I get the question all the time.
Can your email system do Double Opt-In? Referred to as DOI in this post.
DOI sends a confirmation email to a subscriber who has entered their email address in your web form. The system automatically sends an auto reply back to them asking them to reply to or click on a link before they are officially subscribed to a mailing list. Failure to do so will result in no subscription taking place.
And we say yes our system does, followed by why do you ask?
More often than not, people are telling us, “I was told that I had to do this as part of my email program.”
This is quite shocking to hear! Someone is going around spreading the nasty rumor that companies have to do DOI to remain above the board and not be accused of spamming.
Yes…There are a lot of tier 2 and tier 3 providers that will not allow you to send mail through their system if you have not build your list via a DOI process, but I am hear to tell you that DOI has it’s place.
Double opt-in is for Porn and Religion
Let’s get something straight, we are not against DOI, we feel it has its place with subscription lists that offer highly controversial content. This tool was originally designed so Bob, could not accidentally or intentionally subscribe his buddy Joe to the Porn Pic of the Day List or that Pam Anderson could not subscribe all of her friends to PETA’s monthly how to be kind to all of earths fuzzy and yummy creatures (you get my point).
So just remember, if anyone tells you that you have to do DOI, there is no rule, law or even a morality issues that is being crossed amongst ethical permission based email marketers.
If you find your unsubscribe rates are soaring or you are getting a lot of I didn’t subscribe to this list, maybe you need to implement a DOI program that weeds out any of the people who accidentally subscribed or were subscribed by their friends.
BTW…when was the last time you had an extra minute in the day to subscribe your friends or enemies to any mailing list?
