What does the identifier count in Google Postmaster Tools Feedback Loop mean?

Summary

The identifier count in Google Postmaster Tools Feedback Loop (FBL) reflects the number of users who marked messages with a specific identifier as spam. These identifiers, embedded in email headers, allow senders, particularly ESPs, to trace complaints back to specific campaigns, clients, or mail streams, helping to pinpoint the source of abuse and improve deliverability. FBL data also provides insights into overall complaint trends. Exceeding certain complaint thresholds triggers feedback loop messages, negatively impacting sender reputation. Proactive monitoring, data correlation, and immediate investigation of complaint spikes are crucial for maintaining email performance. While identifiers generally need to be registered, Google may make educated guesses in some cases.

Key findings

  • Complaint Rate Thresholds: Feedback loop messages are triggered when the complaint rate exceeds a certain threshold.
  • Identifier Specificity: Only complaints associated with one ID are reflected in the FBL identifier count.
  • Complaint Representation: Identifier count reflects the number of people who complained about mail with that identifier.
  • Source Identification: Feedback-ID helps tie complaints back to mailings, identifying spam complaint sources.
  • Trend Analysis: FBL data allows tracking of overall complaint trends, despite not providing complainer details.
  • Deliverability Impact: High complaint rates from FBLs negatively affect sender reputation.
  • Spoofing Detection: FBL helps identify campaigns spoofing organization headers.

Key considerations

  • Proactive Monitoring: Regularly review FBL reports to identify and resolve deliverability issues.
  • Data Correlation: Correlate FBL identifiers with email content and sending practices.
  • Rapid Response: Investigate sudden spikes in FBL complaints immediately.
  • Registration Best Practices: Ensure proper registration of Feedback-ID headers.
  • ESP Application: ESPs need to monitor FBLs for abuse originated on their platforms.
  • Performance Evaluation: Use FBL data to assess email deliverability performance.

What email marketers say
11Marketer opinions

The identifier count in Google Postmaster Tools Feedback Loop (FBL) reflects the number of complaints associated with a specific identifier embedded in email headers. These identifiers help senders track complaints back to specific campaigns, segments, or mail streams. Monitoring these counts allows senders to identify the source of spam complaints, assess the effectiveness of their email practices, and maintain a good sender reputation. High complaint rates reported through FBLs can negatively impact deliverability, emphasizing the importance of addressing issues promptly. Proactively monitoring and correlating FBL data with email content and sending practices enables senders to reduce spam complaints and improve overall email performance.

Key opinions

  • Complaint Thresholds: Exceeding certain complaint rate thresholds triggers feedback loop messages, indicating potential deliverability issues.
  • Identifier Tracking: Feedback-ID (identifier) allows tying complaints back to specific mailings or segments, facilitating source identification.
  • Complaint Count: FBL identifier value represents the number of complaints linked to a specific identifier.
  • Reputation Impact: High complaint rates via FBLs negatively affect sender reputation, leading to deliverability problems.
  • Problem Identification: Sudden complaint spikes often indicate campaign-specific problems like poor targeting or misleading content.

Key considerations

  • Proactive Monitoring: Regularly review FBL reports to identify and resolve deliverability issues proactively.
  • Data Correlation: Correlate FBL identifiers with email content and sending practices to reduce spam complaints.
  • Immediate Investigation: Acknowledge and investigate any spikes in FBL reported complaints.
  • Deliverability Improvement: Use FBL data to understand recipients’ perceptions and improve deliverability practices.
  • ESP Application: FBLs are crucial for Email Service Providers (ESPs) to identify and address abuse on their platforms.
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that a feedback loop message is sent when the complaint rate exceeds a certain threshold.

May 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus explains Feedback Loops (FBLs) are a way for mailbox providers to provide feedback to senders about complaints. High complaint rates reported through FBLs can negatively impact sender reputation.

December 2024 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange explains that the purpose of the Feedback-ID (identifier) is to allow you to tie complaints back to specific mailings or segments, helping identify the source of spam complaints within your email program.

June 2023 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailonAcid explains that a sudden spike in FBL reported complaints often indicates a problem with a recent email campaign, such as poor targeting or misleading content, and requires immediate investigation.

January 2025 - EmailonAcid
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailGeeks explains that a count in the feedback loop means that an actual feedback loop message has been sent because the complaint rate was over a certain threshold.

June 2023 - EmailGeeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that the FBL identifier value represents the number of complaints associated with that specific identifier, pointing towards potential issues with the mailing using that identifier.

March 2025 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Quora emphasizes that ignoring FBL data is a mistake, as it provides valuable insights into how recipients perceive your emails. Regularly reviewing FBL reports can help proactively identify and resolve deliverability issues.

August 2023 - Quora
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet suggests implementing Feedback Loop identifiers (FBL IDs) to monitor complaint rates and improve email deliverability by identifying problem areas in your sending practices.

May 2024 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum shares their experience that closely monitoring FBL identifiers and correlating them with specific email content or sending practices has helped them significantly reduce spam complaints and improve overall email performance.

October 2021 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Validity highlights the importance of maintaining low complaint rates as indicated through FBLs, noting that exceeding acceptable complaint thresholds can lead to deliverability issues.

May 2021 - Validity
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid points out that FBLs help monitor spam complaints by allowing senders to track which campaigns or segments generate the most complaints, thus enabling them to address the underlying issues.

April 2021 - SendGrid

What the experts say
5Expert opinions

The identifier count in Google Postmaster Tools Feedback Loop (FBL) represents the number of individuals who marked emails with a particular identifier as spam. This count helps senders, particularly Email Service Providers (ESPs), to track complaints, pinpoint sources of abuse, and address issues related to specific campaigns, clients, or mail streams. While registration of these identifiers might be expected, Google may sometimes make educated guesses. Ultimately, understanding and utilizing these identifiers is crucial for maintaining email deliverability and sender reputation.

Key opinions

  • Complaint Attribution: The identifier count reflects the number of individuals who complained about emails with a specific identifier.
  • ESP Utility: FBL identifiers are particularly valuable for ESPs to identify and address abuse on their platforms.
  • Data Aggregation: Feedback-ID headers allow senders to view spam complaints in aggregate, connecting them to specific campaigns or clients.
  • Identifier Registration: While registration of identifiers is the standard practice, Google might make educated guesses in some cases.

Key considerations

  • Source Identification: Use identifier counts to pinpoint the sources of spam complaints within your email program.
  • Abuse Mitigation: Address and remediate issues related to identified sources of abuse to maintain deliverability.
  • Deliverability Monitoring: Closely monitor identifier counts to assess the effectiveness of your email sending practices.
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource highlights that Feedback Loop (FBL) identifiers are specifically useful for Email Service Providers (ESPs) to pinpoint and address abuse originating from their platform, enhancing the overall quality and reliability of their services.

August 2023 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that only one of the IDs with complaints is reflected in the FBL identifier count.

December 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise answers the Feedback-ID header is valuable as it allows senders to see spam complaints in aggregate, connecting them to a specific campaign, client, or mail stream, facilitating the identification and remediation of the sources of issues.

June 2021 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks states the number shown in the identifer count reflects the number of people who complained about mail with that identifier.

July 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares their understanding that you had to register identifiers but also suggests that Google may make educated guesses. They also clarify the FBL is useful for ESP's.

July 2024 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
3Technical articles

The identifier count in Google Postmaster Tools Feedback Loop (FBL) represents the number of unique identifiers associated with user-marked spam messages. The FBL helps identify campaigns spoofing an organization's headers by embedding unique identifiers in message headers to pinpoint the source of abuse. While individual complainer details are not provided by Gmail, this FBL data offers insights into overall complaint trends and helps trace abuse back to its origin.

Key findings

  • Spam Identification: The identifier count reflects the number of unique identifiers linked to messages marked as spam by users.
  • Spoofing Detection: The Feedback Loop (FBL) aids in identifying campaigns that are spoofing an organization's headers.
  • Source Pinpointing: Unique identifiers embedded in message headers help pinpoint the source of abuse.
  • Trend Insights: FBL data offers insights into overall complaint trends, even though individual complainer details are not provided.

Key considerations

  • Implement Identifiers: Embed unique identifiers in message headers to leverage the benefits of the Feedback Loop.
  • Monitor FBL Data: Regularly monitor FBL data to identify and address the sources of abuse.
  • Analyze Complaint Trends: Analyze overall complaint trends using FBL data to improve email sending practices.
Technical article

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools Help states that the Identifier count reflects the number of unique identifiers for which users marked messages as spam.

February 2024 - Google Postmaster Tools Help
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost describes Feedback Loop identifiers and states using identifiers helps trace abuse back to the originator. They emphasize that while Gmail doesn't directly provide details about complainers, FBL data offers insights into overall complaint trends.

February 2024 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from Google Support explains that the Feedback Loop (FBL) helps identify campaigns spoofing your organization's headers. By embedding a unique identifier in the message headers, you can pinpoint the source of abuse.

October 2023 - Google Support