Subscription timestamps

See also: How does Ometria subscribe and unsubscribe contacts?

Subscription timestamp behavior differs depending on your opt-in method.

Non-force opt-in and standard force opt-in

See also: Force opt-in

If the listing includes timestamp_subscribed or timestamp_unsubscribed, Ometria uses those values.

When a listing's subscription status changes and no explicit timestamp is provided, Ometria applies the current timestamp (i.e. now).

If there is no change to the subscription status and no timestamp is provided, nothing changes.

Timestamp without opt-in

If you send a contact listing with just a timestamp_subscribed or timestamp_unsubscribed and no marketing_optin, the subscription timestamp is updated.

If this was the last subscription change, then the contact's last opt-in/opt-out date updates as well.

The contact's email subscription status will not change; no event or campaign will trigger.

Edge cases

Timestamp anomalies can occur if you are using our standard @force_opt-in feature or if you choose not to include @force_optin at all.

A contact can be marked as unsubscribed, with an unsubscribe timestamp from six months ago, but also have a more recent subscribed date.

If a contact re-subscribes (e.g. at checkout) or by updating their preferences, although Ometria doesn’t trigger another event, the contact’s timestamp record is updated whether the subscribe action was successful or not (depending on the hierarchy above). 

This means it is possible for timestamps and subscription statuses to appear out of sync when checking a contact profile on Ometria.

If you find this is causing a problem for your reporting, consider speaking to your Customer Success Manager about enhanced force opt-in, which solves this issue. 

Enhanced force opt-in

For enhanced force opt-in, timestamps update when Ometria processes a new listing with different timestamp values. 

If enhanced force opt-in is enabled for your account and @force_optin=TRUE is applied to at least one listing, Ometria does the following: