There were market-research questionnaires, trial subscriptions and a free assessment of your perfect man from a computer agency.

For one thing, nearly 90 percent of its Interactive Edition's readers left by the time the last free trial subscriptions expired.

Subscribers were given a trial subscription for Maclean's.

But fewer people are signing up for the company's three-month trial subscriptions, which means fewer become long-term customers.

For complete access to the magazine, sign up for a free trial subscription.

Before committing yourself, take out a trial subscription - many are available for $20 or $25.

One-week trial subscriptions, with access extremely limited, are free.

The cost is $49 a year ($24.50 for students), and seven-day trial subscriptions are available.

Alterna began testing its service with a group of beta customers in 2009 and will transition these trial subscriptions to paid plans in 2010.

That site offers a free trial subscription.