Even on email lists your first impression is important

about why.

Open rates — You should be checking open rates on your welcome email, plus any email that you send to your list.  The reason is that if one opens then they unsubscribe immediately, the reason might have something to do with the email itself, but if they just unsubscribe and never open anything it could be something else. Maybe your subject lines, maybe something else.

There is, of course an alternative way to look at this problem of un-subscribes after receipt of welcome email. Your welcome email can be a way to weed through people who really aren't interested in your information or products but are only after freebies. Did you offer a freebie to this subscriber? If you're trying to draw people into your list and soft sell to them your products and information, you don't want them turned off right away by your welcome email. Read it out loud, have a friend read it. Pay someone to judge it if you have to.

Testing is fundamental to ensuring that your websites, welcome emails, ad copy, sales copy and all your content is functioning properly. Third party feedback can be essential in helping you improve your offerings. You can include a survey to people who unsubscribe and ask them why, or you can get professional feedback.

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