Email Marketing

  • Using Constant Contacts Text-to-Join Feature

    Sadly, this feature will be discontinued in the Spring of 2023.

    The alternative will be the SMS feature.

    With Constant Contacts Text-to-Join, you can quickly and easily grow your email list without having to sign people up manually. What a time saver! It’s a great way to increase leads and subscribers at events or in your place of business!

    With this feature your new subscribers can text the keyword to an auto-generated SMS short code and submit their email address to automatically join a mailing list that you select.

    Place it at your restaurant or store entrance or on your marketing materials. Coaches and speakers can use it while they are presenting and have people sign up immediately so you can stay in touch.

    Watch the video as I saw you how.

    Don’t have a Constant Contact account? As a Certified Solutions Partner I can offer you discounts and even a trial account. Have questions? Reach out to me through our contact page.

    To get updates about marketing and business growth strategies text-to-join my contact list at MarketCoach at 22828.

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  • Social Posting Using Constant Contact

    With Constant Contacts Email Marketing Platform, you can schedule and post to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn with just a few clicks. In addition, you can respond to Facebook and Instagram messages, mentions, and comments.

    Watch this quick tutorial video as I explain how you too can use this email platform to schedule and post your social media updates.

    Don’t have a Constant Contact account? As a Certified Solutions Partner I can offer you discounts and even a trial account. Have questions? Reach out to me through our contact page.

    To get updates about marketing and business growth strategies text-to-join my contact list at MarketCoach at 22828.

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  • Email Creation Made Easy by Using Constant Contact

    Sending emails to your customers is a great way to stay in touch with them, but it’s hard to create professional looking email templates for many business owners. That’s why I recommend using the Constant Contact platform.

    Why Constant Contact is the Best Email Marketing Tool for Businesses

    Constant Contact has been a lifesaver for small businesses across the world. The platform helps you create professional emails that you can send to your customers/prospects and they even offer other services on the platform like the ability to share your social media posts. 

    In full transparency, I’ve been a Certified Solutions Partner with Constant Contact since 2016 and personally use it for my own business and my clients. Constant Contact is known as the leader in email marketing solutions, so for me it’s a no-brainer if you’re looking for a user friendly platform for sending emails to your customers!

    The best part is that this platform has changed with the times and offers its users an easy drag and drop editor along with professionally designed templates that you can brand and make your own. 

    Recently, Constant Contact has even added cross device templates so that you can use their mobile app or website to design and schedule your next campaign with ease. Imagine you’ve got everything you need right at your fingertips. So let’s dive a little deeper and look at some of the features. 

    Let’s Talk about the Many Features

    Well I’ve already mentioned the drag-and-drop email editor, social media posting tool (now integrated with Canva!) and customizable mobile responsive email templates but wait there’s so much more:

    • Auto-adjust smart columns for emails
    • Comprehensive image library
    • Up to 2GB hosting for images and documents
    • Intuitive landing page editor
    • List-building tools for websites, social media, and SMS
    • Email list management
    • List segmentation tools
    • Duplicate contact management
    • Social share for emails
    • Social media monitoring and inbox
    • Social analytics and engagement
    • Facebook and Instagram ad management
    • Google Ads tool
    • Real-time campaign tracking
    • Campaign comparison
    • Click-tracking heat map
    • Click segmentation
    • Subject line A/B testing
    • Marketing calendar
    • Email marketing automation
    • eCommerce integration
    • Event marketing
    • Online fundraising tools
    • Custom surveys and polls
    • Coupon creation
    • Client management
    • Multi-user accounts
    • Email integrations with platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce and Eventbrite
    • And the Cherry on the top you can even create a website on the platform!

    Have I got your attention?

    The Benefits

    The Constant Contact software is extremely user-friendly. To create an email it only takes a few simple steps and it’s easy to use. It’s also comprehensive so you’re able to include attachments, links, and videos which help make the email look more professional. The email can also be customized with your branding to make it your own and create your business identity. 

    There are a variety of templates that are available for businesses to use if they don’t want to start from scratch. Each one caters to specific goals and needs such as merchandising ads, birthday autoresponders, and customer loyalty campaigns just to name a few.

    If you’re looking for help with sending emails to your customers, reach out to me.  I’ll show you how easy the software is to use and how comprehensive. Book a complimentary 15 minute strategy session with me at https://strategizeyoursuccess.as.me/letstalkstrategy or reach out to me on our contact page at https://strategizeyoursuccess.com/contact/.

    If you feel like you want to give the platform a go try taking advantage of the FREE trail version below.

    Interested in Trying Constant Contact for FREE?

    Just click on the banner.

    Constant Contact
    *This is a trail version of Constant Contact for up to 100 contacts only.
    Interested in discounts for email plus? Contact me for details.

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  • The Fastest Way to Build a New Email List

    I know a lot of people worry that their email lists are small but small lists can be powerful if you have action takers and a devoted following. Don’t worry no one opens their brand-new email management system and sees thousands of prospects from day one unless they imported them from another list. We all start with a single subscriber, and we grow our list from there. I don’t know about you but I’m grateful for each and everyone that is on our list.

    What you do while your list is growing is critical to your future success. 

    It’s never too early to start promoting

    This is the number one mistake those with a small list make. They believe—wrongly—that there’s no point in promoting to a small list. 

    There are two reasons this is a huge mistake. First, when all you send your list is information, and you never make an offer, you’re training them that there will never be an offer. Then the first time you send out an email promoting a product, they’ll react with annoyance. How dare you try to sell them something?!? But seriously, why wait?

    The second issue with not promoting is that you’re creating a (bad) habit in yourself. Yes, it’s important that you provide value to your subscribers. It’s equally important that your mailing list not be an expensive time-suck. The only way your list will pay its way is if you’re presenting offers on a regular basis. 

    If you find yourself struggling to grow your list, reach out to us! We will work closely with you to develop a strategy to increase your reach. We can also help with email list monitoring and content development.

    Don’t promote too much

    Despite what we just said, it is possible to burn out your list with promotion after promotion. If all you ever send to your subscribers is offers to buy, your unsubscribe rate will skyrocket!

    Instead, set up a system of nurturing your list by providing great value. Teach them to open your emails by striving to always include information they want and need. Share your stories with them. Tell them what you’ve learned. Interact with them. Promotions are necessary, but they’re not the primary way to connect with your list. 

    One of the ways J. Crew, Spotify, and SoulCycle cultivate customer loyalty is through valuable content. While there are many ways to do this, email marketing is one of the most powerful ways to reach your target audience — if done correctly. (blog.hubspot.com)

    Use segmentation

    Not everyone on your mailing list will benefit from the same information or promotions. Some subscribers may be at the beginning of their journey and just learning about the topics you cover. Others will be more advanced and in need of different advice. Some subscribers will be active buyers and jump on offers quickly. Others may not. 

    By creating segments in your mailing list software, you can provide your subscribers with exactly what they need when they need it. This targeted approach will result in more sales and a happier subscriber base. 

    Whether your list is 10 or 10,000, these strategies will help keep your list profitable, active, and responsive. And a responsive list is one of the most valuable assets businesses have. Take good care of it, and it will take care of you. 

    Want to know what’s more important than a great big mailing list? 

    The relationship you have with your subscribers

    It’s true. You can have 100,000 people on your list, but if they don’t know you, and worse, if they don’t trust you, then that great big list is worth next to nothing. 

    Stay in Touch

    This is likely the biggest mistake new email marketers and coaches make when it comes to their list. Sure, you have great intentions, but somehow sending emails just doesn’t feel so important when you only have a few hundred people on your list. So you procrastinate. 

    Days turn into weeks. Weeks become months. Pretty soon you realize it’s been 187 days since you last sent an email. Yikes! That’s no way to build a relationship. 

    Make it a point to mail your list at least once per month or weekly if you have the time. This way they don’t forget who you are (and why they subscribed in the first place). 

    Always keep their best interests in mind

    Making money is great. According to Adobe, email has an ROI of $40 for every $1 spent. (crazyegg.com) Ultimately, that’s everyone’s goal. But hammering your list with endless offers is not the best way to go about it as I mentioned before. Remember, you’re building a relationship, and that means always asking yourself, “Is this in the best interest of my subscriber?” When you email with a genuine desire to help your reader, it will always be well received. Be a giver and eventually people will trust in your intentions.

    Remember, they need you and your expertise

    Here’s another all-too-common mistake newer list owner’s make: assuming “someone else has already done it/said it/mailed about it.” 

    Which could not be further from the truth, and here’s why: Your subscribers count on you to give them the information they need. They’re looking to you for advice. They need your insight into the right training and coaching programs, which software to buy, what blogs to read. And it doesn’t matter if other businesses are talking about an offer or new product or have developed an eCourse that’s like yours. Because for some people, the message will only make a connection when they hear it from you. 

    The bottom line? As with most things, quality surpasses quantity when it comes to list building. Just because you don’t have thousands of subscribers is no reason to avoid mailing them, and it’s not an excuse for back-burning your products, programs, or training courses.

    Email marketing is a high-impact, low-cost way of delivering your marketing message to current customers and prospects if, that is, you have a great email list. If you don’t, this article is for you. Read on for the most effective and creative ways to build your email list. (verticalresponse.com) You can always reach out to us with any questions or advice on building your list. Remember, your subscribers are counting on you. 

    Book a Complimentary 15-Minute Strategy Session and let us help you create the list you always wanted.

    Book Now

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  • 3 Types of Email Subject Lines That Increase Your Open Rates

    Email open rates are a one metric we consistently watch and try to improve. There’s good reason for it, too.

    If your subscribers aren’t opening your email, then they can’t read about:


    • Your newest coaching program
    • Your latest must-have tool discovery
    • That epic blog post you just wrote

    The trouble is, you only have about two seconds to entice a reader to open your email. Even worse, you have to do it in ten words or less.

    Yikes! That’s a pretty tall order, even for seasoned copywriters. But there are some tricks you can use.

    Be Ambiguous

    If you’ve been on Facebook lately you’ve no doubt seen those “click bait” headlines that say things like, “She adds this to a box of Wheat Thins and I’m drooling!” The reason headlines like that work is because we can’t help but want to know what “this” is that she’s adding to her Wheat Thins. Is it sugar? Salt? Peanut butter? We imagine the possibilities, but in the end we have to find out, so we click.


    You can employ the same technique in your email subject lines. Just substitute the word “this” for the actual thing you’re writing about, and you’ve got instant enticement.

    Use Numbers

    Here’s another strategy for creating must-read content: numbers.


    “7 Hidden Benefits of Waking Up at 5am”
    “3 Unlikely Ways to Close the Sale”
    “5 Social Media Platforms You Shouldn’t Be Ignoring”


    The reason numbers work so well in subject lines is because we are ego-centric and curious. We simply must know if we already use those three ways to close the sale. We will either walk away feeling good for being a marketing maven, or we will have learned something. Both are compelling reasons to open an email.


    Use Power Words


    Just as with all writing, choosing power words is far more effective than settling for their weaker counterparts. Imagine these two subject lines appear in your inbox.

    Which are you more likely to open:


    “WordPress Makes Better Looking Websites for Non-Designers”
    or
    “Create a Gorgeous Website—Even if You’re Not a Designer”

    While both subjects offer the same information, the first is weak, while the second is far more compelling.


    When it comes to email subjects, there are a few more tips to keep in mind if you want to up your open rates:


    Keep it short – no more than 10 words at the very most, and fewer if you can.
    Test everything. Use your autoresponder’s split-testing functionality to see which subject line styles perform best in your market.
    Use personalization, but sparingly. Occasional use of your reader’s first name can be a powerful technique.


    Here’s the bottom line: If your subscribers aren’t opening your email, they’re not buying. Paying closer attention to your subject lines is the single most important thing you can do for your email marketing campaigns.

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  • Creating Landing Pages that Convert

     

    Are you busy? Of course, you are and that is another reason that you need landing pages that convert because your readers have short attention spans because they are busy, too.

     

    I’m sure that’s no big surprise to you. In fact, you probably browse the Internet at light speed, too, scanning titles and subheads, skipping to the bottoms of sales pages, and fast-forwarding through videos just so you can get to the next thing. You’re probably doing it on this blog post (caught you). We all do it.

     

    The same is true for your readers, and if you want to capture their attention long enough to entice them to opt-in to your mailing list, then you must keep that in mind.

     

    Newspaper Publishing Tip

     

    Have you ever noticed that everything you need to know about a news story is in the first paragraph? Journalists are trained to answer all the questions—who, what, where, when, why and how—in the first few sentences. Why is that?  They do it just in case the story gets cut off when the paper goes to print.

     

    In today’s online world, where column inches no longer matter, this type of story formatting isn’t quite so critical any more, but it’s still a useful tip to use when you’re writing an opt-in page.

     

    Think about it: If your readers are skimmers (as most of us are) then making sure you include the most important information right at the top of the page is going to greatly improve your conversion rates, right?

     

    For opt-in pages, that means putting the biggest benefits in your subject line, and following it up with two or three sentences that build on your headline. That’s it. Keep it short, sweet, and benefit driven, and you’ll have greater success than you would with longer content.

     

    Graphics Matter

     

    Whether your opt-in incentive is an eBook, a video, or even a simple checklist, having a graphic representation of your offer is an important component of your landing page.

     

    Typically, you’ll create (or have created) a digital book or CD cover. You can easily outsource this, but be sure you follow these strategies:

     

    • Bold fonts and short titles make your cover more readable.
    • Use high-contrast colors for more visibility.
    • Be true to your brand. Stick with colors and fonts your readers expect.

     

    Crafting a Compelling Call to Action

     

    While it seems as if you can expect readers to know what to do when they land on your opt-in page, it’s just not true. You must invite them to take the next step. Give them specific instructions and you’ll have higher conversion rates than if you just leave it to chance.

     

    Your call to action should tell a reader exactly what to do, like this:

     

    • Click here to download
    • Enter your name and email for instant access

     

    Watch the text on your form buttons, too. After all, “Subscribe” or “Sign Up” doesn’t exactly make you feel excited, does it? Consider using a phrase that matches your call to action instead, such as:

     

    • Get the Checklist!
    • Send the Video!

     

    call to action on landing page

    Be Sure to Offer Value

     
     
    If you are offering a free gift on your landing page make sure it has value, provides a solution to a problem and highlights your expertise.

     

    I’m not saying give away all your techniques and special formulas for success but perhaps you can offer a solution to a pain point that you see in the market and provide a step-by-step way to approach it. Show examples, do an over-the-shoulder training and/or provide resources to some of your favorite apps.

     

    Take a look at your opt-in pages. Do they follow these strategies? If not, consider making some changes to your copy, your images, and your calls to action, and the value you offer. Then watch your results. You’ll more than likely see a boost in conversion rates if you do.

     

    Need some help with this? Let me share a wonderful resource. Check out our friends over at LeadPages. They offer templates that can be customized to create beautiful landing pages (and other pages, too) and save you time and designer costs if creating landing pages is not for you. I use them myself and have since they started. Check them out.

     

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  • 6 Considerations to Ponder When Choosing an Email List Service

    One of the most important choices you’ll make when you embark on adding email marketing to your plan is which email list technology to pick. There are many very good technologies available from which to choose. In order to find the right one for your business, you will need to answer some very important questions.

    How Will You Use the Technology?

    Are you going to send out automatic message to all subscribers such as an e-course, or a regular, full-featured newsletter? Exactly what are your plans with your email list? You need to write down a list of the ways in which you hope to use the technology so you can determine which technology fits those needs.

    What Is Your Marketing Budget?

    As always, knowing your budget in advance is an important component of choosing any technology. It’s hard to pick anything if you don’t actually have a budget decided. An email list service can be free in some cases to hundreds of dollars each month. While it’s not really suggested you go with a free option, you have quite a scale to work with when choosing your budget.

    How User Friendly Is the Service?

    Once you find several options within your budget that offer the features that you need, take advantage of their free offers or low-cost sign-up rates to start a new account and test them out. Some software will be easier for you to use than others. It’s good if you know how to use it, and it seems intuitive to you. Also, check to see what type of training they offer new subscribers.

    email marketing

    Will You Outsource?

    You might want to answer this question before the user-friendly question, if only because if you are going to outsource it’s probably better to get help before you choose your technology. If you already have a virtual assistant or an online business manager, you might want to inquire with them to find out which email list service they recommend. It’ll be easier for them to work with what they’re accustomed to. Be sure to ask them why they prefer it over another type of software.

    What Is the Delivery Rate?

    This is a very important thing to know. There are some software packages that you can put on your own servers which will not have as high of a delivery rate as some of the email list services that use their servers instead of yours. Understanding delivery rate, and how this technology works, is going to help you make the best choice for your business.

    What Features Are Available?

    • Sign-Up Forms
    • Email Newsletters
    • Multi-List Management
    • Subscriber Management
    • Attractive Email Templates
    • Personalization
    • Allows HTML
    • Autoresponder Technology
    • RSS to E-mail
    • Social Media Integration
    • Tracking Features
    • Email Marketing API
    • Subscriber Segmenting
    • High Deliverability Rate
    • Great Customer Service
    • Fair Pricing Plans

    The above is a list of various features that you might find offered with different email list services out there. You’ll need to understand how you’re going to use the technology and how large your list will become to know which is best for you to choose. Once you answer all the other questions you’ll be able to know which features you need.

    In conclusion, know what you need before you start looking. Know whether you want software that is on your own server or if it can be a service that uses their server and understand how that affects functionality, price, and your own technology preparedness.

    If all of this is too overwhelming please reach out to me. We offer coaching, consulting and outsourcing services to help you in your business.

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  • 4 Tips on How to Use Your Blog to Build Your Email List

    One of the most important aspects of having an active blog is building your email list. You want almost everyone who visits your blog to feel compelled to sign up for your list. Your email list is one of the most powerful pieces of your online business. It allows you to have a closer relationship with your followers.

    So you need to think of your blog as a gateway to building your list which is essential. That’s why your blog needs to provide excellent, varied, regular and targeted content. Plus, don’t be shy, ask them to sign up. Make it apparent.

    4 Tips on How to Use Your Blog to Build Your Email List

    Excellent Content —

    For content to be excellent it has to be well-written, and targeted to a particular audience. Everything on your site needs to be accurate and above average from the normal site content such as your about page, to the rest of the content you put on your page from a blog post, to articles, to images and more.

    Tip: Get it edited, or hire a writer or VA, then you edit it. No one can write perfect content without editing. You also need to make sure that your voice is infused into everything you put out.

    Varied Content —

    If you put up the same form and type of content every week, people will get bored. Mix it up a bit and use slideshows, podcasts, video casts, eBooks, PDF downloads, apps and more. Your audience will be more excited to check out your content if they’re not sure what type it will be as long as it’s relevant to them.

    Tip: You can re-use content in one form and transfer it to the new form. A blog post can become a podcast, can become a videocast, and can become an infographic.

    home-office-336373_640

    Regular Content —

    If you aren’t going to focus on putting up content on a regular basis, focus on at least 4 blog posts a month. By doing so, you’re going to get the bang for your buck you’re hoping to achieve. Shoot for at minimum 4 blog posts a month and you will reap the rewards with a bigger email list and higher targeted traffic that is ready to purchase from you.

    Tip: To be sure you have plenty of regular content, brainstorm in advance using a calendar so you know what you need before you sit down to write it or hire a writer.

    Call To Action —

    Never forget your call to action. If you want people to sign up for your email list, you need to ask them. Your email list is the lifeblood of your business. If you build a targeted list you can give yourself a raise whenever you want to by promoting a sale, promoting your new blog posts, and getting your audience involved in product creation. The key is to ask them to do what you want them to do.

    Tip: Make it a habit after every blog, podcast, videocast, and so forth to remind users of your newsletter and your other offerings. If they read all the way to the bottom, or listened all the way to the end, then they’re going to want to know more.

     

    Using your blog to build your email list is one of the easiest ways to get action and a good return on investment from your blog. Fill your blog with useful, original, credible and friendly blogs that speak directly to your audience and you’ll discover that being a blogger is profitable and fun.

     

     

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  • Email Marketing Makes It Happen

    Email Marketing

    Opt-In Marketing

    One of the most valuable assets an online business can have is an opt-in list.  What’s this and how does it work?  We’re here to help!

     

    An opt-in marketing list is where a customer (or potential customer, but it’s most often somebody who has purchased something from your site) gets an option to include themselves in on an email list that your company sends out. 

     

    This is very different from spam, which is where unscrupulous business owners go “phishing” for random email addresses that they find on the Internet and relentlessly bombard these poor souls with emails.  Spam does nobody any good and basically ends up costing a business a lot of money and ends up irritating people.

    Opt-In Lists

     

    An opt-in list, though, is a brilliant for business because the people who receive your emails are actually interested in receiving them.  You can send to this list of people whoare interested in keeping in touch with your business by sending occasional emails and only when you have something of worth to say or offer – which can detail everything from the current goings-on of your business to deals and offers and promotions.  Many companies offer special promotions to those who join their opt-in list as an incentive to, well, opt in.

     

    Opt-in lists give customers who are interested in you your attention.  Even better, the effect of an opt-in list is entirely traceable, as if you start offering promotions through your list you’ll be able to tell how many of them get redeemed.  Opt-in lists are also another great way to get out more of that free expert content you offer, specially designed for those who wish to follow you.  Many smaller businesses offer Q and A sessions through their opt-in list, where followers can ask specific questions that can be answered through the general forum of your email.

    PromotionsEmail Marketing

    These lists are also the digitalequivalent to having “regulars” at a store and engaging them in casual chat.  Through an email list you can develop more intimate relationships with customers as compared to the normal “anonymous buyer” that hops into your site to pick up a few items, and then hops out without you knowing anything more about them other than what they bought. Close relationships with customers generate brand loyalty, which is a hot commodity.

     

    Want another bonus?  Email marketing can also be entirely free if you manage it yourself.  Even if you choose to outsource your email marketing or leave it to an employee to handle, it is much cheaper than print advertising because of how targeted it is.  Individual customers make specific requests, and you fill them by sending out the information direct to those who asked for it.  It’s a very simple, yet incredibly effective method of advertising that is guaranteed to optimize conversions and get people talking about you, particularly if you make your opt-in list a desirable deal to join.

    We are here to help you with your email marketing needs if you’re overwhelmed and need help. Contact us today!

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  • Email Marketing Autoresponder Options

    Email Marketing
    When it comes to email marketing businesses are concerned on whether they should use a single or double opt-in option. Some will say that using a double opt-in makes them lose subscribers – after all, how many people really take the time to click a link to confirm their subscription? That may be a good argument but it’s really a weak one if you think about it.

    Anyone that is interested in receiving the information you’ll be sending is going to take the time to click the confirmation link. It’s pretty normal and standard these days so people are aware they have to confirm if they want to be added to your list.

    There are several reasons you should use the double opt-in function.

    1. Canada’s new Anti-Spam Law. With the recent changes Canada has made and the implementation of their new Anti-Spam Law, double-opt in should be an absolute mandatory part of your email marketing campaign. To learn more about the new law (for Canada), check out this article: What You Need to Know About Canada’s Anti-Spam Law (CASL).
    2. Less chance of being flagged as a spammer. When people are required to confirm their subscription, your emails have less of a chance of being marked as spam.
    3. Better open rates. When people are required to confirm they want to receive your information and are willing to not only sign up for your list, but click that confirmation link, you know they truly want to see your emails. This means you’ll have better open rates.

    These are just three of many reasons you should (or at least consider it) use double opt-ins for your email lists. It truly is the best way to not only protect yourself, but to ensure that only people who really are interested in what you have to say and want to be on your list, end up on your list.

    If you need more proof that double opt-in is the way to go, look at some of these organizations that require people to confirm (double opt-in) when they sign up for their lists:

    • Oprah
    • IRS.gov
    • Microsoft
    • Whitehouse.gov

    And that’s just a few!

    One other thing to keep in mind – yes, some people will sign up and still not click the confirmation link, it happens. But don’t fret. When it comes to email marketing and building your list, you want quality over quantity anyway. If you find that it’s happening often then you might want to put a note on your thank you page (You do have a thank you page you send people to after they sign up right?) telling people that they will receive an email shortly and to be sure they click on the confirmation link in it. Remember, sometimes people just need to be told what to do!

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