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[Derek Alvarez Contribution Level: 3]

I'm looking for some feedback here.

What are your thoughts on the best way to set up your autoresponder? I currently have mine set to double opt-in because iContact recommended this. The only thing is that about 15% of opt-ins never confirm their subscription.

Should I switch it to a single opt-in and put it on them to unsubscribe if they forgot that they opted in? I think Mike Dillard and Jim Yaghi do this, as far as I can remember.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Sincerely,
Derek Alvarez

[Samantha Gardner Company: eFoods Gobal Contribution Level: 2]

Hi Derek,

I know you will get tons of opinions on this one, but here is my two cents.

I currently use single opt-in with iContact. I did try using double opt in the past and had to my old auto responder - Oprius.

I am personally seeing better results. I do get a few unsubscribes but much few than the people who did not understand how to double opt in (or forget too later).

Try it out and see what works best for you!

Samantha

[Richard Bravo Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 9]

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Without a doubt, single optin, in my experience.
There's simply more conversions.

I've tested over and over, on my own small lists in various niches, and I found a lot of the second notices getting sent to spam folders. The optin "request received / confirmation required" would end up in a user's spam folder.

Or, they never took action. Something else I've learned in marketing is that the more steps you have in your process that require the user to perform some sort of action lowers conversions.

In some scenarios this is a good thing. But when it comes to building a simple subscriber list my personal preference is to use a single optin and let them unsubscribe later if they don't like the content they receive. But like I said there may be instances where you do want a hyper qualified list, you'll just need to play with it.

I like to test stuff all the time. One that I've really gained a lot of data from was a test I learned from Perry Belcher, which is putting an optin form in a new post. May not seem new to some, but the way Perry explained it was...

He'd leave the generic sidebar optin form completely off his site and only insert a small, unobtrusive form at the end of a new post that really provided killer value. He wouldn't insert it in silly posts - which he did a lot of. And he wouldn't leave the form in older posts. So in essence the form was only visible in the latest "high quality/value" post. I've run it myself and works like a charm.

I'm concluding a test on my own personal blog right now where there isn't an optin form in sight.
The test is to see without an optin form and blatant call to action, will people subsribe via RSS?
I've seen a slight bump in RSS subscribers in the last 30 days, but not significant enough to say it's a winning strategy.

I'm starting to a new optin test this weekend - No Giveaway for the optin.

Great question!
~RB
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[David Statler Company: Global Virtual Opportunities Contribution Level: 2]

It's my understanding that double opt in is better for protecting one's self against spam allegations.

However, it stands to reason that the less steps someone has to take the better conversion you will have. Now many web hosting companies if they get a spam complaint against you will shut you down first and ask questions second.

That is one of the reasons I chose the web host that I use. They are Internet Marketers and understand what us IM'ers and Network Marketers are doing and will not shut you down based on an unsubstantiated claim or for something that was not your doing.

Also here is an article that I thought I'd share which gives some great insight to the question in this Post

http://www.b2bemailmarketing.com/2007/0 ... singl.html

[Derek Alvarez Contribution Level: 3]

Wow, thanks for the feedback!

I think you're right, Richard, I'll just test it with single opt-in and see if I get better results.

I'll send a follow-up right away that says something like, "Welcome, if you think this was sent by mistake, just click the unsubscribe link." Hopefully, this takes care of the chance of being marked as spam.

Thanks again!

[Richard Bravo Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 9]

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QUICK UPDATE...

Derek,
Wouldn't ya know it - along with testing my revised optin form I decided to take a new autoresponder for a test drive too, and guess what?.... They Require Confirmed "double" Optins!

So I guess on this round I'm using a double optin.
I'll test at some point with my Aweber account too with single optin of course.... wouldn't be a true split test if I didn't.

Anyway, that's all. Just wanted to throw that in the mix.
Hope you're finding the answers you need here.

Cheers!
~RB
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[Angela James Contribution Level: 2]

Hi Derek,

Great question and I have tried both and as a result I went back to icontact for the single opt-in. I found that the fewer steps one had to take the better. If they choose to unsubscribe they can.

The other side of this is with a double opt-in I do believe that the ones that figured out what to do next were a higher quality lead. They were the ones that stopped and figured it out and still continued.

It is a trade off at this point.

Therefore, with everything else, test - test-test, and find out what works best for you.

[Warren Contreras Contribution Level: 2]

Hey I know I'll get slammed for this, but my opinion and personal practice is NO opt-in. I would rather offer some kind of tool or resource that can help them further their own agenda that tells me as their sponsor how to contact them later. Then I send an email offering more help and starting to build that fledgling relationship that opt-in forms often block.

[Timothy Norton Company: AdzZoo Contribution Level: 3]

Derrick,

I would have to say single opt-in. My experience has been, like Richard's, that the double opt-in request usually goes to the person's spam folder for some reason.

Warren, if you have no opt-in then how do you get the person's info to contact them and follow up? Do you wait for prospects to take it upon themselves to call you?

Tim

[Marty Baker Contribution Level: 5]

I would go with single opt-in starting out. Then later if you have a really good offer that you are giving away or a really good product that has enough kick to get people to confirm their account use double opt-in you will have a better list that way. It may not be as big but it will defiantly be more responsive.