice with starting a blog.

Check out useful information about the topic of web traffic – read the web page. The time has come when proper info is truly within one click, use this opportunity.