Opt Out Meaning
Opt out is a term that describes all the ways a member of your mailing list or a subscriber can voluntarily vacate your list.
Opting out is offered as an option in many marketing campaigns, typically as an ‘unsubscribe’ or ‘opt out’ link in the footer of the emails. Clicking on it redirects to a confirmation page where you can confirm your removal from the emailing list. Given the protection that it offers subscribers from spamming, some countries legally mandate that this option be provided in all marketing emails.
Opt Out Policy Explained
An opt-out policy is a rule or guideline that confirms the finality of the withdrawal. It affirms the decision of the user to opt-out and guarantees that they will no longer receive any marketing material going forward.
How it works
When a user unsubscribes or opts out and confirms it, they have given the strongest indicator that they no longer desire any marketing or promotional material from the sender. They therefore will be exempted from any other related emails. This can apply to all emails from the sender, or to specific campaigns.
The Process
A subscriber can find the opt-out button, typically presented as ‘unsubscribe’ and click on it. It can be at the footer level, or next to the sender address.
How it Relates to Opt In
The opt-out definition is clear, but what about ‘opt in’? When a user wishes to join a mailing list or wishes to receive different types of emails from a website, this is the button they click. After they are enrolled, they reserve the choice of opting out, at any time without consequence.
Other related terms
Opt-in marketing- It defines the campaign that is motivated by the singular goal of enrolling new email addresses for future marketing purposes.
Opt-in email list- This is the reservoir of addresses that have willingly accepted to receive content from you.
Double Opt-in- This is a two-step process where a subscriber, after opting-in, receives an email to confirm their subscription.