Here's How I Get Almost Everyone To Confirm Their Email Address

[JamesPenn]

Probably the most frustrating part of double opt-in list building is getting people to confirm their email address.

Sometimes I only get 40-50% conversions on certain lists.

No matter what I did I couldn't increase my confirmation rate. I explained exactly how they could confirm, gave them simple instructions, but still they wouldn't do it - even though they couldn't access the free report or whatever they subscribed for.

Recently I started a new list. I thought I'd try something out to increase my confirmation rate.

I put this text on my confirmation page, and now I'm experiencing 85%+ confirmation rates. Plus, my opt-in page is converting at the highest rate I've ever had.

Here's the text:

"Thanks for entering your name and email address into the form on the previous page. But before I can send you Accelerated Niche Profits, I need you to confirm your email address.

Plus, if you do confirm your email address, you'll receive access to an incredible bonus valued at $97 - but yours free for becoming a valued subscriber. "

Here's the whole page:

Accelerated Niche Profits - How James Penn Creates Wealth Online In Niche Markets | The Secrets Revealed

So, if you want to increase your confirmation rate significantly, then offer your prospects a further bonus incentive for confirming their email address.

It's worked wonders for me.

James Penn

[Prashant_W]

yah well...DUH!

its been proven to work... i've actually tested this. for a niche where i didn't tell them they have to confirm their email, my opt-ins were horrible! and for another niche, it was pretty decent.

don't assume that they know they have to look out for a confirmation email. not everyone would have even seen an opt-in box before. you can include this info on your thank you page (the page your visitors go to after opting in).

oh, and just one thing. make sure you tell them to check their junk/bulk/spam folder and tell them to whitelist your email address as well...

and finally...

good post james

[jayden.fellze]

That is really very creative. It is true that some individuals would not confirm their email address because they tend to believe that they will undergo another long process in order to get what they really wanted. It's nice to hear that the strategy works for you.

[Waller Jamison]

Hi James,

Thanks for this idea. I have some problems with double optins, even when I tell people very clearly to look out for the email. I guess they aren't used to the system. So I'll definitley give this a try. Mind you, in my niche, I find that a lot of people only open their emails once a week !

thanks

Waller

[trinigirl]

Thank you so much for this great idea, I never thought of this. I will definately give this a try. This might be the first opt in form that a user may have encountered and not sure what to do so this is definately a good thing.

Thanks a bunch

[JamesPenn]

Once you're set up in Aweber with double opt-in, you can't change. Or, that's what the staff at Aweber have told me.

With double opt-in you get fewer spam complaints and you make sure your subscribers aren't entering fake email addresses.

There's many advantages to double opt-in, and I wouldn't want to change to single opt-in now.

James

[MarkR]

James,

Great stuff, thanks.

I have had troubles getting people to confirm too. I've refined the process and now have a very tolerable, almost minor number of people that don't confirm.

After they enter their name and email address, I send them to a (similarly designed / look and feel) page that:

• Tells them the max. number of times I'll email them in a month
• I won't sell or share their email address
• Explains benefits for confirming (free, lifetime product updates, bonus, etc.)
• Shows them a screen shot of what the confirmation email looks like, with a big red arrow to the confirmation link
• I tell them the title of the email to watch out for
• Explain that they won't receive the product they opted in for without confirming

Also, in the confirmation email, I don't use the standard AWeber language, I also tell them what site they opted in at - in all caps to grab their attention.

I think it's critical to remember that customers that aren't in the IM niche are not used to the opt-in process, are put off by it, think it's SPAM related, and just aren't comfortable dealing with online marketers. We as IMrs opt-in all the time, and understand the value of confirming, but they do it only a few times a year or less sometimes. So, we have to lead them along and over communicate to overcome their fears.

Mark

[aji p]

nice post,

I haven't done email marketing before.
this would be useful sometime in the future.

[jasondinner]

yeah dude,

offering a "Confirmation Bonus" always boosts confirmation rates.

Make sure it's good though

[flexsez]

When you say you're giving away a gift worth $97 bucks, that's what you should give them...

I used your opt-in form to see your strategy is and I'll say this, good idea but you totally under-deliver on your promise.

The $97 dollar gift is a, as you call it "Free Report" that certainly doesn't appear to be worth $97 bucks, not even $9 bucks...

I'm sure newbies will fall for it, but anyone with a week of IM Pot of Gold Seeking experience will be off your list fast.

I don't think it's smart to piss-off your new list members by making them feel like they were duped.

And if you referring to this as the free $97 bonus...

--------------------------------------------------------

I've Got An Incredible Bonus For You Now...

Lee McIntyre has a fantastic product called 'Grab Your Lifestyle'. He Sells It For $10 - but as a valued subscriber, he is allowing you to have FREE access.

Simply Click Here For Free Access

--------------------------------------------------------

You say the report sells for $10 bucks (on the confirmation page), but on the next page it says the value is $97, but you can only get it after you opt-in to another list.

[Michael Motley]

Always have to offer something for that email.

[Daniel Howard]

Hay James

you are spot on with this, it's not the same for someone who has never been to a squeeze page before, where they have to enter the name and email to receive whatever you are offering.

But like what you describers fit the answer brilliantly. I think video would increase by far, because it makes them watch the video in their minds. And there for take action to confirm.

Danny.

[JamesPenn]

Hi Flexsez

Ordinarily, I would agree with you.

That's if I was giving away another product that is available for free everywhere, but I'm not. I'm a special JV partner for Lee McIntyre (of which there are few) which enables me to give away that product for free (well, in exchange for an opt-in).

What I'm giving away is that secret link to get the product for free.

James

Originally Posted by flexsez

When you say you're giving away a gift worth $97 bucks, that's what you should give them...

I used your opt-in form to see your strategy is and I'll say this, good idea but you totally under-deliver on your promise.

The $97 dollar gift is a, as you call it "Free Report" that certainly doesn't appear to be worth $97 bucks, not even $9 bucks...

I'm sure newbies will fall for it, but anyone with a week of IM Pot of Gold Seeking experience will be off your list fast.

I don't think it's smart to piss-off your new list members by making them feel like they were duped.

And if you referring to this as the free $97 bonus...

--------------------------------------------------------

I've Got An Incredible Bonus For You Now...

Lee McIntyre has a fantastic product called 'Grab Your Lifestyle'. He Sells It For $10 - but as a valued subscriber, he is allowing you to have FREE access.

Simply Click Here For Free Access

--------------------------------------------------------

You say the report sells for $10 bucks (on the confirmation page), but on the next page it says the value is $97, but you can only get it after you opt-in to another list.

[JamesPenn]

Take a look at this thread for help with that:

How Do I Get The Red Dashed Border

[Mark Dulisse]

Jeff Mulligan has just announced the Quadruple Optin at How to improve email deliverability using Quadruple Opt-in

Simon Grabowski, CEO of GetResponse, informed me that they are launching quintuple opt-in soon, and sixtuple is pending patent...

[flexsez]

Ordinarily you would agree with me, but your case is special because?

A link to another squeeze page is not a gift, not by a long shot.

If this method works for you, and you have happy subscribers that trust and buy from you - more power to you.

[butch04]

Good information. I've always had a hard time getting people to confirm. I'll have to try this method out and see how it works out. Gotta test, test, and test some more

[jasondinner]

I did it for a year straight and made an extraf $5K from this method:

Giving them a confirmation gift, which happened to require opting in to another list again.

It works.

But telling them they will get a gift, optin or not, will certainly boost your confirmation rate.

I think that's what James was getting at in his OP

- Jason

[JamesPenn]

Thanks Jason

Yes, that's what I was getting at

[Alex Taylor]

I imaine it's harder to get the double opt-in in some markets. I'm in a non-IM market, and get about 90% confrimations with only a simple reminder on the thank you page.

I really should test putting a little video on there. But at 90%, I'm not in any rush.

[JonathanBoettcher]

Originally Posted by JamesPenn

Once you're set up in Aweber with double opt-in, you can't change. Or, that's what the staff at Aweber have told me.

With double opt-in you get fewer spam complaints and you make sure your subscribers aren't entering fake email addresses.

There's many advantages to double opt-in, and I wouldn't want to change to single opt-in now.

James

You can change individual lists if you create new ones - that setting doesn't apply to your whole account.

That's a great idea though (back to the original post now). People know that giving up their address is worth something to you, so by making it worth something to them it becomes (hopefully) a no-brainer.

A $97 bonus just for confirming? Heck yeah, I'd be all over that. Great idea.

[Trieu]

Thanks for that advice. I shall be testing it on my thank you page

[steveniam]

Once I turn-off my double opt-in it increase by 100 percent

[aboutalhah]

Thank you, it's something that I'll apply.

Simple things that works.

Franck

[Samuel Lee]

Great post! I'm always looking for ways to maximize the opt-in rate in my source lists so it sounds great, but I guess you would want to make sure you follow through on the offer when the do confirm their email address. You're absolutely right, free high quality bonuses are always to a perfect way to close the deal, especially if its directly relevant to your subscribers. Will try it out!

[babarapho]

I have been having problems with double opt ins. People shy away from confirming their mails. I think with this technique the conversion rate will rise.

[DavidSaaf]

It works lovely in other niches, besides IM niche I use it and mention "a Surprise Gift is waiting for you!" Just that.. nearly 85% confirmation so far