I’m somewhat new to this. I’d like to offer a free report after a person provides their name and email address on my website. I’ll probably use Mailchimp for my autoresponder, and I’d like to set up a double opt-in.
But, what is the best way to get the report to the person? In other words, what happens after the double opt-in, after they confirm their email? Do I just send them another email with a link to a downloadable zip file? Or is there a better and/or more secure way to provide the report?
Thank you,
Ron
Ron -
I might suggest that you provide a link to an unlisted page on your website that has the downloadable zip file. Emailing the zip file could present multiple hazards that are just going to become a headache for you. What is the attachement is too large for their email system? Maybe their security filters are going to strip out .zip files as attachments. Too many possibilities.
If you create an unlisted page on your website to host the file, it relieves you of those potential email issues. You could then just have the auto-responder from the double opt-in direct the user to the unlisted page. Just don’t forget to put that unlisted page in your robots.txt file so no search engine spiders pick it up.
Hey Jeff.
Thanks for the feedback, although you may have misread my post. Of course I wouldn’t email them the report. I said above that I would email them a link to a downloadable zip file. That’s how I’ve set it up for now. I was just wondering if there was a better solution other than going the “membership site” route.
Ron -
Haven’t had my coffee for the morning yet and I did misread your post, sorry about that. What are you concerned with in terms of security? Somebody distributing your content without your involvement? Unfortunately that’s always going to be a possibility when offering a download. Even without a download, they could be a jerk and copy your content anyway. From a server/site security standpoint, I don’t see anything wrong with hosting a .zip file. If you’re trying to keep people from duplicating your content and reselling is, then maybe host the content directly on your website and don’t allow for a download. That doesn’t make it impossible, just more difficult.
Jeff
Hey Jeff.
No worries. Haven’t finished my first cuppa either.
Thanks for confirming on the security issue and, yes, that’s what I was concerned about. I had a feeling that there’s really no way to prevent copying or distributing of the report/ebook. Down the road I’ll probably go the “membership site” route, but for now I’ll just email the link.
I should add that I was assuming your PDF or eBook is branded with your name or your company name. At the very least this prevents someone from redistributing your exact file and would make them re-create the product if they wanted to steal your content.
Yes. It is branded, so it will be hard for them to “steal” it and if anything I’ll get the extra exposure.