Subscription timestamps

See also: How does Ometria subscribe and unsubscribe contacts?

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 saved last opt-in/opt-out date updates as well.

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

Opti-in without timestamp

If you send a contact listing with just the marketing_optin field and no timestamp the contact's email subscription status will change (if it fulfils the hierarchy rules).

If the listing is new, or if the listing is an update to an existing contact with a new opt-in status, Ometria applies the current date and time to the the contact's last subscribed or unsubscribed date.

If the listing already exists and the new listing doesn't change the contact's opt-in status, then the timestamp doesn't change.

Edge cases

Sometimes anomalies can occur; for example, a contact can be marked as unsubscribed, with a date of unsubscribing six months ago, but still have a more recent subscribed date.

If someone 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 status’ to appear out of sync when checking a contact profile on Ometria.