Is including a physical address in an email footer required and does it improve deliverability?

Summary

The consensus among marketers, experts, and documentation sources is that including a physical address in your email footer is generally required and beneficial. The CAN-SPAM Act in the US mandates it for commercial emails, and while GDPR doesn't explicitly require it, transparency is key, and an address can help fulfill that requirement. While a physical address may not directly improve deliverability algorithms, it builds trust and encourages recipient engagement. Ultimately, adhering to these guidelines enhances credibility, sender reputation, and overall email marketing effectiveness.

Key findings

  • Legal Compliance: CAN-SPAM Act in the US requires including a valid physical address in commercial emails.
  • Transparency & Trust: Including a physical address builds trust with recipients and demonstrates transparency.
  • Indirect Deliverability: Enhanced trust and engagement lead to improved engagement metrics, indirectly benefiting deliverability.
  • Sender Reputation: A real postal address helps inbox placement and influences sender reputation.
  • GDPR Implications: While not explicitly required by GDPR, including a physical address supports transparent sender identification, a key principle of GDPR.

Key considerations

  • Regional Regulations: Understand and comply with relevant email marketing laws and regulations in the regions where you operate (e.g., CAN-SPAM, GDPR, and the Netherlands requirements).
  • Address Validity: Ensure the accuracy and validity of the physical address included in your email footer.
  • Industry Best Practices: Adhere to industry best practices and follow the example of reputable companies in your market.
  • Contact Accessibility: Provide recipients with a clear and accessible method to contact you.
  • Reputation Management: Understand that including a valid physical address contributes to a positive sender reputation, which can impact inbox placement.

What email marketers say
8Marketer opinions

Including a physical address in the email footer is generally considered a best practice and, in some regions, legally required. While it might not directly impact deliverability algorithms, it significantly boosts recipient trust and engagement. This increased trust and interaction indirectly improve deliverability by reducing the likelihood of emails being marked as spam. Regulations like CAN-SPAM in the US and GDPR in Europe (though not explicitly mandating a physical address, require transparent sender identification) necessitate or incentivize including a physical address to ensure compliance and build credibility.

Key opinions

  • Legal Requirement: The CAN-SPAM Act in the United States mandates including a valid physical postal address in commercial emails.
  • Trust & Engagement: A physical address builds trust and makes recipients more comfortable interacting with your emails, positively influencing deliverability.
  • Indirect Deliverability Benefit: While not a direct ranking factor, increased trust and engagement lead to better engagement metrics, indirectly improving deliverability.
  • GDPR & Transparency: Although GDPR doesn't explicitly require a physical address, it requires transparent sender identification, which a physical address can help fulfill.

Key considerations

  • Regional Laws: Be aware of the specific legal requirements in the regions where your recipients are located (e.g., CAN-SPAM in the US, GDPR in Europe).
  • Address Accuracy: Ensure the physical address is valid and accurate to maintain credibility and comply with legal requirements.
  • Transparency: Even if not legally mandated in your region, including a physical address enhances transparency and builds trust with recipients.
  • Inbox Placement: Having a real postal address helps inbox placement as it can influence your sender reputation.
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot explains that you must include your business name and address in your email footer per CAN-SPAM act. It helps build trust with your recipients and keeps your emails out of the spam folder.

October 2021 - HubSpot
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that including a physical address is essential for CAN-SPAM compliance in the US. It also increases trust and helps avoid being marked as spam, thus aiding deliverability.

November 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Uplers shares that apart from legal requirements (CAN-SPAM, GDPR), including a physical address helps in building credibility. This can lead to better engagement metrics, indirectly boosting deliverability.

October 2022 - Email Uplers
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that while not directly impacting deliverability, including a physical address can increase trust and interaction, indirectly benefiting deliverability. Also shares Netherlands legal requirements.

January 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks responds that including a physical address is required by law in the USA.

February 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum suggests that while a physical address may not directly affect deliverability algorithms, it provides transparency, builds trust, and makes recipients more comfortable engaging, which can positively influence deliverability.

May 2022 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that while a physical address is legally required, it can also build trust with recipients, indirectly boosting deliverability by encouraging positive engagement.

September 2022 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Campaign Monitor explains that the CAN-SPAM Act mandates including a valid physical postal address in every email you send. This helps recipients identify and contact you.

July 2022 - Campaign Monitor

What the experts say
4Expert opinions

Experts agree that including a physical address in an email footer is crucial. It is legally mandated under the CAN-SPAM Act in the U.S. and is generally considered a good practice to follow reputable companies. Furthermore, a real postal address can influence sender reputation and improve inbox placement. Failure to comply with these requirements can lead to a loss of credibility.

Key opinions

  • CAN-SPAM Requirement: The CAN-SPAM Act in the U.S. requires a valid physical postal address in commercial emails.
  • Reputation & Inbox Placement: A real postal address can influence sender reputation and help improve inbox placement.
  • Credibility: Failure to include a physical address and meet CAN-SPAM requirements can damage credibility.
  • Industry Standard: Following reputable companies in your market by including company identification (physical address or registration number) in the footer is a generally good practice.

Key considerations

  • Compliance: Ensure compliance with the CAN-SPAM Act if sending emails to recipients in the U.S.
  • Market Standards: Research and adhere to the practices of reputable companies in your specific market regarding footer information.
  • Sender Reputation: Understand that providing a valid postal address contributes to a positive sender reputation and improved deliverability.
  • Accessibility: Give recipients a way to contact you, enhancing transparency and trustworthiness.
Expert view

Expert from Spamresource.com explains that having a real postal address helps inbox placement as it can influence your sender reputation. Senders need to follow guidelines and give recipients a way to contact them.

November 2024 - Spamresource.com
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks points out that the inclusion of your valid physical postal address is a requirement under the U.S. CAN-SPAM Act.

December 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains it's generally good practice to follow reputable companies in your market by including company identification in the footer, such as a physical address or registration number. Mentions 'Impressum' in German-speaking countries.

October 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Wordtothewise.com explains that the CAN-SPAM act states that a valid postal address is a requirement. You will lose credibility if you fail to meet CAN-SPAM requirements.

April 2024 - Wordtothewise.com

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Documentation from various sources confirms that including a physical address in your email footer is often legally required, particularly by the CAN-SPAM Act in the United States. While GDPR doesn't explicitly mandate it, transparency is required and an address helps to fulfill this. The inclusion of an address also helps to verify the sender's identity and provide a means of contact for recipients.

Key findings

  • CAN-SPAM Compliance: The CAN-SPAM Act mandates including a valid physical postal address in commercial emails.
  • Sender Identification: A physical address helps verify the sender's identity.
  • Contact Method: Including a physical address provides recipients with a way to contact the sender.
  • GDPR Transparency: While not explicitly required by GDPR, including a physical address contributes to transparent sender identification, which is a GDPR requirement.

Key considerations

  • Legal Requirements: Understand and comply with the legal requirements for including a physical address in your email footer based on the regions where your recipients are located.
  • Transparency: Prioritize transparency in your email communications, which can be achieved by including a physical address.
  • Address Validity: Ensure that the physical address provided is valid and accurate.
  • Global Regulations: Be mindful of global regulations like GDPR when crafting your email marketing strategy and footer content.
Technical article

Documentation from ActiveCampaign mentions that you’re required to include your physical mailing address in your marketing emails. This requirement is a part of anti-spam laws like the CAN-SPAM Act.

September 2023 - ActiveCampaign
Technical article

Documentation from FTC.gov states that the CAN-SPAM Act requires a valid physical postal address of the sender to be included in commercial emails.

October 2022 - FTC.gov
Technical article

Documentation from Sendinblue explains that while GDPR doesn't explicitly mandate a physical address, it does require transparent sender identification, which a physical address can help fulfill. This transparency can indirectly help deliverability.

December 2021 - Sendinblue
Technical article

Documentation from Mailchimp explains it is legally required to include your physical mailing address in your marketing emails. The address verifies your identity and allows recipients to contact you.

February 2023 - Mailchimp