Google's New Email Rules are Now Mandatory for Email Marketing Professionals & for Online Digital Marketing Activities
Digital Online Marketing activities are an ever-evolving and changing landscape. Stay informed about Using Email Messaging.
Digital Online Communications and online digital marketing activities are an ever-evolving and changing landscape. Email still remains an important communication tool for personal and professional interactions. Google initially deemed these rules or new email standards as "Best Practices" in email messaging and online marketing. But, starting this month, these new rules must be followed or there will be consequences. Which for those email senders that don't follow these new rules and guidelines are at risk of having their emails go directly to the spam folder or blocked altogether.
So, starting in this month of February 2024, Google and Yahoo, two giants in the email service provider world (ESP's), have recently implemented new mandatory rules for all email senders. The purpose of these new rules are to allow users of email correspondences to have a better user-experience (UX), increase security, and streamline the control and management of email hosted inboxes.
In this article, we'll delve into these new rules and review past rules to better understand the key updates from both Google and Yahoo. I will be outlining what online marketing professionals and email senders need to know to ensure compliance and maintain a continued way of conducting effective communications when using email. Frankly speaking. It would be counter-productive and inefficient to put in the labor and time to prepare, manage, and send out an email if recepients and email subscribers who expect your email messages do not receive them. Let's explore the advantages and benefits of why these email rules will be helpful in the long run for digital online marketers.
1. BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification):
BIMI which stands for Brand Indicators for Message Identification is an email standard that lets you add a branded logo to authenticated messages sent from your domain. Any Email client software platforms that support BIMI will display your brand logo next to your messages in the inbox. This helps subscribers avoid being fooled into a phishing attempts. There's also an argument that says BIMI better trains your customers to recognize messages from you. So, by implementing BIMI, you're protecting them by making it easier to identify messages that aren't legitimate. The BIMI framework has many protections against illegitimate senders spoofing logos. BIMI does not directly help improve deliverability, but it can have an indirect effect. Since BIMI strongly improves brand visibility and trust, email recipients are more likely to feel comfortable in trusting and opening your emails.
2. AMP for Email & for Effective Digital Online Marketing Communications:
One of the key advantages of Google new email rules and guidelines is to continue to promote interactive and dynamic email experiences through Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) for Email. Using AMP technology for email enables senders to create engaging, real-time content within their email communications, enhancing User-Interaction (UI), and improving the User-Experience (UX) without leaving the inbox. Email marketers are encouraged to explore and implement AMP for Email to leverage this innovative feature.
3. The Importance of Using Transport Layer Security (TLS) Encryption
The ability to use TLS Encryption and SSL Encryption is important. Google emphasizes the importance of Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption to secure email communications. While not a new requirement, it is crucial for senders to ensure that their email servers support TLS to encrypt messages in transit. Non-compliance may result in emails being marked as untrusted or rejected by Google.
4. Enhanced Authentication with DMARC Enforcement:
Using bona fide online Email Service Provider (ESP) is crucial for any business to ensure communication success in today's digital online marketplace. Yahoo is reinforcing its commitment to email security by enforcing DMARC policies more strictly. All Email senders are urged to implement DMARC with a "reject" policy to enhance authentication and protect against phishing attacks. This measure helps ensure that only authorized senders can use a domain, reducing the risk of email fraud.
5. Using a List-Unsubscribe Header:
Using a List-Unsubscriber header allows for a better User-Experience (UX) so email recepients deciding to unsubscribe will not have a difficult time when trying to Opt-Out. Remember, you don't want to keep people on your subscriber list if they are no longer interested in being on it or are if your products and services are no longer relevant to them. Yahoo encourages Email senders are to include the List-Unsubscribe header in their emails. This will allow users to easily Opt-Out of receiving future emails from specific senders, promoting a more user-friendly experience. Compliance with this header helps build trust and transparency between senders and recipients.
6. Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and DKIM:
Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is an email authentication method that helps to identify the mail servers that are allowed to send email for a given domain. This new required authentication method will help reduce neferious emails from spoofers, scammers and phishers. By using SPF, ISPs & ESP's can identify email from spoofers, scammers and phishers as they try to send malicious email from a domain that belongs to a company or brand. Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is an email authentication protocol that verifies the sender of an email. SPF helps identify the mail servers that can send email for a specific domain. It also prevents spammers and other attackers from sending emails that appear to come from a legitimate organization.SPF works by using a DNS record to verify that the sender is authorized to send emails on behalf of a specific domain. For example, an SPF record can state the approved IP addresses, a third-party for the domain, and what to do with non-compliant emails.
It's a key part of email security. Google and Yahoo emphasizes the importance of implementing SPF and DKIM authentication protocols. Senders should configure their email servers to use these technologies, reducing the likelihood of emails being marked as spam or phishing attempts.
In conclusion, all email marketing professionals and digital online marketing companies must constantly adapt to these new evolving email rules and standards set by email service providers like Google and Yahoo. This is crucial for email senders to maintain effective communications and uphold the integrity of their brands. Whether it's embracing visual indicators like BIMI, exploring dynamic content with AMP for Email, or tightening security through DMARC and encryption protocols, staying informed and implementing these measures will ensure a positive experience for both senders and recipients in the world of email communication. As email continues to play a pivotal role in our digital lives, adherence to these rules becomes not just a requirement, but a key strategy for success in online communication.
If you have a business or organization located in the West Orange, NJ and Essex County, NJ area and wish get assistance in implementing these new email guidelines for your business, then, Techdesigno in West Orange, NJ is here to help. The Techdesigno Team is located in West Orange, NJ, and is available to evaluate and discuss your ESP or Email messaging needs for your business. Contact them by calling 973-736-7973 or via email. Click below to schedule an appointment to discuss how to utilize Google Adwords for your business in the Essex County, NJ area.