What's Double Opt-In? Is it the Same as Confirmed Opt-In?

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What's Double Opt-In? Is it the Same as Confirmed Opt-In?

"Double Opt-In" is not necessarily the same as Confirmed Opt-In; however, in some discussions people use the two terms to mean the same thing.

Confirmed Opt-In

This term refers to a situation where someone fills out a web form, requesting information from you, then affirms their request to be on your list by clicking on a unique link emailed to their address. If they don't click on that link, their signup is not completed, and they receive nothing further from you.

In conversations with email marketers, we've found that many use the term "Double Opt-In" to refer to this situation. However, there are also other uses of this term that refer to less reputable email practices.

"Double Opt-In" as a Spammer Term

Double Opt-In can also refer to a situation where someone submits an email address in a web form, then submits that address again on a second page (which they're taken to immediately after submitting the first form). This usage is commonly seen among spammers and lead vendors.

Double Opt-In is also used by spammers to refer to a situation where the subscriber was "opted-in" without their consent, then "opted-in" a second time when they failed to unsubscribe after receiving the first message. (ref: SpamHaus)