In Spotler Mail+, you set up your subscription and unsubscribe process with permissions and unsubscribe packages. A permission records which type of mailing a contact has subscribed to. An unsubscribe package determines what happens when a contact clicks the unsubscribe link in a message. You configure both via Settings > Settings > Permissions and link the unsubscribe package to your message in the Messages module. This step-by-step plan shows which steps to take and refers to the right Help Center articles for more detailed explanations.
A well-configured subscription and unsubscribe process ensures that contacts only receive the mailings they have subscribed to, and that unsubscribes are processed automatically. In Spotler Mail+, three components work together for this:
- Permissions: checkboxes in the Permissions database field of a contact, one per mailing type. For example, a permission for the newsletter and a permission for promotional mailings.
- Global opt-out: an unsubscribe method where a contact no longer receives any mailing from the Spotler Mail+ account after unsubscribing, including service messages.
- Unsubscribe packages: settings that determine, per message, what a click on the unsubscribe link does: turn off a specific permission or unsubscribe the contact globally.
On this page, the following topics are covered:
- Before you start
- Step 1: Choose your unsubscribe process
- Step 2: Create your permissions
- Step 3: Record permissions for your contacts
- Step 4: Configure your unsubscribe packages
- Step 5: Define your target audience
- Step 6: Link the unsubscribe package to your message
- Step 7: Test your unsubscribe link and follow up on unsubscribes
- What is the result?
- Frequently asked questions
Before you start
- Only an owner of a Spotler Mail+ account can create permissions.
- Every message must contain an unsubscribe link, except a service message. A service message only contains essential information without a commercial message, such as a product recall or a service disruption.
- An unsubscribe must be processed automatically. A manual unsubscribe method, such as a mailto link, is not allowed.
Do not change existing permissions without consideration
Changing, renaming or deleting existing permissions directly affects your subscription and unsubscribe process, your dynamic lists and your forms. Not sure about the consequences for your account? Consult your Spotler partner first.
Step 1: Choose your unsubscribe process
The first choice is whether your unsubscribe process is based on permissions or on global opt-out. This choice determines which steps you take next.
| Unsubscribe process | What happens when a contact unsubscribes? | Suitable when |
| Permissions | Only the permission that belongs to the mailing is turned off. The contact remains active and can continue to receive other mailings and service messages. | You send multiple types of mailings, such as a newsletter and promotional mailings, or you want to be able to keep sending service messages. |
| Global opt-out | The contact no longer receives any mailing from the account, including service messages. | You send only one type of mailing and want the simplest possible setup. |
Read more about this choice:
- Permissions and Unsubscribe packages: advantages and disadvantages of both unsubscribe processes, with practical examples
- Service message: what a service message is and why your unsubscribe process determines whether you can send service messages
- How do I switch from global opt-out to a setup based on permissions?
Step 2: Create your permissions
Do you work with global opt-out? Then skip this step and continue with Step 4: Configure your unsubscribe packages.
Create a permission for each type of mailing, for example Newsletter, Promotions or Events. You manage permissions via Settings > Settings > Permissions with the Add permission button. The same overview shows how many contacts have each permission.
- Configure your permissions: add, view, rename and delete permissions
Step 3: Record permissions for your contacts
A permission only works when contacts actually have that permission. You record permissions in the following ways:
- Via a subscription form: for a form of the type Subscribe, select the contact field Permissions and check the right permission. Read how in New form.
- Via an import: in the import wizard, use Additional value to give all contacts in your file the right permission. Read how in New import.
How you collect consent determines which type of opt-in your contacts have:
Step 4: Configure your unsubscribe packages
Create an unsubscribe package for each combination of permission and language, for example Unsubscribe Newsletter EN. If you work with global opt-out, create one unsubscribe package per language with the type Global opt-out. You add an unsubscribe package via Settings > Settings > Permissions with the Add package button.
- Configure your unsubscribe package(s): choose a name, unsubscribe type and unsubscribe form
Want to tailor the unsubscribe page further to your contacts and your brand? The following extensions are possible:
- How do I create an unsubscribe form where contacts can update their permission preferences?: contacts choose per mailing type what they do and do not want to receive
- How do I customize my unsubscribe page with my own template?: the unsubscribe page in your own house style
- Unsubscribe link: examples of different unsubscribe forms with their advantages and disadvantages
Step 5: Define your target audience
When you send a mailing with an unsubscribe package based on permissions, your target audience must take that permission into account. There are two ways to do this:
- With a dynamic list: create a list with the property Permission as selection, for example Permission is Newsletter. Contacts who unsubscribe automatically disappear from this list, and new subscribers are added automatically.
- With a static list: when sending, Spotler Mail+ automatically filters out contacts who do not (or no longer) have the required permission. The mailing wizard shows in advance how many contacts with the right permission will be reached.
Read more about building your target audience:
- Get started: Define your target audience
- What is the difference between a dynamic and a static list?
- Dynamic lists editor
- How do I convert my static list to a dynamic list?
Step 6: Link the unsubscribe package to your message
When you create a new message in the Messages module, select the right unsubscribe package under Unsubscribe package in the first step. If your template does not contain an unsubscribe link yet, add one via the link icon with Link type: Special link and Link to the unsubscribe page. Because the unsubscribe package is linked to the message, you do not need to select a permission in the link itself.
Step 7: Test your unsubscribe link and follow up on unsubscribes
- Send yourself a test email of the message.
- Click the unsubscribe link in the test email.
- Check that you land on the right unsubscribe page and that the right permission is turned off.
After sending, the report of the unsubscribe form shows why contacts unsubscribe. Read how in Reason for unsubscribing.
What is the result?
After completing these steps, your Spotler Mail+ account has a fully configured subscription and unsubscribe process:
- Contacts only receive the mailings they have a permission for, or that match your global opt-out unsubscribe process.
- A click on the unsubscribe link is processed automatically according to the linked unsubscribe package.
- With an unsubscribe process based on permissions, contacts remain reachable for other types of mailings and for service messages.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. If separate consent is required for measuring email opens for some of your contacts, you can record that consent as a separate permission, independent of the permission to receive mailings. Read how in How to manage open tracking consent?
You can only send service messages to contacts who are active in your account. With global opt-out, unsubscribed contacts become inactive and can no longer be reached. If you want to send service messages, you need an unsubscribe process based on permissions. Read more in Service message.