Robinson Lists
A Robinson list is a type of "opt-out" or "do not contact" list. When activated for your Mapp Engage system, the Robinson list excludes contacts or email domains from message sendouts.
During sendout, Mapp Engage checks whether an email address, mobile number, or domain is on the Robinson list. If so, the contact with this address is skipped. Mapp Engage prevents sendout of both group messages and single messages.
Hint:
Mapp also maintains a global Robinson list that prevents customers from sending messages to spam traps or addresses that generated bounces on other client systems. The Mapp Robinson list is applied to all Mapp Engage systems by default.
You can include the following entries in a Robinson list:
Email addresses
Mobile phone numbers
Email domains
Using a Robinson List in Mapp Engage
Your Mapp representative creates and manages the Robinson list for your system.
A Robinson list normally applies to all groups in the system. However, you can turn the list on or off for specific groups. For instructions, see Activate or Deactivate a Robinson List in a Group
You can add contacts to the Robinson list as a part of an event-based automation. For instructions, see Manage Robinson List (C).
Blacklists vs. Robinson Lists
Both blacklists and Robinson lists prevent you from sending messages to a contact.
The following table provides you with an overview of the differences.
Blacklist | Robinson List | |
|---|---|---|
Application | Use a blacklist when you want to block contacts in one group or in one Mapp Engage system. | Use a Robinson list if you have multiple Mapp Engage systems and you want to block addresses in multiple systems. A Robinson list can be connected to multiple systems. |
Group or System Level | A blacklist can be created for each group individually. Every Mapp Engage system also has a system-wide blacklist. | A Robinson list normally applies to all groups in the system. However, you can turn the list on or off for specific sendout groups. |
List Management | Blacklists can be edited at any time, directly in the Mapp Engage interface. | In general, the Robinson list is managed externally. You can add contacts to the Robinson list as a part of an event-based automation. For instructions, see Manage Robinson List (C). |
Method to Block Sendout | Blacklists remove the contacts from the group or from all Mapp Engage groups. Mapp stores the blacklisted address in a separate database to ensure that this address is not added or reimported. | Contacts on the Robinson list remain in the system and in the Mapp Engage groups. During sendout, Mapp Engage checks the Robinson list and prevents sendout to the contacts on the Robinson list. |
Contact Data | When a contact is placed on a blacklist, some or all the contact profile data is deleted. Before you import a blacklist, export and back up your contact data. To verify the opt-in confirmation and subscription data for legal reasons, you can only retrieve subscription data from the exported file. After activation of the blacklist, this data is no longer present in the system. | Robinson lists do not delete any address data. You can access all contact data at any time, including the date and time of subscription into the system. |
Contact Data Import | When you import a file with contact data, Mapp Engage compares the addresses in the file with the addresses stored in the blacklist database. The import process for large contact lists is therefore slower. | When you import contacts, Mapp Engage does not compare the addresses in the file with the Robinson list. Contacts are checked against the Robinson list during sendout. The import process for large contact lists is therefore faster. |
Message Statistics |
| Contacts who are skipped during sendout produce a skip in the message statistics. For more information, see Skipped Messages (tab). |
Public Robinson Lists
Public Robinson lists were originally created for protecting consumers from unwanted direct mail marketing and telemarketing. Many Robinson lists now include email addresses and mobile phone numbers. Inclusion on a public Robinson list is voluntary and undertaken by the contact personally.
There is no single Robinson list that applies internationally. Many countries have nation-wide Robinson lists, but the maintenance and oversight of the list varies by country. In many countries, marketers have a legal obligation to observe the Robinson list by not sending email to any addresses that appear on the list.
If you would like to deploy a public or national Robinson list for one or more Mapp Engage systems, contact your customer representative.