Subscribe and Unsubscribe Etiquette?

Email Etiquette is all about courtesy. This means taking the time to pay attention to detail so that you are doing your best to think of others. Not just yourself or what you are willing to do at any given moment.

It is sort of ironic if you think about it. Things can’t get any easier than email and the technology that makes processes and communication smoother. But still, I guess it is human nature to always look for a shortcut.

Want On or Off a List?

One issue many overlook is their responsibility to subscribe to and unsubscribe from lists and notifications. This can result in subscribing to a list or service, then never receiving it.

I cover that in my article, Email Whitelist Etiquette, which outlines the steps you need to take to ensure that what you subscribe to can safely land in your inbox. When it comes to unsubscribing, however, there are steps you need to take.

You either become too busy or simply no longer want to receive the mailings you signed up for. So you hit reply and type “unsubscribe” or, for example, what I received today: “TAKE ME OFF YOUR LIST!”

If you willingly subscribed to a list or update, be courteous when unsubscribing if you no longer want to participate.

Unsubscribe Courtesies

Over the years, I’ve lost count of how many folks have forgotten they subscribed to lists and updates. That’s why, on any site where I offer list subscriptions, I use double opt-in.

This means you’ll receive an email asking you to confirm your consent to receive my emails. Confirm, and you’re in! Don’t confirm, and you’ll never hear from me.

This is where Whitelisting comes in, too. I’ve heard from visitors who are “annoyed” because they subscribe and never get added. When I ask whether they clicked the link in the confirmation email, they claim they never received one. I then explain how to whitelist my email address so that the subscription confirmation isn’t blocked.

Make it easy for yourself and create a folder in your email program called Subs & Unsubs. Keep all your subscription notices in that folder, so you know what lists and notices you are interacting with.

In addition, all mailings should include a convenient unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email. All you have to do is click that.

At the bottom of every subscription mailing is something like this that includes a link to unsubscribe:

You are subscribed to email updates from [website here].
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.

To some, it is easier to hit reply and demand that the sender remove them from the list. When I get requests like this, I can tell they still have a lot to learn about online etiquette and proper use of technology.

Before You Jump for the Reply Button

If you sign up for something, regardless of why you want to unsubscribe, always do your best to follow either the instructions previously provided or the link at the bottom of the email.

Show a little courtesy to those whose services you willingly signed up for. (Of course, I’m not referring to spammy emails.)