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A tiny, tiny, tiny opt-in tip...

by mikemcmillan
22 replies
Okay, so I worry too much about stuff that doesn't matter. It's my nature.

My guess is that about 95+ percent of the opt-in forms I see look like this...

Name________
eMail________

All of mine are like that.

Every once in a while I see one set up that looks like...

eMail_______
Name_______

To each his own. But frequently when I encounter one of the latter types I often put my name in the first box and my email in the second because that's how most are set up.

Of course then I get a new page saying that my name is not a properly formatted email address. Heck with it, I'm busy so I click away often.

I know it's a tiny, tiny thing... but my playbook says that the name should come before the email address in the form. Some percentage (and it may be very small), but some percentage of visitors likely do the same thing I mentioned and they simply click out rather than doing it over.

I am such a loathsome soul to worry about such things... but the little things add up. Just a tip. --Mike
#optin #tiny #tip
  • Profile picture of the author Zeus66
    Oh you nitpicker! But seriously, it's true. Classic example of hoop jumping. That's bad. Fewest hoops = FTW!

    John
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  • Profile picture of the author good2go4
    I do the same thing, lol - and I click out because i am thinking gosh what a pain, haha - such al ittle thing but I wonder how many sign-ups are lost each day because of that one little thing...??
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      I'll pick that nit with you - I always think the site owner is trying to fool me when he reverses the order.

      I don't think I've ever gotten one of those reverse engineered forms right on the first try.

      kay
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  • Profile picture of the author 55opotty
    I thought of this just today. Why would someone change the natural order?
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    • Profile picture of the author Shaun OReilly
      I can't understand why some site owners use a form
      like that.

      Here's another opt-in tip...

      Ask for the e-mail only and you'll increase your opt-in
      conversion rate.

      However, do some testing to see how it affects end
      sales conversions too.

      Personally, I ask for the e-mail address only on
      subscriber lists. I'll get their full name later if they
      choose to buy and end up on one of my buyer's lists.

      Dedicated to your success,

      Shaun
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      .

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      • Profile picture of the author DogScout
        Originally Posted by Shaun OReilly View Post

        I can't understand why some site owners use a form
        like that.

        Here's another opt-in tip...

        Ask for the e-mail only and you'll increase your opt-in
        conversion rate.

        However, do some testing to see how it affects end
        sales conversions too.

        Personally, I ask for the e-mail address only on
        subscriber lists. I'll get their full name later if they
        choose to buy and end up on one of my buyer's lists.

        Dedicated to your success,

        Shaun
        Well there's a 'duh' moment. Lol.
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        • Profile picture of the author Tyson Faulkner
          I'm with Shaun on this one.

          I only ask for email addresses which 100% of the time leads to zero confusion...guaranteed!
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          • Profile picture of the author George Wright
            Originally Posted by Tyson Faulkner View Post

            I'm with Shaun on this one.

            I only ask for email addresses which 100% of the time leads to zero confusion...guaranteed!
            Now I know what I'm doing wrong. I ask for Name Only and I've never gotten an opt in.

            George Wright
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            • Profile picture of the author mikemcmillan
              Originally Posted by George Wright View Post

              Now I know what I'm doing wrong. I ask for Name Only and I've never gotten an opt in.
              George Wright
              You're a sick puppy George! Still laughing . --Mike
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Sanchez
    Interesting idea about the email only. I can see how that might add one less step to the opt in process but I'm not sure how effective it would be in getting them to open your emails.

    I genuinely believe that people are more receptive to your emails if you use there name. I makes it more personal and I get a lot of responses as if I was asking them and only them a question.

    Not sure though as I haven't tested it. I'm not one to reinvent the wheel. There is already too much work to do.

    Interesting idea though.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Leconte
    Sometimes I only ask for the email but I like to be able to personalize the email during both name and email. I always use the same format as well: name first email after.
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  • Profile picture of the author mikemcmillan
    I know a number of marketers who, once you've bought their product, will personalize with your first name inside the email--but in the subject line of the email it will say something like...

    Internet Millionaire Buyer: Here's Your Last Chance...

    I just made the above name up, but it does kind of remind you that you've done business with them. Maybe that gets higher open rates--not sure.

    Thanks for your insights people! --Mike
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Mike, I'm with you on this one. People often do familiar things mechanically, so unless I have a really good reason, I try to keep things working the way people expect them to work.
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  • Profile picture of the author chapdaddy
    Some simple parsing on the back end would let you know which field they entered their email address in and could assume the other is the name. Course, having them only enter their email address and then forwarding them to a page that asks from more info works really well too and can get you better demographics.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rikki_Fawkes
    It just looks wrong to have the email address form on top, IMO. I would probably make the same mistake of entering the wrong info.
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  • Profile picture of the author mld_publishing
    I am currently experimenting with both. I have always asked for just the email address before, but I know that I pay more attention when I receive an email with my name in it.

    I hate when the order is reversed as well. Especially on something that requires my address. City, State, Zip....not Zip, State, City. Grrr
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  • Profile picture of the author Roey Pimentel
    I don't think you are nit-picking. It's a good tip, especially for newbies.
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    Peace, Roey.

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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Fullman
    In my opinion -- which I realise is worth very little to you, since you don't actually know me -- but, in the IM niche, I think we're all "over" the fact that autoresponders can personalize your emails.

    We've long since given up on the possibility that [marketer] is emailing us personally.

    (HINT: If you have a small enough list - *actually email them personally*, you'll be pleasantly amazed how loyal those folks will become)

    In broader, non-IM niches, name + email might work better. My wife, for instance, *always* opens an email with her name in the subject line.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author thescribe
    Sometimes, I just click away, too, when the fields are reversed.

    As far as asking for email only versus asking for name+email, I tend to agree with Steven - I think the niche you are in makes a difference when it comes to personalizing emails. Those in the IM niche may be a little jaded.
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  • Profile picture of the author ccasselman
    Definitely not nit-picking.

    I ran into this yesterday and I decided not to opt-in. Plain and simple
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  • Profile picture of the author fated82
    I believe the name+email combo will work very well. I am still experimenting having the name in the subject line....Hope it converts better than one without....
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    I ask for e-mail address only.
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