Is it better to send B2B bulk emails from a real employee's address or a generic handle?
Summary
What email marketers say13Marketer opinions
Email marketer from G2 emphasizes the importance of using email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to establish trust with email providers and improve deliverability rates.
Email marketer from Email Geeks shares her experience of receiving emails from a person at a company she subscribed to, initially assuming it was junk. She suggests it boils down to expectations and purpose.
Email marketer from Neil Patel's Blog suggests that using a personal email address can improve open rates because it feels more genuine and less like a mass marketing campaign. However, it's important to ensure the sender is recognizable to the recipient.
Email marketer from Campaign Monitor suggests using a real name and email address to build trust and establish a personal connection with subscribers. They advise against using generic or 'no-reply' addresses.
Email marketer from ActiveCampaign suggests that a consistent sending history from a specific email address or domain builds sender reputation, which is crucial for deliverability. Monitor your sender reputation to ensure emails are reaching the inbox.
Email marketer from Email Geeks finds "personal" emails disingenuous and prefers emails from the company with a letter from a person inside, representing within the context of the brand.
Email marketer from Quora shares that personalizing the sender address can help bypass spam filters and build a relationship with the recipient. However, they caution against using a 'no-reply' address, as it discourages engagement.
Email marketer from Email Geeks recommends A/B testing. Reports statistically significant improvements to conversions when switching from “Company Name” to “Joe at Company Name”.
Email marketer from Reddit explains that in their experience, using a real employee's name in the 'From' field resulted in slightly higher open rates compared to a generic company email address, especially in B2B contexts where personal connections matter.
Email marketer from HubSpot Blog emphasizes that a recognizable sender name is crucial for improving email open rates. Whether it's a personal name or a company name, the recipient should immediately know who the email is from.
Email marketer from Sendinblue explains that the choice between a personal or generic email address depends on the brand and audience. A personal address can build trust, while a generic address can be suitable for newsletters or automated updates. Consistency is key.
Email marketer from Email Geeks thinks the vital question is who the recipient thinks they have a relationship with, in some B2B contexts an email from a person may be better received than from a company.
Email marketer from Litmus shares best practices for preheader text - this is not so much about the 'from' address but is closely associated with improving open rates.
What the experts say4Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks shares his experience from ExactTarget days, questioning the practice of sending emails as a person instead of the brand. He believes recipient recognition is key and most sign-ups are for brand emails, applicable to both B2B and B2C with few exceptions.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that sender reputation is a key factor in determining email deliverability. They emphasize the importance of maintaining a clean sending history, avoiding spam traps, and engaging with subscribers to build a positive reputation.
Expert from SpamResource explains that using a consistent and recognizable 'From' address is crucial for building trust with recipients and improving deliverability. They advise against frequently changing the sender address or using misleading information.
Email expert from Email Geeks raises the question of whether the recipient opted in to emails from the company or a person.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help advises on setting up authentication methods (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to verify the sender's identity and prevent email spoofing, which can improve deliverability.
Documentation from RFC explains the details for DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) Signatures, which permits a person, role, or organization that owns the signing domain to claim some responsibility for the message. It provides a cryptographic authentication of the identity of the sender.
Documentation from SparkPost explains that a properly configured sender identity, including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records, is essential for establishing trust with mailbox providers and ensuring emails reach the inbox. Using a consistent sending domain is also recommended.
Documentation from Mailchimp recommends using a consistent and recognizable 'From' name and address. This helps subscribers quickly identify the sender and builds trust over time, improving deliverability.
Documentation from Microsoft explains the importance of authenticating your sending domain and using a dedicated IP address for sending bulk emails to maintain a good sender reputation and avoid being flagged as spam.