Assuming you’re following all the rules, each of your emails includes a path to unsubscribe. But that’s not the end of the story, is it?
This morning, I went through my inbox and started unsubscribing from all the publications I’ve accumulated but no longer read. In the process, I considered all the different approaches and thought it might be good fodder for a discussion.
The first unsubscribe link I found was from Cornerstone OnDemand. It was cold, made no effort to engage me, and had no branding. Though I had clicked a link in their email, when I got to the unsubscribe page, I had no idea from what—or whom—I had just unsubscribed (see the first image in the media player).
Target Marketing Magazine took into consideration my short-term memory loss and welcomed me with a branded confirmation page. Short, sweet, and simple, but missing the marketing of their other products or benefits to staying on the list (see the second image in the media player).
Digg was a similar experience. While their logo is present, they listed the emails address of the subscriber, and the process was easy, they included a link to unsubscribe from all of their publications at once—the dreaded nuclear option (see the third image in the media player).
After clicking the unsubscribe button, I was presented with a confirmation of my request (see the fourth image in the media player).
Webriti added something that was missing from both Target Marketing Magazine and Digg—the ability to easily resubscribe. And, even though Target Marketing did provide a link for me to manage my subscriptions, it wasn’t as simple as a single button. Clicking the link would take me to their site, where I might actually have to think about my actions, and since I was in a hurry I didn’t do that (see the fifth image in the media player).
EMS Inc., used Constant Contact—as do many other small companies—and I like how well thought out the process is from this vendor. First, they provided me a clue as to which email address I’ve used, without actually displaying it, and then ask me to confirm. The instructions were clear, and the process provided just a little security in case someone else would try to unsubscribe me (see the sixth image in the media player).
The second step of the process was to present me with a confirmation that included an opportunity to type a reason for unsubscribing. I would have preferred a drop-down list or checkboxes at this point, because I am admittedly lazy. I was on a mission to unsubscribe, and their requirement for me to write an essay is just too burdensome. If they had made this step easier, I would have provided a reason. I don’t know the abandonment rate to be expected at this point, but whatever it is, I’m certain it’s higher than if they had given me options from which to choose (see the seventh image in the media player).
The final step of Constant Contact’s approach is a nice touch: the ability to change my mind and resubscribe. Also, in case my reason for unsubscribing is that I had signed up with a less-preferred contact address, a reminder of what that was (see the eighth image in the media player).
Google+ had a similar approach, but with both Constant Contact and Google, I was bothered by the lack of corporate branding within the dialogue, or enticements to stick around. Google+ did provide information about which list I was leaving and a link to manage, rather than leave altogether (see the tenth image in the media player).
The confirmation screen looked so much like the unsubscribe page that I wasn’t sure it was successful—if it weren’t for the word success in tiny print, I wouldn’t have known it hadn’t gone through (see the eleventh image in the media player).
I clicked the link to manage my settings settings, and that’s when the page got more interesting. Finally, Google engaged me me with a conversation about just what it is I want. Just because the unsubscribe process has to be completed in a single click doesn’t mean you shouldn’t promote yourself in the process (see the twelfth image in the media player).
Like Google, LinkedIn listed my current subscriptions and enabled me to make changes to all or some on a single page. If you have lots of lists, this presents not just the opportunity for your subscribers to leave, but to learn of others they might wish to join (see the thirteenth image in the media player).
Every company—except for MosaicHub—provided a link in the email titled “unsubscribe,” which I appreciated. Our recipients are not stupid, so intentionally mislabeling the unsubscribe link is not going to reduce unsubscribes; it’s going to irritate them in the process.
Focus on showing your subscribers why leaving the list is not beneficial, not alienating them to the point they never come back (see the fourteenth image in the media player).
After I got over being irritated, I found that the page was actually an opportunity to manage the settings, rather than just bail, but it didn’t stop me from leaving. I had already made up my mind, and was irritated to the point where I couldn’t be stopped.
If you want to provide a manage link, it can be a good idea, but not to the point where you can leave out an unsubscribe link (see the fifteenth image in the media player).
Worse still are manage links that require me to log in to an account I’ve forgotten—or never created in the first place—like this one from Plaxo. This had to be the single most frustrating unsubscribe experience I’ve ever encountered. I didn’t remember my log in, so I clicked to recover the password. I went to the site, typed in the password, and it failed. I’ve spent more than an hour trying to unsubscribe from just one list—and I was clearly unsuccessful given this effort was from a link in an email I received today (see the sixteenth image in the media player).
There have been a number of companies sending me emails to manage my subscriptions as a way of actually getting me to create an account on their site. I guess they suppose once I’ve gone to the trouble to create an account, I might come back. I’ve read the privacy policy and terms and conditions pages of some of these—yes, I actually do that—and found that they grant themselves permission to use my address for future marketing when I create an account this account. Talk about a rabbit hole!
So those are things not done well, but in this page from Lynda.com, however, there are many things done right. They’ve reminded me of the address I used, provided an opportunity to reactivate my paid account, made promises of privacy, and allowed me to unsubscribe from select or all lists. Nice job (see the seventeenth image in the media player)!
So who, in my opinion got it completely right? eMedia. Starting in the upper left, they offered me other bulletins, in case my real issue is I’m getting the wrong type of information or on the wrong schedule. They also signed me in and displayed my user name. Next, they listed my current subscription and provided a simple checkbox to to unsubscribe and below that—importantly, on the same page—they asked for information about why I wish to leave the list. In the right column, they tried to convince me to hang around by giving me other options. Since this was a web page on their site, I am contributing positively to their site anaytlcs as I mull over my options. If I clicked one of these links, it would be even better for them. Below that, they comforted me by promising to never sell my name—and if I was interested, I could read their privacy policy ( (see the final) image in the media player).
I’d like to say that my own unsubscribe process is as great as this one, but sadly, it is not—we are the cobbler’s children. How does yours measure up?