I do wish companies and individuals would stop offering free downloads of articles, ebooks, publications etc when they also ask you to give them your details before they give you the download link.

Yes, I know this is a good way to get leads and details of potential customers/client for other services you offer but it gets really annoying for users and just creates the image that the company or individual is, well how should I say, a bit dubious.

So if you have a product or publication you want to offer free to potential clients, do so but stop requesting their details beforehand. After all, that will probably do you a lot of good in terms of publicity and it will get your product downloaded far more often.

If you really must ask for people's details before allowing them to have access to the product you advertised as being 'free' them think twice, think what image am I presenting to this potential client.

Okay, end of rant.