In or Out

What’s your opinion, would you rather have an email newsletter sent to you automatically after purchasing something at an electronics store or willingly sign up for a random email once a month from a service you signed up for?

Yes, the Opt-In vs Opt-Out battle rages on.

I recently went to an Authorized Apple Retailer here in Spain because my Power Adapter hit the fritz (I will keep their name out of it). At the end of my transaction I was asked for my email address, obviously I questioned this, but when the attendant replied that it was to email my receipt I naturally said, yes. I don’t like to waste paper, but if anything happened to this adapter I needed the receipt.

Not much later, I got a monthly newsletter from the store. This frustrated me a little bit. I like newsletters but with some conditions. I don’t like product based newsletters. But, if you’re giving me updates about your company, or useful information that I can learn from or write a blog about, hell yes! Let me sign up for it though!

From EmailStatCenter.com

More than 80% of participants favor doing business with organizations that use opt-in permission to send them email. - Habeas (2008)

That’s a solid percentage.

Only 92% of retailers have an email sign-up form or link on their homepage. - Email Experience Council/RetailEmail.Blogspot, “Retail Email Subscription Benchmark Study” (July 25, 2007)

When looking at those two together. That’s a good number of possible subscribers voluntarily signing up for your newsletter.

Why are you still choosing the opt-out way? You will either go straight to spam, delete, or unsubscribe!

Image by Jerry Lindholm