Is it acceptable to include ads in email footers to other brands?
Summary
What email marketers say10Marketer opinions
Email marketer from CampaignMonitor recommends using email automation to segment the audience, so that adverts can be shown on a per-recipient basis to align content more accurately for optimal relevancy.
Email marketer from HubSpot Blog advises tailoring advertisements to the recipient’s profile and preferences to align with email permission marketing policies and enhance user engagement.
Email marketer from Quora believes that placing ads in email footers can be a way to monetize email lists, but it should be done carefully. The ads should be clearly distinguishable from the primary content and not overwhelm the message.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that if the ad resonates with the audience and doesn't cause deliverability issues, there is no problem as monetizing email messages is common.
Email marketer from Reddit suggests that including ads in email footers can be acceptable if they are relevant to the recipient's interests and don't detract from the main content of the email. It's crucial to ensure that the ads are not misleading or spammy.
Email marketer from Neil Patel Blog advises making sure the ads align with the email's message, avoiding intrusive pop-ups, ensuring ads don't slow down site loading times, and staying in line with industry standards for better user experience.
Email marketer from SmartInsights Blog emphasizes keeping advertising within footers subtle and relevant to the content. They note that over-advertising may lead to user fatigue and brand dilution.
Email marketer from Marketing Over Coffee Forum suggests A/B testing email campaigns when including ads in footers to monitor the impacts and ensure it's not impacting open rates and unsubscribes. Being aware of this balance between marketing and revenue generating is vital.
Marketer from Email Geeks suggests checking the AUP language for provisions about reselling access or functionality that could prohibit the ads.
Email marketer from EmailMarketingPro Blog states that including ads in email footers is a common practice, especially for newsletters. The key is to ensure that the ads are relevant to the audience and don't negatively impact the user experience or deliverability.
What the experts say3Expert opinions
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that clarity and honesty in messaging is paramount. If ads are included in the footer, it must be obvious to the recipient that the email contains commercial content, fulfilling expectations of transparency and not misleading the receiver.
Expert from Email Geeks considers it slightly poor practice, but unless it's causing issues with the ESP, it may not be a major concern. It can be used as a reason to remove the customer if other issues exist.
Expert from Spam Resource suggests that including commercial content, like ads, in email footers can be acceptable if it doesn't violate spam laws or the recipient's expectations. Transparency is key: the content should be clearly identified as advertising and an opt-out should be readily available.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from FTC details the CAN-SPAM Act requirements, which include clear and conspicuous identification that the message is an advertisement. This applies to ads in email footers. Senders must also provide an opt-out mechanism.
Documentation from GDPR dictates that if your audience includes EU residents, you must comply with GDPR guidelines, ensuring you have explicit consent for sending promotional content including ads.
Documentation from SendGrid Documentation advises caution when including ads in email footers. It's crucial to comply with anti-spam laws (like CAN-SPAM) and ensure that recipients have given explicit consent to receive commercial messages, including those with ads.
Documentation from Mailchimp Knowledge Base explains that while Mailchimp doesn't explicitly prohibit ads in email footers, it's important to adhere to their content guidelines, which prohibit misleading or deceptive content. Ads must be clearly identified as such.
Documentation from DMA encourages transparency in advertising which aligns with ethical marketing and legal requirements, particularly when sending promotional messages including ads within emails.