EP 78: The unsubscribe paradox every marketer gets wrong

A 0.1% unsubscribe rate isn't the flex most marketers think it is.

In this episode of Send It, Jimmy Kim and Chase Dimond take on one of the most misunderstood metrics in email marketing and make the case that obsessing over unsubscribes is quietly making your program worse. They walk through why playing it safe produces generic content, how a low unsubscribe rate can actually be a warning sign, and why the healthiest email programs are the ones willing to lose a few people every week. This one is a mindset reset for anyone who's ever flinched at an unsubscribe notification.

EP 78: The unsubscribe paradox every marketer gets wrong

Here's what they cover:

- Why marketers are psychologically wired to fear unsubscribes

- The difference between list size as a vanity metric & list quality as a revenue driver

- What a healthy unsubscribe rate actually looks like in context

- When unsubscribes are a signal you're doing something right

- The three scenarios where an unsubscribe spike is a feature, not a bug

- Four metrics that matter more than your unsubscribe rate

- The benchmarks for when to celebrate, when to investigate, and when to panic

Thank you our friends at Omnisend, Inboox and eCom Email Certified for sponsoring the podcast!

Omnisend is an all in one eCommerce email and SMS marketing automation platform that enables marketers to engage customers and drive sales through personalized experiences. https://www.omnisend.com/sendit/

eCom Email Certified is a hands-on, results-driven program with a step-by-step guide to mastering retention marketing and driving serious results. Access over 25 hours of learnings and become a certified email & SMS marketer. Use code: SENDIT! for $300 OFF https://www.ecomemailcertified.com/

Explore Inboox.ai, the AI-powered database of 1M+ real ecommerce emails with full HTML, performance data, and trend insights from the fastest-growing Shopify brands. https://inboox.ai/

______

00:00 Welcome to the show

02:23 The unsubscribe paradox explained

04:47 What a healthy unsubscribe rate looks like in 2026

08:32 The benchmarks for a healthy email program

09:55 How fear of unsubscribes strips your brand of personality

13:06 Scenario 1: taking a stance on something controversial

14:19 Scenario 2: launching a new product or evolving your brand

16:23 Scenario 3: intentionally cleansing your list with re-engagement

18:57 The four metrics that matter more than your unsubscribe rate

20:10 Why the best brands are willing to be polarizing

21:39 The unsubscribe rate benchmark cheat sheet

25:23 The hot take: unsubscribes are not the enemy, boring is

25:48 Recap & final thoughts of the unsubscribe paradox

______

Enjoying the pod? Subscribe to The eCom Email Marketer Newsletter for your weekly dose of retention strategy, actionable insights, & exclusive industry news! http://ecomemailmarketer.com/

______

Follow Jimmy & Chase on social!

Follow Jimmy Kim at:

https://x.com/yojimmykim

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yojimmykim/

https://www.instagram.com/yojimmykim/

https://www.tiktok.com/@yojimmykim

Follow Chase Dimond at:

https://x.com/ecomchasedimond

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasedimond/

https://www.instagram.com/chasehunterdimond/

https://www.tiktok.com/@chasehunterdimond

Contact us at hellosenditpodcast@gmail.com for sponsorships, appearance requests, interviews, or general information!