Preference Center & Unsubscribe

Overview

Migma’s Preference Center provides a beautiful, on-brand subscription management experience that automatically inherits your brand colors, fonts, and logo. Subscribers can manage their email preferences without needing to log in, using secure token-based access.

Auto-Branded

Inherits your brand styling automatically

Granular Control

Let subscribers choose what they receive

Token-Based Access

Secure, no login required

Why Preference Centers Matter

Problem with standard unsubscribe:

All-or-nothing: Lose subscribers forever
No way to reduce email frequency
Miss opportunity to retain partial engagement

Migma’s Preference Center solution:

Subscribers can choose specific email types
On-brand experience maintains trust
Retain subscribers who just want less email
Professional appearance

Automatic Brand Inheritance

What Gets Auto-Applied

Your Preference Center automatically inherits brand styling from your project settings: Brand Colors:

Primary color → Buttons, links, checkboxes
Background colors → Page background, sections
Text colors → Headings and body text
Accent colors → Borders, highlights

Typography:

Heading font → Page title, section headers
Body font → All text content
Font weights → Matches your email styling

Logo:

Displayed at top of preference center
Automatically sized and positioned
Responsive on mobile devices

Result: Professional, branded experience that matches your emails

Preference Categories

How Preference Categories Work

Preference categories map to tags:

Create Preference Category

Admin creates a category:

Name: “Weekly Newsletter”
Description: “Our weekly roundup of news and tips”
Mapped Tag: newsletter tag
Active: Yes
Display Order: 1

Subscriber Sees Category

On preference center page:

☑ Weekly Newsletter
  Our weekly roundup of news and tips

Checkbox is checked if subscriber has newsletter tag

Subscriber Toggles Preference

Subscriber unchecks box:

newsletter tag removed from subscriber
Subscriber no longer receives emails sent to newsletter tag
Other tags/subscriptions remain active

Granular Control

Subscriber can:

Turn off Weekly Newsletter
Keep Product Updates on
Keep Special Offers on
Only unsubscribes from specific types, not all emails

Key concept: Each preference category represents one tag. Toggling a preference adds/removes that tag from the subscriber.

Setup Your Preference Center

Configure Brand Settings

Navigate to Settings → BrandSet your brand:

Upload logo
Choose primary color
Choose secondary colors
Select fonts
Add company name and address

These settings auto-apply to preference center

Create Preference Categories

Navigate to Preferences page (admin)Add categories:

Click “Add Category”
Name: “Weekly Newsletter”
Description: “Our weekly digest of news and tips”
Select mapped tag: newsletter
Active: Yes
Display Order: 1 (first in list)
Save

Create multiple categories for different email types

Map to Existing Tags

Use your existing tags:

Map “Product Updates” category to product-updates tag
Map “Special Offers” category to promotions tag
Map “Blog Posts” category to blog tag

Subscribers with these tags will see them as checked

Test Preference Center

Generate test URL:

Go to Contacts
Select a subscriber
Click “Get Preference URL”
Copy URL and open in browser

Verify:

✅ Brand colors applied
✅ Logo displays
✅ All categories shown
✅ Correct checkboxes checked
✅ Toggles work

How Subscribers Access Preferences

Via Unique Preference URL

Each subscriber gets a unique URL:

https://migma.ai/preferences/abc123def456...

URL contains:

Permanent signed token
No expiration
Unique per subscriber
No login required

Access methods: 1. From email footer:

Include {{preferenceUrl}} variable in email template
Automatically replaced with subscriber’s unique URL
Link text: “Manage your preferences” or similar

2. From unsubscribe flow:

Subscriber clicks unsubscribe link
Shown simple confirmation
Can click to view full preferences instead

3. From your support:

Generate URL in admin UI
Share with subscriber via support ticket
Actions: Edit subscriber → Get Preference URL

Preference Center Features

What Subscribers Can Do

On the preference center page: View current subscriptions:

Your Email Preferences

☑ Weekly Newsletter
  Our weekly digest of news and tips

☑ Product Updates
  New features and improvements

☐ Special Offers
  Exclusive deals and promotions

Toggle preferences:

Click checkbox to unsubscribe from that type
Click again to resubscribe
Changes save immediately
Confirmation message shown

Update profile (if enabled):

Name
Email (view only, cannot change)
Custom fields (if configured)

Result:

Subscriber remains in database
Only specified tags removed/added
Still subscribed to other email types
Better than complete unsubscribe

Unsubscribe Functionality

Simple Unsubscribe Page

Unsubscribe URL format:

https://migma.ai/unsubscribe/abc123def456...

What happens:

Click Unsubscribe Link

Subscriber clicks unsubscribe link in email

Simple Confirmation Page

Shows:

You've been unsubscribed

Your email address has been removed from our mailing list.

[View Preference Center]

Page is intentionally simple - confirms action quickly

Status Updated

Backend updates:

Subscriber status → unsubscribed
unsubscribedAt timestamp set
All tags remain (for record keeping)
Cannot receive marketing emails

Optional: View Preferences

Link to preference center:

Subscriber can click to see full preference center
Can resubscribe if they change their mind
Can manage granular preferences instead

Note: Unsubscribe page is not branded - simple, fast confirmation only

Tag-Specific Unsubscribe

Hidden feature: URL format:

https://migma.ai/unsubscribe/TOKEN?tagId=TAG_ID

What happens:

Only removes that specific tag from subscriber
Subscriber remains subscribed to other emails
If last tag removed → status becomes unsubscribed
Otherwise → still active with remaining tags

Use case:

Unsubscribe from newsletter but keep product updates
Bulk email sends can include tag-specific unsubscribe

Technical Implementation

Token-Based Security

How tokens work: Token generation:

Permanent signed token created per subscriber
Stored as unsubscribeToken on subscriber record
32-character random string
Unique per subscriber per project

Token validation:

URL contains token in path: /preferences/TOKEN
Backend verifies token exists
Looks up subscriber by token
No expiration - works forever

Security:

Tokens are long and random (hard to guess)
One token per subscriber (not per email send)
No sensitive data in token
HTTPS required for security

Fast URL Generation

Two methods for generating preference URLs: Method 1: Standard (with DB lookup)

// Looks up subscriber, returns full URL
GET /api/subscribers/:id/preference-url

Method 2: Bulk (no DB lookup)

// Generates URLs for many subscribers at once
// No DB queries - uses existing token
POST /api/preferences/bulk-urls
{
  subscribers: [
    { email, unsubscribeToken },
    ...
  ]
}

Use bulk method when sending to many subscribers - much faster

Available Endpoints

Admin Endpoints (Auth Required)

Preference Category Management:

GET    /api/preferences/categories           List all categories
POST   /api/preferences/categories           Create category
PUT    /api/preferences/categories/:id       Update category
DELETE /api/preferences/categories/:id       Delete category
GET    /api/preferences/categories/:id       Get one category

Subscriber Preference URLs:

GET    /api/subscribers/:id/preference-url   Get preference URL for one subscriber
POST   /api/preferences/bulk-urls            Generate URLs for many subscribers

Public Endpoints (No Auth)

Subscriber Preference Management:

GET    /api/preferences/public/:token        Get subscriber preferences by token
PUT    /api/preferences/public/:token        Update subscriber preferences
GET    /api/preferences/unsubscribe/:token   Unsubscribe (with optional ?tagId=)

Compliance Features

CAN-SPAM Compliance

What Migma provides:

Unsubscribe link - Unique per subscriber, works immediately

Physical address - Added to emails from brand settings

Instant processing - Unsubscribes process immediately

30-day link validity - Links never expire (exceeds requirement)

No login required - Token-based access

Your responsibilities:

Provide valid physical address in brand settings
Include unsubscribe link in every marketing email
Use {{unsubscribeUrl}} or {{preferenceUrl}} variables
Process unsubscribes (Migma does this automatically)

What Migma tracks:

Subscription date (createdAt)
Unsubscribe date (unsubscribedAt)
Current subscription status
Preference category selections (via tags)

Data export:

Admins can export subscriber data via CSV
Includes all fields, tags, custom fields
Available via Contacts page export

Data deletion:

Admins can delete subscribers manually
Permanent deletion from database
Use with caution - no recovery

What’s NOT implemented:

Self-service data download (subscriber-initiated)
Self-service account deletion (subscriber-initiated)
Consent history logging
GDPR-specific compliance tools

Recommendation: For full GDPR compliance, you may need additional processes beyond Migma’s built-in features.

Best Practices

Create Meaningful Categories

Good category names:

✅ Weekly Newsletter
✅ Product Updates
✅ Special Offers
✅ Event Invitations
✅ Blog Posts

Poor category names:

❌ Emails
❌ Updates
❌ Tag 1
❌ Newsletter Tag

Why:

Clear names help subscribers understand what they’re (un)subscribing from
Descriptive helps reduce confusion
Professional appearance

Add Helpful Descriptions

Good descriptions:

Weekly Newsletter
→ Our weekly roundup of the latest news, tips, and insights

Product Updates
→ Announcements about new features and improvements

Special Offers
→ Exclusive deals and promotions (1-2 per month)

Why:

Helps subscribers make informed choices
Sets expectations (frequency, content type)
Reduces unwanted unsubscribes

Use Display Order Wisely

Recommended order:Most important first:

Product/service updates (critical)
Newsletter (regular content)
Educational content
Promotional offers (least critical)

Why:

Most engaged subscribers see important options first
De-emphasize promotional content
Increase retention of key subscriptions

Test Regularly

Monthly testing checklist:Test unsubscribe:

☑ Send test email
☑ Click unsubscribe link
☑ Verify confirmation page loads
☑ Check subscriber status updated
☑ Verify no longer in tag

Test preference center:

☑ Generate preference URL
☑ Open in browser
☑ Verify brand applied correctly
☑ Toggle preferences
☑ Verify changes saved
☑ Check tags updated

Why:

Catch broken links
Verify branding still applies
Ensure compliance
Maintain trust

Include in Every Email

Required in all marketing emails:Email footer should include:

<a href="{{preferenceUrl}}">Manage Preferences</a>
|
<a href="{{unsubscribeUrl}}">Unsubscribe</a>

Or simpler:

<a href="{{unsubscribeUrl}}">Unsubscribe</a>

Why:

Legal requirement (CAN-SPAM)
Reduces spam complaints
Maintains trust
Better deliverability

Common Use Cases

Setup:

Preference Categories:
☑ Weekly Digest
  Our main newsletter (every Monday)

☑ Breaking News
  Important updates as they happen

☑ Community Spotlights
  Featured member stories (monthly)

Result: Subscribers can get digest without breaking news alerts

SaaS Product Communications

Setup:

Preference Categories:
☑ Product Updates
  New features and improvements

☑ Educational Content
  Tips, tutorials, and best practices

☑ System Notifications
  Important alerts about your account

☑ Company News
  Blog posts and announcements

Result: Users can get product updates without marketing content

E-commerce Store

Setup:

Preference Categories:
☑ New Arrivals
  Latest products added to store

☑ Sales & Promotions
  Exclusive deals and discounts

☑ Back in Stock
  Notifications when items return

☑ Order Updates
  Shipping and delivery notifications

Result: Customers can control promotional emails while keeping order updates

Limitations

Current Limitations

Features NOT currently available:

Feedback collection - Cannot ask why subscriber is unsubscribing

GDPR self-service - No subscriber-initiated data download or account deletion

Analytics - No tracking of preference changes or retention metrics

One-click unsubscribe headers - No RFC 8058 List-Unsubscribe headers

Frequency preferences - Cannot let subscribers choose email frequency

Multi-brand - Single brand per project only

What works:

✅ Granular preference categories
✅ On-brand design with auto-inheritance
✅ Token-based secure access
✅ Instant unsubscribe
✅ Tag-specific unsubscribe
✅ No login required
✅ Mobile responsive

Troubleshooting

Preference URL Not Working

Problem: Link returns error or doesn’t loadCheck:

Token is valid (32 characters)
Subscriber exists in database
URL format correct: /preferences/TOKEN
HTTPS (not HTTP)

Test:

Generate new URL from admin UI
Try in different browser
Check subscriber still exists

Brand Not Applied

Problem: Preference center uses default colorsCheck:

Brand settings configured (Settings → Brand)
Logo uploaded
Primary color selected
Fonts chosen
Clear browser cache

Note: Brand changes take effect immediately

Preferences Not Saving

Problem: Subscriber toggles preference but change doesn’t stickCheck:

Browser JavaScript enabled
No console errors (F12 developer tools)
Subscriber record exists
Tag exists in project
Preference category is active

Debug:

Check network tab for API errors
Verify tag mapping correct
Test with different subscriber

Category Not Showing

Problem: Preference category doesn’t appear on preference centerCheck:

Category is Active (not inactive)
Mapped tag exists
Display order set
Category saved properly

Fix:

Edit category, verify all fields
Toggle Active off and on
Save again
Refresh preference center page

Unsubscribe Not Working

Problem: Click unsubscribe but still receiving emailsCheck:

Unsubscribe link clicked successfully
Subscriber status changed to unsubscribed
Check send logs - should show “skipped”
Not using different email address

Remember:

Unsubscribe is immediate
Emails in flight may still deliver
Check correct subscriber record

Next Steps

Manage Contacts

Add and organize subscribers

Sending Emails

Send to your audience

CSV Upload

Bulk import subscribers

Audience Overview

Subscriber management overview

Need Help?

Watch Tutorial

Preference center setup guide

Join Discord

Get help with compliance

Contact Support

Preference center questions

API Reference

Subscriber API documentation

Getting Started

FAQ

Creating Emails

Email Editor

Campaigns

Audience

Content Hub

Integrations

Advanced

Case Studies

Settings

About

​Overview

Auto-Branded

Granular Control

Token-Based Access

​Why Preference Centers Matter

​Automatic Brand Inheritance

​What Gets Auto-Applied

​Preference Categories

​How Preference Categories Work

​Setup Your Preference Center

​How Subscribers Access Preferences

​Via Unique Preference URL

​Preference Center Features

​What Subscribers Can Do

​Unsubscribe Functionality

​Simple Unsubscribe Page

​Tag-Specific Unsubscribe

​Technical Implementation

​Token-Based Security

​Fast URL Generation

​Available Endpoints

​Admin Endpoints (Auth Required)

​Public Endpoints (No Auth)

​Compliance Features

​CAN-SPAM Compliance

​GDPR Considerations

​Best Practices

​Common Use Cases

​Newsletter with Multiple Topics

​SaaS Product Communications

​E-commerce Store

​Limitations

​Current Limitations

​Troubleshooting

​Next Steps

Manage Contacts

Sending Emails

CSV Upload

Audience Overview

​Need Help?

Watch Tutorial

Join Discord

Contact Support

API Reference

Overview

Why Preference Centers Matter

Automatic Brand Inheritance

What Gets Auto-Applied

Preference Categories

How Preference Categories Work

Setup Your Preference Center

How Subscribers Access Preferences

Via Unique Preference URL

Preference Center Features

What Subscribers Can Do

Unsubscribe Functionality

Simple Unsubscribe Page

Tag-Specific Unsubscribe

Technical Implementation

Token-Based Security

Fast URL Generation

Available Endpoints

Admin Endpoints (Auth Required)

Public Endpoints (No Auth)

Compliance Features

CAN-SPAM Compliance

GDPR Considerations

Best Practices

Common Use Cases

Newsletter with Multiple Topics

SaaS Product Communications

E-commerce Store

Limitations

Current Limitations

Troubleshooting

Next Steps

Need Help?