Double Opt-in OR Single Opt-in? Which is best?

[Jim Tyler]

Morning guys,

I hope you're feeling more awake than i am this morning!

I've been testing opt-ins using aweber. I've noticed that when i set up a double opt-in i get a high number of people who do not confirm the verification email that is automatically sent when they submit their details.

This is frustrating as they've shown they are interested but until they confirm they are effectively not on my mailing list.

I tried changing my thank you page so they don't get the free video i offer them as an incentive to sign up, until they confirm. Instead the thank you page says 'YOU MUST VERIFY THE CONFIRMATION EMAIL JUST SENT TO YOU IN ORDER TO GET YOUR FREE VIDEO, ETC.' But still i'm getting many unconfirmed subscribers. I suspect people are annoyed when they don't automatically get the freebie as soon as they've entered their details.

Basically I have 3 options:

1) Give them nothing on the thank you page and say they must confirm the email to get the freebie.

2) Give them the lower value part of the freebie (such as a free report) on the thank you page and say they'll get the free video when they confirm.

3) Give them one free video on the thank you page and tell them they'll get the main free video plus a free report when they confirm?

Can anyone please recommend the best way to set this up (for the internet marketing niche)?

[JayXtreme]

I have found that in the majority of my I.M. niche setups.. single opt-in has been best.

I do still have a few setups with double opt-in, but the majority in this niche are single.

It works best for me that way, but it might be different for you.

Can you guess what I'm gonna say next?

You really need to test it for yourself to see which works best for you and your participation in a niche..

Peace

Jay

[tommen]

Hi Jim, I have tested this as well and noticed that double optin is actually robbing me of signups.The confirmation email does not always reach the recipient. So, I have decided to go with single opt-in instead that delivers the content instantly.(On the optin page I have a short notice that says "Please use a valid email address because the report will be delivered instantly to your email.)

[sahi]

I use single optin and I mention on my thankyou page that the download link will be sent to their email, so people 99% use email address where they wish to receive the book, and I've found good results with this strategy.

I don't go in to the mumbo jumbo of "double optin" theory and practices. 90% of them are just self created stories anyway by certain people for their own interests.

CAN SPAM Act's requirements can be fulfilled without implementing double optin strategy.

[Catalin Ionescu]

Gary Halbert I think it was who said something that I found memorable...

You should work as hard if not harder for your lead generating copy as you do for the product copy itself.

Give people exactly what they want, give them solid good information in exchange for their email address, on the thank you page tell them exactly what to look for in their inbox or their trash folder, and they will beg you to resend that double optin confirmation if they still can't find it because it's the only way they can get what they crave for.

Especially in the IM niche people are trained on double optins.

If they can't be bothered to click that confirmation link, chances are they were in for just the freebie anyway.

[RGallowitz]

Single optin is almost always better. With todays autoresponder you also have the option to attach the "subscription" reminder.

Go single optin.

Regards
Reinhardt

[Alican Yenidogan]

I agree with you. If you are allowing someone to download something on the thank you page, double optin is better IMO.

If you offer anything with mail and choose single optin, you'll nearly get the same number of valid subscribers + a lot of invalid subscribers which means a bigger list (just for visual joy).

I'll choose double.

Alican

Originally Posted by Catalin Ionescu

Gary Halbert I think it was who said something that I found memorable...

You should work as hard if not harder for your lead generating copy as you do for the product copy itself.

Give people exactly what they want, give them solid good information in exchange for their email address, on the thank you page tell them exactly what to look for in their inbox or their trash folder, and they will beg you to resend that double optin confirmation if they still can't find it because it's the only way they can get what they crave for.

Especially in the IM niche people are trained on double optins.

If they can't be bothered to click that confirmation link, chances are they were in for just the freebie anyway.

[mikeyman120]

Lately I deliver the product immediately and let subscribers reconfirm later. I just remind them to by putting a message under the opt in form. I do this with the free ebook in my sig.
I then make my submit button say something like "Give Me My Free Ebook Now" I then send them through to get the free ebook right away. I don't have any exact stats but its working good for me.

Mike

[Jim Tyler]

Thanks for the advice guys. Catalin what you said about the double opt-in weeding out freebie seekers who aren't going to buy further down the line, makes a lot of sense - thanks very much