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Double optin vs Single optin - what's the downside?

by winebuddy
13 replies
I use Aweber.

I use double optin.

It has come to my attention thru various posts and thru a couple of WSOs I have purchased that single optin is just as good as double.

Need some opinions or some actual experience here.

I was under the impression that double optin eliminated spam compliants. Now, after further research, it appears that a single optin is all you need to show if you ever do get a spam complaint.

And of course, using aweber or CC, there is always an opt-out link.

What's the verdict here?

Am I making my new subscribers jump thru hoops just so that Aweber can "look good"?
#double #downside #optin #single
  • Profile picture of the author Jesus Perez
    I'll give you the simple answer. It doesn't matter. Yes...both are legal under can-spam.

    What does matter is your perceived relationship with Aweber. Aweber prefers double optin and if they get complaints, they'll back you up if you're confirming. If you're not, they'll drop you like a pack of hot coals. Then...you need to import your list to a new company and -you guessed it- double opt them in. You'll lose 2/3 of your list by moving to another provider.

    So...would you rather preserve your relationship with Aweber? Or make some more sales and risk losing your account?

    I consider double optin a form of insurance with my email provider.
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    • Profile picture of the author vstar00
      Originally Posted by Jesus Perez View Post

      I'll give you the simple answer. It doesn't matter. Yes...both are legal under can-spam.

      What does matter is your perceived relationship with Aweber. Aweber prefers double optin and if they get complaints, they'll back you up if you're confirming. If you're not, they'll drop you like a pack of hot coals. Then...you need to import your list to a new company and -you guessed it- double opt them in. You'll lose 2/3 of your list by moving to another provider.

      So...would you rather preserve your relationship with Aweber? Or make some more sales and risk losing your account?

      I consider double optin a form of insurance with my email provider.
      thats very interesting, never thought of it like that.

      Will aweber just drop your list or drop your whole account?

      should you be backing up your list then?
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      • Profile picture of the author Jesus Perez
        Originally Posted by vstar00 View Post

        thats very interesting, never thought of it like that.

        Will aweber just drop your list or drop your whole account?

        should you be backing up your list then?
        Yes. Backup when possible.

        To clarify...Sometimes they'll drop you. Sometimes they'll warn you. Sometimes they'll tell you to double opt in everyone before sending another email. It truly depends on your marketing and business plan. It isnt always doom n gloom.

        Also...This is common practice with all large email companies. Icontact does it, GetResponse does it...they all do. It keeps their deliverability high.
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      • Profile picture of the author paulie888
        Originally Posted by vstar00 View Post

        thats very interesting, never thought of it like that.

        Will aweber just drop your list or drop your whole account?

        should you be backing up your list then?
        With aWeber, if your spam complaints get too high as a percentage of your total list, that's when you could get in trouble.

        Even if you back up your list and try to import it into another autoresponder, you'll have to go through the double opt-in process as mentioned by Jesus, and this will usually cost you a big chunk of subscribers in the process.

        Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author redcell1
    I would just do double opt in, in any case you can show that they really wanted your info. Also incase you move your covered.
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    Just here to see the shenanigans.

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    • Profile picture of the author secrets2010
      Aweber told me that if you get too many complaints they would force you to use double optin before...but you never know...there have been some guys who saw their accounts shut down...


      btw what I don't understand is how single optin can be legal...because the leads are not confirming that they want to hear from you....they just enter the email adress to get the gift....

      with double optin leads have to confirm themselves that they want to hear from you...
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  • Profile picture of the author Shaun OReilly
    Originally Posted by winebuddy View Post

    I was under the impression that double optin eliminated spam compliants. Now, after further research, it appears that a single optin is all you need to show if you ever do get a spam complaint.
    Double opt-in will not elminate spam complaints. It
    will reduce them, but not eliminate them completely.

    Some people, through ignorance, poor memory or
    laziness, still hit the spam button if they perceive
    your messages to be spam or they just want to
    unsubscribe.

    It's nuts!

    Using double opt-in allows you as a list owner to
    prove that the subscriber did in fact confirm that
    they wanted to join your list.

    This way, you can go back to your third-party
    autoresponder provider (or elsewhere if you're
    self-hosted) and give them a full audit trail for
    the particular subscriber.

    Treat your list well and you can reduce the amont
    of complaints you get in the first place.

    For most of my lists I use double opt-in because I
    want to protect the most important assets in my
    business - now and into the future.

    Dedicated to your success,

    Shaun
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    • Profile picture of the author Ivelin2008
      I keep hearing that all the time.

      That double opt-in is safer and stuff but what if you use single opt-in
      How do guys with big lists like Lee McIntyre deal with spam complaints?

      There has to be a way and it must not be so scary to use single opt-in.
      If someone complains can't you just delete him from your list?

      Is it really that dangerous to use single opt-in?

      (If you treat your list right)
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      • Profile picture of the author secrets2010
        Originally Posted by Ivelin2008 View Post

        I keep hearing that all the time.

        That double opt-in is safer and stuff but what if you use single opt-in
        How do guys with big lists like Lee McIntyre deal with spam complaints?

        There has to be a way and it must not be so scary to use single opt-in.
        If someone complains can't you just delete him from your list?

        Is it really that dangerous to use single opt-in?

        (If you treat your list right)

        If you use single optin you are exposed that leads use the email adress of someonelse...so you would be spamming to that person....

        I think the main risk is having your AR account shut down...so you should import that leads to another AR provider...

        Actually I'm not that sure that single optin is legal in all countries...I asked aweber and they say is legal otherwise they wouldnt offer the option...but as I said might be possible that some countries single optin is not legal??

        And we marketers we get leads from every part of the world...
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  • Profile picture of the author SeoHoist.com
    I think it all depends on how well you treat your list...

    Blast them with new offers everyday as you get them, and you'll definitely want to be protected behind double opt-in...

    But if you send them the odd offer and information every now and then, and actually give them some decent CONTENT ONLY once in a while, you should have no problems keeping complaints down, and hence will be fine with a single opt-in
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  • Profile picture of the author Slade556
    I just spoke with an Aweber representative the other day about an unrelated technical issue and I was shocked to hear her say that I could switch to single opt in. I would think they would be encouraging double opt in any opportunity they could get. I ultimately chose not to do this and stayed with double opt in because I didn't really trust what she was saying. I'd rather be safe than sorry and chose to better protect my assets.
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    • Profile picture of the author secrets2010
      Originally Posted by Slade556 View Post

      I just spoke with an Aweber representative the other day about an unrelated technical issue and I was shocked to hear her say that I could switch to single opt in. I would think they would be encouraging double opt in any opportunity they could get. I ultimately chose not to do this and stayed with double opt in because I didn't really trust what she was saying. I'd rather be safe than sorry and chose to better protect my assets.
      Support has always encouraged me to use double optin...I don't really think they want their users to use single optin....but I also don't think that are interested in shutting down accounts...they would force you to use double optin first probably..
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  • Profile picture of the author gottahave
    Your mailing list is your "business" and you should ensure you don't do anything to destroy its integrity. With double optin you have a record of when a client confirmed joining your mailing list if any subscription problem arises.

    Neil
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