Why this matters
An opt-in email is the confirmation message sent automatically when someone subscribes through a double opt-in form. It confirms the subscriber's consent, keeps your list clean, and protects your deliverability. You can choose which email is sent for each language, who it comes from, and personalize its design.
Each opt-in email needs a sender
The Audience Building ▸ Opt-In Emails page lists every opt-in email on your account, with the Sender it is sent from and the Language it applies to. You set up one opt-in email per language, and each one must have a sender configured and applied here — otherwise the confirmation message can't be sent, and new subscribers are never confirmed or added to your list.
The Sender is the verified "From" identity recipients see on the confirmation email (its name, address, and Sender ID). It must be a sender you have already added and authenticated; you then select it and apply it to each opt-in email (see the steps below).
Configure an opt-in email
In the left menu, go to Audience Building ▸ Opt-In Emails, then open the email you want to set up. The Edit Custom Email dialog opens. Fill in:
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Email Type: the type of email, for example Double Opt-In Email.
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Language: the language this email applies to (for example French (Canada)). You can configure a different opt-in email for each language you use.
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Sender: the verified sender the email is sent from (for example Jeanine Rose). See Adding a sender.
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Template: the template used for this email (for example Double opt in email - FR-CA Smart).
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Click Save.
Personalize the template
The Template field controls how your opt-in email looks. To go beyond the default and create your own version:
Always start from an existing double opt-in template
To build your own opt-in email, duplicate one of the double opt-in templates already in your account's email templates and work on the copy — or edit one of those existing templates directly.
Never start from a blank template or from a regular campaign template. The double opt-in templates carry tags bound to your account identifiers; a template that does not come from one of them loses those tags, and the email designer cannot use it as an opt-in email.
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In the left menu, go to Resources ▸ My Email Templates and open the double opt-in template you want to start from (for example Double opt in email - SMART).
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On the template page, click the arrow button next to Edit, then choose Duplicate. Work on the copy from here on — duplicating is what carries over the tags bound to your identifiers. You can also click Edit to change one of the existing double opt-in templates directly.
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Adjust the wording and design to match your brand. Your Brand Kit colors apply, so the email stays consistent with your other campaigns.
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Identify what the person is subscribing to. Make it clear which service or list they signed up for, so they recognize the request and confirm with confidence.
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Leave every tag in place — above all the confirmation link
[SYSTEM_EMAIL_DOUBLE_OPT_IN_LINK](see below). Deleting a tag while you edit is the most common way to break an opt-in email. -
Back in Edit Custom Email, select your personalized template in the Template field and click Save.
Double opt-in: keep the confirmation link exactly as it is
For a Double Opt-In Email, the confirmation link must be present, using exactly this tag:
Code
This is what lets a subscriber confirm their subscription. If this tag is missing, removed, or changed when you personalize the template, confirmation will not work and new contacts will not be added to your list. Always keep [SYSTEM_EMAIL_DOUBLE_OPT_IN_LINK] in your personalized version.
Troubleshooting
The email designer won't let me use my template as an opt-in email
- The template must come from an existing double opt-in template. One built from a blank template, or from a regular campaign template, is missing the tags bound to your account identifiers, so it cannot be used as an opt-in email.
- Duplicate a double opt-in template and redo your changes on the copy.
My personalized opt-in email isn't confirming subscribers
- Check that the
[SYSTEM_EMAIL_DOUBLE_OPT_IN_LINK]tag is still present and unchanged in your template. - Confirm the correct Template is selected in Edit Custom Email for that Language.
- Verify the Sender is a verified, authenticated sender.
The wrong language email is being sent
- Make sure you configured an opt-in email for each Language your contacts use.
- Check the contact's language; it determines which opt-in email they receive.
Related articles
- Adding a sender - Set up the sender for your opt-in email
- Managing your email templates - Edit and organize templates
- Default sender address and language - List defaults
- Subscription confirmation email campaign - Re-confirm an existing list
- Creating a form - Where double opt-in starts