Why does my header.from differ from my message from, and what is the correct setup for one-click unsubscribe?
Summary
What email marketers say5Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Mailgun explains that the 'From' address should be recognizable to the recipient. It should consistently represent your brand or organization, which helps build trust and improves deliverability. Mailgun also mentions best practice is to ensure from address matches the DKIM setup.
Email marketer from Reddit explains that the 'header.from' is usually the same as 'From:' however the important element is that the domains align with SPF and DKIM to help prove the message is legitimate. It can differ due to sender setup and forwarding but this isn't necessarily harmful if the technical side is configured correctly.
Email marketer from SendGrid explains that the reputation of your 'From' domain directly impacts deliverability. A consistent and positive sender reputation helps improve the likelihood of your emails reaching the inbox.
Email marketer from Litmus highlights that one-click unsubscribe is becoming increasingly important for compliance with email regulations and improving sender reputation. Chad White notes that it helps reduce spam complaints and improves deliverability.
Email marketer from SMTP2Go details how to implement one-click unsubscribe, explaining the need to include both 'List-Unsubscribe' and 'List-Unsubscribe-Post' headers. They also provide examples of the correct syntax for these headers.
What the experts say5Expert opinions
Expert from Spamresource.com explains the importance of consistent From: headers in email marketing. They highlight that variations in the `header.from` versus the displayed `From:` address can trigger spam filters if not properly authenticated. Ensuring SPF and DKIM alignment with the sending domain is crucial for deliverability.
Expert from Word to the Wise emphasizes the necessity of including a functional and easily accessible List-Unsubscribe header. They recommend implementing both mailto: and HTTP versions, with preference given to one-click unsubscribe via HTTP POST. This enhances user experience and complies with best practices for email marketing.
Expert from Email Geeks confirms that the one-click unsubscribe link should be https, and that this is a valid issue to resolve. He mentions that the DKIM signature has to cover the list-unsub headers.
Expert from Email Geeks explains DKIM alignment means the DKIM d= in the DKIM header is the same domain as your from. He also clarifies that if either SPF or DKIM align, it's considered successful alignment for DMARC and Gmail/Yahoo requirements.
Expert from Email Geeks explains that the domain in the return path (SPF domain) may not match the 'from' domain, indicating a lack of SPF alignment. He notes that this is not inherently wrong, as DKIM or SPF alignment is sufficient, but he also mentions the GPT dashboard can be buggy and give false warnings. He advises using a third-party tester like aboutmy.email to verify alignment.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from RFC Editor explains that the 'From:' header field specifies the author(s) of the message. The 'Sender:' field is used when the actual transmission of the message was performed by someone other than the author listed in the 'From:' field. If the sender field is used it should contain the e-mail address of the agent responsible for the actual transmission. The from can be different from the sender if the sender is acting on behalf of the from.
Documentation from Microsoft Learn provides detailed steps on setting up DKIM for your sending domain. It includes instructions on generating DKIM keys, adding DNS records, and enabling DKIM signing in Microsoft 365.
Documentation from RFC Editor defines the List-Unsubscribe-Post header and its usage for one-click unsubscribe. It specifies the format and requirements for implementing this feature, allowing recipients to unsubscribe with a single click, improving user experience and reducing spam complaints.
Documentation from Google Support explains that senders must authenticate their emails using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to ensure deliverability to Gmail accounts. Google mentions how these authentication methods help verify the sender's identity and prevent spoofing.