I just went to sign up at KeepMedia's site so I can check out their sub sales conversion materials. What's interesting about their
pitch is the whole "We don't ask for your credit card upfront" copywriting.

It's something I've seen on several new sub sites recently, gaining traction now that most sub site trials do request a card.
Of course you've got to be awfully, awfully good at converting freebies to paids to run things this way, because everyone I know
who's tested it has found the cc upfront always winds up with more subs in the end, even if the raw number of sign ups is slightly lowered on the intake.

Anyway I'll post notes on how good KeepMedia's conversion process is. To begin with after I signed up, they should have asked me
to fill out a new member profile that would help me find articles of interest to me, instead of just pointing me toward a list of
topics in their archives. People like filling out quizzes and getting "personal" responses. Witness eDiets' and RealAge's
success.

http://www.keepmedia.com