Adding an unsubscribe link lets your recipients opt out from your emails, thus reducing the risk of being flagged as spam.
How to include an unsubscribe link?
To add an unsubscribe link, just copy/paste the special variable {{unsubscribe}} in your template. It will be replaced by a special link that Mailmeteor uses to handle unsubscribes.
You can customize the message to unsubscribe. For example, you could use "Click here to unsubscribe". Here's how to do it:
1.
In Mailmeteor, open your template or create a new one.
2.
In the editor, add the following text "Click here to unsubscribe".
3.
Select this text then click on Insert link 🔗
4.
Copy/paste the following special variable: {{unsubscribe}}
When sending your emails, Mailmeteor will automatically convert the special variable with a unique unsubscribe link letting each of your contact opting-out easily.
How does the unsubscribe page looks like?
Whenever one of your recipients clicks to unsubscribe, they will be redirected to a page like the following:
Unsubscribe validation page
If you send a test email to yourself with Mailmeteor, the Unsubscribe link will redirect you to a generic page. It's normal that you don't see the Unsubscribe page in that case.
How to deal with people that unsubscribed?
Once someone opts-out from your list, your spreadsheet will be updated via the Tracking Report. Their merge status will be marked as "UNSUBSCRIBED".
You need to collect the unsubscribers in a separate spreadsheet. When you will run later campaigns, make sure to check that no recipients are included in the Unsubscribe list. A convenient function to look for recipients that are in the Unsubscribe list is =VLOOKUP()
You can then remove those recipients from your list, and stop emailing them.
Best practices regarding email opt-out
It's common usage to include a way to unsubscribe when sending cold emails (unsolicited emails to recipients you have had no interaction with in the past) or a marketing newsletter.
It does not necessarily have to be a link, although it needs to be clear & when people require you to opt-out, you cannot ignore them.
In some countries, you must by law include a way to opt out from your email if you are sending commercials emails (e.g. in the USA with the CAN-SPAM). Contact your legal advisor if your not sure what to do.
Video tutorial
If you prefer to watch a video, here's a tutorial on how to add un unsubscribe link to your emailing campaign with Mailmeteor: