New Email Compliance Standards
Summary:
In a nutshell: Gmail and Yahoo are introducing significant email compliance changes that will impact those sending over 5,000 emails per day (but for those who send under 5K may need to make changes too!). This update delves into what's happening, who it affects, and how to prepare for these upcoming modifications.
The landscape of email marketing is undergoing rapid changes, and compliance measures are evolving accordingly. For accounting firm owners, staying informed about these changes is crucial to ensure the uninterrupted communication with your audience.
If you send less than 5k emails per day:
And have a free email address like accountingfirm@gmail.com:
Keep adhering to the best practices in email marketing and continue nurturing your email list.
Currently, there's no mandatory action needed. However, if you utilize an email platform such as Flodesk, Mailchimp, or Hubspot, we strongly advise you to:
Acquire a custom domain
Authenticate your email by setting up DKIM and SPF records
Have a custom domain email like hello@mediabooksagency.com:
Authenticate your domain with DKIM verification
If you send more than 5k emails per day:
And have a free email address like accountingfirm@gmail.com:
Obtain a custom domain
Authenticate your email with DKIM and SPF records
Have a custom domain email like hello@mediabooksagency.com:
Authenticate your domain with DKIM, SPF, and DMARC records
The Headline:
Email providers such as Gmail and Yahoo are introducing measures to steer the industry towards reduced spam and more genuine email marketing. Practices that have traditionally been regarded as best standards will now be obligatory to maintain a high deliverability rate and avoid landing in the spam folder.
Does This Affect Me?
The latest email compliance requirements from Gmail and Yahoo are applicable to:
All free email senders who dispatch over 5,000 emails daily. Free email addresses, like those from Gmail, Yahoo, and Hotmail (e.g., you@gmail.com, you@yahoo.com), fall under this category.
Custom domain senders with unauthenticated domains sending over 5,000 emails daily. This includes individuals using a custom domain that lacks proper authentication through DKIM, SPF, or DMARC.
Senders falling into these criteria must adhere to the new requirements; otherwise, they will be classified as unverified senders.
Bottom line: Get a custom domain for your business. Not only will this help ensure your emails actually get to your leads (and clients) but it also is going to help you appear more professional, elevate your perceived value, and allow you to charge what we all know you are worth.
What Are The New Requirements?
The following are now obligatory for sending bulk email, defined as over 5,000 emails per day either in a single blast or through workflow automation. To ensure compliance, it is imperative to:
Dispatch emails from a custom domain, steering clear of "free email" domains like gmail.com or yahoo.com.
Verify your domain through DKIM and SPF.
Set up a DMARC record with a minimum setting of p=none.
Provide a one-click unsubscribe button.
Maintain spam complaints below 0.3%.
Enforcement of these new requirements by Gmail and Yahoo will commence in April 2024. However, we strongly advise those sending more than 5,000 emails per day to take proactive measures by February 2024 to avert any disruption to their email marketing.
Remember: Your daily sending volume encompasses marketing messages, newsletters, updates, coupons, and email invitations. These changes are applicable to everyone, whether you're a solopreneur, a small business, or a massive corporation.
If you send less than 5,000 emails per day, we recommend the following to stay compliant nd ensure your emails show up in your subscribers inbox:
Dispatch emails from a custom domain, steering clear of "free email" domains like gmail.com or yahoo.com.
Authenticate your domain with DKIM verification
If you use an email provider like , Mailchimp, or Hubspot, this can easily be done in the settings of your provider.
FAQs:
What Happens if I Do Nothing?
Should you fail to take action and you're sending over 5,000 emails per day, there's a heightened risk of more of your emails ending up in the spam folder within Gmail and Yahoo mailboxes. This scenario could lead to decreased email engagement and potentially result in blacklisting by email providers.
How Often do I Need to do This?
Typically, you'll only have to configure your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records once. However, as a best practice, we suggest consistently monitoring DMARC and regularly cleaning your email list.
How do I set up my DKIM, SPF and DMARC?
For many users, the process is straightforward – just copy your DKIM and SPF records from your account settings and insert them into your domain provider's DNS management tool.
We've assembled a set of resources below in the table to provide you with detailed information on authenticating your domain with various top providers.
Help Setup SPF:
Help Setup DMARC: