What are unsubscribe URL best practices and should they unsubscribe from everything?
Summary
What email marketers say11Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Quora (user Jane Doe) responds that the unsubscribe link should be clear and easy to find, usually in the footer. Respect the user's decision immediately and remove them from your list. If you offer different types of emails (e.g., newsletters, promotions), allow them to choose which ones they want to unsubscribe from.
Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that unsubscribing should withdraw a specific consent. One consent should equal one withdrawal. However, it is possible to have both an unsubscribe link for specific message types AND a link to the preference center.
Email marketer from Val Geisler's Blog explains that an unsubscribe link should always be present, easily accessible, and function as expected. It is important for maintaining a positive sender reputation. It suggests using a one-click unsubscribe process to enhance user experience.
Email marketer from Reddit (user Kaelig) shares a method they use where the unsubscribe link asks 'are you sure?' with a button saying 'yes unsubscribe me' or 'no take me back'. This allows people to not just accidently unsubscribe.
Email marketer from Sendinblue shares the importance of providing a clear and straightforward unsubscribe process to comply with regulations and maintain a good sender reputation. Offers the option for users to manage their preferences, allowing them to opt-out of specific types of emails rather than all communications.
Email marketer from Mailjet discusses that unsubscribe links should be visible and easy to use. Providing options for users to update their preferences or select which types of emails they receive can improve engagement and reduce overall unsubscribe rates. It’s essential to honor unsubscribe requests promptly to avoid being marked as spam.
Email marketer from Reddit (user Tech4Lyfe) says to make it as easy as possible to unsubscribe. If they want to leave, don't make it hard to find or hard to action as they will mark your email as spam. If you offer a preference center allow them to select what they want and don't just unsubscribe from everything.
Email marketer from HubSpot shares that unsubscribe links are crucial for CAN-SPAM compliance and maintaining a healthy email list. Offers the option to allow recipients to manage their subscription preferences, giving them control over the types of emails they receive. This strategy can improve engagement and reduce overall unsubscribe rates.
Email marketer from Email Geeks explains the dangers of only unsubscribing from one type of message and continuing to send others, stating that people will likely mark emails as spam, causing deliverability issues.
Email marketer from Litmus explains a functional unsubscribe link in the email footer is legally required and crucial for maintaining a good sender reputation. Providing options for users to manage their preferences instead of a blanket unsubscribe can help retain subscribers who are interested in specific types of content.
Email marketer from Email Uplers explains that an effective unsubscribe process should be easy to find and use. Providing a clear path for recipients to opt-out of emails helps maintain a positive sender reputation and ensures compliance with email marketing regulations. They suggest offering preference options to retain subscribers interested in specific content.
What the experts say5Expert opinions
Expert from Spam Resource shares that if people don't want your email they will mark it as spam and that this will affect your sender reputation negatively and that allowing subscribers to unsubscribe will help with this.
Expert from Email Geeks shares that the unsubscribe link should redirect to the preference center with a clear "unsubscribe from everything" button, as well as any other options. He also suggests having RFC 8058 unsubscription in the headers, unsubscribing the user from that email stream.
Expert from Email Geeks shares this split unsubscribe approach can occur when trying to meet legal requirements, leading to a landing page with options for global/narrow unsubscribe or signing in to adjust preferences.
Expert from Word to the Wise shares that removing subscribers who don't want your mail is really important. Don't make it hard to unsubscribe and honor unsubscribe requests. If subscribers have to contact you to unsubscribe, or the unsubscribe link is broken, they'll mark your email as spam.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that good list hygiene practices, including making it easy for people to unsubscribe, are a sign that you want to send email only to the people who want it. This helps protect your reputation as a sender.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from Gmail Help emphasizes the importance of including a visible and functional unsubscribe link in all marketing emails to comply with Gmail's sender guidelines. It states that Gmail requires a one-click unsubscribe option in the header for bulk senders to ensure recipients can easily opt-out of unwanted emails. Failing to comply can result in deliverability issues.
Documentation from ietf.org defines the standard 'List-Unsubscribe' header field for email messages, allowing recipients to easily unsubscribe from mailing lists. It explains how to include a mailto: or HTTP URL in the header to facilitate one-click unsubscribe functionality, enhancing user experience and compliance with email regulations.
Documentation from Mailchimp outlines best practices for managing email subscriptions and unsubscriptions within its platform. It covers adding and customizing unsubscribe links in email footers and utilizing Mailchimp's preference center for subscribers to manage their communication preferences. Ensuring a clear and accessible unsubscribe process is crucial for maintaining a healthy email list and avoiding spam complaints.
Documentation from FTC.gov shares the CAN-SPAM Act requires a clear and conspicuous explanation of how the recipient can opt out of receiving future email from you. Make sure your unsubscribe mechanism is easy to use and that you honor opt-out requests promptly.