Why is there a sudden click increase from Gmail addresses in SES campaigns, and could Google security checks be the cause?

Email marketer from ClickGuardian proposes that implementing click fraud detection measures can help filter out non-human clicks. They recommend using tools that identify and block bot traffic, which can skew campaign statistics and negatively impact ROI.

Email marketer from Email Geeks confirms that the increased clicks are originating from Gmail addresses.

Email marketer from EmailOnAcid suggests performing an email pre-check which includes link validation by email testing tools. This will identify any invalid links that may cause redirection errors and thus cause extra click counts.

Email marketer from Reddit suggests the click increase could be due to bot clicks, especially if the user agent shows a headless browser or automated script. They advise monitoring user agent data to identify and filter out bot traffic.

Email marketer from StackExchange mentions that Google sometimes performs click verification, especially for new senders or when they detect suspicious activity. This involves Google's systems clicking on links in emails to check for malicious content, which can inflate click rates.

Email marketer from DeliverabilityPro recommends implementing enhanced seed list testing to closely monitor inbox placement and engagement metrics across different Gmail accounts. This can help identify whether the increased clicks are widespread or isolated to specific accounts or IP ranges.

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum proposes that the click increase could stem from inbox placement tests conducted by email deliverability services. These tests involve sending emails to various inboxes and tracking engagement metrics, which can sometimes register as clicks from Gmail addresses.

Email marketer from Kickbox highlights that using a good list validation service will remove any potential bots and spam traps that are present in the list before sending, thus improving the overall health of the list and reducing the chance of spam filters. It will also reduce any chances of bot clicks happening in the first place.

Email marketer from MailerMag suggests monitoring email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to detect any unauthorized sending activity. If authentication fails are associated with the increased clicks, it could indicate a security issue.

Email marketer from TowerData recommends appending demographic and behavioral data to email lists. This helps to better understand recipient engagement and potentially identify patterns or anomalies in click behavior that could indicate non-human activity.

Expert from Word to the Wise highlights the importance of analyzing IP addresses and user agents to identify bot traffic. He recommends looking for patterns like rapid clicks from the same IP or unusual user agent strings. Implementing CAPTCHAs or similar verification methods can help prevent automated systems from interacting with links.

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that using link cloaking or URL shortening services can sometimes trigger Google's security checks. Google may pre-scan these links to determine their destination, leading to increased click activity. Maintaining a clean sending reputation and avoiding suspicious link practices can help mitigate this issue.

Expert from Email Geeks suggests that the increase in clicks might be due to Non-Human Interaction (NHI) clicks, potentially from Microsoft.

Expert from Spam Resource explains that inflated click metrics can be caused by several factors, including security software scanning links, proxy servers interacting with links, and automated systems pre-rendering links for faster loading. She suggests analyzing user agent data to differentiate between human and non-human clicks.

Expert from Email Geeks shares that they were seeing clicks from IP addresses resolving to cache.google.com, and it felt like a security check from Google, such as a browser malware domain check.

Expert from Email Geeks warns that using one-click unsubscribe in the email body could lead to false positive unsubscriptions due to these Google security checks.

Documentation from Google Security Blog explains that Gmail employs link pre-scanning to protect users from malicious links. This process involves Googlebot visiting the links in emails before users click them, potentially increasing click counts. This behaviour is especially likely for links to new or less-known domains.

Documentation from SparkPost mentions that setting up and monitoring feedback loops (FBLs) with Gmail can help identify if a significant portion of your emails are being marked as spam. High spam rates can trigger increased scrutiny and potentially lead to Gmail performing more extensive link scanning.

Documentation from RFC Editor (RFC 8058) defines the standards for one-click unsubscribe functionality. Google may automatically trigger the unsubscribe endpoint to verify its validity, leading to interactions that could be misconstrued as user clicks.

Documentation from AWS SES Developer Guide highlights that SES monitors sender reputation by tracking metrics like bounce rates and complaint rates. To maintain a good reputation, SES may perform its own checks on outbound emails, potentially contributing to increased click activity from automated systems.

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools indicates that sudden changes in email metrics, including click rates, can trigger scrutiny from Gmail's spam filters. Monitoring spam rates and maintaining a consistent sending volume can help avoid deliverability issues.

Documentation from Litmus shares that implementing proper link tracking with unique identifiers for each recipient and link can help differentiate between genuine user clicks and bot activity. They advise against using generic link tracking parameters that could be easily manipulated.