Contacts can opt in or opt out from databases at any time to choose whether they want to receive communications from you. Understanding how to add a contact and where in the program that contact is will help you ensure that your program is working properly.

How contacts opt in to a database

If a program is set up to add contacts only when a new contact opts in to a database, the contacts added through list import do not enter the program. With such a setup, the contacts will enter the program in three other cases:

• You add contacts manually by clicking the database's Add contacts button.
• Contacts submit an opt-in web form.
• Contacts are added by the AddRecipient API call (if that event trigger option is in place).

Add contacts from list imports to a database and program

To have contacts added from list imports to your database and program, use a different setup:

1. Create a query with the following parameters:
   • Data field - Opt-in date is within the last 1 day
   • Operator - is within the last
   • Value - 1 days

     This will bring in all contacts (manual adds, web form opt-ins, API adds, and list imports).

2. Set the program's contact source to the query you have created.
3. Choose the Program setting option to add all contacts from the database and then choose Continuously while the program is active. Your program will check for all newly opted-in contacts upon each program entrance cycle.

For more information on when your program will enter new contacts, check Contact entry and run frequency in programs.

Add contacts by creating rules after they have opted into the database

1. Within the Edit program settings page, select Add all contacts from the database and then Continuously while the program is active.
2. Check the box Limit to contacts that match rule.
3. Click Setup rule. Here, select Data fields and select opt-in date then is exactly.
4. Enter 0 days ago. This triggers contacts to come into the program via rules.

This setup only applies if you use an import update to add opted-in contacts to a database. When you use Add contact button on the Data summary page or the AddContact API, the opt-in event will enter the new contacts into the program.

Opted-out contacts in programs

Campaign adds contacts to programs regardless of their email permission status. It gives you the ability to route contacts into and around programs even if they are not opted-in for email. As a result, you can see an increase in the number of contacts added to programs, with a higher rate of exit at the first email step.

How it works:

• If an opted-out contact qualifies for a direct mail/telesales step, it completes that step.
• If the contact qualifies for an action/decision, it completes that action.
• If an opted-out contact qualifies for an email step, the contact is automatically exited. Like email, if a mobile app message contact arrives at a mobile app message step and has a consent status of opted-out or never joined, it is automatically exited at that step.

Opted-out contacts moving through a program remain in the program, but do not receive any messages. Removed contacts are shown in the Removed contact counts total in the insight overview panel.

Add a custom opt-out link in a program

The option to select a custom opt-out link in an email is not available before the email is sent – you need to change the link type first.

• If a custom opt-out link is an opt-out web form, change the link type to opt-out to page, clickstream, or tracked hyperlink. Click the web form name on the landing page to get the right URL.
• If a custom opt-out link is to an external site, set it to a tracked link.

Note: Only an organization administrator can create a custom opt-out link. 

1. Go to Settings > Administration > Organization settings.
2. Select Opt-out/Suppression settings.
3. Set to opt-out link required to send: No for the email to Save & validate in a program or Send from the Send email confirmation screen.

Snoozed contacts in a program

Snooze allows your contacts to pause subscriptions for a specific time as an alternative to opt-outs. You define the snooze time while creating the sign-up form. If a contact is in a program and selects Snooze, it is paused at their current step. After the snooze time expires, the contact continues in the program.

Opt-in action in programs with a Transact database

Opting in refers to when a recipient goes to a web form or a form that is built by using the AddRecipient or UpdateRecipient API. The recipient opts in to your database by choice to receive your emails.

A transact database is merely a log of a transaction that is performed by a recipient, which is why programs using a transact database will not send email.

As a workaround, you can create a query to find the recipients that opted into your Transact database. For example, the query might use Opt-in date is today to capture all the contacts that are opting into your database today. Then, you might point the program to this query and set it to check Continuously while the program is active.