“The impetus for the free trial is getting the word out on new features, including the Boston Globe e-paper,” said Peter Doucette,
Executive Director, Circulation Sales & Marketing.

The e-paper is what is known as a “replica” and mimics the traditional look and feel of a newspaper on a screen or tablet.

BostonGlobe.com launched last October but so far sign-ups have been sluggish. The site has only attracted 18,000 paid subscribers so far.

Part of the challenge may be cannibalization from the paper’s affiliated site Boston.com which pre-dates the new site but also draws on content from the Boston Globe.

The freebie offer lasts for 12 days and is sponsored by Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. Other papers, including the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, have done similar promotions in which a select sponsor takes down a paywall, or part of it, for a short time.

The Globe is also offering a 99-cent week introductory offer the first eight weeks. The site is free for print subscribers.