Use case
Sometimes you might want to avoid sending content to your contacts who could find it insensitive. For example, you may want to exclude contacts who prefer not to receive Mother’s Day‑related campaigns.
You can use contact data fields to capture and use this information when sending campaigns for sensitive events.
Solution overview
A complete solution includes four parts:
A custom data field to store the information you collect.
A program to update the data field.
A landing page where contacts can confirm their opt-out.
A campaign which invites your contacts to opt-out of future campaigns about the sensitive event.
First, create your data field. Then build the campaign and landing page that work together to collect preferences, and finally, the program that updates the data field.
Before you start
Things you need to know:
This example uses Mother’s Day, but you can adapt it for any other event.
1. Create your opt-out data field
Create a contact data field for the event you want to offer opt-outs for.
To create a data field for Mother’s Day:
Expand the User menu and go to Settings > Contacts > Contact data fields.
Select the Custom data fields tab.
Select NEW DATA FIELD, and enter a name. For example, MOTHERS-DAY-OPT-OUT.
Expand the Data type drop-down menu, and select Yes/No.
For Default value, select No.
For Access, select Private.
Expand the Folder drop-down menu and choose where you want to store the data field.
We store all sensitive event opt-out data fields in one folder. If you want to create multiple fields, we recommend you do the same.Select CREATE.
2. Create a program to update the data fields
The program processes contact responses and updates their preferences.
To create the program that updates the data field:
Go to Automation > Programs, and select NEW PROGRAM.
Select Blank template, then enter a name and choose a location for your program.
We‘re going to enrol contacts directly from a form, so select the start node, then select Set schedule.
Select the No scheduled enrollments radio button, then select APPLY.
Drag the Update contact node onto the canvas.
Select the Update contact node, then select Have the selected data field updated.
Select SELECT DATA FIELD, and choose the event data field you created in Step 1.
Expand the Set value to drop-down menu, and select Is Yes, then select APPLY.
Drag an End node onto the canvas to finish.
To activate the program, select ACTIVATE. It doesn't run yet, it is safe to activate.
3. Create a landing page
When a contact selects the sensitive events opt-out link in your email or SMS, they go to a landing page where they confirm their choice.
To create the landing page:
Create a new page.
Insert a Text box form block for the contact’s email address, and set the Question type to Contact email.
Drag an Action buttons block onto your page, and set the Submit button text, for example, Opt me out.
Select Form Options > Submit actions, and for Enrol on to program select the program you created in Step 2.
Design and customise the rest of the page as needed.
Save and publish.
4. Create your campaign
This is the campaign you need to send in the run-up to the sensitive event.
You can use our Sensitive event opt-out email template to design the campaign.
Learn how in Use an email template.
To create your campaign:
Create a new email campaign.
Insert a link to the landing page you created above.
Design and modify the rest of the campaign as needed.
Save the campaign.
Collect your opt-outs
Before the sensitive event, decide which of your contacts to send your campaign to. You can select any of your existing lists or segments, or create a new one specifically for the sensitive event opt-out campaign. Send the opt-out campaign you created in Step 4 to this audience, allowing them to opt out from such campaigns.
For future campaigns related to this event, always exclude contacts whose opt‑out data field is set to Yes. You can do this by adding an exclude rule to a segment.
