Is using a service to get emails out of the Gmail promotions tab a scam?

Summary

The overwhelming consensus from email marketing experts, documentation, and community discussions is that services promising to bypass the Gmail promotions tab are generally scams or employ unethical tactics. These methods often harm sender reputation and long-term deliverability. A sustainable approach involves focusing on providing valuable, personalized content, improving email engagement, and adhering to email best practices (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). The promotions tab is considered an inbox, not a spam folder, and artificially attempting to bypass it is discouraged by email providers.

Key findings

  • Promotions Tab = Inbox: The Gmail promotions tab is not a spam folder but a designated inbox for promotional content.
  • Scam Alert: Services guaranteeing primary inbox placement often use black-hat tactics or make false claims.
  • Reputation Risk: Using these services can damage your sender reputation and decrease deliverability.
  • Value & Engagement: Focus on providing valuable, personalized content and improving email engagement.
  • Email Standards: Adhering to email authentication standards (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial.
  • Not a Trick: Building a strong sending reputation is about building trust and value. There is no trick to bypass spam algorithms.

Key considerations

  • Avoid Quick Fixes: Be skeptical of services promising instant solutions to bypass the promotions tab.
  • Content Quality: Prioritize creating high-quality, relevant, and personalized email content.
  • Authentication: Implement and maintain proper email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
  • Engagement Tracking: Monitor email engagement metrics (open rates, click-through rates) to gauge subscriber interest.
  • Build Relationships: Focus on building genuine relationships with subscribers based on trust and permission.
  • Long Term Deliverability: Deliverability is a long term game of providing email users with what they requested, and ensuring you are not behaving like a spammer in the eyes of an email provider.

What email marketers say
12Marketer opinions

The consensus among email marketers and experts is that services promising to get emails out of the Gmail promotions tab are generally scams or employ unethical tactics that can harm your sender reputation. A sustainable approach involves focusing on providing valuable, personalized content, improving email engagement, and adhering to email best practices.

Key opinions

  • Promotions Tab Not Spam: The Gmail promotions tab is an inbox, not a spam folder, and should be treated as such.
  • Unethical Tactics: Services promising guaranteed removal from the promotions tab often use questionable or 'black-hat' tactics that violate email best practices.
  • Sender Reputation Risk: Using these services can damage your sender reputation, leading to worse deliverability in the long run.
  • Focus on Value: The most effective approach is to focus on providing valuable, personalized content to your subscribers.
  • Engagement is Key: Improving email engagement through relevant content and proper authentication is crucial for inbox placement.

Key considerations

  • Content Quality: Ensure your email content is valuable, relevant, and personalized to your subscribers.
  • Email Authentication: Implement proper email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to verify your sender identity.
  • Sender Reputation: Prioritize building and maintaining a positive sender reputation through ethical email marketing practices.
  • Engagement Metrics: Monitor and improve email engagement metrics, such as open rates and click-through rates, to signal positive sender behavior to Gmail.
  • Trust Building: Focus on building a genuine relationship with your subscribers based on trust and permission-based marketing.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Gmass explains that focusing on sending highly targeted and personalized emails is essential for getting into the primary inbox. Tactics aimed at gaming the system are likely to be ineffective and potentially harmful.

August 2022 - Gmass
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sendinblue states that services promising to bypass the Promotions tab often use techniques that violate email best practices and can ultimately hurt your sender reputation. Focus on providing value to your subscribers and building trust.

October 2022 - Sendinblue
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus emphasizes that the promotions tab is not the spam folder. They suggest focusing on improving email engagement through relevant content and proper authentication, rather than seeking a "magic bullet" solution to bypass the tab.

March 2024 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet cautions against using services that claim to guarantee inbox placement outside the Promotions tab. They suggest that a more sustainable approach involves improving email content, personalization, and sender authentication.

December 2022 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks states that "Get out of Promos" is a scam.

March 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum suggests that services that guarantee moving your email from the promotions tab to the primary tab should be avoided as they typically employ methods that risk your sender reputation.

October 2023 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that you can get yourself out of promotions, but it is important to consider if you are sending promotions, or non-promotional email that's ending up in promotions. The promotions tab is an inbox, not a spam folder.

August 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit suggests that anyone promising a guaranteed way to bypass the promotions tab is likely using black-hat tactics or making false claims. Building a genuine relationship with your subscribers is more effective in the long run.

January 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange explained that there is not a legitimate way to guarantee avoiding the Promotions tab. Users can drag an email from the promotions tab to the primary tab, but that can't be done proactively by the email sender, but rather something they do on their end.

November 2023 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid recommends focusing on improving sender reputation and engagement rates through clean lists, relevant content, and proper authentication, rather than relying on short-term tactics to bypass Gmail's filters.

July 2021 - Email on Acid
Marketer view

Email marketer from ActiveCampaign emphasizes that focusing on permission-based marketing, segmentation, and personalization is crucial for landing in the primary inbox and avoiding the promotions tab. Services promising quick fixes often rely on unethical tactics.

March 2024 - ActiveCampaign
Marketer view

Email marketer from Neil Patel Blog explains that while avoiding the promotions tab entirely isn't always feasible, focusing on sending valuable, personalized content can significantly improve inbox placement. Services promising guaranteed removal often employ questionable tactics that can harm your sender reputation.

October 2022 - Neil Patel Blog

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

Experts consistently advise against using services claiming to bypass the Gmail promotions tab. These services are often ineffective, employ risky tactics, and can ultimately damage your sender reputation and deliverability. Legitimate email marketing focuses on building trust, providing value, and adhering to best practices, not trying to 'trick' the system.

Key opinions

  • Lost Cause: Trying to manipulate your way out of the promotions tab is a futile 'arms race'.
  • Untrustworthy Services: Services promising guaranteed primary inbox placement are generally unreliable and may use harmful techniques.
  • Reputation at Risk: Bypassing email best practices can damage your sender reputation and negatively impact deliverability.
  • Focus on Trust: Legitimate email marketing emphasizes building trust and providing value to subscribers.

Key considerations

  • Avoid Quick Fixes: Be wary of services offering quick or guaranteed solutions for bypassing the promotions tab.
  • Prioritize Best Practices: Focus on implementing email best practices, such as proper authentication, segmentation, and personalization.
  • Build Trust: Prioritize building trust and providing value to your subscribers to improve engagement and inbox placement organically.
  • Long-Term Strategy: Adopt a long-term email marketing strategy that focuses on sustainable growth and deliverability.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares that trying to dig your way out of the promo tab is a lost cause and an arms race. Someone telling you they can get you out of the promo tab is either full of beans or doing really bad stuff with limited lifespan that puts your own domain reputation at risk. Promo tab is the inbox already.

July 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise cautions against services that promise to bypass the promotions tab, as these often rely on techniques that violate email best practices and can ultimately harm your sender reputation and deliverability.

March 2025 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that services claiming to guarantee placement in the primary inbox are generally not trustworthy. Legitimate email marketing focuses on building trust and providing value, not tricking the system.

December 2022 - Spam Resource

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Official documentation from Google, Microsoft, RFC standards, and DMARC.org suggests that attempting to bypass Gmail's promotions tab or manipulate email placement through artificial means is discouraged. Instead, adhering to established email standards like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is crucial for ensuring legitimate email delivery, improving deliverability, and building trust with email providers.

Key findings

  • Gmail Design: Gmail's tab system is designed for user organization, and bypassing it goes against its intended use.
  • Email Standards: Following established email standards (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for deliverability.
  • Manipulation is Bad: Techniques to manipulate email placement can be flagged as suspicious.
  • DMARC Importance: Implementing DMARC (with SPF and DKIM) is critical for verifying sender identity and deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Respect Platform Design: Work within the design of email platforms rather than trying to circumvent them.
  • Implement Security: Ensure proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is in place.
  • Avoid Manipulation: Refrain from using techniques that attempt to trick or manipulate email placement.
  • Focus on Legitimacy: Prioritize legitimate email practices to build trust and improve deliverability organically.
Technical article

Documentation from RFC Editor explains that while not directly addressing the promotions tab, following established email standards (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for ensuring legitimate email delivery and avoiding spam filters, which indirectly helps in inbox placement.

November 2023 - RFC Editor
Technical article

Documentation from Google Support outlines how Gmail's tab system (including Promotions) is designed to help users organize their inbox. It implicitly suggests that attempting to bypass these tabs through artificial means goes against Gmail's intended user experience.

October 2022 - Google Support
Technical article

Documentation from DMARC.org outlines that implementing DMARC (along with SPF and DKIM) is a critical step in verifying sender identity and improving email deliverability, which indirectly influences inbox placement and helps avoid spam filters. It is an industry best practice, not a 'trick'.

August 2022 - DMARC.org
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft Support on Outlook's junk email filter advises against techniques that attempt to manipulate email placement, as these can be flagged as suspicious behavior and negatively impact deliverability.

March 2024 - Microsoft Support