Private group -- invite by email

So trying to understand how the private group invites should behave -- by email. I've tested an invite sent my the admin, to an email address (with a valid easysocial account).. The link in the email is not for a group invite, it just shoots me to the dashboard, with no access to the group, and no invite or message i can see. I will be needing to bulk invite a large group of folks this way. Want to ensure it will actually give them access to the private group. am i doing something wrong?