thank you email or thank you page?

I only use a single opt-in, so when someone subscribes to my blog to get a free digital book, they are sent the thank you email and it says to add my email address to their safe senders list to be sure they get all the emails, and that their free digital book is on it's way!

For myself, I use the thank you page to give clear instructions, both in words and in pictures, on what subscribers (two groups: "gmail users" and "others") need to do, themselves, in order to be sure of receiving my emails in their in-boxes.

I wouldn't try to do without that page, because if I put this information just in an email, so many people might not even see it.

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So you use double optin ??

If you do I would highly suggest using single optin. Overall, you will find a discernible increase with profitability.

I use single Optin and it sends them directly to a Thank You Page. I have a brief Hello from me( and picture) and tell them their Free Product and intro to E - Course is waiting in their email.

I also, have an OTO product they can take a quick look at to get them going on the " fast track"
This is MMO niche. I wouldn't try OTO in a Non MMO niche.

Definitely make them go to email to get freebie. Do not directly give it to them after they subscribe. And make sure you also address this on Squeeze Page so you just do not have a bunch of people quickly signing up on Squeeze Page so they get your feebie and be gone.

Qualify your Leads !!!!


- Robert Andrew

I think some people may have been confused when I said thank you email or page. When I say thank you page, I mean the page people are directed to right after they plug in their email and hit the button. When I say thank you email, I mean the email that is sent once they actually confirm. Basically, should I only give them the product after they completely confirm or just after they submit the form.

Make them confirm and send them the free offer in the follow up confirmed email.

Although this wasn't the original question, I've tested single vs. double optin over tens of thousands of optins and single wins out every time in open rates/click throughs and sales and, of course, numbers of working optins.

I'd use a thank you page to tell them that I've gotten their email and also to tell them to check it out for more details about the freebie you're offering. In the same process they can confirm their email before getting their gift. I don't think it's a turn off.

Why not both?

What you can also do is after they optin and see the thank you page...

Let them know that you have something else waiting for them in the 1st email.

After they have signed up to my list I redirect them to "a confirmation email is on the way page" which in turn directs them to a sales page. When they get the 1st email and any other emails I send, they are given the option of unsubscribing.

Why not pick up a sale in the meantime, I also add a few affiliate links at the bottom of my thank you page... my space...my call.
I keep my thanks page simple such as no more than 3 affiliate links along with instructions about how to download their freebies and links to a support page, my contact info and disclaimer links, so whats the harm...none.

"Happiness is fabulous mood swing"

Been a debate for many years which is best.

I have never paid much attention to what others think or do. What has worked for me is simple:

1) If selling something deliver after payment. Since they did business with you add them to your database.

2) If giving something away, get a confirmation before download. Will get you good emails (maybe?) and you will not be accused as a spammer since double opt-in

Have stuck with this method for many years and no one can change my mind, lol.

Here is how I look at it... If they subscribe, you can always email them the thanks page etc but you only get that once chance to redirect the visitor to a URL after they signup.. so why not take advantage of that.

Seofor5,
Great question and great answers as the debate is an ongoing one.

I would encourage you to TEST this theory so you will have no doubts.

Simply set up 2 funnels and run one as you currently are and the other single optin and immediately show your product.

IF and this is a BIG IF ... you are giving away your product for free then DO NOT give them immediate access to your product.
I hope this helps ...
Jeff

I think the email would be better since they are confirming. What's the use of optins without confirmation? As others have said above, the thank you page should be used for confirmation.
Hate the spammers. If not for them, we could have used single optins happily ever after

I've seen lots of top IMers using the thankyou page as their "compensation page" which is bringing them upront cash..they do it simply by forwarding the subscribers to their CPA offers or OTO page..

For this case, they use single optin..by far i thing it's the best choice if you want to build lots of subscribers fast..the amount of money you will make is not really depend on the quantity of "double optin" subscribers you have..it's depend on how many subscribers you have, how you interact with them & what is your offers to them..

That's why they use single optin. So that they can achieve 3 factors above simultaneosly..
I don't want to argue with others using "double optin" is better, but today, the fact is majority of top IMers are using single optin, not double optin..

I go with a thank you page, don't like sending unnecessary emails

That defeats the purpose of the double opt-in if you just give them their product on the thank you page after they subscribe? In your case if you want the double opt-in, after they subscribe send them to an OTO offer. I would instead add a "Thank you" redirect page to bridge between squeeze page and OTO telling them to confirm their email to get the free report or whatever they opted to get, but in the mean time check this amazing offer. age redirects in few seconds; works like a charm and you're keeping your end of the bargain still.

what has worked for me is this and its really profitable - I use single opt-in then after squeeze I put a thank you page saying " Thank you your gift has been sent to your email, then an paid offer on a url rotator.
On the mail I put a link of download page. On download page the link of the free gift and a paid offer. Hope this helps.

Thank You

Use both. The 'Thank You' page is more immediate access and the Email is something they will most likely save and reference or look for it they delete or forget about the product.

If you need quality leads, you need to have a confirmation email sent to them and they get the product only after they have confirmed their email. If you are giving quality product, they won't mind the confirmation process

I always keep products or links in the first email they receive.

A while ago, I had a situation in which google cached my thank you page with direct link to the product and basically people could just run search on google and get it (and some actually did).

This happened even trough I used meta tags/robot.txt and other stuff to prevent google and search engines from caching the page.

So now thank you page for instructions only, and first email for the link to the bonus, product and etc...

Does anyone have any template on to give clear instructions, both in words and in pictures, on what subscribers (two groups: "gmail users" and "others") need to do, themselves, in order to be sure of receiving my emails in their in-boxes.

A template that I can just copy and paste on my thank you page.

I don't like the idea of sending them to a page with the product. If your product is of ANY value, then you run the risk of that page being shared and lots of people getting the product without having to opt in to your list. The idea of one person getting the product without being added to my list mortifies me.

Always direct them to a 'Thank You' page for these reasons:
- Allows you to track conversion - simply insert a conversion pixel created via tools like Google Analytics, ClickMeter (for link tracking), Facebook (for the ads).
- Remind them with instructions to confirm opt-in
- Direct them to other resources, or upsells/cross-sells/down-sells

If it is a free product, I don't mind delivering the product via a page. I'm open to people sharing as it builds up my brand. The advantage of delivering via email is that it ensures the whitelisting of your email.

However, subscribers are constantly bombarded by more than 100 emails per day. The landscape has shifted to the point it doesn't matter if you instruct them to whitelist right after opt-in.

If you genuinely provide true value, your subscribers will crave for your information and ensure that they receive your emails. This should be the focus!

For paid products, I'd prefer sending them to a secure link (Amazon AWS) from the email. Do test out and ask your subscribers for feedback as to which mode of delivery is the best for them - again it varies.

It doesn't have to be complicated - don't waste too much time on this.

Just my humble 2 cents.

Cheers,
Alvin

Give the product on thank you page this way you will be giving value to everybody. And if someone did not gave their real address on signup, chances are they would be unsubscribing anyway.