List and Subscriber in Salesforce Marketing Cloud | Peoplewoo Skills

30.09.25 06:58 PM - By Jeetendra

Introduction

Salesforce Marketing Cloud (SFMC) is a leading platform for email marketing and customer engagement. At the core of SFMC's Email Studio are two key concepts: Subscribers and Lists. Understanding how they work is essential for successful campaign execution.

What is a Subscriber?

A Subscriber is a person who has opted in to receive communications from your brand. In SFMC, every subscriber is uniquely identified by their Subscriber Key and is stored in a central database called the All Subscribers List.

What is a List?

A List is a group of subscribers you want to target with a specific message or campaign. Lists are ideal for simpler use cases like newsletter sends, small segments, or straightforward email sends.

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Key Difference: List vs Subscriber

Aspect	List	Subscriber
Definition	Group of subscribers	Individual recipient of emails
Primary Identifier	List Name	Subscriber Key
Unsubscribe Tracking	Per list	Global (across all lists)
Storage	Multiple lists possible	All Subscribers List (central repository)
Use Case	Simple campaigns	All contact management and tracking

When to Use Lists

You have fewer than 500,000 subscribers
You want simple segmentation and targeting
You don’t need complex relational data
You want to send basic, regular communications like newsletters

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What’s the difference between Lists and Data Extensions?

Lists are used for simple email sends and segmentation. Data Extensions are relational tables used for complex data structures and advanced segmentation.

2. Can a subscriber exist in multiple lists?

Yes, a subscriber can be part of multiple lists, but their status is managed globally via the All Subscribers List.

3. What happens if someone unsubscribes from one list?

They will be unsubscribed from that specific list only. But if they unsubscribe from the All Subscribers List, they won’t receive any further emails.

4. Should I use Lists or Data Extensions?

If you're running a small-scale campaign with basic segmentation, use Lists. For complex data relationships and large volumes, use Data Extensions.

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