If you’re going to ask people for their name and email address in order to join your list you need to make sure that your mailing list program is using double optin. This means that after the person signs up an email is automatically sent to them asking them to confirm their desire to be on your list. This is used so you do not get accused of spam.

Because the person had to open their email and click on a link this proves that they did in fact request to join your list. If you do not use double optin a person might sign up under someone elses email just for the “crack” or “hell of it”. The unsuspecting other person starts to revieve emails from you and gets annoyed. They can then accuse you of spamming them as you can not prove it was they who actually signed up for your list.  Be very careful of this. The last thing you want is to be accused of spam.

Before buying an email marketing service ask if they provide double optin features. Although it means your visitor who signs up needs to take an extra step in order to join your list the advantage is two fold. Firstly you know they want to join your list. Secondly it covers you against spam complaints.

In my next post I’ll talk about how to build the relationship with your list.