System groups are default contact groups that are present in every campaign and cannot be deleted. Each system group has a function within the campaign. The following system groups are always present:
- Subscribers
- Opt-in
- Spam complaints
- Unsubscribers
- Temporary unsubscribers
- Soft bounce (1x)
- Soft bounce (2x)
- Soft bounce (final)
- Hard bounce (1x)
- Hard bounce (2x)
- Hard bounce (final)
Subscribers
The Subscribers group is the default system group for registered contacts and for sending newsletters. This group has no special functions and shares the same properties as other non-system groups.
Opt-in
When a contact signs up via double opt-in, they are first added to the Opt-in group. Contacts in the Opt-in group cannot yet be emailed. After confirming their subscription, the contact is moved to the group configured in the plugin that handles the confirmation, typically the Subscribe plugin. This process is also known as the opt-in procedure.
Contacts with an unconfirmed opt-in that are not part of any mailable group are automatically deleted after a certain period of time.
Unsubscribers and temporary unsubscribers
When a contact unsubscribes, they are added to the Unsubscribers group. If a contact temporarily unsubscribes, they are added to the Temporary unsubscribers group. These contacts remain in their original group but are excluded from further mailings.
When a (temporarily) unsubscribed contact signs up again, they go through the opt-in procedure once more and, after a successful sign-up, will be moved out of the (temporary) unsubscribe group.
Spam complaints
When a contact marks an email as spam, they are automatically added to the Spam complaints group. These contacts are excluded from further mailings.
Bounce groups
When an email cannot be delivered and bounces, the contact is added to one of the bounce groups. The type of bounce determines which group the contact is placed in:
Soft bounce (1x): The first time an email bounces.
Soft bounce (2x): The second consecutive time an email bounces.
Soft bounce (final): The third consecutive time an email bounces. The contact is permanently excluded from further mailings.
Hard bounce (1x, 2x, final): These groups follow the same process as the soft bounces. Unless the contact hard bounces on the first send, in which case they are immediately moved to the Hard bounce (final) group.
See also: