What is the timeline and impact of Google's new email sending requirements starting February 2024?
Summary
What email marketers say11Marketer opinions
Email marketer from SparkPost Blog explains that Gmail and Yahoo's 2024 requirements necessitate strict authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), easy one-click unsubscription, and low spam rates. Failure to comply will result in deliverability issues, impacting sender reputation and inbox placement.
Email marketer from Validity Blog shares that to prepare for Gmail and Yahoo's new requirements, senders should audit their current email authentication setup, improve list hygiene practices, and monitor spam complaint rates. The impact of not doing so could be significant, including decreased deliverability and damage to sender reputation.
Email marketer from Reddit says the main impact is that smaller businesses and those with poor email practices will likely see a drop in deliverability to Gmail accounts if they don't implement the required changes. This will push more senders to adopt best practices, leading to a better email ecosystem overall.
Email marketer from GMass Blog mentions that Gmail's new requirements from February 2024 will significantly affect bulk email senders, mandating proper authentication, simple unsubscription processes, and minimal spam rates. Those who ignore these changes are likely to face deliverability problems.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that Google will prioritize helping those who meet the requirements and that procrastinators will not be prioritized. She says Feb 1 - April 1 is a "fuck around" period, and after that, it's the "find out" period, warning that it is hard to get back on Google's good side once they have identified bad behavior, implying they will show less mercy for senders who are willfully ignorant of the requirements.
Email marketer from StackOverflow notes that a key impact for developers is ensuring their email sending infrastructure properly implements SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records. This includes correctly configuring DNS records and handling email signing to meet the new authentication standards.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that Google has already said they will be deferring deliveries between February and April, and outright rejection of a percentage of emails will begin in April.
Email marketer from SendGrid Blog shares that Gmail and Yahoo! are making changes in 2024 that will mean stricter authentication practices like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, as well as easy unsubscription mechanisms and low spam rates. The impact for those who aren't prepared will be lower deliverability and potential blocks.
Email marketer from MailerLite Blog shares that in February 2024, Google and Yahoo will enforce stricter email authentication, list-unsubscribe, and spam rate thresholds for bulk senders. This will impact deliverability for those who don't comply, potentially leading to emails being blocked or sent to spam folders.
Email marketer from EmailToolTester explains that Gmail's new rules, coming into effect in February 2024, target bulk senders, requiring them to authenticate their emails, offer easy unsubscription options, and keep their spam rates low. Failure to comply could lead to deliverability issues and emails being marked as spam.
Email marketer from Litmus says that the Google and Yahoo mail changes in 2024 mean list hygiene is now more important than ever. If you dont clean your list the changes will affect your deliverability, especially if you have high bounce or spam complaint rates, you will face increased risk of emails going to spam or being blocked
What the experts say4Expert opinions
Expert from Spam Resource explains that the upcoming changes by Gmail and Yahoo will start being enforced in February 2024, requiring email senders to implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication protocols. They state that the goal is to reduce spam and improve the overall email experience for users. If not followed the negative impact will affect smaller businesses and those with poor email practices with a possible drop in deliverability to Gmail and Yahoo accounts.
Expert from Word to the Wise emphasizes that the impact of Google and Yahoo's 2024 policy changes will disproportionately affect smaller senders who may lack the resources or expertise to implement the required authentication and unsubscription mechanisms. They recommend prioritizing compliance to avoid deliverability issues.
Expert from Email Geeks states that large mailbox providers have already been deferring, deprioritizing, and spamfoldering mail that doesn’t comply with these requirements, emphasizing that it's not something that starts only in February or April.
Expert from Word to the Wise notes that Google and Yahoo's update in 2024 will significantly impact inbox delivery, especially for senders with poor list hygiene. They highlight that maintaining clean lists and engaging subscribers is crucial to avoid being marked as spam and to ensure emails reach the intended recipients.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from RFC Editor clarifies that RFC 8058 describes a method for email senders to signal one-click unsubscribe functionality, which is now a requirement by Gmail and Yahoo! for bulk senders. This standard ensures a user can easily unsubscribe from mailing lists with a single click.
Documentation from Google Help outlines requirements for bulk senders, including authenticating email using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC; ensuring easy unsubscription with a one-click unsubscribe option and a visible unsubscribe link in the message body; and keeping spam rates below 0.3%. It notes that enforcement starts in February 2024, with stricter enforcement in April 2024.
Documentation from Google Workspace Updates explains that beginning in February 2024, Google will require senders who send 5,000 or more messages a day to Gmail accounts to authenticate their email, enable easy unsubscription, and stay below a reported spam rate threshold. Senders who don’t meet these requirements may have their messages rejected or sent to spam.
Documentation from Yahoo Help details that starting in early 2024, senders must authenticate their email with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. They must also implement one-click unsubscription and maintain a low spam complaint rate. Non-compliance may lead to delivery issues and potential blocking.