Does the X-Mailer header impact email deliverability in Zoho Campaigns?

Summary

The X-Mailer header in emails sent via Zoho Campaigns primarily serves an informational purpose and is responsible for the "Using Zoho Campaigns" label in Gmail. However, it doesn't directly impact email deliverability in most cases. The key factors influencing deliverability are proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), maintaining a good sender reputation, practicing list hygiene, and ensuring positive engagement metrics. While some older spam filters might flag emails based on specific X-Mailer values, modern filters focus on more sophisticated methods. Therefore, the primary focus should be on establishing strong email authentication and following deliverability best practices rather than worrying excessively about the X-Mailer header.

Key findings

  • Cause of 'Using Zoho Campaigns': The X-Mailer header causes the "Using Zoho Campaigns" message in Gmail.
  • No Direct Deliverability Impact: The X-Mailer header itself generally does not directly affect deliverability.
  • Authentication is Key: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for deliverability.
  • Sender Reputation Matters: A good sender reputation is essential for ensuring emails reach the inbox.
  • Minor Factor: The X-Mailer header is a minor factor compared to other deliverability elements.
  • Historical Relevance: Older spam filters might use the X-Mailer header, but modern filters are more sophisticated.

Key considerations

  • Implement Authentication: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are properly configured for your domain in Zoho Campaigns.
  • Maintain Good Reputation: Work to maintain a positive sender reputation by practicing good list hygiene and avoiding spam complaints.
  • Focus on Engagement: Create engaging content and encourage subscribers to interact positively with your emails.
  • Monitor Deliverability: Regularly monitor your email deliverability metrics and make adjustments as needed.
  • Don't Overemphasize X-Mailer: Avoid focusing too heavily on the X-Mailer header, as it is a relatively minor factor in deliverability compared to the core principles.

What email marketers say
11Marketer opinions

While the X-Mailer header itself generally doesn't directly cause deliverability issues with Zoho Campaigns, it can indirectly affect it. The X-Mailer header provides information about the sending platform and can be used as one of many data points by email service providers to assess the legitimacy of an email. Proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), sender reputation, list hygiene, and engagement metrics are far more critical factors in determining deliverability. Older spam filters might flag specific X-Mailer values if they are associated with known spam sources, but modern filters rely on more sophisticated methods. Focus on core deliverability principles rather than the X-Mailer header for optimal results.

Key opinions

  • Indirect Impact: The X-Mailer header itself doesn't directly impact deliverability but can indirectly affect it based on the sending platform's reputation.
  • Minor Factor: The X-Mailer header is a minor factor compared to authentication, sender reputation, list hygiene, and engagement metrics.
  • Informational Purpose: The X-Mailer header primarily serves an informational and tracking purpose.
  • Authentication Importance: Proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for deliverability, regardless of the X-Mailer header.
  • Older Filters: Older spam filters may flag specific X-Mailer values associated with known spam sources.

Key considerations

  • Authentication: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are properly configured for your sending domain in Zoho Campaigns.
  • Sender Reputation: Maintain a good sender reputation by practicing good list hygiene, avoiding spam complaints, and engaging with subscribers.
  • Content Quality: Create high-quality, engaging content to avoid spam filters and encourage positive engagement.
  • Platform Reputation: Use reputable sending platforms like Zoho Campaigns to minimize any potential negative impact from the X-Mailer header.
  • Monitoring: Monitor your email deliverability metrics and address any issues promptly.
Marketer view

Email marketer from GMass shares that numerous factors affect deliverability, including authentication, sender reputation, spam complaints, and content. While the X-Mailer header is a minor factor, it's more important to focus on the key elements that significantly affect deliverability.

November 2023 - GMass
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sendinblue shares several tactics for improving deliverability, including cleaning your email list, avoiding spam trigger words, and properly authenticating your domain. They mention that focusing on these factors is more effective than worrying about minor headers like X-Mailer.

July 2024 - Sendinblue
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit user /r/emailmarketing responds that some older spam filters might flag emails based on certain X-Mailer values if they are associated with known spam sources. However, this is less common with modern filters that rely on more sophisticated methods.

February 2022 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackOverflow user answers that the X-Mailer header is more for informational purposes and email tracking. It doesn't directly cause emails to go to spam, unless a specific filter is explicitly set up to target that particular X-Mailer string.

December 2024 - StackOverflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet shares that while the X-Mailer header itself isn't a primary factor in deliverability, email service providers can use it as one of many data points to assess the legitimacy of an email. Using a reputable platform like Zoho Campaigns should minimize any negative impact.

July 2023 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that the only way the X-Mailer header can impact deliverability is if email servers and spam filters are flagging a specific X-Mailer for malicious activity.

May 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailOctopus explains that the X-Mailer header itself generally doesn't directly impact deliverability. However, if the sending platform (like Zoho Campaigns) has a poor reputation or is associated with spam, the X-Mailer header could indirectly affect deliverability.

June 2024 - EmailOctopus
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot shares information about email headers. They state that email headers provide important information, but deliverability is more heavily influenced by sender reputation, authentication, and engagement metrics.

September 2023 - HubSpot
Marketer view

Email marketer from Validity explains that while the X-Mailer header can provide insights into the sending platform, its impact on deliverability is minimal compared to factors like sender reputation, authentication, and engagement. Prioritizing these core areas is crucial for ensuring your emails reach the inbox.

December 2023 - Validity
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks confirms that Google displays "Using..." because of the `X-Mailer` header, but it does not impact deliverability at all and there’s no harm in having it there.

May 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus explains that proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is vital for deliverability. They emphasize that without proper authentication, your emails are more likely to be flagged as spam, regardless of the X-Mailer header.

June 2022 - Litmus

What the experts say
2Expert opinions

The X-Mailer header causes "Using Zoho Campaigns" to appear in Gmail, but it doesn't directly cause deliverability problems. Core deliverability principles such as email authentication, sender reputation, list hygiene, and engagement metrics are the primary factors influencing deliverability. Therefore, focus on these core principles.

Key opinions

  • Cause of 'Using Zoho Campaigns': The X-Mailer header causes the "Using Zoho Campaigns" text to appear in Gmail.
  • No Direct Deliverability Impact: There's no direct evidence that the X-Mailer header itself causes deliverability issues.
  • Core Principles Matter Most: Email authentication, sender reputation, list hygiene, and engagement metrics are the most important factors for deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Focus on Core Principles: Prioritize email authentication, sender reputation, list hygiene, and engagement metrics to improve deliverability.
  • Don't Obsess Over X-Mailer: While the X-Mailer header might be a concern, it's not a primary factor in deliverability, so don't focus too much on it.
  • Monitor Deliverability: Continuously monitor your email deliverability and make adjustments as needed.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks states it's the x-mailer header that causes "Using Zoho Campaigns" to appear in Gmail and hasn't seen any data suggesting it causes deliverability problems.

August 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that email authentication, sender reputation, list hygiene, and engagement metrics are the primary factors influencing deliverability. Focus on the core principles, not the more obscure factors to resolve email deliverability issues.

April 2022 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

The X-Mailer header is an optional field indicating the sending agent but doesn't directly affect deliverability protocols. Instead, proper configuration of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is crucial for improving email deliverability when using Zoho Campaigns. This authentication process ensures that recipient mail servers trust emails sent from Zoho Campaigns and verifies the email's origin and integrity, improving deliverability and trust, particularly with Gmail accounts.

Key findings

  • X-Mailer Header Role: The X-Mailer header is an optional field with no direct impact on deliverability protocols.
  • Importance of Authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are crucial for ensuring email deliverability with Zoho Campaigns.
  • Trust and Verification: Proper authentication allows recipient mail servers to trust emails from Zoho Campaigns.
  • Origin and Integrity: DKIM verifies the email's origin and ensures that the content hasn't been altered during transit.

Key considerations

  • Configure SPF, DKIM, DMARC: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are correctly configured for your domain when using Zoho Campaigns.
  • Monitor Authentication: Regularly monitor your email authentication to ensure it remains valid and effective.
  • Sender Reputation: Maintain a good sender reputation by adhering to best practices and avoiding spam complaints.
Technical article

Documentation from Google explains that to ensure proper deliverability to Gmail accounts, it's crucial to authenticate your sending domain with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Also, maintaining a good sender reputation and avoiding spam complaints are essential for your emails to reach the inbox.

December 2021 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from DKIM.org emphasizes the importance of DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) for email authentication. It explains that DKIM allows recipient servers to verify that an email was indeed sent by the domain it claims to be from and that the message content hasn't been altered during transit, significantly improving deliverability and trust.

July 2023 - DKIM.org
Technical article

Documentation from RFC Editor specifies the X-Mailer header as a common, optional header field used to indicate the mail sending agent. While it doesn't directly affect deliverability protocols, its presence can be logged and analyzed.

August 2021 - RFC Editor
Technical article

Documentation from Zoho explains that configuring SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is crucial for improving email deliverability when using Zoho Campaigns. Correct authentication ensures that recipient mail servers trust emails sent from Zoho Campaigns on behalf of your domain.

May 2024 - Zoho