Make It Easy to Unsubscribe and Earn Possible New Opt-In Leads Later
Internet marketing can be very successful using opt-in and opt-out e-mail methods. If you purchase your list, look carefully at the source. Many lists that contain false e-mail addresses and a few of them may be valid e-mails. Of the valid e-mails you tap into the customers have received so much “junk mail” that they have set the filters on and will never see your message. Therefore, if you are looking to succeed at Internet marketing create your own lists and use the opt-out, opt-in, and the double opt-in approach.
Opt-Out
By definition e-mail sent to prospects without their consent is considered “unsolicited bulk mailings” and is against all Internet Service Providers (ISP) Terms of Service. This list is used without the user’s knowledge or permission. If there were a good side to this, it would be at one time there was a relationship between the consumer and seller. The worst would be that this is pure spam. These types of lists are known to have very low success rate and the complaints are enormous. Consumers that spend their time actively stopping an action they never wanted in the first place will not be interested in the product being marketed. They will not buy simply due to the fact of the annoyance they have suffered in trying to stop the unsolicited e-mails. They may even like the product and it would not matter. If you treat the consumer disrespectfully, you will not succeed in the business of Internet marketing.
Confirmed Opt-Out
This type of list will contact the consumer and let them know they have been added and offer them the opportunity to unsubscribe if they want to. There will be a link somewhere in the body of the message or the consumer can simply reply to the e-mail.
Unconfirmed Opt-Out
Users of spam get around technical issues are if an opt-in request is unverified. When this happens, the bulk-mail will generate a message that states “You opted-in to this list.” This method is an excuse used by spammers so that they can gather lists and claim that the consumer opted-in.
Opt-In
Consumers actively sign up for your services. The downside to opt-in is that many third parties can also add others to the list. When this happens, you may not know if you have a list of consumers who are truly interested in your product and/or services.
Confirmed Opt-In
This is also known as, “Closed-loop opt-in” and is an effective means to having a list of consumers who want to be there. As soon as a name has been added to your list e-mail is generated to inform the subscriber they have been added and allows them the option to unsubscribe immediately. This form of verification has become standard in the Internet marketing business.
Double Opt-In
The consumer must add himself/herself to the list and then confirm a second time through an e-mail that they want to be on your list. This step is done to allow anyone who was added without his or her permission to unsubscribe. The added protection is that if they do nothing they will not be added to the list. The benefit is that they will not be bothered by e-mails they do not wish to receive. You will not be wasting valuable time marketing to someone who is not interested.
The steps you have taken to build your list are important. You have worked hard to abide by your Internet Service Providers (ISP) Terms of Use and you are not using span technology to acquire your e-mail leads. You have made your list highly targeted and now you are ready to send out your e-mail marketing campaign. Before you hit the send button have you included a place where the consumers (carefully chosen as they may be) have a place to unsubscribe. This will give you the opportunity to contact them later to see if they may be interested. Another advantage is through word of mouth. If you treat the consumers on your list with respect, you acknowledge their desire to receive your services at this time they will let their friends and family know that you are a respectable business owner. You have a great service to offer and at the same time respect the privacy of your clients. This is important because you do not want anyone saying the products may be good but that your do not respect your consumers. Word of mouth can either make your company grow or break it to the ground.
