Should Hidden Interest Update response opt constituents back into Site-Wide email?

Caden Burross 2

We have a survey built that is configured to update a constituent record with a specific interest. We assumed that the constituents Site-wide email preferences would also be updated, if they'd previously opted out of email globally. 


In testing we find that a submission to the survey is indeed adding the Interest to the user's record, but it is not opting them back into email. 


Is this the expected behavior? 

Allison King

Yes, that is the expected behavior. Constituents need to opt back into emails. I know the email opt-in field is part of the Constituent Registration Info question. Maybe you could include that question as a way to confirm profile information?

Alexandra Silver

Hi! I'm having a similar issue, trying to get people who'd previously opted-out of email to opt in again, since we're adding a new interest.


I included the constituent registration question--which includes the Accept email check box--in the survey (along with what types of email you'd like to receive) but when I just tested it, only the email preferences are updating. Any suggestions as to what could be going on/how else to opt-them back in globally?

Alexandra Silver

And....I think I figured it out. Under Step #2 "Include Questions" of the survey, then Edit Registration Info, there's a choice (d) "Select Layout and Processing Options. I changed the selection for #5 to "Accept the response and always update Profile of the constituent (Except for email address)."


Except now I realize there's a different problem: When I test the survey, I see it updates interest opt-in groups for interests checked off, but it does not update interest opt-out groups for those interests that are left unchecked. Any idea how I can fix this?

Penny Johnson

We were having the same issue, and found this Knowledgebase article to be helpful: Why wasn't my donor opted back in after checking the email opt-in checkbox? https://kb.blackbaud.com/articles/Article/104074

We added the S-tag code to our survey autoresponder and also the link to a FAQ page for people who are having that issue and want to opt themselves back into email. 

Alexandra Silver

Thanks, Penny! Interesting article. But (maybe I'm missing something obvious!) I'm confused.... As Allison mentioned above, it seems that adding the Constituent Registration Info question to a survey, with its email opt-in field, does indeed allow people to opt back in? Or does that not always work?


Is the S-tag in an autoresponder solution preferable because it allows constituents to choose which emails they do and do not want to receive (opt-out of certain emails)? (By directing them to their unique email preferences page?)


Sorry to say I don't know much about autoresponders - if someone is opted-out of email, they'll still receive one after filling out a survey? And just to clarify, the code mentioned in the article you reference would look something like 


[[?[[S1:accepts_email]]::false:: To confirm your email preferences, please click here ../shortname/site/ConsInterestsUser/?tabID=email_prefs::]


with just the short name replaced?


Sorry for all the questions, and thanks for any guidance!



 

Penny Johnson

Yes, I think that the Constituent Registration Info question opts people back in. Using the S-tag in an autoresponder (or as a link in an FAQ) gives the Constituent more options when they opt-in or out of email communications - that's why we decided to use it. Yes, just replace the shortname on the S-tag above. 


To answer your question about autoresponders - an autoresponder is treated differently than a regular email message. So, someone opted out of email will still receive them. Here's an article and summary below about that: https://kb.blackbaud.com/articles/Article/63150

Will constituents opted-out of site wide emails still receive receipts, autoresponders, TellAFriend, eCard, and emails sent from Participant Centers?


Yes, constituents who are opt-out of site wide email will still receive receipts, autoresponders, TellAFriend, eCard, and emails sent from Participant Centers. Note that there are three systems by which messages are sent out from Luminate Online. Opting out of email = emails sent from the Email Campaign system. Emails sent from the other two systems will not be affected by the opt out.

I'm still learning about all of this, too. Hope this was helpful!

Alexandra Silver

Thank you, Penny!