Does Trustpilot's Google partnership guarantee higher email inbox rates?

Summary

The overwhelming consensus from marketers, experts, and official documentation is that Trustpilot's Google partnership does *not* guarantee higher email inbox rates. While the partnership offers benefits like increased visibility of product reviews in Google Shopping and ads, it doesn't override fundamental email deliverability principles. Sender reputation, authentication, content quality, recipient engagement, and adherence to email marketing best practices remain the critical factors determining inbox placement. Experts caution against believing claims that partnerships can bypass spam filters, emphasizing that even major companies experience deliverability challenges. Relying solely on a third-party partnership for deliverability is risky; building a strong sender reputation is paramount.

Key findings

  • No Guaranteed Inbox: Trustpilot's Google partnership does not guarantee higher email inbox rates.
  • Visibility Boost, Not Bypass: The partnership primarily enhances product review visibility in Google Shopping and ads, not bypassing spam filters.
  • Sender Reputation is King: Sender reputation, authentication, and engagement remain critical for deliverability.
  • Best Practices are Essential: Adhering to email marketing best practices is crucial regardless of partnerships.

Key considerations

  • Focus on Reputation: Prioritize building and maintaining a strong sender reputation.
  • Implement Best Practices: Implement and consistently adhere to email marketing best practices.
  • Engagement Matters: Create engaging and relevant content to encourage recipient interaction.
  • Don't Rely on Partnerships: Don't rely solely on third-party partnerships for deliverability; build your own reputation.
  • Test and Monitor: Regularly test and monitor your email deliverability to identify and address potential issues.

What email marketers say
10Marketer opinions

The consensus is that Trustpilot's Google partnership does not guarantee higher email inbox rates. While the partnership provides benefits such as increased visibility in Google Shopping and ads through product review star ratings, it does not override fundamental email deliverability principles. Inbox placement depends on factors like sender reputation, content quality, recipient engagement, and adherence to email marketing best practices. Relying solely on Trustpilot's partnership for deliverability is risky; building a strong sender reputation is crucial.

Key opinions

  • No Guarantee: Trustpilot's Google partnership does not guarantee higher email inbox rates.
  • Visibility Boost: The partnership primarily enhances visibility in Google Shopping and ads through product reviews.
  • Sender Reputation Matters: Deliverability depends on sender reputation, content quality, and recipient engagement.
  • Best Practices Essential: Adhering to email marketing best practices is crucial for inbox placement, regardless of partnerships.

Key considerations

  • Build Reputation: Focus on building a strong sender reputation rather than solely relying on third-party partnerships.
  • Email Marketing Best Practices: Implement and maintain email marketing best practices to improve deliverability.
  • Engagement Matters: Ensure content is engaging and relevant to recipients to improve engagement rates.
  • Monitor Deliverability: Monitor your own deliverability to get a real view on inbox placement.
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange answers that Trustpilot's claims are misleading, they might get your emails into the inbox. But that is due to many different factors that rely on having a great sending reputation.

June 2021 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Email marketer from Digital Marketing Forum suggests that Trustpilot's Google partnership primarily benefits review visibility on Google Shopping and ads. It doesn't inherently grant higher inbox rates; deliverability relies on email marketing best practices.

October 2022 - Digital Marketing Forum

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

Experts agree that Trustpilot's Google partnership does not guarantee higher email inbox rates. They emphasize that sender reputation, authentication, and engagement are fundamental for email deliverability. Claims of partnerships bypassing spam filters should be viewed skeptically, as even major companies like Microsoft experience deliverability issues despite owning mailbox providers. Maintaining good sending practices is crucial, regardless of any partnership.

Key opinions

  • No Bypass: Partnerships do not bypass spam filters.
  • Reputation is Key: Sender reputation is the most important factor for deliverability.
  • Sending Practices Matter: Good sending practices are crucial, regardless of partnerships.

Key considerations

  • Be Skeptical: Be skeptical of claims that partnerships guarantee inbox placement.
  • Focus on Reputation: Prioritize building and maintaining a strong sender reputation.
  • Follow Best Practices: Adhere to email marketing best practices to ensure deliverability.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks states to never believe anyone who claims to get a pass on email deliverability because they are partners with mailbox providers, explaining that even Microsoft puts legitimate Office and Xbox emails into spam folders, despite being Microsoft properties.

April 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that while partnerships can influence certain aspects of online presence, inbox placement is fundamentally about sender reputation. Trustpilot's Google partnership might help with review visibility, but it won't bypass established spam filtering mechanisms that rely on sender reputation, authentication, and engagement.

September 2022 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
3Technical articles

Official documentation from Google Merchant Center, Google Postmaster Tools, and Trustpilot Business Support indicates that Trustpilot's Google partnership enhances product review visibility in Google Shopping and ads but does not guarantee higher email inbox rates. Google's sender reputation system remains a key factor in filtering emails, and Trustpilot emphasizes the importance of email marketing best practices for deliverability.

Key findings

  • Visibility, not Inbox: The partnership primarily improves product review visibility rather than direct inbox placement.
  • Reputation Still Matters: Google's sender reputation system remains crucial for email filtering.
  • Best Practices Required: Trustpilot emphasizes the importance of following email marketing best practices.

Key considerations

  • Focus on Visibility Gains: Leverage the partnership for improved product review visibility on Google.
  • Maintain Reputation: Prioritize maintaining a strong sender reputation.
  • Implement Best Practices: Implement robust email marketing best practices to optimize deliverability.
Technical article

Documentation from Trustpilot Business Support outlines the benefits of their Google partnership, which includes displaying star ratings in Google Shopping and ads. However, they don't guarantee higher inbox rates solely based on this partnership; they emphasize the importance of best practices.

July 2024 - Trustpilot Business Support
Technical article

Documentation from Google Merchant Center explains that approved review partners, like Trustpilot, can provide product reviews for Google Shopping, which can improve visibility. However, this documentation doesn't explicitly state that using these partners guarantees higher inbox placement.

November 2022 - Google Merchant Center Help