Communication channels like email, SMS, and messaging apps such as WhatsApp play a crucial role in keeping users engaged and informed. However, respecting user preferences regarding communication is paramount to maintaining trust and compliance with data regulations. Subscription status serves as a key indicator of user consent and preferences regarding receiving communications through these channels. 

In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss in detail about each type of subscription status and its implications.

Understanding subscription status

Subscription status refers to the indication of whether a user has opted in or out of receiving communications via specific channels. It serves as a crucial metric for organizations to understand user preferences and comply with regulations such as GDPR and CAN-SPAM Act.

Types of subscription status in NotifyVisitors

1. No Consent: This status signifies that the user has not subscribed to receive communications through the respective channel. 
2. Subscribed: This status indicates that the user has actively opted in to receive communications through the chosen channel.
3. Unsubscribed: Users themselves opt out of receiving communications, indicating a preference to disengage from the channel.
4. Manual suppress: Users are manually suppressed from receiving communications by the client, often due to specific requests or compliance reasons. There are 2 ways of manual suppression - Manual suppression from dashboard or manual bulk suppression.
5. Bounce: The system automatically unsubscribes users when emails sent to them are hard-bounced due to the non-existence of an email address, or domain or the email being blocked by mail servers. This ensures that inactive or undeliverable email addresses do not clutter communication lists.
6. Invalid: This status means that the phone number or email address provided by the user is not valid. Our system checks the format of both phone numbers and email addresses, rejecting any that do not meet the required standards.

For phone numbers, here’s a list of acceptable formats that our system recognizes.

Regarding email addresses, they must include a local part, an @ symbol, and a domain part that is not case-sensitive. For instance, in the email address john@example.com, "john" is the local part, followed by the @ symbol and the domain. If any of these essential components are missing or if there are extra spaces in the email address, our system will mark it as invalid.

Checking user’s subscription status in NotifyVisitors

To verify the subscription status of users for specific communication channels, begin by navigating to the segments section within the platform's interface. From there, access the user list, where you can conveniently locate individuals either by utilizing the search bar or applying filtering options. 

Once you've identified the desired user, simply click on their name to access their detailed profile. Within the user's profile, navigate to the attributes tab, where you'll find a comprehensive overview of their subscription status across various communication channels.

Integer values for subscription status

Each of the above mentioned subscriptions status are called attributes. To categorize the subscription preferences of users, each subscription attribute is associated with a corresponding integer value. 

Kindly refer to the table below to know the integer value of each subscription type.

Such categorization can help organizations to optimize communication preferences and respect user privacy.

Targeting unsubscribed users

Unsubscribing users from communications, whether by their own choice or through manual suppression by you, is represented by two distinct values in our system (0 and 5, respectively). The purpose is to know which of the users have unsubscribed by themselves and which are unsubscribed by clients to block communications.

With this distinction, it is also easily possible to target users who have unsubscribed themselves. To do this, simply select the option “Send to unsubscribed user” while creating a campaign in Journey.

This ensures that only users who have unsubscribed voluntarily will be included, ignoring those you intentionally suppressed.

Conclusion

Subscription status serves as a fundamental aspect of communication management, guiding organizations in respecting user preferences and regulatory requirements. Understanding the different subscription statuses and their implications empowers organizations to optimize their communication strategies while fostering positive user experiences and maintaining trust.