Ouch!! 24% Unverified Leads In My List Of +10k. Can Anything Be Done?

[IMstudier]

Hi all,

I never thought to check just how many of my leads weren't verifying their subscription until yesterday. To my surprise, a whopping 24% don't bother to click the verify link in the email (I'm with Aweber).

The question is, can anything be done to try and get these guys on board? I looked around the Aweber control panel but there doesn't appear to be anything, I can't even see an option to display this list of 'unverifieds' separately.

Don't get me wrong, I 'm happy with the size of my list, but losing 24% of them from the get-go is a bit of a bummer.

If anyone has any strategies or ideas, that would be great. However, perhaps it's quite normal and nothing can be done about it. I just didn't want to let all those guys go without asking first.

My main site (blog) is in the sig if you're interested.

Thanks for any help.

[Pat Jackson]

I don't think there is anything you can do in regards to the ones who are currently unverified, however, you can increase the percentage of people who do actually verify.

When they sign up to your list, where do they get re-directed to afterwards?

The best thing to do is set up a page that they get re-directed to that shows them how to verify. You could take a screen shot of the email they'll receive and have an arrow pointing at the link the need to click. You could also record a video of you signing up and verifying your email so they know exactly what to do.

Additionally, you could also create another freebie to give away and advertise it on the page that shows them how to verify.

You could come up with a good headline that states they will also get an additional bonus for verifying their subscription.

[IMstudier]

Thanks Pat, much appreciated.

I send them to a custom page that explains everything BUT I like your idea of added bonuses when they click the link.

Cheers

[Raydal]

Are there any patterns in the email addresses of those who DON'T verify?
Like they are from a particular domain @aol.com, @gmail.com.

If you can find any such pattern then it may be a email service issue.

You may also want to adjust the incentive given for verifying.

-Ray Edwards

[CCCAffiliate]

I ran into the same problem just the other day and was able to fix it and it is working like a charm. Simply log into aweber, select your list, hover over My Lists, select Confirmed Opt-In and turn it off right. You will see that option right at the top. There is not negative side effect if you are just looking to build your list. You may have a slightly higher complaint % but its so miniscule it won't matter AND your list is now going to be 24% bigger!

Personally, I do not see any reason for a double opt in list

Hope that helps you mate.

[Robert Puddy]

if they cant be bothered to click the double optin link what makes you think they are going to click any link in your email?

The ones that dont confirm are just tyre kickers anyway

[CCCAffiliate]

Originally Posted by Robert Puddy

if they cant be bothered to click the double optin link what makes you think they are going to click any link in your email?

The ones that dont confirm are just tyre kickers anyway

Let us say one doesn't confirm because they don't recognize the e-mail sent by Aweber.

That is one that may have opened up an e-mail sent by the affiliate/publisher because they recognize the name.

It's better to have them on the list regardless than to not have them on the list. Period.

[jordel]

Great question IMstudier! I had the same concern...

I search a little in aweber about this topic. and Pat is right.
we can't do anything about unverified leads...they have to sign up again.

talk soon

[IMstudier]

Thanks for all the info.

I'm going to redo the custom Thank You page to make subscribing more enticing. However, if it doesn't pick up I'll also test switching off double opt-in and keep an eye on the complaints percentage.

I mean 24% is a lot to be missing out on. Sure, some people just aren't interested but I do get the odd angry email from people who think I've scammed them into giving their email address for a free book they never received. That would be that last thing I would do as I really want them to have it.

Great advice guys, thanks.

[jakesellers]

Originally Posted by CCCAffiliate

Personally, I do not see any reason for a double opt in list

Because sending more than one email to someone who didn't request it is no longer permission-based emailing, and without a confirmation you can't be sure it was requested.

Those who don't confirm don't convert. Unconfirmed subscribers leave you vulnerable to typos and malicious subscriptions. Several common typos of several popular ISP and email providers are spamtrap catchalls that cascade hits everywhere, a few will get you on RHS blacklists, spamcop alerts, and other unpleasantness, a bunch are likely to get you spamhaused and terminated from anywhere reputable.

[CCCAffiliate]

Jakesellers. I know marketers with lists of 50k plus that they send out to each and everyday with the double opt in feature OFF on aweber.

Nothing negative has happened at all. That it is the "How to Make Money" niche as well where we see a lot of spam.

I suppose it comes down to making that strong trustworthy relationship with your subscribers .

Originally Posted by jakesellers

Because sending more than one email to someone who didn't request it is no longer permission-based emailing, and without a confirmation you can't be sure it was requested.

Those who don't confirm don't convert. Unconfirmed subscribers leave you vulnerable to typos and malicious subscriptions. Several common typos of several popular ISP and email providers are spamtrap catchalls that cascade hits everywhere, a few will get you on RHS blacklists, spamcop alerts, and other unpleasantness, a bunch are likely to get you spamhaused and terminated from anywhere reputable.