Article Type Subscriptions

Administrators can configure subscription functionality for Article Types, enabling users to receive automated email notifications about new posts and comments. This feature supports both authenticated user subscriptions and public subscriptions for unauthenticated visitors, providing flexible notification options and frequency controls to keep community members engaged with relevant content.

Understanding Article Type Subscriptions

Subscription Models

Article Type subscriptions operate through three distinct models:

No Subscription Tracking

• Subscription functionality is completely disabled
• Users cannot subscribe to receive notifications
• No automated email notifications are sent for new posts or comments

Explicit Opt-In Subscriptions

• Users must actively subscribe by clicking the "Subscribe" button
• Provides user control over subscription decisions
• Suitable for optional notification preferences

Automatic Subscription with Opt-Out

• All users with Article Type access are automatically subscribed
• Users can unsubscribe if they prefer not to receive notifications
• Ensures broad notification coverage while maintaining user choice

Public Subscription Support

For Article Types shared publicly on the web, unauthenticated users can subscribe without portal login requirements:

• Guest users enter email addresses to subscribe
• Email verification process ensures valid subscriptions
• Secure unsubscribe options maintain user control

Requirements

To configure Article Type subscriptions, you must have:

• Administrator System Role permissions

Enabling Article Type Subscriptions

Subscription Configuration

1. Navigate to the Setup Home page
2. Click Create > Articles
3. Select the Article Type for subscription configuration
4. Click the Settings tab
5. In the Subscribers pane, select tracking preferences:

Subscription Options:

Do not track Subscribers

• Disables all subscription functionality for the Article Type
• No email notifications are sent for new posts or comments
• Users cannot subscribe to receive updates

All users who explicitly subscribe

• Users must actively opt-in by clicking the "Subscribe" button
• Provides user control over subscription decisions
• Displays subscriber count based on explicit sign-ups

All users with access are considered as Subscribers

• Automatically subscribes all users with Article Type access
• Users can opt-out by clicking "Unsubscribe"
• Notification box displays total subscriber count based on access permissions

Managing Article Subscriptions

Accessing Subscription Management

1. Navigate to the Setup Home page
2. Click Create > Articles
3. Select the Article Type with configured subscriptions
4. Click the Subscribers tab

Subscriber Display Options

For Explicit Subscriptions:

• Displays list of users who have actively subscribed
• Shows individual subscriber details and preferences
• Enables individual subscription management

For Automatic Subscriptions:

• Shows notification box with total subscriber count
• Represents all users with Article Type access
• Individual management through user-specific controls

Individual Subscription Management

1. Locate the target subscriber in the Subscribers list
2. Click Edit next to the subscriber entry
3. Configure subscription settings:

Status Options:

• Pending: Guest user email not yet verified (no notifications sent)
• Subscribed: User receives notifications based on preferences
• Unsubscribed: User receives no notifications from this Article Type

Notification Frequency:

• Select email delivery frequency for the subscriber
• Options vary based on system configuration
• Balances engagement with notification fatigue

Notification Type:

• Configure which types of activities trigger notifications
• May include new posts, comments, or other Article Type events
• Users can set preferences during subscription; administrators can modify

4. Click Save to apply changes

User Subscription Management

User Self-Service Options

Unsubscribe Methods:

• Email Unsubscribe Link: Available at the bottom of all notification emails; no login required
• My Settings Management: Authenticated users can manage subscriptions through portal interface

Important Exception: Post owners can only unsubscribe through the My Settings interface, not through email links.

My Settings Configuration

1. Navigate to the My Settings page
2. Click the Email Notifications tab
3. Click Articles
4. Configure notification frequency preferences for each Article Type
5. Settings apply to user's subscription preferences across all accessible Article Types

Public Subscription Workflow

Guest User Subscription Process

For Article Types shared publicly on the web with subscription tracking enabled:

1. Subscription Request: Guest user encounters subscription option on public Article Type
2. Email Entry: Dialog requests guest user's email address for subscription
3. Verification Email: System sends verification email to provided address
4. Email Verification: User clicks secure verification link in email
5. Subscription Activation: Verified users receive notifications based on preferences
6. Ongoing Management: Users can unsubscribe using links in notification emails

Verification and Status Management

Pending Status:

• Guest users appear as "Pending" until email verification is complete
• No notifications are sent to unverified email addresses
• Ensures subscription validity and reduces spam

Subscribed Status:

• Users achieve "Subscribed" status after email verification
• Begin receiving notifications based on configured preferences
• Can manage subscription through email links

Best Practices

Subscription Strategy

Model Selection

• Use explicit opt-in for optional content or high-frequency Article Types
• Use automatic subscription for essential organizational communications
• Consider user experience and notification volume when choosing models

Frequency Management

• Configure appropriate notification frequencies to avoid overwhelming users
• Consider content publication patterns when setting frequency options
• Monitor unsubscribe rates to optimize notification timing

User Experience Optimization

Clear Communication

• Provide clear information about subscription benefits and frequency
• Communicate subscription model (opt-in vs. automatic) to users
• Include helpful information in subscription confirmation emails

Easy Management

• Ensure unsubscribe processes are simple and accessible
• Provide clear instructions for preference management
• Maintain user control over subscription decisions

Public Subscription Security

Email Verification

• Always require email verification for public subscriptions
• Monitor verification rates to identify potential issues
• Implement appropriate spam protection measures

Access Control

• Ensure public subscriptions only provide access to publicly shared content
• Verify that subscription functionality aligns with Article Type sharing settings
• Maintain security boundaries between public and authenticated content

Administrative Management

Regular Review

• Monitor subscription engagement and unsubscribe rates
• Review subscriber lists for inactive or invalid email addresses
• Adjust notification content and frequency based on user feedback

Performance Monitoring

• Track email delivery rates and engagement metrics
• Monitor system performance with large subscriber lists
• Plan for scaling subscription management as community grows

Article Type subscriptions provide essential tools for maintaining community engagement while respecting user preferences and providing flexible notification management across both authenticated and public audiences.

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