Name+Email Vs. Just Email in Optins... which is better?

by Deepak Media

Posted: 12 years ago 13 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Which do you think is better for optins?

Name+Email

or

Just email address?

Does adding a first name or name in every email makes the relationship building more powerful or is it not that much significant?

Common sense would say dropping the Name field and focusing only on email would increase conversions, but I will not be convinced without data.

Intuition can be applied only on the absence of data... not a choice when real empirical data can be obtained!

If anyone has experimented on this, I would like to know your conclusion!

I am going to run an experiment anyway!

#email #optins

Shaun OReilly 12 years ago

I usually see a 10-15% increase in visitor-to-subscriber
conversion rate when I ask for the e-mail only vs. the
name and e-mail.

However...

You also need to track further along in your sales process
to see the effect on your other business metrics, especially
sales.

You need to test it for yourself to validate the best set-up
for you and your market.

I tend to ask for e-mail only on the prospect lists knowing
that I'll get their full details automatically if they make a
purchase and move onto the more important buyer list.

Dedicated to mutual success,

Shaun
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- NicheDad 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Shaun OReilly
  
  I usually see a 10-15% increase in visitor-to-subscriber
  conversion rate when I ask for the e-mail only vs. the
  name and e-mail.
  
  Just the type of data I came to see, thanks.
  
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Kal Sallam 12 years ago

In the markets I'm involved in (Anxiety & Depression) Having my subscriber
Name establishes more connection & rapport. These type of audiences
Are dying for someone to talk to about their problem,
So making it on personal level gets them really involved.
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Challendge 12 years ago

Having the name before someone buys is good because you can build that into your auto-responder emails. However, people know that the email wasn't just sent to them and are aware that it's a program inputting their name in that field. It's still more personal than no name at all.

I've actually never tracked my results from both methods and it's a really good question. When I'm not 100% sure about something, I split-test. Try that.
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CDarklock 12 years ago

Originally Posted by Deepak Media

Which do you think is better for optins?

Well DEEPAK, let me tell you what I think. You see, DEEPAK, every once in a while someone will send me an email full of my name. You know what I mean, right DEEPAK? They just use the crap out of it, DEEPAK. It drives me nuts, and... well, DEEPAK, I'm sure you feel the same.

Those who do not ask for my name can never do this.

I consider that a plus.
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- Matt Duggan 12 years ago
  
  In the IM/Make Money Online markets, getting just the e-mail tends to work better.
  
  In other markets (health and fitness in my case), it works to get both, as that way you can use their name in the e-mail subject line and perhaps at the start of the e-mail copy.
  
  CDarklock is right, don't over-use their name as it's irritating.
  
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ToddRestrepo 12 years ago

I actually ran a list building seminar a while back and I recommended to only ask for an email because the less you ask for the less they have to fill in and whenever you can make it easier for people the more likely are to respond.

As far as building relationships you that is what your AR series is for. Unless you have customers emailing you directly (in which case you would have their name anyway) you will see a higher conversion rate or sign ups when asking for an email addy alone.

Take care!
Todd
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Ron Douglas 12 years ago

Outside of the IM niche where every subscriber is a scorned ex-girlfriend who is "not going to be played for a fool again," having the name is a huge plus. In fact, the value of your database is increased dramatically with the more specific data you have - name, location, purchase history, etc.

But as Shaun said above, you have to determine if getting more leads by just asking for the email is worth it in the long run.
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Deepak Media 12 years ago

What about the IM niche where people are new to IM? They may not know about Autoresponders and would feel as if I am communicating personally.
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- Kal Sallam 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Deepak Media
  
  What about the IM niche where people are new to IM? They may not know about Autoresponders and would feel as if I am communicating personally.
  
  Eventually they will yeah? Because your going to teach them yeah?
  
  Thanks
  
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- The Beginner's Friend 12 years ago
  
  Hi Deepak
  
  This is exactly the question I have been asking myself, and I'm just about to start a test without name. I have to say my thoughts have been inline with what seems to be the majority of people here, i.e. that no name in IM is the way to go.
  
  I'll let you know how it goes.
  
  cheers
  Andy
  
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  Alexa Smith Banned 12 years ago
  
  I stopped asking for their names a long time ago, in all my niches, and my opt-in rates went up around 15% across the board.
  
  I'm not going to use their names in my autoresponder emails anyway, because people think it makes you sound like an insurance salesperson. They know perfectly well that you're doing it with an automated gadget from where they opted in. I don't believe for a moment that you gain anything in "attempted personalization" - people see through that. I think it's probably a disadvantage to use their names.
  
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