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Sally Heaven
Product Pro
August 28, 2026
Question

Unsubscribe Method in Email Address Status Report?

  • August 28, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 20 views

When running the Email Address Status Report there are several Unsubscribe Methods:

  1. Blank
  2. Bulk Upload
  3. Global Unsubscribe
  4. Hard Bounce
  5. Self-Service Page
  6. Soft Bounce
  7. SPAM complaint
  8. Unsubscribe Page
  9. User Initiated

Is there a definition for what each of these mean? Some are obvious but some aren’t quite as obvious.

Specifically, I’m wondering if there’s a way to report on users who unsubscribe using the List Header Unsubscribe link that appears in Gmail and Yahoo inboxes. 

Thanks!

1 reply

rachel moody
Community Manager
August 31, 2026

Hi Sally!

This article outlines most of these reasons, but I do think we can work on making it a bit more clear so I flagged that to edit. 


 

Blank — No unsubscribe method was captured. This typically applies to older records predating method tracking, or cases where the status was set without logging a specific mechanism.

Bulk Upload — The subscription status was changed to Unsubscribed via a bulk upload file using the Apply Email Address mapping option.

Global Unsubscribe — The contact reached out to Bonterra and said "Please unsubscribe [address] from all future emails.”

Hard Bounce — A permanent delivery failure (e.g., the recipient's email server reports the account no longer exists) automatically sets the address to Unsubscribed.

Self-Service Page — The contact managed their own subscription preferences through a Self-Service Portal.

Soft Bounce — Three consecutive soft bounces in a 30 day period (temporary failures, e.g., full inbox) automatically trigger an Unsubscribed status.

SPAM Complaint — The recipient marked the email as spam, and EveryAction received a complaint report back via the inbox provider's feedback loop.

Unsubscribe Page — The contact clicked the unsubscribe link in an email and submitted the standard unsubscribe form.

User Initiated — A staff user manually changed the subscription status to Unsubscribed directly on the contact record.

I’m not sure if there’s a way to report on folks who use that unsubscribe that appears in inboxes, I’m going to check with someone. I do think that those will count towards Global Unsubscribe so I’m not confident there’s a better way to track those. 

Rachel at Bonterra