Overview
When running a program with Extole, it's important to understand how we collect and manage email opt-ins and opt-outs. Depending on how your brand manages your marketing lists, there are several ways we can share or sync this data with your systems.
This guide walks through the different integration options available, what each setup means for your marketing team, and how you’ll receive user consent data.
What We Collect
Extole captures:
Opt-ins: When users agree to receive marketing emails through your program.
Opt-outs: When users unsubscribe from program-related emails.
We can either share this data with you or manage it separately as referral opt-ins within the Extole system depending on how you want your lists handled.
Integration Options
1. Two-Way Sync
Best for: Brands that treat their general marketing list and program email list as the same list.
Extole sends you all opt-ins and opt-outs captured through the program.
You also send Extole your general marketing opt-outs, so we can honor them and suppress anyone who unsubscribed from your broader marketing emails.
This setup ensures both systems stay in sync and respect user preferences.
Requires a two-way data connection (via API or SFTP).
Benefits:
Seamless, centralized consent management
Ensures compliance across both your marketing emails and program emails
2. One-Way Sync
Best for: Brands that keep program email lists separate from their main marketing list, but still want to grow their marketing list through the program.
Extole sends you all new opt-ins from the program.
You can optionally receive opt-out data as well, but it’s not required.No need for you to send us your general opt-outs—we only manage unsubscribes for program-related messages.
Works via API or SFTP connection.
Benefits:
Easier setup with fewer touchpoints
Still allows your main list to grow via program activity
Program list managed separately to reduce risk of crossover unsubscribes
3. No Integration
Best for: Brands that prefer to manage marketing lists independently and don’t need automated syncing.
Extole collects and honors all opt-outs within our system.
You don’t need to send or receive any opt-in/out data automatically.
Reports can be downloaded at any time to review opt-out activity.
Benefits:
No dev work or integration required
Full control over how and when you use opt-in data
Extole still protects you by managing unsubscribes for program emails
4. Direct Connection to Your ESP
Best for: Brands who want opt-in and opt-out data delivered directly to their email service provider (ESP).
Extole sends opt-ins (and optionally opt-outs) directly to your ESP.
Can be set up via webhook for real-time syncing or via automated file drop on a daily schedule.
Flexible setup—we’ll work with your team to deliver data to the right destination in the right format.
Benefits:
Streamlined delivery to your existing ESP
Real-time or batch updates based on your preference
Minimal internal resource lift required
Need Help Choosing the Right Setup?
Your Implementation Manager can walk you through the best option based on:
How you manage your email lists
What systems you're using
How involved you'd like your development team to be
In Summary
Extole gives you full flexibility in how you handle consent and communication preferences. Whether you're fully integrated, lightly connected, or keeping things separate, we make sure your customers' preferences are honored—and your marketing team stays informed. Here is a list of our partners, several ESPs are included!