Forum Moderators: phranque
We find a large amount of users never manage this.
Suspicions are that the emails are ending up in their junk mail filter, but we make it very clear to them that they should check that if they can't find it in their inbox.
We've even given a link for popular webmail hosts, so they can just click to go straight to their inbox/login.
Still getting about 40% never confirming.
Out of the last 100 users 37 are unconfirmed:
12 hotmail/msn
5 aol
3 gmail
3 yahoo
1 btinternet
1 lineone
1 tiscali
and
11 non-webmail domains
Is this "normal", or does it suggest we need to look at the code that's sending our emails out? I'm currently using PHP's mail() function, but am looking at PHPMailer at the moment - any better?
[edited by: encyclo at 4:55 pm (utc) on Aug. 27, 2008]
[edit reason] member request [/edit]
It's obviously working!
Personally, I've never had a problem clicking on the links I'm given - but if it's a long link, and their email system breaks it, many will have to paste two bits of one URL. And many won't bother.
Additionally, of those that do make that annoying effort, some won't notice if (say) their pasting adds an extra space in the middle. They'll just assume YOU have a problem.
If you cannot provide an easier alternative ... can you shorten the URL to offer a lower risk of breakage?
A "Join now!" button might catch their eye, but they may not follow through without a compelling reason to do so.
So, make sure there's stuff people want to do for which they have to confirm (post in the forum, contact other members, see special content, etc.). And if an unconfirmed member tries to do one of those things, be sure the error screen contains an explanation of how to confirm (ideally with a re-send link).
In the headers, at this part :
Return-Path: <apache@localhost.localdomain>
Received: from localhost.localdomain ([?.?.?.?])
by mx.google.com with ESMTP id?724958nfh.2007.08.24.05.19.31;
The Return-Path should be set to something like "noreplay@your_domain.com" or the return-path should match the "from" field.
One other thing to check; make sure that the URL link in the email is on its own line and is less than 80 characters in length as some mail apps will wrap at 80 characters and break the link.
I do always put the confirm links on a new line, and they are less than 80 characters.
They do have a motivation to confirm because we make it very clear (I think) that the content they submit will not be made live on the site until they click that confirm link in their email.
Also, if someone ends up at that page with an incomplete guid (not 32 characters) I display this message:
"Incorrect email link
We have detected a problem with the link you clicked in your email.
It is most likely that your email client has split the link across two lines, thereby breaking it.
You need to copy and paste the entire link into your browser address bar - if you have further problems with this please contact us at admin@DOMAIN.com. Sorry for the inconvenience."
The majority of those that aren't being confirmed are hotmail, and there's no way that hotmail's breaking the link so I'm fairly sure this isn't the problem. Well, at least not the biggest problem anyway :-)
I'll work on trying to sort that return path out, cheers for the suggestion (though I'm sure I've tried before to no avail, may have to get onto our host).
Do you have a note that says "If you do not receive a confirmation mail, please check your spam folder; certain mailers cannot recognise these mails"
Any hotmail customer will know by now that M$ file ALL important mail as spam, so they'll shrug and go look. Some of the others will be grossly insulted, and call the butler for a large brandy.
So it's important to phrase it that it's clearly their inability, not your problem.
Gmail, AOL and Yahoo are also heavy on false positives.
This will happen occasionally with any program that relies on spam reports; newsletters etc., with poor unsubscribes will inevitably get labelled, as will companies who attempt to take advantage of past customers once too often.
Indeed, I label as 'spam' every single ebay seller who follows up a trade with further info or begs to feedback - against ebay TOS. And I'm sure I'm not the only one. So some of their fans will find their mail going astray. Poetic justice, I call it ;)
Hotmail, however, is just plain M$. 'nuff said.
1. No dice if you share a server or IP address with someone who has spammed.
2. I would guess no dice with the 'report' based systems - gmail etc - because they'd probably trust their users.
3. I don't think anyone has ever got any change out of Hotmail, though it does seem to change itself, very slowly as reality sinks in.
However, if you have a contact address - or anyone else does? - it can't hurt to ask!
Good Luck
New registrants who have registered but not confirmed become "new members" rather than Anonymous. This gives them a member page and a warm, fuzzy feeling (I hope). But it doesn't let them post.
Most importantly, "new member" status means they see a block at the top of almost all pages that says "Almost done!" and reminds them of the benefits of completing registration, explains about the Spam folder, and includes a link to re-send the confirmation email. This block goes away once they confirm.
Two other key factors:
(1) The message the user sees on your site. Needs to be super-clear
(2) The validation e-mail. For some stupid reason my default message had the user's log-in details and a regular site link before the validation link. The validation link should be the only link in the e-mail.
Just my 2c.
