Is it okay to send transactional emails to role-based email addresses like info@ or order@?

Summary

The consensus is that sending transactional emails to role-based email addresses is generally acceptable, but it requires caution and diligent management. Experts and documentation alike emphasize the risks associated with these addresses, primarily due to multiple users, potential for spam complaints, and impact on sender reputation. Segmentation, careful list management, and close monitoring of engagement metrics are crucial for maintaining a healthy sender reputation. Sending marketing emails to role-based addresses is strongly discouraged. Implement best practices to manage these addresses including providing an easy unsubscribe and segmenting lists.

Key findings

  • Transactional OK (with caveats): Sending transactional emails is generally accepted, but with the need for careful monitoring and management.
  • Marketing Not OK: Sending marketing emails to role-based addresses is strongly discouraged and can cause deliverability issues.
  • Reputation at Risk: Poorly managed role-based addresses can negatively affect sender reputation, leading to deliverability problems.

Key considerations

  • Monitor Engagement: Closely monitor engagement metrics (opens, clicks, complaints, bounces) for role-based addresses.
  • List Hygiene: Maintain strict list hygiene by regularly removing unresponsive or disengaged role-based addresses.
  • Segmentation: Segment your email list to avoid sending marketing emails to role-based addresses, reserving them only for transactional communications.
  • Permission: Ensure you have a legitimate reason (e.g., a transaction) to send emails to role-based addresses.
  • Easy Unsubscribe: Provide an easy and clear way for recipients of role-based addresses to unsubscribe from your emails.

What email marketers say
8Marketer opinions

Most email marketers agree that sending transactional emails to role-based addresses (e.g., info@, order@) is generally acceptable, though it requires caution. While these addresses can be useful, they are often monitored by multiple people, which increases the risk of spam complaints and deliverability issues, especially if marketing content is sent. Segmentation, careful list management, and close monitoring of engagement metrics are crucial for maintaining a healthy sender reputation. Some experts suggest avoiding role accounts, or suppressing them, entirely for marketing purposes.

Key opinions

  • Acceptable for Transactional: Sending transactional emails to role-based addresses is often deemed acceptable.
  • Risk of Deliverability Issues: Role-based addresses can lead to deliverability problems if not managed carefully, due to multiple users and potential for spam complaints.
  • Segmentation is Key: Segmenting your audience to avoid sending marketing emails to role-based addresses is recommended.
  • Impacts Reputation: Poorly managed role accounts will negatively affect your sending reputation.

Key considerations

  • Monitor Engagement: Closely monitor engagement metrics (open rates, complaints, bounces) for role-based addresses.
  • List Hygiene: Maintain strict list hygiene by removing unresponsive role-based addresses promptly.
  • Permission: Ensure you have permission or a legitimate reason (transactional) to email role-based addresses.
  • Avoid Marketing Emails: Avoid sending marketing emails to role-based addresses to minimize spam complaints.
  • Provide Unsubscribe Option: Always provide an easy and clear way for recipients to unsubscribe from your emails.
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot says to proceed with caution with role addresses. While some can be okay for transactional emails, they can also lead to deliverability issues. They suggest cleaning your list and avoiding these addresses to improve deliverability.

June 2022 - HubSpot
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Vendor Selection explains that sending to role-based addresses can be risky, but it's acceptable for transactional emails. They suggest monitoring deliverability metrics and quickly removing unresponsive addresses to maintain a healthy sender reputation.

January 2025 - Email Vendor Selection
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum shares that they had deliverability issues when sending marketing emails to role-based addresses. They suggest segmenting these addresses and only sending transactional emails. They also recommend implementing a double opt-in process for new subscribers to ensure they want to receive emails.

May 2023 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Neil Patel's website responds that while it can be tempting to email role accounts, it's generally better to avoid it unless you have permission or a legitimate transactional reason. They explain that these addresses are often monitored by multiple people and can lead to spam complaints if not handled carefully.

January 2025 - Neil Patel
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains that they send transactional emails to info@ addresses, especially for order confirmations and shipping updates. However, they never send marketing emails to these addresses and always provide an easy way to unsubscribe.

March 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sendinblue's blog explains that role-based email addresses aren't tied to a specific individual, potentially leading to deliverability issues. They suggest segmenting your audience to avoid sending marketing emails to these addresses, but they explain that transactional emails are generally acceptable.

August 2023 - Sendinblue
Marketer view

Email marketer from ActiveCampaign shares that role-based email addresses aren't tied to a specific individual, potentially leading to deliverability issues. They suggest segmenting your audience to avoid sending marketing emails to these addresses, but they explain that transactional emails are generally acceptable.

March 2025 - ActiveCampaign
Marketer view

Email marketer from SuperOffice explains that emailing role-based addresses can be a double-edged sword. While it can be useful for reaching a wider audience, it can also lead to deliverability problems if not handled carefully. They recommend segmenting your audience and only sending relevant, valuable content.

April 2021 - SuperOffice

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

Experts generally agree that sending transactional emails to role-based addresses is acceptable and often expected. However, careful list management and monitoring are crucial. It's important to ensure recipients want the emails they are receiving and that engagement metrics are closely tracked. Marketing emails to these addresses are strongly discouraged. Failure to manage role accounts correctly can negatively impact your sending reputation.

Key opinions

  • Transactional OK: Transactional emails to role-based addresses are generally acceptable and expected.
  • Marketing Not OK: Sending marketing emails to role-based addresses is strongly discouraged.
  • List Hygiene Crucial: Maintaining clean lists and suppressing unengaged addresses are very important.
  • Reputation Impact: Improperly managed role accounts can negatively affect your sending reputation.

Key considerations

  • Monitor Complaints: Closely monitor complaints and bounce rates from role-based addresses.
  • Track Engagement: Track engagement metrics like opens and clicks to ensure recipients are interested.
  • Separate Signup: Consider a separate signup for marketing emails to allow users to specify an individual address.
  • Relevance: Ensure emails are relevant and well-received to avoid being marked as spam.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares that transactional emails to role-based addresses are fine and expected, especially order confirmations. They suggest having a separate signup for marketing emails, allowing customers to use a different address. Transactional mail facilitating a transaction is acceptable, but straight marketing is not. SFMC concerns may not be relevant in this context.

May 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise responds that it can be acceptable to send transactional emails to role accounts, but list hygiene is of utmost importance. They share that you should closely monitor engagement metrics such as complaints and open rates, and suppress addresses that are not actively engaging. They share that role accounts will negatively affect your sending reputation if not managed correctly.

April 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that role accounts can be problematic, especially if they forward to a distribution list. It is important to monitor complaints and bounces from these addresses, and to ensure that recipients actually want the mail they are getting. Transactional mail is more likely to be well-received.

February 2024 - Spam Resource

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

Email documentation generally agrees that sending to role-based addresses carries risks, particularly impacting sender reputation due to potential high bounce rates and abuse complaints. Although not explicitly prohibited, cautious practices are advised. Monitoring engagement, maintaining list health, and segmenting audiences are key recommendations to avoid deliverability problems. Transactional emails are implicitly acceptable so long as recipients want to receive them and abuse levels are low.

Key findings

  • Higher Risk: Sending to role-based addresses is considered higher risk than individual addresses.
  • Impacts Reputation: High bounce rates and abuse complaints from role-based addresses can negatively impact sender reputation.
  • Transactional Generally Okay: Transactional emails are generally acceptable, assuming engagement is monitored.

Key considerations

  • Monitor Engagement: Closely monitor engagement metrics for role-based addresses (opens, clicks, complaints).
  • List Management: Practice careful list management, removing unengaged addresses.
  • Segmentation: Segment your audience to avoid sending marketing emails to these addresses.
  • Authentication: Authenticate your emails to improve deliverability.
  • Easy Unsubscribe: Provide an easy way for recipients to unsubscribe.
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost shares that sending to role-based email addresses is a common practice, especially for transactional emails. However, they explain that it's important to monitor engagement and list health to avoid deliverability problems. They suggest treating these addresses like any other subscriber and removing them if they are not engaging.

October 2024 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft shares email deliverability best practices. Sending transactional emails to role based accounts is implicitly acceptable as long as abuse levels are low and recipients want to receive them.

February 2023 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from Return Path details the potential risks of sending to role-based addresses, including increased spam complaints and deliverability issues. They recommend careful list management and monitoring engagement to avoid damaging your sender reputation. They suggest segmenting lists, and being cautious of sending marketing material.

December 2021 - Return Path
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace shares that while they don't explicitly prohibit sending to role-based addresses, they recommend following email best practices to ensure deliverability. This includes authenticating your emails, segmenting your audience, and providing an easy way to unsubscribe.

May 2021 - Google Workspace
Technical article

Documentation from Mailchimp shares that role-based addresses (like sales@, info@, or support@) are email addresses that are not tied to a specific person. They explain that because multiple people can access these inboxes, Mailchimp considers sending to role-based addresses as a higher risk and recommends caution. They share that high bounce rates and abuse complaints can impact your sending reputation.

November 2024 - Mailchimp