(Active, Unsubscribed, Blacklisted)
Every subscriber in Send Onyx has a status that determines whether they can receive emails. Understanding these statuses is critical for deliverability, compliance, and sender reputation.
Send Onyx automatically manages subscriber statuses to protect your account and ensure you only send to valid recipients.
Subscriber Status Overview
There are three primary subscriber statuses in Send Onyx:
| Status | Can Receive Emails | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Active | ✅ Yes | Valid subscribers eligible to receive campaigns |
| Unsubscribed | ❌ No | Users who opted out of your emails |
| Blacklisted | ❌ No | Addresses blocked for deliverability or compliance reasons |
Each status is applied automatically based on subscriber behavior and system rules.
Active Subscribers
Active subscribers are valid, opted-in contacts who can receive campaigns and automation emails.
How a subscriber becomes Active
- Imported via CSV or TXT
- Added through a form or API
- Confirmed via double opt-in (if enabled)
What you can do with Active subscribers
- Send campaigns
- Include them in automations
- Segment and tag them
- Track opens, clicks, and engagement
Active subscribers are the only group counted toward campaign recipients.
Unsubscribed Subscribers
Unsubscribed subscribers are contacts who have chosen to stop receiving emails from you.
How a subscriber becomes Unsubscribed
- Clicks the unsubscribe link in an email
- Is manually unsubscribed by the account owner
- Is removed via automation or API
Important rules
- Unsubscribed contacts cannot receive emails
- You cannot resubscribe them without explicit permission
- They remain stored for compliance and reporting
This behavior is required to comply with CAN-SPAM, GDPR, and similar regulations.
Blacklisted Subscribers
Blacklisted subscribers are blocked automatically or manually to protect deliverability.
Common reasons for blacklisting
- Hard bounces (invalid email address)
- Spam complaints
- Repeated soft bounces
- Known role-based or abusive addresses
- Manual blacklist by account owner
Key differences from Unsubscribed
- Blacklisted addresses are high-risk
- Sending to them is completely blocked
- They may be globally blocked across your account
Blacklisting is a protective measure, not a punishment.
Can Blacklisted Subscribers Be Re-enabled?
- Hard bounces & spam complaints: ❌ No
- Temporary issues: ⚠️ Possibly. We gave you a customer-centric blacklist option so it’s ultimately up to you how you handle this as this affects your sending reputation.
Re-enabling blacklisted emails without proper verification can severely harm inbox placement.
How Subscriber Status Affects Campaign Stats
Subscriber statuses directly impact:
- Campaign recipient count
- Open and click rates
- Bounce rate
- Sender reputation
Only Active subscribers are included in campaign sends and analytics.
Best Practices for Managing Subscriber Statuses
To keep your account healthy:
- Respect unsubscribes — always
- Monitor blacklist growth regularly
- Remove inactive subscribers over time
- Avoid importing low-quality or cold lists
- Use double opt-in when possible
A smaller, cleaner list consistently outperforms a large, unhealthy one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I email unsubscribed users again?
No. You must obtain fresh, explicit consent.
Q: Why did some imported emails go straight to blacklisted?
They were likely invalid, previously bounced, or flagged during validation or they are a part of our global blacklist.