> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.usestellar.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Email Subscriptions

> Build an audience for your changelog

Let visitors subscribe to your changelog and automatically receive updates when you publish new announcements. Build a direct connection with your users.

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## How Subscriptions Work

1. Visitor enters email on your portal
2. Receives confirmation email
3. Gets notified of new announcements
4. Can manage preferences or unsubscribe

## Enabling Subscriptions

### Quick Setup

1. Navigate to **Portal** → **Settings** → **Subscriptions**
2. Toggle **Enable email subscriptions**
3. Configure options:
   * Confirmation email required
   * Welcome email content
   * Notification frequency
4. Save changes

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### Subscription Form

Appears automatically on your portal:

* Header subscribe button
* Footer email capture
* After-announcement prompt
* Dedicated subscribe page

```html theme={null}
<!-- Auto-generated form -->
<form class="subscribe-form">
  <input type="email" placeholder="Enter your email" />
  <button type="submit">Subscribe</button>
</form>
```

## Email Marketing Integration

Sync subscribers with your email tools:

### Available Integrations

* **Kit (ConvertKit)** - Auto-tag subscribers
* **Loops** - Modern email automation
* **Mailchimp** - Coming soon
* **Custom webhook** - Your own system

[Set up email integrations →](/integrations/types#portal-integrations)

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<Info>
  Email integrations sync in real-time. Subscribers are immediately available in your email marketing tool.
</Info>

## Notification Settings

### Delivery Options

**Instant**

* Email sent immediately on publish
* Best for urgent updates
* Higher engagement rates

**Daily Digest**

* Groups multiple announcements
* Sent at specified time
* Reduces email fatigue

**Weekly Summary**

* Roundup of all updates
* Sent on chosen day
* Good for active changelogs

### Email Content

**What's Included**

* Announcement title
* Preview text or full content
* Read more link
* Category/tags
* Unsubscribe link

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## Customizing Emails

### Email Templates

Customize in **Portal** → **Settings** → **Email Templates**:

**Welcome Email**

```
Subject: Welcome to {Company} Updates!

Thanks for subscribing! You'll be the first to know about new features and improvements.

Recent updates:
{recent_announcements}
```

**Notification Email**

```
Subject: {announcement_title}

{announcement_preview}

[Read full announcement →]
```

### Branding

* Company logo
* Brand colors
* Custom footer
* Social links

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## Managing Subscribers

### Subscriber List

View in **Portal** → **Subscribers**:

* Email address
* Subscribe date
* Status (active/unsubscribed)
* Last email sent

### Export Options

* CSV download
* Filter by date range
* Active subscribers only
* Include custom fields

### Bulk Actions

* Import existing list
* Remove bounced emails
* Tag subscribers
* Send one-time email

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<Warning>
  Always respect unsubscribes. Stellar automatically handles opt-outs and maintains a suppression list.
</Warning>

## Growing Your List

### Promotion Ideas

**In Your Product**

* Settings page link
* Post-update prompt
* Empty states
* Help menu

**On Your Website**

* Footer link
* Blog sidebar
* About page
* Contact page

**In Communications**

* Email signatures
* Support responses
* Social media
* Release notes

### Incentives

* Early access to features
* Exclusive content
* Beta invitations
* Product insights

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## Compliance & Privacy

### GDPR Compliance

* Double opt-in available
* Clear consent language
* Easy unsubscribe
* Data export on request

### CAN-SPAM Compliance

* Physical address in footer
* Clear sender information
* Unsubscribe link
* No misleading subjects

### Best Practices

* Never buy email lists
* Honor unsubscribes immediately
* Keep content relevant
* Test emails before sending

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## Analytics & Performance

### Key Metrics

* **Subscribers** - Total active count
* **Growth rate** - New per month
* **Open rate** - Engagement level
* **Click rate** - Content interest
* **Unsubscribe rate** - Content relevance

### Improving Performance

**Subject Lines**

* Clear and specific
* Highlight key feature
* Avoid spam triggers
* A/B test variations

**Send Times**

* Tuesday-Thursday best
* 10am recipient time
* Avoid Mondays/Fridays
* Test your audience

**Content Quality**

* Lead with value
* Keep it concise
* Use visuals
* Clear CTAs

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<Tip>
  Start building your list early. Even before major updates, subscribers appreciate transparency about what's coming.
</Tip>

## Advanced Features

### Segmentation

Coming soon:

* By signup date
* By engagement
* By category interest
* Custom fields

### Automation

* Welcome series
* Re-engagement campaigns
* Anniversary emails
* Milestone celebrations

### API Access

```javascript theme={null}
// Subscribe via API
fetch('https://api.usestellar.com/portal/subscribe', {
  method: 'POST',
  body: JSON.stringify({
    email: 'user@example.com',
    tags: ['beta-tester']
  })
});
```

## Quick Wins

1. **Enable subscriptions** - Start collecting emails
2. **Add to product** - Link from your app
3. **Welcome email** - Set expectations
4. **Regular updates** - Build habit
5. **Monitor metrics** - Improve over time

Ready to build your changelog audience? Enable subscriptions and start growing your direct line to users.