Automatically adding new users to your mailing list

Business
1

Hi

Simple question - someone registers on my site as a user.

Can I then send them the odd mail about the product, and offer a un-subscribe, or should I be also asking them to opt in?

I am in two minds - I don’t want to spam ppl (and I get this from big sites like Linked-in, I am pretty sure I never selected a check box), but I want to be able to market my product to a qualified lead.

Or could I put it in the TOS and ask a user to click accept?

Thanks in advance!

2

Opt out check boxes always seem sneaky to me and having to unsubscribe is always a worry as it lets the sender know the email address is active.

If people want to be kept aware of your product they will opt in and as far as I can see you have answered your own question with:

I don’t want to spam ppl (and I get this from big sites like Linked-in, I am pretty sure I never selected a check box),

Who reads the TOS?

3

Alway us opt-in!

Suggest two options:

  1. Have an option to subscribe on your registration form
  2. have an option to subscribe AND unsubscribe available for logged in members
4

Thanks guys. I want to respect our users 100% - that is why I’ve come here to ask your advice.

And I meant having a check box to say “opt in”, rather than opt out.

I like option 2. I could actually think of some really cool incentives to get ppl to subscribe - like build it into the mechanics of my app in some v small way. Like a “subscriber badge”. May sound silly but it gives me something to test / think about.

Thanks. I am using Mail Chimp, I wonder if they have some script or where I can connect my subscriber list to the opt in button? I’ll have a dig.

5

I would do both.

And for No. 2, have a separate page or section for “Manage your email preferences”.

And also have an Unsubscribe link in the email itself.

I am using Mail Chimp, I wonder if they have some script or where I can connect my subscriber list to the opt in button?

MailChimp will only accept accounts where there is a clear opt-in mechanism. They also require an easy means of opting out.

I could actually think of some really cool incentives to get ppl to subscribe

There’s no harm in that at all. In fact, it’s good marketing to give an incentive to opt in.

Mike

6

Hi and thank you for your time.

What do you mean by “account”. Are you referring to an API request to transmit data to their server?

On another note

My application has an email preferences tab (although it is in development and hidden, damn mail triggers!). The system will issue a reminder email when something needs to be completed (such as vote on some evidence, or a reminder that evidence needs to be submitted). These activities are fundamentally linked to the mechanics of the system (or think game), and contribute towards its useability, and enjoyment. They are also highly requested by our users.

In short, I’d like to set this “on” as default. The email would be issued only where the user has taken some direct interaction with the web app. Is there a problem with this? Of course the user could go directly from that email to their preferences to alter the settings. I am not 100% set on this, and as I have said, I want respect for our users to be the guiding factor. In this case, I believe they would add enough value to perhaps justify their inclusion.

7

I was referring to the account that you create when you sign up with Mailchimp in order to use their service, that is, to send out bulk emails - not necessarily via their API.

Mike

8

Yes, they specifically say you must have the mail owners permission to use their service.