If you’re serious about growing a clean and high-converting email list in 2025, double opt-in is non-negotiable.
A double opt-in email process requires users to confirm their email address after signing up—typically by clicking a link in a confirmation email. While this extra step may feel like friction, it actually protects your sender reputation, improves list engagement, and ensures legal compliance.
Let’s look at why that matters:
- 📉 According to Validity’s 2024 Email Deliverability Benchmark, 20% of marketing emails never reach the inbox. The #1 reason? Poor list quality.
- 🧼 Mailchimp found that double opt-in lists have 72% higher average open rates and 114% higher click-through rates compared to single opt-in lists.
- 📜 Under GDPR and CAN-SPAM laws, double opt-in provides a clear consent trail, which helps you avoid fines or legal scrutiny—especially if you target users in the EU, UK, or Canada.
Real example: Suppose you’re offering a lead magnet—say, a “Free SEO Checklist.” With single opt-in, a fake email like test123@nomail.com
gets added instantly. That hurts your domain’s credibility. But with double opt-in, the fake email never confirms, and your list stays clean.
For WordPress users, FluentCRM makes this process seamless. You can auto-trigger confirmation emails, tag verified users, and even send reminders to those who don’t confirm—without needing an external SaaS tool.
What Is Double Opt-in and How It Works
Let’s break down double opt-in into a simple, visual workflow:
Step 1: A user fills out your signup form
Step 2: They get a confirmation email
Step 3: They click the confirm button
Step 4: They’re added to your email list and automations
By contrast, single opt-in skips Step 2 and 3—meaning every email submitted, whether fake, real, or mistyped, gets added to your list.
Why Marketers Prefer Double Opt-in
Here’s what data and experts say:
- 🔄 Better engagement: Campaign Monitor reports that double opt-in leads to 40% fewer unsubscribes and double the engagement rates over time.
- 🚫 Reduced spam complaints: When users confirm, they’re far less likely to mark your emails as spam.
- ✅ Improved sender reputation: ISPs like Gmail reward verified sender behavior. If your bounce and complaint rates drop, your inbox placement improves.
- 🧾 Built-in legal protection: Especially important for businesses operating under GDPR or Canada’s CASL.
Example from the Field
Let’s say you’re a freelancer building a niche email list on personal finance. You create a signup form using Fluent Forms and connect it with FluentCRM. You enable double opt-in.
Result? Only people who truly want your content get in. Your open rates climb to 35–40%, your email deliverability improves, and your content is reaching the right people—not Gmail’s spam folder.
And the best part? FluentCRM lets you fully customize the confirmation message and automate the entire flow—without needing a separate email marketing platform.
👉 Start using FluentCRM to automate double opt-in today
Benefits of Using Double Opt-in in 2025
You’re not just building a list—you’re building a high-quality, engaged audience. And that’s where double opt-in gives you an edge.
1. Higher Engagement Rates
Double opt-in subscribers have already taken two actions to join your list: submitted their email and confirmed it. That extra step is a signal of intent—and it pays off.
- 💡 Mailchimp’s data shows that double opt-in lists see up to 114% higher CTRs and 40% higher open rates.
- 🔁 Fewer passive or disengaged users means better campaign performance over time.
2. Reduced Spam Complaints and Bounces
With single opt-in, spam bots and mistyped emails can creep into your list. This leads to:
- High bounce rates
- Spam complaints
- Damage to your domain reputation
But with double opt-in, only valid and engaged users make it in. That means fewer headaches with email deliverability—and better inbox placement.
3. Improved List Quality = Better ROI
Let’s say you’re running a webinar campaign and want to send a 5-email sequence. If 30% of your list is unverified or unresponsive, you’re wasting send volume, bandwidth, and money.
But with a double opt-in list, every subscriber is a real prospect—raising your return on email investment.
4. Stronger Legal Compliance
Privacy laws are tightening globally—GDPR in the EU, CASL in Canada, and CCPA in California. These regulations emphasize clear consent and proof of subscription.
Double opt-in creates an automated audit trail. That one confirmation click can protect you in case of legal scrutiny.
5. Boosted Deliverability with ISPs
Email services like Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo analyze engagement metrics. When your emails have:
- Low bounce rates
- Low spam complaints
- High open/click rates
…it sends a positive signal to ISPs. Double opt-in helps you maintain that positive sender reputation long-term.
👉 Want to automate all of this inside WordPress? Get FluentCRM and start building smarter lists.
10 Best Double Opt-in Email Examples in 2025
Let’s dive into some real-world inspiration. Below are 10 double opt-in emails that are simple, effective, and high-converting. For each, we’ll highlight what makes it great—and how you can apply the ideas using FluentCRM.
1. ConvertKit – Clarity That Converts
Subject Line: Please Confirm Your Subscription
Why it Works:
ConvertKit keeps things radically simple. Their double opt-in email contains:
- A short header confirming what the user just did (e.g., “Thanks for signing up!”)
- One clear paragraph explaining the next step
- A large, centered confirmation button that says exactly what to do: “Confirm your subscription”
There’s no clutter, no multiple CTAs, no distractions. The email focuses on one action, which increases the confirmation rate.
Real-world Insight:
Simplicity wins. According to Litmus, emails with a single CTA see a 371% increase in clicks compared to emails with multiple CTAs.
What You Can Copy:
- Use a straightforward subject line like “Confirm your email to get started”
- Keep the body text under 50 words
- Use a button CTA with action-focused language
FluentCRM Tip:
In FluentCRM, go to Email Settings → Confirmation Email Template and write a short, action-driven email like ConvertKit’s. Use merge tags like {{contact.first_name}}
to personalize it, and set a bold CTA like “Yes, Subscribe Me”.
2. Patagonia – Build Trust First
Subject Line: Just to be sure—please confirm your email
Why it Works:
Patagonia uses the confirmation email to reinforce its values of sustainability, consent, and transparency.
What they include:
- A friendly line like: “We want to make sure we’ve got the right person.”
- An assurance: “We’ll only send what you asked for.”
- A CTA that feels aligned: “Yes, I want updates” instead of a generic “Confirm”
It doesn’t just ask for a click—it makes the user feel respected and in control.
Real-world Insight:
In a 2023 HubSpot survey, 58% of users said they were more likely to engage with brands that respected their communication preferences upfront.
What You Can Copy:
- Use conversational language in the body
- Reassure users that you won’t spam them
- Customize the CTA to match your brand voice
FluentCRM Tip:
You can rewrite the confirmation email tone to sound more human inside FluentCRM’s visual editor. Add a line like:
“We only want to email people who genuinely want our updates. If that’s you, just confirm below.”
Use a CTA like “Send me useful tips” instead of “Confirm Email”.
3. FluentCRM Example – Personalized + Contextual Trigger
Subject Line: One More Click to Get Your SEO Guide
Scenario:
You’re offering a lead magnet—like a free PDF checklist or webinar signup—on your WordPress site using Fluent Forms + FluentCRM.
Why it Works:
This email example is dynamic and fully personalized. It uses:
- The subscriber’s name (e.g., “Hi Ramesh”)
- Context about the lead magnet they requested: “Thanks for signing up for our SEO Starter Guide.”
- A direct CTA that reinforces the reward: “Confirm & Download Guide”
What Makes It Powerful:
- Benefit-driven CTA: The user gets something instantly after confirmation.
- High personalization using merge tags
- Automation-ready: Once they confirm, FluentCRM automatically tags them and delivers the content
Real-world Insight:
According to Experian, personalized transactional emails have 6x higher revenue per email compared to non-personalized ones.
What You Can Copy:
- Mention what the user opted in for
- Highlight the reward immediately after confirmation
- Personalize with first name and context
FluentCRM Tip:
- Go to Email Templates → Confirmation Email
- Add merge tags like
{{contact.first_name}}
- Customize the CTA text to reflect the offer: “Get My Guide”
- Use automation funnels to deliver the content only after the contact is marked as “confirmed”
👉 Get FluentCRM and replicate this in under 10 minutes.
4. Airbnb – Familiar, Friendly, and On-Brand
Subject Line: Please Confirm Your Email Address
Why it Works:
Airbnb uses a minimalist layout, consistent with their brand identity, and a conversational tone that feels like it’s coming from a friend—not a marketing tool.
The email reads like:
“Welcome to Airbnb! Just one quick step—click below to confirm your email and you’re all set to explore your next destination.”
Their call-to-action?
“Confirm Email Address”—short, clear, and on-brand.
Psychological Trigger:
This approach reduces user anxiety. A clean, design-focused email with human language builds trust and confidence, which is essential before a user makes future transactions or bookings.
What You Can Copy:
- Start with a warm, conversational greeting
- Stick to one column layout with generous white space
- Use a large, centered CTA that feels natural in your brand tone
FluentCRM Tip:
Design your confirmation email with FluentCRM’s block editor, mimicking Airbnb’s simplicity. Use your brand logo, a brief headline like “Almost done!”, and add spacing around the CTA to increase clicks.
5. Backlinko – Reinforce Value and Deliver on Promise
Subject Line: Get Your SEO Checklist – Confirm Your Email
Why it Works:
Brian Dean of Backlinko uses opt-in emails to drive instant value. His confirmation email:
- Reminds the user what they signed up for (the “SEO checklist”)
- Emphasizes that confirmation is required to access it
- Includes a clean button: “Send Me the Checklist”
It’s not just a confirmation—it’s a mini-landing page designed to increase perceived value.
Real-world Insight:
Incentive-based confirmation emails (where a lead magnet is gated behind a click) have shown to improve confirmation rates by up to 82%, according to GetResponse.
What You Can Copy:
- Repeat your lead magnet’s name in both the subject line and body
- Write a CTA that focuses on what the user receives (Send Me the Guide, Show Me the Blueprint)
- Reinforce urgency or exclusivity if it fits
FluentCRM Tip:
Use FluentCRM’s tagging system to deliver the freebie only after confirmation. This ensures:
- Clean list segmentation
- Better engagement
- Fulfillment only to interested, active users
Automation Workflow:
Trigger: Email confirmed → Condition: Tag missing → Action: Send SEO Checklist
6. Shopify – Reassurance Through Visual Guidance
Subject Line: Confirm Your Email to Start Selling
Why it Works:
Shopify goes a step further—they include visual guidance inside the email. It’s not just a block of text. It’s:
- A branded email with their logo
- An illustration or icon indicating the next action (e.g., a hand clicking a button)
- A simple line like: “One last step before you open your store—click below to confirm your email.”
Psychological Trigger:
This taps into visual reinforcement—helping users quickly understand what they need to do, which boosts conversions.
What You Can Copy:
- Add icons or illustrations (checkmarks, arrows, hands, etc.)
- Use design to guide the reader’s eye directly to the CTA
- Match the tone to your product (professional for SaaS, playful for eCommerce)
FluentCRM Tip:
If you’re using FluentSMTP + FluentCRM, your email branding will remain consistent with your domain. You can embed visual icons inside the confirmation email by uploading custom HTML or using the visual block editor.
Add custom HTML block or use icons like ✅ or 👉 to guide the user toward the button.
👉 Use FluentCRM to create branded, visual confirmation flows
7. Neil Patel – Educate While You Confirm
Subject Line: Confirm Your Email to Get My SEO Training
Why it Works:
Neil Patel turns every email—even a confirmation—into an opportunity to educate and build authority.
Here’s what he does:
- Thanks the subscriber for joining
- Mentions the value of the content they’re about to receive
- Provides a teaser tip or stat related to SEO, even before the user confirms
- CTA: “Yes, I Want to Learn SEO”
This reinforces urgency and builds trust while the subscriber is still cold.
Psychological Trigger:
Reciprocity. By offering free value upfront, users are more likely to confirm and continue engaging.
What You Can Copy:
- Add a micro-tip or mini-stat from your lead magnet
- Frame the confirmation CTA as opting into a benefit (e.g., “Teach Me SEO” vs “Confirm”)
- Reinforce your credibility without sounding salesy
FluentCRM Tip:
Use conditional content inside the confirmation email using FluentCRM’s dynamic fields or shortcodes.
For example, display a short SEO tip only for unconfirmed users:
“Bonus Tip: Pages with <60 title characters rank 10% better on average—learn more once you confirm.”
8. Grammarly – Design Simplicity & Mobile-First
Subject Line: One Last Step—Confirm Your Email
Why it Works:
Grammarly sends out mobile-optimized, lightweight confirmation emails that:
- Load instantly, even on slow networks
- Use large buttons, ideal for thumb-taps on mobile
- Skip fancy graphics in favor of clean text hierarchy
- Offer an alternative plain-text link below the CTA (for accessibility)
Real-world Insight:
Over 60% of emails are opened on mobile devices, according to Litmus. If your confirmation email isn’t mobile-first, you’re likely losing clicks.
What You Can Copy:
- Use a bold, centered CTA button
- Add an HTML fallback link in case the button doesn’t render
- Test mobile responsiveness before launch
FluentCRM Tip:
FluentCRM’s visual email editor is fully responsive. Preview your confirmation email on mobile and adjust padding, font size, and button dimensions for a mobile-first experience.
💡Pro Tip: Set your button width to 100% and use a 16px+ font for accessibility.
9. Wistia – Inject Humor and Personality
Subject Line: Is This Thing On? Tap to Confirm
Why it Works:
Wistia adds personality and humor even in transactional emails. Their double opt-in message:
- Uses a fun subject line that sounds like a joke or skit
- Contains brand-centric copy: “We just want to make sure it’s really you. Tap below, and let the video goodness begin!”
- CTA: “Let’s Do This”
Psychological Trigger:
Entertainment value. When users smile or laugh, they’re more likely to engage and remember the brand.
What You Can Copy:
- Infuse humor into your subject line or CTA (“Yep, That’s Me”)
- Use phrases your audience actually uses
- Keep the tone casual if your brand allows
FluentCRM Tip:
Customize confirmation CTA buttons in FluentCRM to match your voice. Instead of “Confirm”, try “Let’s Go”, “Hit Me With The Emails”, or “Unlock My Access”.
Test multiple versions using FluentCRM’s A/B testing plugin integrations to measure what tone performs best.
10. MailerLite – Clear, Accessible, and Multilingual
Subject Line: Confirm Your Subscription
Why it Works:
MailerLite’s confirmation emails are optimized for international audiences. They’re:
- Written in plain English
- Use universal icons (like a checkmark or mail envelope)
- Feature a CTA like “Confirm My Subscription” in multiple languages
Real-world Insight:
If you have a multilingual audience, offering translation boosts clarity and avoids miscommunication—especially when users are skeptical of clicking unknown links.
What You Can Copy:
- Use icons and simple layouts to aid clarity
- Offer multiple language options if relevant
- Keep your design ADA-accessible (high contrast, alt text)
FluentCRM Tip:
Create audience segments by region or language using FluentCRM’s custom fields. You can then send tailored confirmation emails based on user location or browser language.
You can also manually localize the confirmation email in FluentCRM by duplicating your workflow and adjusting the text per audience.
👉 Want full control over every opt-in email variation? Use FluentCRM to personalize and segment from the start.
🛠️ How to Set Up Double Opt-in Using FluentCRM (Step-by-Step)
Setting up a double opt-in workflow in FluentCRM is simple, fast, and fully customizable—without needing external SaaS tools or complex integrations. Whether you’re collecting leads through a form, a landing page, or a popup, FluentCRM lets you confirm users before they’re added to your list or automation sequence.
Follow these exact steps to get started:
✅ Step 1: Enable Double Opt-in in FluentCRM Settings
- Log into your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to FluentCRM → Settings → Email Settings.
- Scroll to the Double Opt-in Settings section.
- Toggle “Enable Double Opt-in” to ON.
Bonus Tip: You can choose which forms or list segments this applies to—giving you more control over your lead sources.
✅ Step 2: Customize Your Confirmation Email
In the same settings area:
- Click “Edit Confirmation Email Template.”
- Write a personalized message such as: Hi {{contact.first_name}}, just one more click to complete your subscription and get your free guide!
- Add a clear call-to-action like: “Confirm My Subscription”
- Use merge tags like
{{contact.first_name}}
to personalize. - Save and test the email with your own address.
FluentCRM Tip: Keep it simple. One short paragraph + one CTA. No external links. No images that distract.
✅ Step 3: Design a “Confirmed” Thank You Page
Once a user clicks the confirmation button, you’ll want to redirect them to a thank-you or success page.
- Go to FluentCRM → Settings → Double Opt-in Settings
- Add the URL for your confirmation success page (e.g.,
/thank-you-confirmed/
) - On that page, you can:
- Deliver your lead magnet
- Onboard them into the next step
- Trigger a follow-up automation
✅ Step 4: Build Automations for Confirmed Users Only
Now that your system filters out unconfirmed leads, you can use FluentCRM’s Automation Funnels to engage only real users.
- Go to FluentCRM → Automations → Add New
- Set a trigger: “Contact Added to List”
- Add a conditional check: “If Contact Status is Confirmed”
- Add your actions:
- Send a welcome email
- Tag the user (e.g., “Confirmed Subscriber”)
- Deliver a lead magnet
- Add to another sequence
Sample Workflow Logic:
Trigger: Added to List
Condition: Contact is confirmed
Action: Tag → Send Email → Add to Email Sequence
✅ Step 5: Monitor and Optimize
- Track your confirmation rate (e.g., # of signups vs # of confirmed)
- Test multiple confirmation subject lines
- Use FluentCRM’s analytics to monitor open rates, bounce rates, and engagement from confirmed users
💡Pro Tip: If many users don’t confirm, send a reminder email after 24–48 hours using a delay + condition setup in your automation.
✅ Final Thoughts: Why Double Opt-in Is the Smartest Move in 2025
In 2025, inboxes are crowded, email algorithms are sharper, and trust is harder to earn. That’s why using a double opt-in system isn’t just about compliance—it’s about strategy.
When you require confirmation before adding someone to your list, you’re saying:
“We care about quality. We respect your inbox. And we only want to connect if you truly want it.”
Whether you’re a creator, blogger, agency, or online store, double opt-in:
- Increases your engagement
- Improves your deliverability
- Builds long-term trust with your audience
And when you combine that with the power of FluentCRM, you can automate it all from inside WordPress—no expensive tools, no third-party platforms.
Take action today.
👉 Start using FluentCRM and build smarter, more responsive email lists that grow your business the right way.
❓FAQs About Double Opt-in and FluentCRM
Is double opt-in mandatory under GDPR or other laws?
No, but it’s highly recommended. GDPR requires clear and verifiable consent, which double opt-in provides. It also protects you in case of future disputes or spam complaints.
Does double opt-in reduce email list growth?
It can slightly slow down list growth—but what you gain in quality and engagement far outweighs the quantity loss. Double opt-in lists perform better in the long run.
Can I customize the confirmation email in FluentCRM?
Yes. FluentCRM allows full customization of the subject line, body content, button label, and confirmation page redirect. You can also personalize using dynamic merge tags.
Can I use different double opt-in workflows for different forms or audiences?
Absolutely. FluentCRM supports multiple lists, tags, and conditional automations—so you can create tailored double opt-in flows based on source, language, or campaign.
What happens if someone doesn’t confirm?
They won’t be added to your email list or automations. However, you can set up a reminder email using FluentCRM automations after 24–48 hours to nudge them to confirm.