How to handle unsubscribed cold contacts in marketing lists?

Unsubscribes from cold outreach must be honored across all communication types.

Core principle:

• An unsubscribe means stop contacting me, not just stop this sequence
• Honor across all channels and systems
• Don't try to parse different types of opt-out

Suppression handling:

• Add cold unsubscribes to master suppression list
• Sync suppression across cold tools and marketing ESPs
• Check suppression before any send, regardless of source
• Never circumvent with domain changes or new data

Data source management:

• Screen all new data against suppression before import
• Same email from different source doesn't override opt-out
• Purchased lists must be checked against internal suppression

System configuration:

• Automate suppression sync between platforms
• Test that suppression works across all sending channels
• Verify CRM integration respects suppression
• Audit periodically for sync failures

Edge cases:

• If someone unsubscribed then explicitly re-subscribes, document carefully
• Re-subscription should be proactive, not assumed
• Maintain history of opt-out and any re-consent