# Marketing contacts + subscribe?

**URL:** <https://community.hubspot.com/t/marketing-contacts-subscribe/76607>\
**Category:** GDPR\
**Tags:** contacts\
**Created:** [March 7, 2023, 9:08am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/marketing-contacts-subscribe/76607 "2023-03-07T09:08:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![AvonKuhn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@AvonKuhn](https://community.hubspot.com/u/AvonKuhn)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 9:08am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/marketing-contacts-subscribe/76607/1 "2023-03-07T09:08:36Z")

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Hi community,

Am I correct in assuming that a contact needs to be both marked as a marketing contact and subscribed to my marketing communication? If yes, I know how to mark contacts in the overview as marketing contacts but guess I always have to open the contact view to subscribe them?

Thanks,

Anna

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**Author:** ![karstenkoehler](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/karstenkoehler/32/68554_2.png) [@karstenkoehler](https://community.hubspot.com/u/karstenkoehler)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 9:13am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/marketing-contacts-subscribe/76607/2 "2023-03-07T09:13:08Z")

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Hi @AvonKuhn,

Unless you have the [GDPR options enabled](https://knowledge.hubspot.com/privacy-and-consent/how-do-i-turn-on-gdpr-functionality-in-my-hubspot-account) (including the ‘Legal basis required’ option), technically, you don’t have to opt-in contacts ( = subscribe them). It’s still recommended but HubSpot would let you send the email.

If you have the ‘Legal basis required’ enabled, HubSpot will hold back marketing emails for contacts without opt-in. In that case, correct, you need to opt them in. You can find the necessary steps here: [Manage your contacts' messaging subscriptions](https://knowledge.hubspot.com/contacts/manage-your-subscription-preferences-and-types)

I usually opt in contacts in bulk from the contact index page.

And also generally, yes, correct. You need both. The marketing contact status is purely a billing feature in HubSpot. The subscription opt status is where you track the consent.

Let me know if you have any follow-up questions!

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**Author:** ![AvonKuhn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@AvonKuhn](https://community.hubspot.com/u/AvonKuhn)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 9:15am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/marketing-contacts-subscribe/76607/3 "2023-03-07T09:15:22Z")

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Hi Karsten,

Thanks for your quick response, it makes sense.

I also need to mark employees as marketing contacts if I want to send them internal newsletters through HubSpot, correct?

Thanks,

Anna

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**Author:** ![karstenkoehler](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/karstenkoehler/32/68554_2.png) [@karstenkoehler](https://community.hubspot.com/u/karstenkoehler)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 9:16am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/marketing-contacts-subscribe/76607/4 "2023-03-07T09:16:34Z")

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Hi @AvonKuhn,

Exactly – unless you have the transactional email add-on and are planning to send these internal newsletters as transactional email.

Best regards!