Are unsubscribe links in cold emails beneficial or harmful?
Summary
What email marketers say13Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that they saw someone say "...The unsubscribe link is an eyesore that destroys the cold email's credibility"
Email marketer from Email Geeks sarcastically questions if not having an unsubscribe link helps your DMARC.
Email marketer from ActiveCampaign suggests that while it might seem counterintuitive, including an unsubscribe link actually protects your long-term sending reputation and improves overall deliverability by ensuring that disengaged subscribers can easily opt-out.
Email marketer from OptinMonster advises providing a clear and easy unsubscribe option to build trust with your subscribers. This demonstrates respect for their preferences and fosters a positive relationship.
Email marketer from Mailjet shares that including an unsubscribe link is crucial for maintaining a good sender reputation and improving deliverability rates. Failing to do so can lead to higher spam complaints and blacklisting.
Email marketer from Neil Patel shares that ensuring a smooth and hassle-free unsubscribe process enhances the user experience and leaves a positive impression, even if the recipient chooses to opt-out.
Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that they click 'Spam' on those emails.
Email marketer from Marketing Land explains that unsubscribe links are not optional; they are legally required in most jurisdictions, including the CAN-SPAM Act in the US and GDPR in Europe.
Email marketer from Litmus explains that omitting unsubscribe links can significantly harm your sender reputation, causing emails to land in spam folders and reducing overall engagement. It's better to give recipients an easy out than to risk being marked as spam.
Email marketer from Warrior Forum suggests using a one-click unsubscribe option in cold emails to build trust and show respect for recipients' time. This can increase the likelihood of positive responses from those who are genuinely interested.
Email marketer from Email Geeks responds to a discussion about cold emails, noting that the person they replied to works for MailShake, whose business model enables cold emailing.
Email marketer from Reddit says that even though it might seem counterintuitive for cold emails, including an unsubscribe link actually helps maintain a cleaner list and avoid spam traps. It improves your sender reputation in the long run.
Email marketer from HubSpot emphasizes that including an unsubscribe link prevents your emails from being marked as spam, which negatively impacts your overall deliverability rates and sender reputation.
What the experts say2Expert opinions
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that CAN-SPAM requires a working unsubscribe link in commercial messages. Failure to provide one can lead to penalties.
Expert from Spam Resource discusses including a clear, working unsubscribe link is not just a courtesy, but a legal requirement in many jurisdictions. It helps maintain a clean mailing list and avoid spam complaints.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from SparkPost explains that a low unsubscribe rate is a positive signal to mailbox providers, indicating that recipients find your content relevant. Making unsubscribing easy contributes to a healthy sender reputation.
Documentation from GDPR.EU explains that under GDPR, individuals have the right to withdraw consent, and this must be as easy as giving it. Therefore, providing a straightforward unsubscribe mechanism is crucial for compliance.
Documentation from SendGrid shares that providing an easy way for recipients to unsubscribe demonstrates good list hygiene practices, which ISPs value. This helps improve deliverability and prevents your domain from being blacklisted.
Documentation from Mailchimp advises including a visible and straightforward unsubscribe link in all emails. Hiding or making it difficult to unsubscribe can lead to frustration and increased spam complaints.
Documentation from Federal Trade Commission states that the CAN-SPAM Act requires a clear and conspicuous explanation of how the recipient can opt-out of receiving future emails. The process must be easy, and honoring opt-out requests promptly is essential.