Set Up a Double Opt-In Workflow (Premium)

Follow these steps to build a complete double opt-in process using Mass Email Notifications for Gravity Forms. This setup ensures only verified users receive your communications.

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Step 1: Create or Identify Your Forms #

You’ll need three forms to make Double Opt-In work smoothly:

1. Sign-up Form – Collects initial interest (e.g., newsletter signup, donation form, etc.).
2. CRM / Target Form – Stores confirmed contacts. This is where the opt-in checkbox lives.
3. Sending Form – Used later to send future mass email batches after users have confirmed.

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Step 2: Add the Opt-In Checkbox #

1. Open your CRM or Target Form in Gravity Forms.
2. Add a Checkbox field with only one choice (for example: I confirm I want to receive updates).
3. Save the form.

This checkbox will later be automatically checked when the recipient confirms their subscription.

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Step 3: Configure Double Opt-In Settings #

1. Open your Sign-Up Form and navigate to Form Settings → Mass Notifications → Double Opt-In.
2. Under Target Form, choose your CRM form.
3. Select the Email Field that identifies users on the target form.
4. Pick your Double Opt-In Checkbox Field from that form.
5. (Optional) Enable Apply to All Entries with Same Email if you want every entry with that email address marked as confirmed.
6. Enter a Confirmation Landing Page URL (or leave blank to use the default generic page).
7. Customize your Confirm Link Text (default: Confirm subscription).
8. Save your settings.

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Step 4: Add the Merge Tag to Your Confirmation Email #

Once configured, in a notification on the Sign-Up Form, two merge tags become available:

• {menfgf_confirm_url} – Full confirmation URL.
• {menfgf_confirm_link} – Clickable confirmation link using your custom text.

Add one of these tags to the confirmation email you send after a user signs up.

Example:

Thanks for signing up! Please confirm your subscription by clicking below:
{menfgf_confirm_link}

When the recipient clicks the link, the plugin updates their entry on the target form and marks the checkbox as checked.

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Step 5: Trigger Follow-Up Notifications (Optional) #

You can send a welcome or follow-up email automatically once the user confirms:

1. In your Sign-Up Form, create a new Notification.
2. Set the notification trigger to Double Opt-In so it automatically sends when the user confirms.
3. Compose your welcome message or follow-up email.

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Step 6: Restrict Sending to Confirmed Recipients #

In your Sending Form → Feed Settings, enable the checkbox “Send only to double opt-in entries.”
This ensures only confirmed subscribers are included in the batch.

(You can also use conditional logic to filter based on the opt-in field if preferred.)

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Step 7: Test the Workflow #

1. Submit the sign-up form using a test email.
2. Confirm you receive the opt-in email.
3. Click the confirmation link and ensure it updates the target form.
4. Verify the checkbox field is marked and that follow-up notifications trigger correctly.
5. Run a test batch to confirm only opted-in entries are included.

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Best Practices #

• Always test your confirmation flow before launching.
• Keep the confirmation message clear and concise.
• Use a branded landing page for better trust and recognition.
• Periodically clean your CRM to remove unconfirmed entries.

Once configured, your Double Opt-In workflow will automatically maintain a verified, engaged subscriber list and keep your email sending fully compliant.