Testing the functionality of unsubscribe links in MailerLite campaigns is crucial to ensure compliance and enhance subscriber experience. This guide explains common questions and issues associated with unsubscribe links, and best practices to test their functionality.
Why are unsubscribe links not working in test emails?
In MailerLite, unsubscribe links in test emails are placeholders and do not function because they are not tied to actual subscriber records. Test emails are primarily used to preview content and design, not to validate functionality. When sending a live campaign, MailerLite automatically generates a unique unsubscribe link for every subscriber.
Are unsubscribe links automatically Included in campaigns?
Yes, unsubscribe links are automatically included in the default footer of all campaigns unless manually removed. If you're using a custom HTML footer, you need to insert the unsubscribe tag manually.
Use the variable
{$unsubscribe}to create a custom unsubscribe link or button outside of the Footer block.Use the snippet
<a href="{$unsubscribe}">Unsubscribe here</a>to add an unsubscribe link to your campaign created using the Custom HTML editor.
How to properly test unsubscribe links?
To test unsubscribe links, you must send an actual email campaign. There are two ways to do it:
a. Sending to a test group
Create a new 'test group' via Subscribers > Groups tab.
Add your email address(es) to this test group.
Click the Recipients section of your draft campaign and select the test group as the lone recipient.
Send the campaign to the test group as if it were going to real subscribers. This ensures the links are fully functional.
b. Sending to a single subscriber (your own email address)
Click the Recipients section of your draft campaign and click the Advanced tab.
Create this filter: Email > Equals > [Your Email Address]
Click Refresh (you will see - Recipients selected: 1) and Select.
Send your draft campaign to your email address.
Once sent, click the unsubscribe link in the delivered email to confirm it redirects to the desired unsubscribe page.
What if the unsubscribe link appears missing or nonfunctional?
In cases where the unsubscribe link does not work or shows an error, ensure:
The correct variable
{$unsubscribe}is used in the email content.There are no typos or formatting issues in custom HTML code.
Some users mistakenly use the variable {{ unsubscribe_url }}, which is invalid. Correct this in your campaign setup to resolve the issue.
Why does the unsubscribe link behave differently in automation emails?
Automation emails follow the same principle: unsubscribe links are tied to real subscribers. To test them:
Set up a trigger for a test group: Create a test group from Subscribers > Groups tab your subscribers, set the automation using the "Joins a group" trigger, assign the test group to the trigger, and turn the automation ON.
Add yourself to the group: This action will send the automated email with a working unsubscribe link.
Verify the functionality: Check the automation email received to ensure the link redirects correctly.
Where is the unsubscribe link in the email header?
There's no feature to add an unsubscribe link in the header. It is, however, added automatically by the email client. Header banners are a feature controlled only by email providers, not by MailerLite directly.
Why did a subscriber who unsubscribed still marked as an active subscriber?
If a subscriber wasn't fully unsubscribed after clicking the unsubscribe link in your email, this is due to your Unsubscribe settings where the one-step unsubscribe was not set up.
By ticking the Unsubscribe from all groups and Unsubscribe immediately
checkboxes on your Unsubscribe settings (via Account settings > Unsubscribe settings), you can ensure that a subscriber is removed from your active subscriber list as soon as they click the unsubscribe link in your emails.
By following the steps and best practices outlined here, you can ensure your unsubscribe links function correctly and provide a seamless experience for your subscribers.