The IMN "Advanced List Management" feature that is found on the "Subscription Builder" page is a powerful tool, especially for publishers who send out various types of communications from a single account. Here are some insights on what this tool does, how to use it, and what to do if you hear from subscribers who thought they opted out, but are still receiving your emails.
What This Feature Is
Essentially, the "Advanced List Management" feature is intended to allow your subscribers to opt out of one mailing list while, at the same time, remaining on others.
If you only have one mailing list without any sub-lists, then you will not need to use the “Advanced List Management” feature. If, however, you publish a monthly newsletter on Product A, a quarterly update on Product B, and an annual review on both products using a single account, you may have a list for each of the mailings. A subscriber who is on all three lists may only wish to receive the quarterly and annual communications but not the monthly newsletter. By using the “Advanced List Management” tool, you are providing this subscriber with the ability to keep himself on the two lists he is interested in and to opt out of the list for the mailing he does not want to receive.
How to Use This Feature
To enable this feature, you first want to upload your list of subscribers to the appropriate sub-lists within the system, such as: Monthly Newsletter, Quarterly Update, and Annual Review. Now go to the Subscription Builder page and turn on "Advanced List Management" by changing the setting from “No” to "Yes.”
Once this feature is activated, subscribers who wish to opt out click on the “Remove" link on the email and then are brought to a page where they are presented with these options:
- Check-boxes for each list they are in.Your subscribers can remove themselves from any or all sub-lists that they are in via a series of check-box options provided. Note: Although subscribers may click on every option here, they will remain active subscribers and may get future mailings from you unless they click on the link below.
- Remove from "all future mailings” link. By selecting this option, your subscribers opt out of all lists and any future mailing you send out and they now become inactive.
Honoring Opt-Out Requests
Some subscribers may think they have opted out all of your mailings by using the Check-box option above, but unless they remove themselves from “all future mailings,” you may inadvertently send them your next mailing as they are still considered active subscribers in the system.
To avoid sending your mailing to those that have opted out but are still considered active subscribers, simply select each list and sub-list separately, rather than using the “All Lists” option. This will ensure that you will not send your mailing to anyone who has opted out of the sub-lists.
When to Use Advanced List Management
Here are some tips for when you should – and shouldn’t – use the "Advanced List Management" feature:
- Determine if the feature is right for you. Is there a reason you wish to allow subscribers to opt out of only certain sub-lists? If not, the feature is best left turned off.
- Don't send your subscribers more than they wish to receive. When collecting your subscribers, be sure to give them options regarding the forms of communications they would like to receive, rather than sending them everything and depending on them to opt out of what they do not want.
- Be sure to place the subscribers in the correct lists when importing. You don't want to start off on the wrong foot by sending them something they didn't sign up for in the first place.
- Use logical sub-list names. When you create a name for each list and sub-list, make sure that they are appropriately descriptive and safe to be viewed by your subscribers. If a subscriber doesn't recognize what a list name is, they may opt out of it just to be safe. The list should imply what communication is being sent to it, such as "Monthly Newsletter on Product A” and "Quarterly Update on Product B."
If you have any further questions on how to use this feature, please let us know at support@imninc.com.
Trevor is a Support Engineer at IMN
