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Google is cracking down again, and it will affect everyone, just like last time. My team hasn’t sent cold emails via Google Workspace Mail since 2020. In 2024, no one aiming to be an email deliverability expert should be sending cold emails via Google Workspace.
As early back as 2020, Google published a version of the Google Workspace Acceptable Use Policy that, at the top of the list, bans the use of Google Workspace “to generate or facilitate unsolicited bulk commercial email.”
Google has a long history of punishing users who go against their policies. Google doesn’t change policies lightly, and they rarely have policies that they don’t enforce. Ask around anyone who has run afoul of Google’s SEO policies, Adwords rules, or YouTube’s Community Guidelines. Or anyone reading this that has been 'flagged,' 'throttled,' or 'suspended' by Google Mail just in the last couple of weeks. It doesn’t matter if you’re a paying customer or not.
Google recently threw a curveball at cold emailers with their updated Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). While the core message remains the same – spam is strictly off-limits – the rules have gotten tighter. Let's break it down:
Unsolicited Bulk Commercial Email (UBCE) is a No-Go: Picture bombarding inboxes with generic sales pitches to a massive, uninterested audience. Google despises this practice, and its AUP explicitly bans using its platform for UBCE.
Permission is Key: Building a genuine email list through opt-in methods like website signups or verified lead generation is crucial. Think quality over quantity.
Extra Scrutiny: Google has cranked up the heat on their spam detection algorithms. Emails with red flags like irrelevant content, misleading subject lines, or an overload of promotional language are more likely to land in the spam folder.
Imagine your inbox overflowing with irrelevant pitches or suspicious offers. That's spam in a nutshell. Google identifies these uninvited guests through various tactics, such as:
Sender Reputation: A history of sending unsolicited emails or recipient complaints can significantly tank your sender score. This increases the chances of your emails being flagged as spam.
Content Analysis: Emails packed with excessive promotional language, misleading subject lines, or information irrelevant to the recipient raise red flags for Google.
Engagement is a Sign: Low open rates, high bounce rates, and a lack of recipient interaction signal to Google that your emails are unwanted.
While the specifics are under wraps, Google recently hinted at a stricter approach with the ".3% spam rule." This suggests that if more than 0.3% of your recipients mark your emails as spam, your sending privileges might be restricted.
Think of email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) as your digital ID for email. These protocols verify your legitimacy as a sender, ensuring malicious actors don't impersonate your emails.
SPF (Sender Policy Framework): This specifies authorized servers that are allowed to send emails on your behalf.
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): Digitally signs your email, adding a security layer and preventing tampering.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance): Provides a reporting mechanism to track how your emails are handled and identify potential misuse.
Implementing these protocols demonstrates to Google that you're a responsible sender and helps establish your sender reputation. This, in turn, improves email deliverability and reduces the chances of your emails getting flagged.
Building a positive sender reputation takes consistent effort. By adhering to Google's AUP, focusing on permission-based marketing, and implementing proper authentication, you can navigate this evolving landscape and ensure your emails reach the intended audience.
While navigating the ever-changing world of email marketing presents its challenges, a strategic approach paves the way for success. This guide equips you with the knowledge and tools necessary to become an email deliverability expert in 2024.
Think of yourself as a data spy. Your intel comes in the form of critical metrics:
Bounce Rate: Imagine throwing a message that bounces back. This metric shows undelivered emails due to typos, outdated addresses, or full inboxes. A high rate raises red flags, so keeping it low is crucial.
Spam Rate: Nobody likes unsolicited offers (think "miracle hair growth"). This rate shows how many recipients flagged your email as spam. Google especially frowns upon spammers, so keeping this number in check is vital.
Open Rate: The golden metric! Did anyone even open your email? This rate reveals the percentage of people who clicked the envelope icon. A low rate suggests your subject line needs work or your content is a snoozefest.
The good news is that you don't need a trench coat and magnifying glass. Many email platforms offer built-in mission control dashboards that track these metrics.
Advanced analytics tools exist for the ultimate data detectives. These tools help you see trends, pinpoint areas for improvement, and ultimately crack the code of crafting emails that people open and engage with.
The Wild West of cold emailing has morphed into a territory governed by trust and relevance. Gone are the days of mass blasts; instead, meticulous targeting and building genuine connections are paramount.
Each email should be a personalized invitation, not a generic sales pitch. This shift requires precise targeting. You must identify individuals who genuinely show interest in your product or service. Extensive research is crucial to avoid blasting irrelevant messages.
Also, seek permission. Building an opt-in email list is the foundation. Incentivize website signups, offer valuable content in exchange for addresses, and always honor unsubscribe requests.
Be transparent and honest. Be upfront about your identity and purpose. Avoid misleading subject lines or deceptive practices that erode trust.
A good sender reputation is your digital currency in the email world. Here's how to strengthen it:
Quality over Quantity: Prioritize sending relevant emails to engaged recipients. A high open rate and low spam rate signal a positive reputation to email providers.
Regular List Hygiene: Regularly remove inactive subscribers and outdated addresses. A clean list ensures emails reach the right inboxes and minimizes bounce rates, which can damage your reputation.
Authentication: Your Digital Shield: Implement protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. These act as a security system, verifying your legitimacy and preventing impersonation.
Data segmentation is your secret weapon. Divide your audience into groups based on shared characteristics. This allows for personalized messages that resonate more deeply.
Regularly removing inactive subscribers and outdated addresses sharpens your aim. A clean list guarantees your emails reach the intended audience, maximizing deliverability and the impact of your outreach.
Building trust and permission is the golden rule. Effective cold emailing involves providing value, building relationships, and respecting the recipient's time and inbox. By adhering to these principles, you can craft compliant emails that resonate with your target audience and thrive in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
The email landscape is constantly evolving, and the recent emphasis on stricter enforcement by Google necessitates a strategic adaptation. While challenges exist, they also present an opportunity to refine your approach and prioritize building genuine relationships with your target audience.
By focusing on permission-based marketing, crafting compelling and personalized content, and exploring alternative sending solutions, businesses can continue to leverage email as a powerful tool for fostering connections and driving growth. Remember, the key lies in respecting the recipient's inbox and prioritizing value over volume. Embrace this new era of email engagement and watch your outreach efforts flourish.
Founded by chef David Chang, Momofuku is a renowned culinary brand with a nation-wide presence, including restaurants and an online store with delicious goods. They ran into an issue with their email sending – high bounce rates and blocked sending.
With hundreds of thousands of people on their email lists eager to stay informed, and an impeccable reputation to uphold, Momofuku wanted to nip this problem in the bud quickly.
Up for coffee with a health kick, sans the jitters? Try Everyday Dose – a brand on a mission to provide coffee lovers with a healthy alternative packed with all kinds of goodies. The Founder, Jack Savage, learned through personal experience that we needed an option that doesn’t lead to a slew of possible side-effects. That’s how this mushroom-based blend with nootropics and collagen protein came to be, helping boost focus, energy, and reduce stress in one go.
The Everyday Dose team prides itself on excellent customer support, in addition to their delicious set of products. So when they spotted DNS propagation issues setting up their customer experience platform, they reached out to Senders to find the best way to sort it out.
Myrina.ai stands out as a trailblazer in empowering women entrepreneurs through technology and a supportive community.
Myrina.ai offers a cutting-edge range of AI-powered SaaS marketing and sales tools that cater specifically to female entrepreneurs and women-led businesses. Myrina.ai enables users to automate marketing and sales, while helping them scale their authentic selves while saving time and boosting conversions. Their Myrina’s Army community fosters a supportive platform that champions female entrepreneurs and their values, empowering them to conquer barriers and achieve their business goals. The company's dedication to providing not only top-notch technological solutions but also a platform for networking and mentorship underscores their commitment to fostering success among women in the entrepreneurial space.
Naturally, they wanted to make sure their email sending infrastructure was set up correctly to protect their reputation and successfully reach their recipients. Our deliverability team worked with the client’s team on:
Sometimes the sheer number of options of any product can be daunting – how on earth do you pick the right one? This is especially true with supplements, as we can find them just about anywhere, but we can rarely understand a third of the ingredients listed. Unlike most, Physician’s Choice provides supplements with pure, potent ingredients that work. No fillers or “proprietary” blends with unidentified ingredients. They do the research, so you don’t have to.
Integrity and transparency are part of their core values, so when their team ran into sending issues, they were referred to Senders.
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