Are event registration email updates considered transactional or marketing?
Summary
What email marketers say13Marketer opinions
Marketer from Email Geeks clarifies that registering for an event is not a signal that someone wants emails. Specifically opting in by clicking the "I want email" box is.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares examples of transactional emails such as "This confirms your registration", "This is a calendar invite for your event", and "This is a reminder that your event is today." Emails promoting speakers or sponsors are not transactional.
Email marketer from StackExchange answers that the primary difference is the intent. Transactional emails are sent as a direct result of a user action and provide critical information. Marketing emails are sent to promote a product or service.
Email marketer from Mailjet explains that transactional emails must contain information that the subscriber expects to receive and must not include promotional content. In the context of event registration, this means details about the event itself rather than offers for other events.
Email marketer from Reddit (r/Emailmarketing) explains that if the emails provide logistical information about the event (e.g., schedule, location), they are transactional. However, if the email is mostly about promoting the event, it's considered marketing.
Email marketer from Litmus answers that event registration emails that provide logistical information, such as the schedule and location are considered transactional. Emails about the event and promotion are marketing.
Email marketer from Sendinblue responds that emails regarding event registration confirmations and logistical details are usually classified as transactional since they deliver essential information related to a purchase or sign-up the user initiated.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that transactional emails should be specifically related to the registration and service delivery process, such as billing notifications and virtual tickets.
Marketer from Email Geeks provides the example that transactional messages facilitate the transaction, like a receipt. Marketing messages are like "based on your purchase, here's other things you may like", that's not transactional.
Email marketer from Quora explains that emails such as event confirmations, reminders, and providing location details are typically considered transactional as they provide direct information relating to an action a user took.
Email marketer from HubSpot explains that transactional emails are triggered by a customer's action with a business. These emails facilitate an agreed-upon transaction, providing information the customer expects, such as order confirmations or shipping updates.
Email marketer from Campaign Monitor provides examples of transactional emails, including order confirmations, password resets, and shipping notifications. They emphasize that these emails are automated and sent to individual recipients following a specific action.
Email marketer from ActiveCampaign explains that event registration emails, when confirming registration and providing details, are transactional because they're a direct result of the user's actions and provide crucial information.
What the experts say3Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks suggests segmenting the email list and inviting unsubscribed users to resubscribe to receive additional information about the event.
Expert from Spam Resource answers by clarifying that transactional emails are those triggered by a specific action, providing crucial information like purchase confirmations or account updates. Emails predominantly promoting events or products are deemed marketing.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains transactional emails as those sent in response to a customer's action, such as a purchase or registration, containing information directly related to that interaction. Marketing emails, on the other hand, are sent to promote a product or service.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from SparkPost defines transactional emails as those triggered by an action a customer takes with your company. These emails are not marketing campaigns; they deliver information about a specific transaction or interaction.
Documentation from Mailchimp details that while transactional emails can be personalized, their primary purpose is to convey information about a transaction or action the recipient has taken. It explains that purely promotional content is not permitted.
Documentation from AWS explains that Amazon SES is often used to send transactional emails, triggered by user actions. It provides guidelines on how to ensure these emails comply with anti-spam policies and are properly authenticated.
Documentation from Oracle suggests that transactional emails must be clearly identified as such. It notes that these emails often have higher open rates because recipients are expecting them, but spam regulations still apply.