The method described below is used by many content-driven websites, and is completely disrespectful to users. It may be very effective to increase your subscription rate, but not without damaging your business reputation with many visitors unhappy with the number of unsolicited email messages now flooding their inbox.

(Photo credit: Mzelle Biscotte)

1. Ask for an email address in exchange to access to a seemingly useful article or free resource.

2. Automatically subscribe the person to one or more spam email newsletters.

3. Include an option to unsubscribe at the end of each newsletter, requiring the victims to fill out a ludicrous user profile form asking for name, address, phone number, etc. before they can complete the request.

The system will not let users unsubscribe until their personal data is filled out. This is the type of traffic-building move that will work in the short-term, but is likely to make potential customers irritated – so frustrated, in fact, that many will now go out of their way to avoid doing business with the perpetrator in the future.

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How to annoy users during sign-up in two easy steps