Blastable is a cost-effective email marketing platform built on Amazon SES infrastructure, popular with cost-conscious agencies and high-volume senders looking for SES pricing with a friendly campaign management UI. The unsubscribe mechanism uses the {{unsubscribe_url}} merge tag auto-injected into every campaign footer, and Blastable supports RFC 8058 header injection through the underlying SES Configuration Set. Suppression is tracked at the list level with account-wide variant available. This guide covers the tag, the SES-based architecture, and how to verify the setup end to end.
Blastable unsubscribe link
| Tag syntax | {{unsubscribe_url}} |
| Placement | Auto-embedded in every campaign footer |
| Scope | Per-list opt-out with account-wide suppression |
| Config path | Settings > Amazon SES > Configuration Set |
| RFC 8058 one-click | Via SES Configuration Set with List-Unsubscribe headers enabled |
How to add the unsubscribe tag in Blastable
Place the merge tag exactly as shown below in the email template. Blastable replaces it at send time with a signed URL scoped to the recipient and campaign.
{{unsubscribe_url}}For custom HTML templates, wrap the tag in an anchor to render a proper hyperlink in the delivered email:
<a href="{{unsubscribe_url}}">Unsubscribe from this list</a>Auto-embedded in every campaign footer
Via SES Configuration Set with List-Unsubscribe headers enabled The recipient's mailbox provider (Gmail, Yahoo) uses the List-Unsubscribe-Post header to expose the native one-click button on the message. Requires domain authentication with DKIM and DMARC.
Blastable runs on customer-configured Amazon SES accounts, meaning RFC 8058 compliance depends on the SES Configuration Set. Enable Custom MAIL FROM domain and the List-Unsubscribe headers option in the Configuration Set. Missing SES-level configuration silently falls out of one-click compliance regardless of Blastable UI settings. Similar architectural pattern to MailBluster.
Testing your Blastable unsubscribe link
- Send a test message to a controlled Gmail address you own via the Blastable campaign preview action
- Click the footer unsubscribe link and confirm the opt-out on the landing page
- Check the subscriber or contact record: the status should be Unsubscribed within seconds
- Verify the RFC 8058 headers in Gmail: open the message, click three dots, then Show original. Look for
List-UnsubscribeandList-Unsubscribe-Post: List-Unsubscribe=One-Click
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See the pillar guide with the compliance landscape, the RFC 8058 deep dive, and the unsubscribe tag for every ESP: How to add an unsubscribe link: the complete 2026 guide →
How to add the Blastable unsubscribe link (step by step)
Blastable drag-and-drop templates include the unsubscribe link in the default footer, but custom HTML templates require the tag inserted manually.
- Open your campaign or template in the Blastable editor.
- Add or edit a text block in the footer where the unsubscribe link should appear.
- Insert the merge tag
{{unsubscribe_url}}. Blastable replaces it at send time with a signed URL scoped to the subscriber. - Wrap it in an anchor:
<a href="{{unsubscribe_url}}">Unsubscribe</a>. - Configure the Amazon SES Configuration Set under Settings > Amazon SES to enable List-Unsubscribe headers.
- Send a test to a seed address and verify the rendered link routes to the Blastable-hosted unsubscribe confirmation page.
SES Configuration Set and RFC 8058
Blastable runs on customer-configured Amazon SES accounts, meaning RFC 8058 compliance depends on the SES Configuration Set. Enable Custom MAIL FROM domain and the List-Unsubscribe headers option in the Configuration Set. Missing SES-level configuration silently falls out of one-click compliance regardless of Blastable UI settings. This is the fundamental architectural pattern shared with MailBluster: the platform provides the UI and orchestration, but the sending infrastructure is customer-owned SES.
Cost model at agency scale
Blastable cost model leverages Amazon SES pricing directly, letting agencies send at SES infrastructure prices (typically $0.10 per 1000 emails) with a Blastable subscription for the UI and features on top. At scale (millions of emails per month), the cost difference versus full-service ESPs like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, or ActiveCampaign becomes significant. Below 100,000 emails per month, the fixed subscription and setup complexity make full-service ESPs simpler for most SMB use cases. Agencies with multiple high-volume clients often deploy Blastable as their preferred SES orchestration layer.
Suppression sync between Blastable and SES
Blastable tracks opt-outs at the list level in the Blastable database, but SES also maintains its own account-level suppression list for hard bounces and complaint feedback. Keep SES suppression synced with Blastable by enabling automatic SNS notification handling: SES publishes bounce and complaint events to SNS, and Blastable subscribes to update the local suppression list. Missing this sync can cause deliverability degradation as unsubscribed contacts continue receiving sends until SES suppression catches up separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Blastable unsubscribe tag?
The merge tag is {{unsubscribe_url}}. Blastable replaces it at send time with a signed URL scoped to the subscriber. Use it inside an anchor: <a href="{{unsubscribe_url}}">Unsubscribe</a>.
Does Blastable support one-click unsubscribe for Gmail and Yahoo?
Yes when the underlying Amazon SES Configuration Set is configured for List-Unsubscribe headers. Missing SES-level configuration silently falls out of one-click compliance regardless of Blastable UI settings. Configure both layers correctly during initial setup.
Is Blastable cheaper than Mailchimp or SendGrid at scale?
Yes at high volume, since Blastable leverages Amazon SES infrastructure pricing (typically $0.10 per 1000 emails) plus a Blastable subscription. Below 100,000 emails per month, the fixed subscription and setup complexity make full-service ESPs simpler.
How does Blastable differ from MailBluster?
Both are SES-based email marketing platforms with similar architecture and cost model. Feature differences (UI polish, automation depth, template library, agency features) inform vendor selection but the underlying SES integration pattern is nearly identical.
Do I need SES production access for Blastable?
Yes for any real production sending. SES sandbox limits sends to verified addresses only, which is not usable for marketing. Request SES production access via the AWS console before setting up Blastable campaigns.
About the Author
Alaa · LinkedIn
Email infrastructure specialist with 8+ years of hands-on experience in SMTP, deliverability, and email verification. I’ve configured and troubleshot mail systems across Postfix, Exchange, and cloud relays, managed IP reputation and warmup campaigns, and built verification pipelines processing millions of addresses. My work spans DNS authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, BIMI), bounce handling, blocklist monitoring, and compliance frameworks including CAN-SPAM and GDPR. I write every article on SMTPedia to give email professionals, developers, and marketers the accurate, RFC-grounded reference they need.
About SMTPedia
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