When a user deletes their account should they be unsubscribed from marketing emails?
Summary
What email marketers say16Marketer opinions
Email marketer from DigitalMarketer explains that proper data segmentation and respecting user preferences are vital. If someone deletes their account, treat it as a strong signal they no longer want marketing communications, regardless of previous opt-ins.
Marketer from Email Geeks says to weigh the risks vs reward. If there is evidence of people deleting their accounts and getting marketing emails and coming back as a customer or positively engaging then it may be worth the unsubscribes. But if there are 0 customers coming back and your stats for the segment are low interaction and high unsubscribes, then probably best to let those sleeping dogs lie.
Email marketer from Neil Patel says honoring unsubscribe requests is crucial for maintaining email deliverability and avoiding spam complaints. When a user deletes their account, they've essentially unsubscribed, and continuing to send marketing emails violates their preferences.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that sending messages to recipients who have asked to have their information deleted is a really good way to get your messages marked as spam.
Marketer from Email Geeks suggests to either unsubscribe users or explicitly ask if they still want emails.
Marketer from Email Geeks argues that if someone explicitly asks for their information to be removed from your database, their email address is included in that request.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that doing it silently is a bad idea and may have legal consequences. Gives the option to the user when they close their account and honours it.
Email marketer from MarketingForums.com states that continuing to email users who've deleted their accounts is a common email marketing mistake that damages brand trust. Prioritize respecting user choices and maintaining a clean email list.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that from the legal perspective it's impossible to say without knowing quite a bit more, such as how they cancel an account and what the wording is around that cancellation procedure, and even what sort of account it is, etc. Keeping them on your mailing list is a very dicey proposition, even here in the U.S., as more and more states are passing their own GDPR, or at least GDPR-light, type laws.
Email marketer from Campaign Monitor says that its best practice to unsubscribe from all lists after deletion of an account as a user no longer has any relationship with the website
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that if a constituent has asked to “have my information deleted” the expectation would be that includes the email address you have on file because without it you can’t email them. Suggests that if that constituent DOES want email from the organization, they’ll opt back in.
Marketer from Email Geeks states that “deletion is deletion.” Suggests if you’re not removing them from the email/list data, at least mark them as unsubbed/opted out until that user takes action to say otherwise or present options to the user.
Email marketer from Sendinblue says that its best practice to unsubscribe from all lists after deletion of an account as it keeps your list clean and prevents the risk of spam reports
Email marketer from HubSpot explains that data privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA require businesses to respect user data preferences. Deleting an account implies the user no longer wants to receive communications, including marketing emails.
Email marketer from Reddit user u/EmailExpert shares that in their experience, failing to unsubscribe users after account deletion leads to increased spam complaints and a negative impact on sender reputation. They strongly recommend automating the unsubscribe process.
Email marketer from Lilach Bullock emphasizes the importance of respecting user choices, stating that if a user deletes their account, they should be unsubscribed from marketing emails to comply with regulations and maintain a positive brand reputation.
What the experts say2Expert opinions
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that when a user deletes their account, it is essential to have a clear process for handling their data and email preferences. If the account deletion request implies they no longer wish to receive any communications, including marketing emails, they should be unsubscribed. Providing options for users to manage their subscriptions during the deletion process is a best practice.
Expert from Email Geeks questions how you keep email details when deleting an account, assuming it's a CCPA/GDPR data deletion request. Seems counterintuitive.
What the documentation says3Technical articles
Documentation from Mailchimp advises that when someone unsubscribes or requests account deletion, their email address should be immediately removed from active marketing lists to comply with legal requirements and maintain list hygiene.
Documentation from CCPA explains that consumers have the right to request the deletion of their personal information. Upon receiving a verifiable request, businesses must delete the consumer’s personal information from their records and direct any service providers to do the same.
Documentation from GDPR details the 'right to erasure' (also known as the 'right to be forgotten'). If a user requests account deletion, you must erase their personal data, including their email address, from marketing lists unless you have a legitimate and lawful reason to retain it.