Confirming Email Addresses

[dthomsen8]

Oour civic association webmaster is changing hosting companies. The new hosting company has a strict anti-SPAM policy, which will require our members to confirm their email address and willingness to receive email from us. If they
don't confirm, then they won't get meeting notices.

My question is what can we expect in the way of confirmation percentages? We have over 200 members with email addresses.

[Kelvyn]

Originally Posted by dthomsen8

My question is what can we expect in the way of confirmation percentages?

That depends on a lot of factors. Interest or lack of, age, understanding, moved away, changed email providers, passed away etc etc.

For email confirmation for PIA hosts like this it is probably best to use a newsletter management program with opt-in/out. That way the recipient can simply click a response in the mail without having to compose a reply, and the same program/database can be used for future newsletter mailouts and also would provide acceptable sign up system.

[dthomsen8]

Originally Posted by Kelvyn

... For email confirmation for PIA hosts like this it is probably best to use a newsletter management program with opt-in/out. That way the recipient can simply click a response in the mail without having to compose a reply...

The email message to me required me to copy the URL and paste it into the browser address window. It was not a link. This factor alone ensures a reduced response.

I think the association should continue to send emails to those who do not confirm, doing it by some other method than that required by the PIA hosting company. If any member association fails to communicate with its members, it won't be very successful. The association already has decided to never send out newsletters or meeting notices by US Mail, leaving a significant number of members, especially the seniors, without information. This saves money and effort, but it also reduces attendance and volunteer effort, too.

[dthomsen8]

Is there some legal requirement in the US that requires an opt-in reply to the first email? Someone at our civic association board meeting thought so. Someone else thought that providing an email address on our membership form should be sufficient. We aren't out harvesting email addresses elsewhere to add to our membership list.

The link in the email sent to me for opt-in was not a hyperlink, so I had to copy it into the clipboard and paste it in the browser. Another board member said that did not work for him, so he gave up.

[Richard Waller]

We have a specialised audience who all have Email and we use these words:

You have been sent this email because we believe that you are interested in these subjects. If you have not already registered for this newsletter and would like us to send you updates and links to news and resources you may find of interest, please e-mail us on subscribe@remitconsulting.com and add your name and company in the body of the e-mail. If you do not wish to receive information or news from us, please send an e-mail to unsubscribe@remitconsulting.com </quote>

At the other end of the scale Natwest Bank ask me on each statement whether I would like to save a tree and not have paper statements, only electronic - which most of my friends do and never send cheques either. Certainly on a paper newsletter you ought to ask people to phone you if they do not want to receive the stuff any more.

[dthomsen8]

Richard,

Your reply is just what I needed to clear my thinking on our civic association membership problems. You describe two approaches, and neither one is anything like the process we have. Our approach is based on paper, not electronic consent, and therefore we are always going to have problems.

Thank you for your response. I will let you know if or when we change our process to have fewer problems.

David