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My big problem with Aweber is...

by Chris Chicas
17 replies
The double opt in is just not working right. 35% of people on my list only do a single opt-in and apparently their names get erased after a month on being in my list - since they have not opt-in a second time.

Aweber claims to also have the option for a single opt in but it doesn't work - when I called them they said that it only works sometimes under some conditions (confusing).

Furthermore I ran some tests and opted in with different emails and a few times I didn't even get the info from Aweber so I could respond to the second opt in form. Are people in my list not getting this second opt in chance?

If anyone knows of a good alternative with a single Opt in choice I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance.
#aweber #big #problem
  • Profile picture of the author source47
    Yeah! That is weird and confusing. There are a lot of good autoresponder services out there for single opt-in. Off the top of my head, I don't know of any. Sorry.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Keith
    aweber uses separate smpt servers to send confirmation optin messages. these servers have a much higher blacklist and filter rate than their other servers used to send mail to subscribers.

    as for single optin issue. i am not sure about that one. although single optin is only available for web form i think. more than likely if something is wrong on single optin in it is either with your web form, or your messages are being filtered by your isp.

    but i just ran deliveability tests today using aweber, and i was getting 1st single optin emails to 20 different email address that cover all major isps. double optins confirmation messages did not get to yahoo and a couple others.

    over the last 6 months or so, my deliverability tests have shown constantcontact to have the best deliverability rates. but for around the first of the year, they were blocked by gmail and yahoo, so go figure.
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  • Profile picture of the author alcymart
    But why would you even use an AR service? I own my own AR and I can do whatever I want with it. It's much easier to install than you may be thinking. I used Aweber and Getresponse in the past and was shocked to see that once I installed my own AR the sheer amount of emails that were not making it to the sub with these services.

    You should seriously start thinking about owning your own AR. I happen to have a PHP script I can share with you free that has all the bells and whistles you would expect from an AR. PM me if you want to own your own AR by using this great script which is worth $197 if you had to buy it online.

    However, let me add that you need a host that supports PHP and MySQL. It won't work on a free host.

    Bernard
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      I doubt the service is responsible for that much of the non-confirmed group.

      I checked my numbers for November and it was down from 86% confirmed to 80% confirmed. That is an unusually large difference from my normal rate. It seems to stay within a point or so of 86%, like clockwork. Might be delivery issues, might be the holidays, might be the traffic sources. Hard to tell.

      Still, if your confirmation rate is 35%, there's a lot of room to improve your system, regardless of other factors.


      Paul
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      • Profile picture of the author Chris Chicas
        Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

        I doubt the service is responsible for that much of the non-confirmed group.

        I checked my numbers for November and it was down from 86% confirmed to 80% confirmed. That is an unusually large difference from my normal rate. It seems to stay within a point or so of 86%, like clockwork. Might be delivery issues, might be the holidays, might be the traffic sources. Hard to tell.

        Still, if your confirmation rate is 35%, there's a lot of room to improve your system, regardless of other factors.


        Paul
        Hi Paul,

        I meant to say that 35% of the people on my list show to not have done a double opt-in. According to Aweber they only show on my list for 30 days before being erased.

        When I called and asked Aweber about the single Opt in that's claimed as an option on their website I was told that only under certain conditions is that possible "depending on their own algorithms, etc."

        And I should add that recently I opted in into someone's Aweber list and I never received a confirmation email (for a 2nd opt in).

        So all of this is what I"m trying to work out. : /
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        • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
          Christiani,
          I meant to say that 35% of the people on my list show to not have done a double opt-in.
          Ah. A 35% confirmation rate sucks, but 65% isn't bad. You're a few tweaks from 80%, in fact.

          Every AR service will have problems with some recipient system at various points. Is your current rate the norm, or is it down from the usual numbers? That matters. If it's down without changes on your end, it's probably a transient issue. Patience may fix that.

          If you just want to go with a straight "single" opt-in, though, you may have to find another provider. Depends on how your account/list is set up.

          If you decide to self-host, I recommend Autoresponse Plus. Excellent product, excellent service.


          Paul
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          • Profile picture of the author Chris Chicas
            Hi Paul,

            I'm sure that some of it is on my end. So my goal now is to get it up to 80% double opt in rate which I can do.

            So what happens to the other 20%?

            If you think about it... for every 1000 what would be 200 leads lost.... unless you find a way to work around that problem.

            And I'm sure every system has problems but I wonder if they are within the same rate.
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    • Profile picture of the author Chris Chicas
      Originally Posted by alcymart View Post

      But why would you even use an AR service? I own my own AR and I can do whatever I want with it. It's much easier to install than you may be thinking. I used Aweber and Getresponse in the past and was shocked to see that once I installed my own AR the sheer amount of emails that were not making it to the sub with these services.

      You should seriously start thinking about owning your own AR. I happen to have a PHP script I can share with you free that has all the bells and whistles you would expect from an AR. PM me if you want to own your own AR by using this great script which is worth $197 if you had to buy it online.

      However, let me add that you need a host that supports PHP and MySQL. It won't work on a free host.

      Bernard

      Thank you for your offer, I appreciated it. I will have to look more into what's do able and might just hit you up on that. I know that a lot of different factors go into play and for me just building this foundation of list building is very important. I'm planning ahead. So again thanks and I"ll look into what I can do.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Keith
    i do have a self hosted AR solution as well, and there is a lot more to it than you state here. like most hosts only let you send 100-250 emails an hour. i do have a dedicated server, but most people dont, so they would be limited. the only way around that is private smtp servers which are not cheap. hitsdirectory is the only AR script hosting web host i am aware of that is even feasible for most people.

    and still it is not possible to track open rates on text based emails or if your subscribers dont click the "show images in the email button" in your html messages . Between those 2 factors, there is a huge margin for error in reporting open rates with aweber or self hosted solutions.
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  • Profile picture of the author George Carlos
    Wow 35% sucks. I should mailchimp had a way to check the stats.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ron Douglas
    Not sure if this applies to you or not but...

    If you're giving a freebie to get the opt-in, don't give up the goods until they confirm.
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    • Profile picture of the author AnniePot
      I am now very close to giving up on AWeber. Over the last few months, my previously 80% - 90% confirmation for double opt-in has gone completely down the toilet and a huge percentage of my completely spam free emails aren't getting through.

      I realize that a lot of people use Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail accounts, etc., for privacy, but they have provided their email addresses to me and in their perception, I haven't delivered.

      I've done a lot of testing with various freebee email addresses and as high as 95% of both types of my emails - confirmation and sequential never make it.

      I'm just beginning a 60 day free trial with Constant Contact. It will be interesting to see if they are any better.
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      • Profile picture of the author Joe Mobley
        Annie,

        This would be interesting. Please keep us updated. Maybe start a new thread when you have enough data to share.

        Joe Mobley


        Originally Posted by AnniePot View Post


        I'm just beginning a 60 day free trial with Constant Contact. It will be interesting to see if they are any better.
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        • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
          Christiani,
          So what happens to the other 20%?
          Somewhere between 5 and 15% of email addresses typed into a subscription form are undeliverable, depending on whose numbers you believe. Typos, fake addresses entered to get what they can without actually signing up, etc.

          Some confirmation emails go to the spam folder. Some are delayed and end up forgotten. Some people change their minds. Some folks use "junk addresses" they never check. Lots of potential issues. They sometimes depend as much on the niche as the autoresponder service.


          Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author Coby
    Check your web form.

    Often people will start with the default "double optin" and then later decide they want to use single optin but forget to create a new web form as Aweber handles the two differently...

    Also, Aweber got their servers blacklisted this summer and have suffered ever since...

    Do more searching on the forum and you will see that this is now a common problem with Aweber.

    I use Aweber, but I also use Imnica and Constanct contact and right now Aweber is landing in my spam in yahoo more than any other autoresponder...

    It's just part of it - every a/r has it's ups and downs...
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  • Profile picture of the author sondrac
    Aweber also can get costly as you grow your list.
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