New Gmail layout bad for marketers??????

16 replies
Hi Guys

I'm sure some of you have seen what Gmail have done, by default (unless changed by the user), the email screen is split into 3 catogories, the last of which is "promotions". It looks like a lot of emails I get from other marketers are going straight into there.

I sent an email yesterday to a normally responsive list, and I got less than half the usual opens. This could be quite a problem, or at least you need to make sure you are much more casual with your emails. I'm not sure whether they use keywords to determine what is promotion, or possibly they can see the way the emails have been sent.

Stuff like this could be a problem for email marketing? Not quite doom and gloom, but I'm a bit concerned.

Interested in your thoughts...

Cheers
Phil
#bad #gmail #layout #marketers
  • Profile picture of the author Regional Warrior
    If you use the search section you will find a few threads about the end of the world too , there have been a few threads on this all ready !
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    • Profile picture of the author phil.wheatley
      Originally Posted by Regional Warrior View Post

      If you use the search section you will find a few threads about the end of the world too , there have been a few threads on this all ready !
      Oh, sorry mate, I search in Google but only found one which had no replies, I should've searched in here instead. Obviously then it's a topic many are concerned about.

      Originally Posted by themichaelcook View Post

      Hey Phil, It definitely can be a problem for email marketers..

      What I did was shot a tutorial screen cast showing how they can create a filter and add me to their primary tab and after i was done I added it to my blog and sent them an email to it...

      Im thinking about adding it to my follow up sequence or even creating a page that shows this video after they opt-in... I know its for gmail users only but it wouldn't hurt for you to do a tutorial video on this and after your done with it then send it to your subscribers...

      Michael Cook
      Good tip!! Thanks.
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      • Profile picture of the author Steve L
        Oh, sorry mate, I search in Google but only found one which had no replies, I should've searched in here instead. Obviously then it's a topic many are concerned about.
        I was the one that started that other thread. ha!

        I'm thinking maybe it would be best to push subscribers and customers to your G+ profile or community. You're bound to have a higher 'open' rate with G+ posts now.

        Not that I'll be ditching email anytime soon.
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        • Profile picture of the author Plugin Profits
          Originally Posted by Steve L View Post

          I was the one that started that other thread. ha!

          I'm thinking maybe it would be best to push subscribers and customers to your G+ profile or community. You're bound to have a higher 'open' rate with G+ posts now.

          Not that I'll be ditching email anytime soon.
          If you have a circle of 100 or less people, you can send an email to them directly to their gmail inbox even without them ever having subscribed to anything. I wonder if those show up in the main tab. I assume that they would. Perhaps Google is trying to push more people to use Google+.
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          • Profile picture of the author Steve L
            Originally Posted by Plugin Profits View Post

            If you have a circle of 100 or less people, you can send an email to them directly to their gmail inbox even without them ever having subscribed to anything. I wonder if those show up in the main tab. I assume that they would. Perhaps Google is trying to push more people to use Google+.
            100 or less is pretty limiting. I didn't know you could do that though. Also, any messages coming from G+ show up in the "social" tab inside Gmail.
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            • Profile picture of the author Plugin Profits
              Originally Posted by Steve L View Post

              100 or less is pretty limiting. I didn't know you could do that though. Also, any messages coming from G+ show up in the "social" tab inside Gmail.
              You can have as many circles as you want though.
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  • Profile picture of the author themichaelcook
    Hey Phil, It definitely can be a problem for email marketers..

    What I did was shot a tutorial screen cast showing how they can create a filter and add me to their primary tab and after i was done I added it to my blog and sent them an email to it...

    Im thinking about adding it to my follow up sequence or even creating a page that shows this video after they opt-in... I know its for gmail users only but it wouldn't hurt for you to do a tutorial video on this and after your done with it then send it to your subscribers...

    Michael Cook
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  • Profile picture of the author Blinking
    I just noticed it.. Won't be long before people figure out how to get around it.
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  • Profile picture of the author HansDavid
    Right now, I just put a notification on my "confirm your email" page for new subscribers to see if my email is put under the promotion tab.

    I then ask them to drag my email to the primary tab and click "yes" when Gmail asks whether future emails should also be put in the primary tab or not.
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  • Profile picture of the author Todoh9
    Call me an opportunist, but this is good change. "Movement is life" World War Z folks, and we'll have to adapt, which usually brings about new... opportunities!

    Personally I hope this help organize my email box better... and agree somebody with figure out how to get our emails to customers\prospects. Ready go!
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  • Profile picture of the author clever7
    Google is attacking all internet marketers through many ways. First of all, it started creating these annoying Panda, Penguin, etc. updates. Then, it decided to discontinue the Google keyword tool. Now, it is separating promotions from other email messages for Gmail users.

    Let’s see what else Google will do to make us spend more to reach our audience.

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    • Profile picture of the author joaquin112
      Originally Posted by clever7 View Post

      [FONT=Verdana]Google is attacking all internet marketers through many ways. First of all, it started creating these annoying Panda, Penguin, etc. updates. Then, it decided to discontinue the Google keyword tool. Now, it is separating promotions from other email messages for Gmail users.
      Keep whining. Google's best interests is for their users to have a better experience. Do you think that receiving hundreds of emails from marketers selling product after product is a good user experience? Your job is to stand out and to take advantage of this. If you do things correctly, this can actually help you by decreasing your competition.
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      • Originally Posted by joaquin112 View Post

        Keep whining. Google's best interests is for their users to have a better experience. Do you think that receiving hundreds of emails from marketers selling product after product is a good user experience? Your job is to stand out and to take advantage of this. If you do things correctly, this can actually help you by decreasing your competition.
        I resonate with your thinking here. I just included it (and a link to this thread) on a blog post about the topic...not going to add a link to my own site on my first post here () but it basically echoed the sentiment that if you're providing really good value in your email newsletters then you just got a huge leg up on those that aren't.
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  • Profile picture of the author mialove
    It's defiantly can be a big problem.
    As a user, i am very happy with it, much better experience.
    But, for marketers, the open rate will be much lower.
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  • Profile picture of the author Veo
    When something new happens, it always brings controversies.
    People don't like changes (although most of us claim that we do), it's just psychology.

    New Gmail inbox looks as it's going to be problem be cause it indicates to people that they are being pitched. But it just might be a good thing for the reason that you actually might get more leads that, again, might actually be interested in what you have to offer, be cause although they know they are being pitched, they open your email and read the offer, and click on the link.

    So, spammers especially, will have a bunch of problems. For the rest of us, do the best to adapt, and we'll be fine.

    Cheers,

    Veo
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  • Profile picture of the author oppyeaunome
    Its not a problem. There has always been obstacles in life and we always overcome them. After your customers opt in have a that says if you are using gmail check the promotions tab. I've heard about this topic so much for the past few weeks. Its not a prob and if your customers really want your stuff they will definitely look for it in there in box. Treat your list Good and they will treat you good!
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