What are the reasons and implications for A/B testing the from email address?
Summary
What email marketers say14Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Email on Acid Blog explains that when A/B testing the 'from' address, it's important to isolate this variable. Ensure all other elements of the email remain consistent to accurately measure the impact of the 'from' address change. Also, ensure you use a statistically significant sample size.
Marketer from Email Geeks raises the question of whether a sender-id can have a reputation associated with it over time, and if switching from one sender ID to another can produce differences in inboxing.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that testing the 'from' text (sender's name) is more fruitful than the email address. Changing the email address has potential consequences as people might have the current address in their address book, and a new address is more likely to end up in the junk folder.
Email marketer from SuperOffice Blog explains that using a recognizable 'from name' is essential for building trust and encouraging opens. They suggest using a real person's name rather than a generic company name to create a more personal connection with subscribers. Also suggests A/B testing a real name vs brand name.
Marketer from Email Geeks suggests that A/B testing the 'from' email address can help measure if/when people add the address to their address book.
Email marketer from Campaign Monitor Blog emphasizes the 'from' name in email marketing is a golden opportunity to build trust and improve open rates. Using a consistent, recognizable 'from' name helps subscribers identify your brand and feel confident opening your emails. This blog suggests the brand name is generally better.
Email marketer from Mailjet Blog explains that A/B testing the 'from name' is generally more effective than the email address itself. The from name is what recipients see first, making it crucial for brand recognition and trust. Testing different from names can improve open rates. Testing the 'from email' is less impactful and can affect deliverability.
Email marketer from Quora user Jane Doe answers that using a consistent 'from' address helps build brand recognition and trust. If you change it too often, subscribers may not recognize your emails, leading to lower engagement and potential spam complaints. However, testing it can sometimes reveal improvements.
Email marketer from Sendinblue Blog shares that changing the 'from' address can impact deliverability. Email service providers (ESPs) track the reputation of sending addresses. Switching to a new address means starting with a fresh reputation, potentially leading to deliverability issues if not warmed up properly. They recommend gradually increasing volume when using a new 'from' address.
Email marketer from Litmus Blog emphasizes the importance of a consistent and recognizable 'from name' for building brand trust. Changing the 'from name' frequently can confuse subscribers and decrease engagement. Therefore A/B tests should be properly setup so your reputation is consistent.
Email marketer from Reddit user u/EmailMarketingGuru shares that different 'from' addresses can influence perception. E.g. using a personal name (john@) feels more intimate than a generic company address (info@). This perception can affect open and reply rates. This Reddit user recommends testing a few options.
Email marketer from StackOverflow user User456 shares that the main reasons for A/B testing the 'from' address are to improve open rates and build a stronger connection with subscribers. Some marketers also A/B test to see if they can get better inbox placement rates by changing it.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that filters may associate an email address with some reputation, and Machine Learning filters can work on all sorts of commonalities.
Email marketer from HubSpot Blog shares that A/B testing 'from names' can help identify which sender resonates best with your audience, ultimately improving open rates and engagement. Test things like real name vs brand name.
What the experts say2Expert opinions
Expert from Word to the Wise (Laura Atkins) responds to concerns about "list bombing", explaining that a sudden influx of email activity or a change in sending behavior, such as testing a new 'from' address on a large scale without warming it up, could be flagged by anti-spam systems and negatively impact deliverability. It may also cause recipients to mark as spam.
Expert from Spam Resource explains that sender authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for deliverability. A/B testing from addresses without proper authentication setup can negatively impact your sender reputation and lead to deliverability problems. Changing your from address should be accompanied by proper configuration.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from Validity ReturnPath details that sender reputation is a key factor in email deliverability. Email providers use sender reputation to determine whether to accept, reject, or filter incoming mail. Testing new 'from' addresses can impact reputation, especially if authentication is not properly configured.
Documentation from Microsoft SNDS explains that Microsoft tracks the reputation of sending IP addresses and domains. A sudden shift in sending patterns or the use of a new 'from' domain with no established reputation can negatively impact deliverability to Outlook and Hotmail users.
Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools explains that Google assesses the reputation of sending domains and IP addresses. Sending from a new or unestablished 'from' domain can impact deliverability to Gmail users, especially if the domain has a poor reputation. Need to ensure proper authentication is setup.
Documentation from RFC2822 explains that the 'From:' field contains the email address(es) of the author(s) of the message. It's primarily for identifying the sender and is crucial for replies.