​[Read the browser version right here]​

3 ONBOARDING MISTAKES THAT KILL ENGAGEMENT 💀

I'm a (proud) newsletter nerd.

And a houseplant nerd. 🪴

So I subscribed to one of my favorite houseplant YouTuber's newsletters.

....and yikes 😬

They made some super common mistakes that can spell death to engagement.

But the best part? They are all super easy to avoid.

Here's what they did wrong—and how to do it better...

The landing page is beautiful. The copy is pretty solid.

So I subscribed—and then... the first mistake.

MISTAKE #1 - MISSING THANK-YOU PAGE

✅ They had a beautifully-designed Kit landing page

✅ I signed up easily

❌ But then..... the dead-end message of engagement death: "Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription"

Yes, it's the default option. But please...

DON'T. DO. THIS. It's a lost opportunity and an engagement killer.

WHAT TO DO INSTEAD

Instead, redirect new subscribers to a customized Thank-You page where you can increase engagement by...

→ sharing a popular video or article
→ or sharing a sponsor/affiliate (like this →)
→ or anything but what my plant YouTuber friend has done here
​
Because now I'm at a dead end. 💀

The good news? It's really easy to change this setting in your Kit forms:

MISTAKE #2 - THE DOUBLE OPT-IN SETTING

✅ Make sure people want to receive your newsletter/emails.

❌ Do not use your ESP's double opt-in setting.

WHAT TO DO INSTEAD

→ Create your OWN double opt-in sequence.

This way, you can still email every new subscriber (many ESPs won't let you email unconfirmed subs).

How this sequence works is up to you. Just make sure the sequence & automation will unsubscribe anyone who doesn't engage.

BONUS TIP

Use Kit to set up custom sequences & automations for subscribers who are signing up from different landing pages or through different channels.

For example...

If you're paying for subscribers (via SparkLoop, Refind, Facebook, etc), you need to be more ruthless and unsubscribe those who don't engage quickly. Otherwise, you'll pay $$$ for cold, unengaged subscribers.

So dial in your opt-in sequence and automation to save money and keep your list engaged 💪 (Not sure how? I can help >>)​

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...now back to our regularly scheduled programming 👇

MISTAKE #3 - THE DEFAULT CONFIRMATION SUCCESS PAGE

(If you turned off your ESP's double opt-in setting, you won't have to worry about this)

But if you're still using the ESP's double opt-in...

You can do better than this 👇

It's really nice of Kit to have a default page for this confirmation message...

But I beg of you, don't use it—because you don't need to.

WHAT TO DO INSTEAD

Instead, you can specify where a subscriber is redirected once they've clicked that "Confirm your subscription" button in the confirmation email.

Just go to your Kit form and click on 'Settings' 👇

Now — make your confirmation page AWESOME!

After all, the subscriber *actually* engaged (by clicking your email), so get them into a rabbit hole of content on your website, right?

Here's mine, if you're curious 👀

A Quick Recap:

1. Send new subscribers to a Thank-you page instead of a default "Success" message dead end

2. Create your own double opt-in sequence & automation instead of the ESPs limiting double opt-in feature

3. Take advantage of a "confirmation" engagement click by sending new subscribers back to your site, YouTube channel, etc (get them going down a rabbit hole of your content!)

Does your subscriber onboarding sequence already kick ass?—then don't be shy and share it in the comments of this thread and I'll boost it 🙌

​

Cool Tool I'm Using

LinkedIn Preview Tools

Preview what your LinkedIn post will look like. The best part is you can toggle desktop browser to smartphone views.

A) LinkedIn Post Preview (by TypeGrow) →

B) LinkedIn Post Preview Tool (by CartMango) →​

Newsletter Growth Sesh

Remove blindspots and get a fresh perspective on your newsletter strategy—with me!

The thing I found the most helpful with my newsletter business was getting a fresh & objective perspective on my newsletter.

It helped me pivot my newsletter, focus my messaging & targeting, and increase revenue.

And all it took was a 30-minute Zoom call.

Well...

I found it so helpful that I want to offer the same fresh set of eyes to help you scale growth and improve revenue.

So let's go over your newsletter together.

We can cover your...
→ landing page, welcome email & new subscriber onboarding
→ newsletter content & design/formatting
→ growth strategy
→ revenue strategy
→ engagement & retention

...or we can cover all of it in a 60-min session!

⚡ 30-min Lightning Sesh →​
🗺️ 60-min Journey Sesh →​

Let me peep your newsletter to improve your onboarding, retention, growth, or monetization strategy!

And/Or...

I've been teasing a newsletter coaching program in past editions.

Well, I've got a quick update...

It's not live yet, but I've partnered with another well-known newsletter expert to offer a 3-month Newsletter Growth Accelerator program (spaces limited).

We'll be helping serious newsletter operators crush their 2025 goals (this won't be for beginners).

More details to come.

Reply to this email with "Interested" if you want to learn more.

Other resources to help you:

→ The 1KS Roadmap: A Free Course To Your First 1,000 Subscribers
​→ Start a newsletter for FREE with Kit (formerly ConvertKit)*​
→ Advertise in this newsletter​
​

Peace and platonic love,

Dylan

​Twitter | LinkedIn | Threads​

* indicates affiliate links. I get paid a small commission if you use these links to purchase a product or service.