Why is my email template getting higher open rates in Gmail?
Summary
What email marketers say7Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Neil Patel's Blog explains that optimizing email templates for mobile devices is important. Given that a large percentage of Gmail users access their emails on mobile devices, a mobile-friendly template can lead to better engagement and higher open rates.
Email marketer from Reddit explains that Gmail's tabbed inbox (Primary, Promotions, Social, Updates) can influence open rates. If the template is designed in a way that it lands in the Primary tab, it's likely to be seen and opened more often.
Email marketer from Sendinblue Blog shares that a good sender reputation significantly impacts inbox placement in Gmail. If the template is being sent from a domain/IP with a positive reputation, Gmail is more likely to place it in the inbox rather than the spam folder, leading to higher open rates.
Email marketer from HubSpot Blog explains that personalization can improve open rates. A template that uses personalized elements effectively will see higher engagement compared to a generic template.
Email marketer from Litmus Blog shares that clean and concise email design can contribute to higher open rates. A well-designed email that is easy to read and understand is more likely to be opened and engaged with.
Email marketer from Mailchimp Blog explains that a compelling subject line is crucial for higher open rates. If one template's subject line resonates more with Gmail users, it will naturally lead to increased opens.
Email marketer from StackOverflow answers the question by stating that emails over a certain size can get clipped in Gmail. Making the call to action immediately available without downloading the full email may result in higher open rates.
What the experts say9Expert opinions
Expert from Spam Resource explains that maintaining a clean email list is crucial. If you're sending to a segment of your list that is highly engaged in Gmail, those users are more likely to open your emails, increasing open rates. Poorly maintained email lists can be seen as spam and filtered by email providers.
Expert from Email Geeks suggests to start by examining the A/B testing methodology. They ask whether the A/B test is being performed on a randomized subset of users and if it's being done repeatedly.
Expert from Email Geeks shares their experience where some templates ended up in Gmail's 'Promotions' tab while others landed in 'Updates' (which often defaults to the inbox), resulting in significant differences in open rates despite similar content.
Expert from Email Geeks shares a link to a thread about Gmail clipping where other reasons for clipping (like a copyright symbol) are discovered.
Expert from Email Geeks advises checking the links and image tags in each template, specifically looking at the hostnames used, if it looks like emails are going to the junk folder.
Expert from Word to the Wise responds that templates should avoid using spam triggers in subject lines and body. These include excessive punctuation, all caps, and certain words (like 'free' or 'guarantee'). Avoiding these spam triggers can help get the email into the Gmail inbox and boost open rates.
Expert from Email Geeks recommends segmenting analytics by domain to identify if the variance in open rates is consistent across all domains or isolated to Gmail. They also suggest that clipping issues can arise from reasons beyond email length, such as errant characters.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that feedback loops allow senders to identify and remove users who mark their emails as spam. Participating in feedback loops demonstrates a commitment to sending wanted mail, improving sender reputation and deliverability to Gmail inboxes.
Expert from Email Geeks suggests that Gmail pre-fetches images in the inbox at a higher rate than in the promotions tab, impacting open rate tracking.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from DKIM.org defines DKIM which provides a method for validating a domain name identity that is associated with a message through cryptographic authentication. This helps Gmail verify the sender's legitimacy.
Documentation from MDN Web Docs explains how invalid HTML or CSS can cause issues in Gmail. Clean and valid code ensures proper rendering across different email clients, potentially improving engagement.
Documentation from EasyDMARC explains that DMARC builds upon SPF and DKIM to provide a comprehensive email authentication system. Implementing DMARC can significantly improve email deliverability and protect against phishing attacks, leading to better inbox placement in Gmail.
Documentation from Google Support explains that Gmail's spam filter considers various factors, including sender authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), content quality, and user engagement. A template that avoids spam triggers and is sent from an authenticated domain is more likely to reach the inbox.
Documentation from RFC defines SPF records and their purpose. Correctly configured SPF records can improve email deliverability by verifying that the sending mail server is authorized to send emails on behalf of the domain.