Restricting Email Subscription Access for Non-Partners in HubSpot

In the Client’s HubSpot instance, the email subscription type titled “Technical Release Update” was designed exclusively for partners. However, a significant issue was identified: the subscription was available for opt-in to all visitors, regardless of their partner status. This unrestricted access led to non-partner users subscribing to updates that were intended solely for partners. To maintain exclusivity and ensure that only partners could subscribe, a mechanism was required to prevent non-partner users from opting in.

Objective

The goal was to implement a solution that would restrict the “Technical Release Update” subscription option so that only users identified as partners in HubSpot could opt-in. If a visitor was not a registered partner, the subscription checkbox should be disabled or unclickable, effectively preventing them from subscribing.

Solution Implemented

To address this issue, we leveraged the HubSpot API in conjunction with a Node.js backend script to dynamically manage subscription accessibility. Below is an overview of the solution’s implementation:

1. IIntegration with HubSpot API:
   • The HubSpot API was used to retrieve the user’s partner status based on their profile information stored in HubSpot’s database.
   • When a visitor accessed the Preference Center Page, an API call was triggered to verify their partner status.
2. Backend Logic with Node.js:
   • A custom Node.js script was developed to handle API requests and responses.
   • When a visitor landed on the Preference Center Page, the script executed a request to HubSpot’s API to check the user's status.
   • If the user was identified as a partner, the “Technical Release Update” subscription checkbox remained clickable, allowing them to subscribe.
   • If the user was not a partner, the script modified the subscription settings dynamically to render the checkbox unclickable or disabled, preventing the opt-in action.
3. User Experience Improvement:
   • For non-partners, the “Technical Release Update” subscription appeared in a disabled state, ensuring clarity and preventing unnecessary attempts to subscribe.
4. Missed opportunities and lost revenue due to lack of coordination.

Results and Impact

The implementation of this solution successfully restricted access to the “Technical Release Update” subscription type. The key outcomes included:

• Enhanced Subscription Control: Only users identified as partners were able to subscribe, ensuring that the content reached the intended audience.
• Improved Data Accuracy: The email list remained clean and relevant, preventing non-partners from receiving partner-exclusive updates.
• Seamless User Experience: Visitors who were not partners were prevented from opting in without confusion, while partners could subscribe without any obstacles.
• Automation & Efficiency: By integrating HubSpot’s API with a Node.js script, the process was automated, eliminating the need for manual intervention to manage subscriptions.

Conclusion

The solution effectively addressed the issue of unrestricted subscription access by utilizing HubSpot’s API and a custom backend script in Node.js. By dynamically controlling the subscription checkbox visibility, we ensured that only partners could opt-in, aligning the subscription process with business requirements. This method provided a seamless, automated approach to managing exclusive email updates while maintaining a high-quality subscriber list in HubSpot.