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List Management

Subscriber

A person who has opted in to receive emails from your mailing list.

Definition

A subscriber is an individual who has provided their email address and given permission to receive your emails. Subscribers are the foundation of email marketing. They have willingly joined your list and expect to receive valuable content from you.

Why It Matters

Subscribers represent real people interested in your brand. Treating them well with relevant, valuable content builds trust and drives results. Understanding your subscribers' preferences and behavior helps you serve them better and improve your marketing effectiveness.

How It Works

People become subscribers by entering their email in a signup form and confirming their subscription (in double opt-in systems). Their data is stored in your email platform, and they receive emails based on their subscription preferences, segments, and your sending schedule.

Best Practices

  • 1Respect subscriber preferences for frequency and content type
  • 2Provide value in every email you send
  • 3Make it easy to unsubscribe or update preferences
  • 4Collect relevant data to personalize their experience
  • 5Re-engage inactive subscribers before removing them

Frequently Asked Questions

A subscriber has opted in to receive emails and can be emailed. A contact might be anyone in your database, including unsubscribed, bounced, or incomplete records. Not all contacts are subscribers.

Track engagement metrics like opens, clicks, and website activity. Subscribers who have not opened or clicked in 3-6 months are likely disengaged and should be re-engaged or removed.