Using double-optins to create highly-responsive lists

One of my clients asked me an important question about the effectivement of using double optins to grow your subscriber list.

But, before I give my answer though, let me not assume that everyone knows what I’m talking about when I use the term “double optin.”

Basically, if you are using an autoresponder such as Aweber or 1Shopping Cart to collect names and email addresses on your site, once those people complete the optin form, depending on your autoresponder setup, you can either get the system to send them a confirmation email where they have to click a link to confirm they definately want to hear from you or, you can just have them added to your database without any further steps on their part.

And to be honest with you, when people started talking about building “double-optin” lists, I was a bit reluctant. I knew that it wouldn’t be possible to build as large a list using that technique as it is with single-optin. And, everyone knows that “larger lists produce larger profits”, right?

Well this may have been the answer I would have given him a few years ago, but from personal experience, this is wrong. The reality is “loyal lists produce larger profits.”

The whole purpose of building a list is to get your messages read (and ultimately to produce profit), right? So, here’s an easy way to accomplish that. When you build “double-optin” lists, then you generally have a much higher quality list (I.E. Better responses) for two reasons…

Reason #1: More interest. Obviously, if someone is willing to make the effort to subscribe to your list, check their email, click on a link, and actually confirm their subscription, then they are likely to be expressing a general interest in your list.

More interest = better responses.

Reason #2: More inbox. And, if they go through the “double-optin” process, it also means that you got your initial message into the intended recipient’s REAL email inbox. No fake email addresses. No email by proxy (where Joe subscribes Bob to your list). Fewer “unused” email accounts. And – at least for now – you got your message through the spam filters.

More inbox = better responses. Use DOUBLE-OPTIN because subscribers have to verify their email address and confirm their interest in joining your list.

Your lists won’t be as big, but they will be more responsive because they want to hear from you and believe that the information you are sending them whether it’s in the form of an article or a product or service that you have for sale, could be of value to them.

I’m sure it was Marlon Sanders who coined the phrase “the money is in the list,” and whilst many interpreted that to mean build bigger lists, I have learnt through experience that the money is in the “responsive” list.

So, don’t feel that in order to sell your product or service that you have to have a huge list because a responsive list of 2,000 subscribers is going to give you much better returns than an unresponsive list of 10,000.

If you’re not building a list at all, then the time to start is now.

I highly recommend Aweber since deliverability of your broadcast message is high and, they have some great videos on how to get started with your email marketing campain as well as tutorials on how to get started with Aweber.

Until next time,

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