Should I separate transactional and marketing emails?

Summary

The overwhelming consensus from marketers, experts, and documentation across various platforms (Email Geeks, Mailjet, Sendinblue, HubSpot, AWS, Google Workspace, Microsoft, Litmus, Validity, Stack Overflow, Reddit, Quora, Email on Acid, Word to the Wise, and Spamresource) is that separating transactional and marketing emails is a best practice for maintaining good sender reputation and deliverability. This separation allows for better tracking, optimization, and isolation of deliverability issues. Using separate IPs, subdomains, or sender addresses protects transactional emails (e.g., password resets, shipping notifications) from negative impacts caused by marketing campaigns, which often have lower engagement rates or a higher risk of being marked as spam. Key benefits include enhanced sender reputation, improved email deliverability for both transactional and marketing emails, better tracking and optimization of each email type, and more granular control over email configurations. However, a few sources suggest that combining these streams may be acceptable if the total sending volume is low and list hygiene is excellent.

Key findings

  • Reputation Management: Separating email streams is crucial for maintaining and protecting sender reputation, a key factor in email deliverability.
  • Deliverability Optimization: Segmentation helps prevent marketing emails from negatively impacting the deliverability of important transactional emails, ensuring critical notifications reach their intended recipients.
  • Enhanced Control: Separate configurations enable granular control over settings like bounce handling, feedback loops, and dedicated IPs for each email type.
  • Improved Tracking: Separation allows for better tracking and optimization of each email type, tailored to their specific goals and performance metrics.

Key considerations

  • IP/Subdomain Separation: Consider using separate IPs or subdomains for transactional and marketing emails to fully isolate sending reputations and maximize deliverability.
  • List Hygiene: If combining email types, ensure excellent list hygiene practices to minimize the risk of spam complaints and maintain deliverability rates.
  • Email Volume: Consider total email volume when deciding whether to separate streams. Combining streams may be acceptable for low-volume senders, but is generally not advised.
  • Platform Features: Leverage platform features offered by AWS, Google Workspace, and Microsoft to implement separate configurations and manage email settings for transactional and marketing emails independently.
  • Engagement Rates: Pay attention to engagement rates; if marketing emails exhibit low engagement or are frequently marked as spam, separation becomes even more crucial to protect transactional deliverability.

What email marketers say
13Marketer opinions

The consensus among email marketers is that separating transactional and marketing emails is a best practice for maintaining good sender reputation and deliverability. This separation allows for better tracking, optimization, and isolation of deliverability issues. By using separate IPs, subdomains, or sender addresses, organizations can protect their transactional emails (like password resets and shipping notifications) from being negatively impacted by marketing campaigns, which may have lower engagement rates or be more likely to be marked as spam. However, some email senders note that combining them is acceptable as long as list hygiene is good.

Key opinions

  • Sender Reputation: Separating email types helps maintain a positive sender reputation, which is crucial for deliverability.
  • Deliverability Protection: Separation prevents marketing emails from negatively impacting the deliverability of important transactional emails.
  • Tracking and Optimization: Separation allows for better tracking and optimization of each email type, tailored to their specific goals.
  • Segmentation Benefits: Email list segmentation by email type boosts deliverability and keeps transactional messages out of spam filters.

Key considerations

  • IP/Subdomain Separation: Consider using separate IPs or subdomains for transactional and marketing emails to fully isolate sending reputations.
  • List Hygiene: If combining email types, ensure excellent list hygiene practices to minimize the risk of spam complaints.
  • Volume: Some suggest that it is ok to combine if you have low total sending volume overall.
  • Engagement Rates: Be mindful of engagement rates. If your marketing emails have low engagement or are frequently marked as spam, separation becomes even more critical.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit recommends using separate subdomains, one for marketing and one for transactional, to isolate deliverability issues. This prevents marketing campaigns from impacting the delivery of critical transactional emails.

November 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet Blog explains that separating transactional and marketing emails is crucial for maintaining good sender reputation. By using separate IPs or subdomains, you can protect your transactional email deliverability from any negative impact caused by marketing campaigns.

November 2022 - Mailjet Blog
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests separating the subdomain and the IPs so they carry their own reputation.

June 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks notes that they had an eComm client whose volume didn't support 2 IPs (one marketing and one transactional) and had no noticeable issues using one IP for both. They also only sent one marketing email a week with good segmentation and had good list hygiene (both from opt in and engagement).

May 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sendinblue Blog shares that separating transactional and marketing emails allows for better tracking and optimization. Transactional emails, like password resets, require high deliverability, while marketing emails benefit from A/B testing and segmentation. Keeping them separate makes it easier to manage and improve performance.

January 2024 - Sendinblue Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid shares that segmenting traffic and sending reputations can help. Separating transactional and marketing emails is a must to maintain deliverability best practices.

August 2021 - Email on Acid
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot Blog responds that separating transactional and marketing emails helps avoid being marked as spam. Transactional emails have a higher expectation of being delivered, so keeping them distinct from promotional content increases the likelihood they'll reach the inbox.

August 2023 - HubSpot Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Quora responds that if your marketing emails have any chance of being marked as spam or having a low engagement rate, you should definitely separate them from your transactional emails. This protects the deliverability of important notifications.

August 2024 - Quora
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks states they are a fan of splitting transactional from marketing with separate IPs and sending domains. But if the total send volume can't support 2 IPs then you really need to double down on being a good marketing sender to minimize any negative impacts on the transactional sends. Only suffer when you are not a good sender.

May 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Validity shares that sender reputation is vital for deliverability, and segmenting your email streams (marketing vs. transactional) helps to protect your transactional reputation from any negative impact caused by marketing campaigns.

April 2022 - Validity
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks recommends separating transactional and marketing email.

October 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow recommends if possible, to use separate dedicated IPs for marketing and transactional emails and keep them completely separate. Keep an eye on IP addresses and sender reputation.

January 2025 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus says that Email list segmentation by email type can boost deliverability. Separate lists for marketing and transactional emails so your important transactional messages do not get caught in spam filters.

July 2024 - Litmus

What the experts say
4Expert opinions

Experts generally recommend separating transactional and marketing email streams to maintain deliverability and sender reputation. Separating ensures that marketing emails with lower quality or engagement don't negatively impact the delivery of critical transactional messages. Dedicated IPs and domain segmentation are key strategies. One expert also notes that it is ok to combine streams if total volume is low.

Key opinions

  • Reputation Protection: Separating email streams protects the reputation of transactional emails from the potential negative impact of marketing emails.
  • Independent Management: Using dedicated IPs allows for independent reputation management and control over deliverability for each email type.
  • Varying Needs: Marketing and transactional emails have different needs for inbox placement, supporting the separation strategy.

Key considerations

  • Dedicated IPs: Consider using dedicated IP addresses for each email type to maximize deliverability control.
  • Domain Segmentation: Segmenting sending domains can protect transactional mail reputation if marketing mail is of lower quality.
  • Email Volume: Consider overall sending volume, as combining streams may be acceptable for low-volume senders.
Expert view

Expert from Spamresource recommends using dedicated IP addresses for marketing and transactional mail. This allows for independent reputation management and better control over deliverability for each email type.

January 2024 - Spamresource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that domain reputation applies to all mail coming from your domain. If marketing mail is of lower quality, it can impact the delivery of transactional messages. Segmenting sending domains protects transactional mail reputation.

December 2024 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks agrees with Kent, stating that separating transactional and marketing emails is a good idea as long as there's enough volume for both. If volume is low it is better to combine them.

September 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise shares that you should always separate your email streams. Marketing and transactional email programs have completely different needs for inbox placement. This helps maintain deliverability and sender reputation.

August 2022 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
3Technical articles

Major email platforms like AWS, Google Workspace, and Microsoft recommend or support separating transactional and marketing emails. This separation enables granular control over settings like bounce handling and feedback loops, helps prevent domains from being flagged for exceeding sender limits, and ensures the delivery of important transactional emails by keeping them separate from bulk promotional mail.

Key findings

  • Granular Control: Separate configurations allow for granular control over bounce handling, feedback loops, and dedicated IPs for each email type.
  • Deliverability Assurance: Separating email types ensures the delivery of important transactional emails, protecting them from the potential negative impact of marketing emails.
  • Prevention of Flagging: Separating email types and adhering to best practices for each prevents your domain from being flagged for exceeding sender limits.

Key considerations

  • Separate Configurations: Utilize separate configurations within your email sending platform for transactional and marketing emails.
  • Sender Limits: Adhere to sender limits to avoid being flagged by email providers, especially when sending both transactional and marketing emails.
  • IP Addresses: Consider using different IP addresses for different purposes to implement segmentation as recommended by Google.
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft Support explains that exceeding sender limits can impact your ability to send both transactional and marketing emails. Separating email types and adhering to best practices for each can prevent your domain from being flagged and improve overall deliverability within the Outlook ecosystem.

May 2023 - Microsoft Support
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace explains that Google recommends segmenting different types of email. For example, bulk promotional mail should be separated from transactional emails. This is to ensure the delivery of important email. This can be implemented by sending emails for different purposes from different IP addresses.

February 2022 - Google Workspace Admin Help
Technical article

Documentation from AWS explains that using separate configurations for transactional and marketing emails within Amazon SES (Simple Email Service) allows you to apply different settings for bounce handling, feedback loop configuration, and dedicated IPs. This provides granular control over each type of email.

March 2024 - AWS Documentation