Diagnose a Rise in Unsubscribes
Added 2026-11-05
Unsubscribes are a thermometer for content and cadence.
Unsubscribes rose after the last campaign: [rate, frequency, content type, list source]. Diagnose it: 1) decide first whether this is content, cadence or list quality, with the evidence for each; 2) list what is easily misread — seasonality, a sale period, dilution from list growth; 3) look at where people unsubscribe — the top third of the email, the footer, the preference centre — and what each points to; 4) give a diagnosis plan: change subject line, frequency and layout one at a time; 5) design a way to lower unsubscribes without pleasing everyone — frequency options, content tiers, a clear promise; 6) say what a normal rate looks like and when to stop and rebuild the list.
Site original
Chinese original
How to use
An unsubscribe is an explicit no, which is more honest than silence.
Try tweaking it
- Write one selling point for three readers: beginner, expert, decision maker.
- Replace "compelling" with a structure: pain, proof, action.
What you should get
- Several versions by channel or reader
- The claim and proof behind each version
Common mistakes
- Asking for "more compelling copy" and getting adjectives instead of facts.
- Letting it invent user counts or reviews — a risk the moment you publish.
How to check the output
- Claims are specific and checkable, without empty adjectives.
- No invented sales, user counts or reviews.
Where it works
- Good for: writing one selling point in several channel voices, then comparing which is most specific.
- Watch out: never let it fabricate sales, user counts or reviews — leave unknown numbers blank.