Discover nine lessons Insider's team learned when we offered our first-ever free trial. Yes, we share our conversion rate data, but even more important are the insights we gained about promoting a trial, handling credit-card issues, managing email lists, and developing onboarding campaigns.

Anyone offering their own free trials will benefit from lessons such as: Why a trial alone isn't enough of a marketing hook; How debit cards can wreak havoc on your trial; Why it's important use reminder emails and grace periods before charging cards . . . click here

Learn best practices for using overlay screens as an alternative to pop-up windows for serving email opt-in offers, lead-generation forms, site registration forms, and more. Marketers using the technology have seen opt-in rates increase 25%-100% or more, but you have do it right. Includes five common ways to use overlays, advice overlay timing and placement, design and offer tips, samples of real-life overlays -- plus links to technology resources to get you started . . .

Publisher David Baum shares the secrets of success in Golf Odyssey's 20-year run as a subscription newsletter for golf-related travel tips. See how they use a search-optimized free content site to drive traffic to their subscription site and newsletter offer, and how emails, print renewal notices, and payment-recycling tactics are improving conversions while reducing card declines and chargebacks. . . .

Want to improve your paywall conversions or on-boarding campaigns by adding subscriber video testimonials? Insider's How-to Guide brings you the practical nuts-and-bolts details, including how long videos should be (hint: well under 30 seconds), how to convince customers to create great videos for you, and which vendors specialize in video testimonial tools. Features tips for both B2B and B2C sites. Plus, see real-life samples of video testimonials in action from four publishers such as Angie's List and Emergency Medicine Practice. . . .

Start growing your business today with these seven proven secrets of successfull subscription and membership sites. Includes tactics for improving retention, generating referrals, optimizing your paywall placement, and more . . .

Since launching its web-based business in 1998, BLR-Business & Legal Resources has come a long way in converting visitors into subscribers online. Starting with basic testing in the early 2000s and graduating to more advanced, segment-based testing during the past four years has helped BLR hone offers and page design to get high conversion rates. . . .

Discover the scientifically proven rules of Web site design. Subscription Site Insider's exclusive 54-slide tutorial includes rules for: Page layout and wireframe; typefaces and fonts; images; text links; and button designs. Also features examples from real-life subscription sites that you can share with your designer. Useful for publishers launching new sites as well as everyone who suspects their current site could get better response rates. . . .

See creative samples and results data from seven A/B tests conducted by subscription and membership Web sites including a B2B publisher, a virtual world, an investment advisory newsletter, a personal nutrition site, and an online club for military vets. The average test increased response rates by 25%. You'll see what worked, and what did not. Also includes basic testing guidelines and names of low-cost testing tools. . . .

Summary: Nearly 97% of subscription and membership site executives surveyed by Subscription Site Insider say they rely on SEO (Search Engine Optimization) as one of their key tactics to acquire new customers. With A/B testing, you can gain up to 40% more orders from the same amount of search traffic. But, it's scary -- what if you risk your SEO ranking when you test pages? Follow these 10 guidelines, and you'll be safe: . . .