How to test one click unsubscribe functionality in email marketing?
Summary
What email marketers say11Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum suggests using API testing tools like Postman to directly call your unsubscribe endpoint. They state you can simulate the one-click unsubscribe action and check the database for successful unsubscription.
Email marketer from Mailjet recommends sending test emails to different email providers (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) to see if the one-click unsubscribe button appears correctly. They also suggest using tools like GlockApps to check for header configuration and placement.
Email marketer from SendGrid suggests using suppression groups to manage unsubscribes. They state to test if unsubscribing adds the email to the appropriate suppression group, preventing future emails. Also test re-subscription is not possible without consent.
Email marketer from Stack Overflow details checking the unsubscribe link manually. After requesting an unsubscribe, check the relevant database to ensure the email address is correctly marked as unsubscribed. They also state to manually verify that no more emails are sent.
Email marketer from Reddit recommends using multiple email testing tools to analyze headers and spam scores. They suggest sending tests to Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook to examine how each provider handles the one-click unsubscribe option.
Email marketer from GMass suggests testing with a seed list of email addresses across different providers. Also, they state to use GMass's built-in one-click unsubscribe feature to ensure proper setup.
Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests using an API client like Postman to test the unsubscribe URL by running a POST call and verifying the action taken.
Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that she sends a test email to aboutmy.email and to her personal Gmail to test One Click Unsubscribe. She mentions that sometimes one will report the opposite of the other, so this approach covers the bases.
Email marketer from Litmus explains to use a tool to inspect the email headers of your test emails. Check if the List-Unsubscribe header is present, correctly formatted, and contains both mailto: and https: options.
Email marketer from ActiveCampaign details testing your unsubscribe confirmation page. After a successful unsubscribe, ensure the confirmation page displays a clear message stating the user has been unsubscribed.
Email marketer from Email Uplers explains that one should test the unsubscribe flow by subscribing to your own list using various email addresses and then going through the unsubscribe process. Verify that you are immediately unsubscribed and no further emails are sent.
What the experts say3Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks shares that Microsoft OLC (Hotmail/Outlook.com) is more forgiving when testing One Click Unsubscribe. He also uses Steve Atkins' Aboutmy.email tool to confirm the headers are correct.
Expert from Word to the Wise responds that a correctly implemented one-click unsubscribe improves sender reputation by providing an easy way for recipients to opt out. This in turn reduces complaints, improving overall engagement.
Expert from Spam Resource explains to carefully review the List-Unsubscribe header and ensure its proper formatting and syntax. Ensure both mailto: and HTTP variants exist and that the endpoint is readily accessible, functioning flawlessly. It is not attributed to an individual, but is a generic resource providing expert advice.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from rfc-editor.org details the formatting and usage of the List-Unsubscribe header. It explains that the header contains one or more URLs or mailto: addresses that recipients can use to unsubscribe from a mailing list. The standard specifies its structure and usage.
Documentation from developers.google.com explains that to implement one-click unsubscribe, include both a mailto: and an https: version of the List-Unsubscribe header. The https: version should point to an endpoint that, when visited, immediately unsubscribes the user without requiring further confirmation.
Documentation from SparkPost emphasizes the importance of implementing both the List-Unsubscribe header and a clear unsubscribe link in the email body. They suggest testing with different email clients to ensure both methods work correctly.
Documentation from Microsoft outlines the requirements for bulk email senders. It details the importance of having a working unsubscribe mechanism and states that one-click unsubscribe is strongly recommended to maintain good sender reputation.