How to ensure one-click unsubscribe displays correctly on both mobile and desktop, and prevent accidental unsubscriptions?
Summary
What email marketers say10Marketer opinions
Email marketer from SparkPost shares that one-click unsubscribe helps improve email deliverability by reducing spam complaints. When recipients can easily unsubscribe, they are less likely to mark emails as spam. Monitoring unsubscribe rates can also provide insights into email content and audience engagement.
Marketer from Email Geeks asks about the method used for the list-unsubscribe, suggesting that different apps (Google webmail vs. Apple Mail on iOS) may support different methods.
Email marketer from EmailOctopus recommends using a double opt-in process for subscriptions and including a clear and prominent unsubscribe link in every email. Combining this with a one-click unsubscribe option is crucial for compliance and a good user experience. They also suggest regularly cleaning your email list to remove inactive subscribers.
Email marketer from Sendinblue emphasizes that providing a clear and easy-to-use unsubscribe process, including one-click unsubscribe, is crucial for maintaining a healthy sender reputation. This reduces the likelihood of recipients marking emails as spam, which can negatively impact deliverability.
Email marketer from Mailjet shares that implementing one-click unsubscribe requires adding a specific header to your email. The List-Unsubscribe header should include a URL that, when visited, triggers the unsubscribe process. This is a best practice to comply with email regulations and improve sender reputation.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum suggests checking the HTML source code of your email to ensure the unsubscribe link is correctly formatted and not being inadvertently stripped out by email clients. Also, ensure that the link is not hidden by CSS or other styling issues that might affect its visibility on different devices or email clients.
Email marketer from Reddit suggests that to ensure unsubscribe links display properly on mobile, use responsive design principles in your email template. This ensures that the link is easily visible and clickable on smaller screens. Also, test across different email clients and devices to confirm consistent display.
Email marketer from ActiveCampaign explains that providing a preference center, linked from the unsubscribe page, allows subscribers to modify the types of emails they receive rather than unsubscribing entirely. This can help reduce overall unsubscribe rates while still respecting subscriber preferences.
Email marketer from HubSpot emphasizes the importance of complying with GDPR regulations, which require a clear and easy way for individuals to withdraw consent. Providing a prominent one-click unsubscribe option is essential for adhering to these regulations. Also, be sure that unsubscribes are processed promptly and accurately.
Email marketer from StackOverflow suggests implementing a honeypot field on the unsubscribe page. This is a hidden field that bots might fill out, but legitimate users won't see. If the honeypot field is filled, the unsubscribe request is ignored, preventing accidental bot-triggered unsubscriptions.
What the experts say4Expert opinions
Expert from Spamresource explains that implementing a List-Unsubscribe header is crucial, and should be paired with measures to prevent bots from triggering the unsubscribe. This includes using a POST request as suggested by RFC 8058 and adding CAPTCHA or similar challenge-response tests to the unsubscribe landing page.
Expert from Email Geeks explains that the display of the list-unsubscribe header is at the whim of the email client and suggests that the formatting of the header should be checked to ensure it is correct.
Expert from Word to the Wise responds to the challenges associated with implementing one-click unsubscribe, noting that while RFC 8058 aims to simplify the process, different email clients interpret and display List-Unsubscribe headers differently. Thorough testing across various clients (desktop and mobile) is essential to ensure proper functionality and user experience. They also recommends monitoring unsubscribe feedback loops to identify and address any deliverability issues related to the unsubscribe process.
Expert from Email Geeks states that there is a standard called RFC8058 to prevent accidental unsubscriptions by security servers and bots.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from Google states that bulk senders must include a one-click unsubscribe option in their emails. This allows recipients to easily opt out of receiving further emails. Google's guidelines emphasize the importance of respecting user preferences and providing a seamless unsubscribe experience to improve email ecosystem health.
Documentation from Litmus explains that the List-Unsubscribe header can be implemented using either a mailto: link or an HTTP/HTTPS URL. Using an HTTP/HTTPS URL (especially with RFC 8058's POST method) is preferable for preventing accidental unsubscriptions, as it requires a deliberate action by the user or email client.
Documentation from Microsoft highlights the importance of providing a working unsubscribe mechanism for bulk emails. They specifically mention the List-Unsubscribe header as a method to allow recipients to easily remove themselves from mailing lists. This is critical for maintaining a good sending reputation when sending to Microsoft email services (Outlook, Hotmail).
Documentation from ietf.org explains that RFC 8058 defines a standard method for one-click unsubscribe using the List-Unsubscribe header, aimed at improving user experience and reducing spam complaints. It specifies the use of a POST request to a dedicated unsubscribe endpoint, helping prevent accidental unsubscriptions and ensuring a more reliable process.