Understanding the Unsubscribed Status Update Process

The unsubscribed status in Marketing Cloud is updated through various means, including when an individual clicks on an Unsubscribe Link in the email or via their Profile or Preference Center. This process can be automated by mapping the ‘do not email’ field from Salesforce and using it in segmentations to ensure that individuals who have opted out are not sent further emails.

Additionally, teams can build automations to check the ‘do not email’ field and update the All Subscribers list accordingly. This ensures that the unsubscribed status is consistently updated across all systems.

Automation and Segmentation

To ensure that the ‘do not email’ field is taken into consideration in Marketing Cloud, teams can build automations to check this field and update the All Subscribers list. This can be done using Automation Studio, which allows teams to automate various tasks, including updating subscriber status.

Automation Script

/* Update All Subscribers list based on 'do not email' field */
var de = DataExtension.Init("All Subscribers");
var query = "SELECT * FROM All Subscribers WHERE doNotEmail = 'true'";
var results = de.query(query);
for (var i = 0; i < results.length; i++) {
  var subscriber = results[i];
  subscriber.status = "unsubscribed";
  de.update(subscriber);
}

The root cause of the issue is the lack of automation and segmentation to update the unsubscribed status in the All Subscribers list. By building automations and using the 'do not email' field in segmentations, teams can ensure that the unsubscribed status is consistently updated.

Best Practices

To ensure that the unsubscribed status is consistently updated, teams should follow best practices, including building automations to check the 'do not email' field and update the All Subscribers list, and using the 'do not email' field in segmentations to exclude individuals who have opted out.

Heads up: Teams should also ensure that the 'do not email' field is consistently updated across all systems, including Salesforce and Marketing Cloud.

Checklist for Updating Unsubscribed Status

• Build automations to check the 'do not email' field and update the All Subscribers list
• Use the 'do not email' field in segmentations to exclude individuals who have opted out
• Ensure that the 'do not email' field is consistently updated across all systems
• Use Automation Studio to automate tasks, including updating subscriber status
• Test and verify that the unsubscribed status is consistently updated

What happens when an individual clicks on an Unsubscribe Link?

The unsubscribed status gets updated in the All Subscribers list.

How can teams automate the update of the unsubscribed status?

Teams can build automations using Automation Studio to check the 'do not email' field and update the All Subscribers list.

What is the best practice for using the 'do not email' field in segmentations?

Teams should use the 'do not email' field in segmentations to exclude individuals who have opted out.

How can teams ensure that the unsubscribed status is consistently updated across all systems?

Teams should ensure that the 'do not email' field is consistently updated across all systems, including Salesforce and Marketing Cloud.