Where is the best place to put an unsubscribe link in an email?
Summary
What email marketers say11Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Email on Acid Blog responds that providing a clear and easy-to-find unsubscribe link is essential for maintaining a good sender reputation. Hiding or obscuring the unsubscribe link can lead to higher spam complaint rates and negatively impact deliverability.
Email marketer from Campaign Monitor Blog responds that it is important to include an unsubscribe link in every email, typically in the footer. They also suggest providing options for managing preferences (e.g., frequency, types of content) to reduce outright unsubscribes.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that if someone wants to unsubscribe, they will do so regardless. Making it easy for them to leave allows focus on acquiring subscribers more likely to convert and stay long term, and retention is a long-term strategy.
Email marketer from Stack Overflow shares that in addition to a visible link in the footer, consider adding a 'mailto:' link with a pre-populated subject line like 'Unsubscribe' as a backup. This caters to users who may have trouble with standard unsubscribe links.
Email marketer from Mailchimp Resource shares that placing the unsubscribe link in the footer is a common practice, but it should still be prominent. Mailchimp also recommends using a double opt-out process to ensure users genuinely want to unsubscribe, which can improve email list quality.
Email marketer from Litmus Blog shares that an unsubscribe link is a must-have in every email. If subscribers can’t find it, they might mark your message as spam, which can hurt your sender reputation. It’s an essential part of email deliverability best practices.
Email marketer from Reddit suggests that while footers are standard, experimenting with placement above the fold (e.g., in the header) can sometimes decrease spam complaints, especially if the audience is less tech-savvy and might miss the footer.
Email marketer from SuperOffice Blog explains it is important to give your subscribers options to update their preferences or unsubscribe from your email list. By offering options, you give subscribers more control of the emails they receive and what information they want to be contacted about.
Marketer from Email Geeks reminds that the Spam button is always at the top, and many recipients will use that rather than scroll to the bottom to unsubscribe. He recommends clients put the unsubscribe at the top of the email.
Email marketer from HubSpot Blog explains that unsubscribe links should be easily visible and accessible, typically in the footer or header of the email. They emphasize clear language and a simple process to reduce spam complaints.
Marketer from Email Geeks says she doesn't have a hard and fast rule as long as it is clear and visible in the template. For clients with clean templates, moving it to the top would impact the visual design.
What the experts say2Expert opinions
Expert from Spam Resource highlights that the unsubscribe link must be conspicuous and readily accessible, no tricks to make it less obvious or difficult to use. They emphasize including a working unsubscribe link is a legal requirement and a best practice for ethical email marketing, but they don't specify a particular location.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains the importance of making the unsubscribe process easy to find and use. She emphasizes that a clear and functioning unsubscribe link is crucial for maintaining a good sender reputation and avoiding spam complaints. She doesn't specify a location but implies visibility is key.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from ietf.org (RFC 2369) defines standard header fields for automated mailing list management, including "List-Unsubscribe." While not directly about placement within the email body, it highlights the importance of providing an easy unsubscribe mechanism via email headers for automated processing.
Documentation from FTC.gov explains that the CAN-SPAM Act requires a clear and conspicuous explanation of how the recipient can opt-out of receiving future email from the sender. The notice must be in a form that is easy for a recipient to recognize, read, and understand.
Documentation from SendGrid states that providing a one-click unsubscribe option is crucial for maintaining a healthy sender reputation. While placement isn't explicitly specified, the emphasis is on making the process seamless for the recipient to avoid spam complaints.
Documentation from Constant Contact Support explains that a working unsubscribe link must be included in every email you send. The unsubscribe link has to be easy to locate and understand. The footer of the email is usually best as users know this is the place to look.
Documentation from eugdpr.org explains that GDPR emphasizes the right to be forgotten. Unsubscribe mechanisms must be readily available and easy to use, and organizations must promptly process unsubscribe requests. Providing clear options to opt-out is crucial for compliance.