Why are my triggered emails going to the promotions tab in Gmail?
Summary
What email marketers say10Marketer opinions
Email marketer from ActiveCampaign explains to personalize your email to avoid the promotions tab. Generic emails are more likely to go to the promotions tab.
Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that inbox placement is heavily correlated to the email inbox being sent from. Using the same 'from' address for transactional and promotional emails can lead to promotional tab placement, especially during peak seasons.
Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that Gmail doesn't verify if an email is truly transactional. Placement depends on user engagement.
Email marketer from Neil Patel's Blog explains that Gmail's algorithm considers factors like sender reputation, email content, and user engagement to determine tab placement. Promotional content or low engagement can cause emails to land in the Promotions tab.
Email marketer from Mailjet answers that optimizing email content, maintaining a clean email list, and using a dedicated IP address will improve primary inbox delivery rates. Focusing on providing value to the recipient can signal to Gmail that it is not promotional.
Email marketer from Stack Overflow mentions that email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is critical for establishing sender legitimacy and preventing emails from being marked as spam or promotional.
Email marketer from Sendinblue shares that promotional language, excessive images, and sales-oriented content contribute to emails being filtered into the Promotions tab. They recommend focusing on providing value and avoiding overly aggressive sales tactics.
Email marketer from Reddit shares that even triggered emails can be perceived as promotional if they include marketing messages or CTAs. Reviewing content and removing any promotional elements is recommended.
Email marketer from HubSpot advises to avoid spam trigger words in your emails to avoid the promotions tab. Even in transactional emails, you may trigger it by talking about money and sales.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum explains using the same 'From' address as promotional emails can cause triggered emails to land in the promotions tab. Creating a separate 'From' address will ensure correct placement.
What the experts say5Expert opinions
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that triggered emails often land in the promotions tab due to their content and structure resembling marketing emails. Factors like promotional language, excessive use of images, and a lack of personalized content can contribute to this placement. Focusing on providing unique value for each email will help.
Expert from Email Geeks suggests if the email sounds promotional it will likely be delivered to the promotional tab. Google uses Natural Language Processing to determine if emails are promotional.
Expert from Email Geeks suggests that promotional content within the email influences Gmail's tab placement decision.
Expert from Email Geeks states that no one has found a lasting method to control Gmail tab placement in over a decade. The 'big drop in engagement' is likely because Google is not reporting opens that didn't happen.
Expert from Spam Resource responds that Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is critical. If these records aren't configured correctly, Gmail is more likely to flag your emails as suspicious and place them in the promotions tab or even spam folder, regardless of the content.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from Google Support explains that Gmail uses a complex algorithm to filter emails, taking into account factors like sender reputation, content, and user engagement. Emails with characteristics similar to spam or promotional content are more likely to be filtered.
Documentation from Litmus explains that Gmail's tab placement is influenced by user interaction and content, and emails may be directed to the Promotions tab if they are deemed less relevant to the recipient. Focusing on user experience will help.
Documentation from SparkPost explains that to avoid the promotions tab, users can add your email to their contact list. This signals to Gmail that your email is wanted and should go to the primary inbox.
Documentation from RFC Editor clarifies that implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication protocols helps verify the sender's identity and improves email deliverability. This is a crucial step in preventing emails from being marked as spam or promotional.
Documentation from Microsoft explains that reputation is key, so you should ensure that your IP and domain are not on any blacklists. Good historical performance can lead to better deliverability and less chance of promotions tab.