How Can You Make Sure Your List Members Are Giving Using 'Legit' Email Addresses?

- Double Opt-In
- Download Link In Email

If they trash that email after the opt in and email "must read" then is not much to do.

D

As mentioned above, confirmed opt-in will help ensure that you're getting real email addresses.

As to making sure they're not giving you "throw away" email addresses? A few ideas...

1. Deliver the "freebie" as an ecourse so they'll actually look forward to your emails.

2. Create your landing page (email sub page) so that your newsletter is the main "product"... and any freebie you give is just a bonus. In other words, make them WANT your newsletter more than anything else. "Sell" them on reading every issue that hits their inbox.

This is huge. So many people offer a freebie and don't even mention the newsletter. In that case, your subscribers are going to unsub when they get your freebie and/or not use throwaway email addresses. Make your newsletter the main attraction, and you'll get more responsive readers.

3. At the end of each email you send, whet their appetite for upcoming emails (i.e., build anticipation and make them look forward to reading your emails).

4. Give unannounced bonuses and surprises.

5. Provide quality content (again, make sure your newsletter is valuable -- more valuable than any bonus freebie you offer).

cheers,
Becky

I don't have an answer to your question, but I "submit" to you (lame, I know) that the people who use throw-away emails are not worth having as subscribers (or as customers/clients for that matter). IMO, people who do so show that they don't care about the person to whose list they're subscribing to, so why should that list owner care about these deadbeat subscribers?

I don't mean to be a wise guy, but what would be the point?

- To stop them from getting something for free that I'm giving away for free?
- To make sure they get my follow up messages?

To the first point I'd say if I'm giving something away, I'm giving it away. In most cases I'm going to have some backend sales built into my giveaway item, so I really do want people to get it to help drive sales.

To the second point I'd say, even if they use their primary email address, if they don't want to receive my message in the first place, forcing it on them is not going to have the desired effect anyway. They will just unsubscribe and delete...or take the easy way out with some providers and just click the 'spam' button, marking my legitimate email as spam.

To tell you the truth, with so much crap out there I don't really blame people for wanting to use a throw away email address. I use them myself. If that's what it takes for someone to feel comfortable with getting my freebie, then fine, I still want them to get the freebie. That's the only way I'll get the backend sale.

And, I do monitor my free accounts. When they get overwhelmed with junk I delete the account and create a new one - BUT - I do find some senders worth staying subscribed to, so I sign up with them later with a real account. If you prevented me from using a throw away account you'd never get that chance.

I think Becky is spot on.

People use throwaway email addresses to get to a bonus that is offered instantly.

So spread out your offering over a period of time, and they will have to use a proper email address.

Hey Allen... to me, I would be asking a different question than yours below:

The question I'd be asking is "How can I make my free offer and message
valuable enough for visitors and takers to actually WANT to hear from me
again and give me their correct email address?"

It's a different way of looking at the same issue... but to me, a more productive one overall.

That said - I don't feel that there is really any way to stop people from giving you a false email address altogether.

There are some programs out there that can validate an email in the email field - well, at least the format of it anyway (I've heard of scripts that can actually validate the emails also, but I've not seen these personally, so I can't say absolutely, for sure, they exist).

It's getting more difficult to get the opportunity to build relationships and build a high quality list - in some markets - if you offer the same ole' crap... so try to find a way to position yourself differently and more interestingly - offer more value, be more sincere, and work at proving yourself to your potential clients and customers rather than trying to sneak them onto "yet another list."

Be the list that they WANT to be on that others are talking about and you will get a whole lot better quality list... and valid emails from folks who truly want to hear from you.

Steve

Not to sound flippant, but I think I can surmise Becky's post in just a dozen simple words.

Give them enough of a reason to use a "real" e-mail address.

That's what it all really boils down to. Do your best to get that done. Those that still use a "fake" e-mail aren't the ones you want to waste your time sending to anyway.

All the best,
Michael

Without giving away the house - I want to offer a service for free. I would monetize the service by sending newsletters with occasional promos.

Because it is a service - there is a certain level of actual work and maintenance.

So the model would be...let me send you emails and you can use my service.

If I were to have nothing but throw away email addresses as subscribers, the site would die a slow and painful death. The service would definitely be worth it to the subscriber, but how do I know I am not wasting my time trying to monetize a list of a25gd3qxz@gmail.com addresses?

That is why I am asking.

I do like the idea of making them WANT to sign up with a legit address, but to be totally candid - I don't want people using the service without letting me send them a promo every once in a while.

Thanks to everyone.

Allen

Allen,

If I understand correctly, you would only want ACTIVE subscribers to be able to use this service?

Here's a thought: Include a new code in each e-mail. The subscribers would then have to use the newest code each time they wanted to avail themselves of your service.

I admit it may not be the most elegant solution, but I'm tryin'.



All the best,
Michael

Hey Allen...

Maybe one of the best things you can do is not attach the service to your FIRST email or immediately to the list.

Offer free info or videos to let them know what they can gain from being on your VIP Inner Circle list or something.

Then, is a subsequent email or in your free report or at the end of your video or ?? give them a link to signup for your, now very appealing and clearly understood, service.

Change your approach from a one step process to a two step process... this will ensure that only people who took the time to go through your intro info will end up getting your services... which are always tricky to give away.

Steve

Ah...now that you've explained what you want a little more it makes a difference. Michael has a good idea if there is a way to implement a changing code or password.

If you're not able to do that, changing the URL would work. If people aren't reading your emails they wouldn't get the new URL to access the service. Simple, but workable I think.

Thanks you guys - my hamster wheel is spinning on overtime tonight. LOL

Maybe the two step process with a dynamic password or URL would work???

I guess this has never been tried before. I know the free service for list subscription has been tried - just not the verification/forced part.

Thanks again!
Allen

How about this...

You are ready to use the service. So you click a link from the home page. It takes you to a page that says, "To use the service, click here and a login code will be sent to your email address on file."

You think that would be too much?

I don't know - maybe I'm overthinking this. What is your experience with percentages of active list members vs. bogus list members?

I might just need to "write off" the bad ones and go for it.

AL

Oh, I see what you are saying. Thats a good idea.

Send the report to their email address, so they must have a valid email to opt in to your list.

How about this:

1) Have them opt-in (single opt-in) and take them straight into the Thank You page, where you provide them with UTTERLY AWESOME free content.

2) On that same Thank You page, place a second opt-in form (double opt-in) stating: "if you liked this, you're going to be blown away with what's coming up next. Enter your main email address below to receive the follow up content".

I have done it in the past. It works as long as that first piece of free content is simply the best you got.