I currently run a small internet marketing blog and I have an email autoresponder with which I offer a free 5 day mini course on my subject matter.

The subject matter is: Internet Marketing and making money online.

How would you suggest I promote the actual opting in to my email list to build a list of prospects etc.

The best way to sign people up and keep them coming is useful, original content that is always fresh and updated. In fact, if you’re talking about making money online, I’d hint at ways that you could do it which are easy or at the very least intriguing.

Since you’re touting yourself as a subject matter expert, you need to demonstrate that what you have to say is valuable and they can benefit from it. Success stories are good for this and will improve your chances that they will stay tuned.

Other ways to build opt-ins are referrals (ask subscribers to refer a friend), an incentive of some kind, purchase an email list (this is kind of a gray area), or find a partner who might already have a decent list and sponsor them.

Also, since you run a blog, are you fully syndicated? There’s a lot of chatter out there and at the very least you should participate in boosting your blog’s reputation.