Why are my emails marked as dangerous in Gmail when using microdata markup?
Summary
What email marketers say11Marketer opinions
Email marketer from HubSpot shares that building and maintaining a good domain reputation is vital. If your domain is relatively new or has a poor reputation, Gmail might be more likely to flag emails, especially those containing advanced markup.
Email marketer from SendGrid explains that proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for establishing sender credibility. If the domain isn't properly authenticated, Gmail might view emails with suspicion, especially when combined with new or unusual markup.
Email marketer from Email Geeks raises the question if a registration was made before using the microdata markup and suggests registration may be required.
Email marketer from Reddit shares that Gmail's spam filters are sensitive to various factors, and the sudden addition of microdata markup, especially if not implemented correctly, could trigger them. They advise gradually rolling out the markup and monitoring deliverability.
Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that adding Gmail microdata markup to emails is causing them to be marked as "dangerous" and land in spam, while removing the markup results in emails being delivered to the inbox.
Email marketer from Mailchimp suggests that while microdata markup can enhance email presentation, it's crucial to maintain a clean email list, avoid spam trigger words, and ensure proper email authentication to avoid deliverability problems.
Email marketer from Stack Overflow explains that the inclusion of incorrect or misleading structured data might trigger Gmail's spam filters. They suggest validating the markup using Google's Rich Results Test.
Email marketer from Neil Patel explains that schema markup itself is unlikely to directly cause emails to be marked as dangerous. The issue might be related to how the markup is implemented, the content it describes, or other factors influencing Gmail's spam filters.
Email marketer from Email on Acid shares that invalid or broken microdata markup can negatively affect how email clients render messages, potentially leading to emails being flagged as suspicious.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum shares that while the markup itself might not be the sole cause, the content associated with it, especially if it contains spam trigger words or suspicious URLs, can contribute to the issue.
Email marketer from Campaign Monitor explains that engagement metrics, such as open rates and click-through rates, play a significant role in deliverability. If recipients are not engaging with your emails, Gmail might start filtering them, regardless of the presence of microdata markup.
What the experts say3Expert opinions
Expert from Word to the Wise shares that proper DMARC implementation is essential for Gmail to trust the emails, especially with the presence of microdata. A failing DMARC policy can lead to emails being marked as dangerous or spam, particularly when combined with unusual content or markup.
Expert from Email Geeks suggests that the issue might be related to the email content resembling phishing. They advise testing with a newly created Gmail account to confirm the issue and narrow down the cause. It is also suggested that not registering with Google could be an issue.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that if a sender's IP or domain reputation is poor, or if authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is not properly configured, Gmail may flag emails, especially those with new or unfamiliar microdata markup, as potentially dangerous. Engagement can also cause reputation hits.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from Google Developers explains that Google has specific guidelines for implementing schema markup, and failing to meet these guidelines can lead to penalties, including deliverability issues.
Documentation from schema.org details the correct way to implement schema markup, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the specified vocabulary and syntax to avoid issues with email clients.
Documentation from Microsoft details they provide resources and guidelines for senders to improve their email practices and ensure deliverability. These guidelines often address authentication, content, and list management, all of which are indirectly related to microdata markup implications.
Documentation from Litmus explains that factors such as sender reputation, authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and engagement metrics can influence email deliverability. Improperly implemented markup can negatively impact these factors.
Documentation from RFC details that proper use of MIME types and encoding is essential for ensuring that email clients correctly interpret the content of your emails, including any microdata markup. Incorrect MIME types can lead to rendering issues and potential spam flags.