How can I determine the percentage of my emails landing in Gmail's promo tab and is it necessary to avoid it?

Summary

Determining Gmail promo tab placement involves using tools like GlockApps and Validity to estimate, as direct measurement is limited. While some worry about the promo tab, experts emphasize focusing on delivering valuable, engaging content to a segmented list of recipients who want it. Some argue the promo tab presents an opportunity to reach users actively seeking deals. A good sender reputation, built through list hygiene, engagement, and proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), is crucial. Gmail automatically sorts emails with limited sender control; Microsoft's Sender Reputation Data aids in identifying deliverability issues. A/B testing subject lines and avoiding spam triggers can also improve inbox placement.

Key findings

  • Measurement Limitations: Directly measuring promo tab placement is restricted by privacy; estimations come from specialized tools.
  • Content is Key: Valuable, engaging content significantly impacts inbox placement and reduces the likelihood of ending up in the promo tab.
  • Sender Reputation Matters: Maintaining a positive sender reputation through proper email list hygiene, consistent engagement, and adherence to authentication standards is essential for optimal deliverability.
  • Promo Tab Opportunity: The promotions tab can be a valuable channel for reaching users actively looking for deals and offers, rather than something to be avoided at all costs.
  • Authentication is Crucial: Proper implementation of email authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is a fundamental requirement for establishing trust with mailbox providers and ensuring emails reach the intended recipients.
  • Limited Control: Senders have limited control over Gmail's automatic sorting, so focus on elements you can influence.

Key considerations

  • Invest in Tools: Consider using inbox placement monitoring services for ongoing visibility into deliverability performance.
  • Prioritize Engagement: Craft compelling and personalized email campaigns that encourage recipients to interact and engage with your content.
  • Maintain List Hygiene: Regularly cleanse your email lists to remove inactive subscribers and hard bounces, ensuring a healthy and responsive audience.
  • Follow Best Practices: Adhere to industry best practices for email marketing to avoid triggering spam filters and maintain a positive sender reputation. This includes obtaining explicit consent, providing clear unsubscribe options, and avoiding misleading subject lines.
  • Continuous Monitoring: Actively monitor deliverability metrics using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and promptly address any identified issues or anomalies.
  • Content Strategy Alignment: Tailor your email content strategy to align with audience preferences, ensuring that the messages you send are both relevant and desirable.

What email marketers say
16Marketer opinions

Determining the percentage of emails landing in Gmail's promo tab involves using inbox placement monitoring services, seed lists, and testing tools. While direct measurement is difficult due to privacy restrictions, these tools offer estimations. Many experts suggest that focusing on sending valuable, engaging content to a clean, segmented list, and maintaining a good sender reputation is more important than strictly avoiding the promo tab. Some argue the promo tab isn't detrimental, as users often visit it specifically seeking deals. Key strategies include improving email content, ensuring proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), avoiding spam triggers, A/B testing subject lines, and regularly cleaning email lists.

Key opinions

  • Measurement: Direct measurement of promo tab placement is not possible due to privacy limitations. Inbox placement tools and seed lists provide estimations.
  • Promo Tab Value: Some argue the promo tab can be beneficial as users actively seek deals and offers there.
  • Content Quality: High-quality, engaging, and personalized content improves inbox placement and reduces the likelihood of ending up in the promo tab.
  • Sender Reputation: A good sender reputation is crucial for inbox placement and is influenced by list hygiene and engagement.
  • Authentication: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for avoiding spam filters and improving deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Tool Investment: Consider investing in inbox placement monitoring tools for ongoing insights.
  • List Hygiene: Regularly clean your email list to remove inactive subscribers and bounces.
  • Content Strategy: Prioritize providing value and avoiding overly promotional content.
  • Testing: Implement A/B testing to optimize subject lines and content for better engagement.
  • Sender Reputation Monitoring: Monitor your sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and address any issues promptly.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailchimp shares that improving email content, using segmentation, and maintaining a clean email list will help improve inbox placement and avoid the promotions tab.

September 2023 - Mailchimp
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid Blog suggests avoiding spam trigger words, ensuring proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and maintaining a clean email list as key strategies to avoid spam filters and improve inbox placement.

August 2023 - Email on Acid Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Validity Blog discusses using seed lists and inbox monitoring tools like Everest to estimate inbox placement, including placement in the promotions tab.

July 2021 - Validity Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus Blog suggests to A/B test subject lines to avoid promotional language that may trigger Gmail's promotional filters and land your email in the promotions tab.

April 2021 - Litmus Blog
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks says that if an email is too markety/salesy/promotional, it belongs in the promo tab.

July 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Campaign Monitor explains that implementing DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) helps protect your domain from email spoofing and phishing attacks, improving email deliverability and inbox placement.

June 2021 - Campaign Monitor
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum suggests to regularly clean email lists by removing inactive subscribers and bounces, which helps maintain a good sender reputation and improves deliverability.

March 2024 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps Blog recommends using their inbox placement tester tool to monitor where emails land, including specific tabs in Gmail. They emphasize that consistent testing is important for maintaining good deliverability.

June 2024 - GlockApps Blog
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks argues that the promo tab can actually help conversion depending on content. He believes primary tab is for personal contacts, social tab is for social media, and promo tab is for promotions and that there are better uses of time than trying to avoid the promo tab.

January 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that focusing on providing valuable content and avoiding overly aggressive sales pitches can help improve inbox placement and reduce the likelihood of emails landing in the promotions tab.

October 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that inbox placement monitoring services like GlockApps or Validity can give a general idea of promo tab placement for specific campaigns.

September 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sendinblue explains that creating engaging and personalized content can improve open rates and click-through rates, signaling to Gmail that your emails are valuable and less likely to be placed in the promotions tab.

May 2022 - Sendinblue
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that inbox filtering and folder-preference settings are not visible externally due to privacy and technical limitations. Test sends provide inorganic data, and he shares a link to perspectives around the Promotions tab.

July 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks considers landing in the promo tab the same as landing in the inbox for promotional messages, as users who use tabs expect promotions there. He also shares that promotional placement has benefits, as people who use tabs go to the promotional folder when they are looking for deals.

November 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that Google thinks it's doing users a favor by putting emails in the promo tab. She suggests setting up test accounts on Gmail to monitor placement and links to an article about why avoiding the promo tab may not matter as much as you think.

January 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot Blog states that having a good sender reputation is crucial for inbox placement. They suggest to monitor sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and promptly address any issues.

April 2023 - HubSpot Blog

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

Experts suggest that focusing on sending wanted mail to people who want it and creating engaging content that users want to receive is key. Gmail tabs are designed to improve the user experience, therefore, marketers should concentrate on delivering quality content and relevance rather than trying to avoid the promotions tab. The promotions tab provides an opportunity to reach users specifically looking for deals and offers.

Key opinions

  • Focus on Engagement: Engagement drives deliverability; prioritize sending mail that recipients want.
  • User Experience: Gmail tabs improve user experience; work within the system, don't try to circumvent it.
  • Opportunity in Promotions: The Promotions tab provides an audience actively seeking deals and offers.

Key considerations

  • Prioritize Relevance: Ensure your content is relevant and wanted by your audience.
  • Content Quality: Focus on creating high-quality, engaging content.
  • Embrace the Promotions Tab: Consider the promotions tab as a targeted marketing opportunity.
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource emphasizes that focusing on sending wanted mail to people who want it is more crucial than obsessing over specific tab placement, as engagement drives deliverability.

August 2023 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that while marketers might initially worry about the promotions tab, it provides an opportunity to reach users who are specifically looking for deals and offers. Quality content and relevance are key.

November 2024 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise suggests that Gmail tabs are designed to improve user experience and that marketers should focus on creating engaging content that users want to receive, rather than trying to circumvent the tab system.

February 2022 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Documentation indicates that Gmail automatically sorts emails into categories, with limited sender control. Microsoft Sender Reputation Data can help understand deliverability issues. Properly configured SPF records, as defined by RFC, are essential for email authentication and improved deliverability. DMARC implementation, as explained by dmarc.org, enhances email authentication and security.

Key findings

  • Automatic Sorting: Gmail automatically sorts emails; senders have limited control over placement.
  • Reputation Data: Microsoft Sender Reputation Data helps diagnose deliverability problems.
  • SPF Importance: SPF is essential for authenticating email and improving deliverability.
  • DMARC Security: DMARC enhances email authentication and security.

Key considerations

  • Limited Control: Acknowledge the limited control over Gmail's sorting process.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Utilize Microsoft Sender Reputation Data for deliverability insights.
  • SPF Configuration: Ensure correctly configured SPF records.
  • DMARC Implementation: Implement DMARC for enhanced email security and authentication.
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help states that Gmail automatically sorts emails into categories such as Primary, Social, Promotions, etc., and that users can customize these settings. Senders have limited control over where Gmail places emails.

June 2023 - Google Workspace Admin Help
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft Learn explains using Microsoft Sender Reputation Data to understand potential deliverability issues and whether your email is being filtered as spam or junk.

July 2022 - Microsoft Learn
Technical article

Documentation from RFC Editor explains the technical specifications of Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and how it can be used to authenticate email and improve deliverability. Correctly configured SPF records are essential.

March 2023 - RFC Editor
Technical article

Documentation from dmarc.org explains the purpose and technical aspects of DMARC implementation for better email authentication and security.

December 2023 - dmarc.org