What are the pros and cons of using double opt-in for email lists?

Email marketer from Quora explains that double opt-in ensures higher list quality. Subscribers who take the extra step to confirm their subscription are more likely to be engaged and valuable contacts, contributing to a cleaner and more responsive list.

Email marketer from OptinMonster mentions that one downside of double opt-in is list churning. Some people might subscribe but then fail to confirm, which means your list growth is slower compared to single opt-in methods. This can be especially noticeable for offers with a short lifespan.

Email marketer from Email Geeks points out the downside of COI is the reduced opt-in rate (click rate on COI email). Suggests mitigating risks with CAPTCHAs, real-time email validation, and filtering out non-clickers.

Email marketer from Email Geeks emphasizes the benefits of COI, stating it's like removing counterfeit bills from your wallet. Customers with deliverability issues often lack a strong COI process. Suggests testing COI, segmenting confirmers, and measuring engagement.

Email marketer from Reddit explains that double opt-in helps reduce bounce rates because it verifies that the email address is valid and that the subscriber has access to it, minimizing hard bounces from invalid or mistyped addresses.

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares data for political senders, with double opt-in lists having a 144% higher open rate compared to single opt-in lists.

Email marketer from Email Geeks advocates for COI because it's the strongest signal of potential recipient engagement in the least amount of time. Provides links to Litmus articles discussing the case for and against single- and double-opt-in.

Email marketer from ConvertKit shares that one con of double opt-in is that it increases the cost per acquisition (CPA) because fewer people will complete the subscription process compared to single opt-in. This can affect your marketing ROI.

Email marketer from Neil Patel shares that double opt-in can improve email engagement rates because subscribers are more likely to be genuinely interested in your content, leading to higher open and click-through rates.

Email marketer from Campaign Monitor explains that double opt-in protects sender reputation because it reduces the likelihood of being marked as spam, which can damage your IP address and domain's reputation, leading to deliverability issues.

Email marketer from Marketing Forums shares that double opt-in can create a negative user experience if the confirmation email is not well-designed or if the process is confusing. Clear and concise instructions are crucial to minimize drop-off.

Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests segmented testing to compare the effectiveness of confirmed and unconfirmed subscribers based on engagement. This can lead to insights on whether SOI or COI perform better for a given audience.

Expert from Email Geeks explains that improved data management allows for segmenting users based on confirmation status, trust, or engagement, offering advantages similar to requiring all users to confirm without the downsides.

Expert from Email Geeks provides archived links to Litmus articles discussing the case for and against single- and double-opt-in. Highlights that some links redirect to a single opt-in article.

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that double opt-in ensures the subscriber actually wants to receive emails and is more engaged in the newsletter content.

Expert from Email Geeks shares that making sure people provide correct data is about data integrity rather than just permission. Also highlights the use of "soft confirm" methods and the familiarity of 2FA.

Expert from Email Geeks explains that double opt-in kills spamtrap hits, which is crucial for smaller senders to avoid blocklisting. Recommends CAPTCHA and double opt-in to prevent both manual and scripted sign-up abuse.

Expert from Email Geeks explains that double opt-in reduces successful signups and is a crude tool for minimizing fake signups. It's a hammer, not a scalpel, but it can be useful in situations with malicious attempts to add users. Suggests mitigating risks through other means when possible.

Expert from Spam Resource explains that while not directly about pros/cons, double opt-in helps avoid spam traps, contributing to a better sender reputation, which is particularly beneficial for smaller senders to avoid blocklisting.

Documentation from ActiveCampaign shares that double opt-in significantly reduces spam complaints. Since only truly interested users confirm, they're less likely to mark your emails as spam, protecting your sender reputation.

Documentation from Litmus shares that double opt-in often leads to better email deliverability. Because you're only sending to engaged subscribers, your emails are more likely to reach the inbox rather than the spam folder, which boosts your deliverability rates.

Documentation from Sendinblue shares that double opt-in is required in some countries and industries because it helps ensure compliance with GDPR and other privacy laws by providing explicit consent for email marketing.

Documentation from HubSpot explains that the main con of double opt-in is that it can reduce the number of subscribers who actually join your list, as some people may not complete the confirmation process, leading to a smaller list size.

Documentation from Mailchimp explains that double opt-in helps build a higher quality list of engaged subscribers, reduces spam complaints, and improves deliverability, as only those who confirm their interest are added. It also provides clearer consent, helping to comply with privacy regulations.