Summary
The X-Mailer header in emails sent via Zoho Campaigns primarily serves an informational purpose and is responsible for the "Using Zoho Campaigns" label in Gmail. However, it doesn't directly impact email deliverability in most cases. The key factors influencing deliverability are proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), maintaining a good sender reputation, practicing list hygiene, and ensuring positive engagement metrics. While some older spam filters might flag emails based on specific X-Mailer values, modern filters focus on more sophisticated methods. Therefore, the primary focus should be on establishing strong email authentication and following deliverability best practices rather than worrying excessively about the X-Mailer header.
Key findings
- Cause of 'Using Zoho Campaigns': The X-Mailer header causes the "Using Zoho Campaigns" message in Gmail.
- No Direct Deliverability Impact: The X-Mailer header itself generally does not directly affect deliverability.
- Authentication is Key: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for deliverability.
- Sender Reputation Matters: A good sender reputation is essential for ensuring emails reach the inbox.
- Minor Factor: The X-Mailer header is a minor factor compared to other deliverability elements.
- Historical Relevance: Older spam filters might use the X-Mailer header, but modern filters are more sophisticated.
Key considerations
- Implement Authentication: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are properly configured for your domain in Zoho Campaigns.
- Maintain Good Reputation: Work to maintain a positive sender reputation by practicing good list hygiene and avoiding spam complaints.
- Focus on Engagement: Create engaging content and encourage subscribers to interact positively with your emails.
- Monitor Deliverability: Regularly monitor your email deliverability metrics and make adjustments as needed.
- Don't Overemphasize X-Mailer: Avoid focusing too heavily on the X-Mailer header, as it is a relatively minor factor in deliverability compared to the core principles.
What email marketers say
11 marketer opinions
While the X-Mailer header itself generally doesn't directly cause deliverability issues with Zoho Campaigns, it can indirectly affect it. The X-Mailer header provides information about the sending platform and can be used as one of many data points by email service providers to assess the legitimacy of an email. Proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), sender reputation, list hygiene, and engagement metrics are far more critical factors in determining deliverability. Older spam filters might flag specific X-Mailer values if they are associated with known spam sources, but modern filters rely on more sophisticated methods. Focus on core deliverability principles rather than the X-Mailer header for optimal results.
Key opinions
- Indirect Impact: The X-Mailer header itself doesn't directly impact deliverability but can indirectly affect it based on the sending platform's reputation.
- Minor Factor: The X-Mailer header is a minor factor compared to authentication, sender reputation, list hygiene, and engagement metrics.
- Informational Purpose: The X-Mailer header primarily serves an informational and tracking purpose.
- Authentication Importance: Proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for deliverability, regardless of the X-Mailer header.
- Older Filters: Older spam filters may flag specific X-Mailer values associated with known spam sources.
Key considerations
- Authentication: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are properly configured for your sending domain in Zoho Campaigns.
- Sender Reputation: Maintain a good sender reputation by practicing good list hygiene, avoiding spam complaints, and engaging with subscribers.
- Content Quality: Create high-quality, engaging content to avoid spam filters and encourage positive engagement.
- Platform Reputation: Use reputable sending platforms like Zoho Campaigns to minimize any potential negative impact from the X-Mailer header.
- Monitoring: Monitor your email deliverability metrics and address any issues promptly.
Marketer view
Email marketer from GMass shares that numerous factors affect deliverability, including authentication, sender reputation, spam complaints, and content. While the X-Mailer header is a minor factor, it's more important to focus on the key elements that significantly affect deliverability.
24 Jul 2021 - GMass
Marketer view
Email marketer from Sendinblue shares several tactics for improving deliverability, including cleaning your email list, avoiding spam trigger words, and properly authenticating your domain. They mention that focusing on these factors is more effective than worrying about minor headers like X-Mailer.
8 Aug 2021 - Sendinblue
What the experts say
2 expert opinions
The X-Mailer header causes "Using Zoho Campaigns" to appear in Gmail, but it doesn't directly cause deliverability problems. Core deliverability principles such as email authentication, sender reputation, list hygiene, and engagement metrics are the primary factors influencing deliverability. Therefore, focus on these core principles.
Key opinions
- Cause of 'Using Zoho Campaigns': The X-Mailer header causes the "Using Zoho Campaigns" text to appear in Gmail.
- No Direct Deliverability Impact: There's no direct evidence that the X-Mailer header itself causes deliverability issues.
- Core Principles Matter Most: Email authentication, sender reputation, list hygiene, and engagement metrics are the most important factors for deliverability.
Key considerations
- Focus on Core Principles: Prioritize email authentication, sender reputation, list hygiene, and engagement metrics to improve deliverability.
- Don't Obsess Over X-Mailer: While the X-Mailer header might be a concern, it's not a primary factor in deliverability, so don't focus too much on it.
- Monitor Deliverability: Continuously monitor your email deliverability and make adjustments as needed.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks states it's the x-mailer header that causes "Using Zoho Campaigns" to appear in Gmail and hasn't seen any data suggesting it causes deliverability problems.
31 Jul 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that email authentication, sender reputation, list hygiene, and engagement metrics are the primary factors influencing deliverability. Focus on the core principles, not the more obscure factors to resolve email deliverability issues.
17 Oct 2023 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
The X-Mailer header is an optional field indicating the sending agent but doesn't directly affect deliverability protocols. Instead, proper configuration of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is crucial for improving email deliverability when using Zoho Campaigns. This authentication process ensures that recipient mail servers trust emails sent from Zoho Campaigns and verifies the email's origin and integrity, improving deliverability and trust, particularly with Gmail accounts.
Key findings
- X-Mailer Header Role: The X-Mailer header is an optional field with no direct impact on deliverability protocols.
- Importance of Authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are crucial for ensuring email deliverability with Zoho Campaigns.
- Trust and Verification: Proper authentication allows recipient mail servers to trust emails from Zoho Campaigns.
- Origin and Integrity: DKIM verifies the email's origin and ensures that the content hasn't been altered during transit.
Key considerations
- Configure SPF, DKIM, DMARC: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are correctly configured for your domain when using Zoho Campaigns.
- Monitor Authentication: Regularly monitor your email authentication to ensure it remains valid and effective.
- Sender Reputation: Maintain a good sender reputation by adhering to best practices and avoiding spam complaints.
Technical article
Documentation from Google explains that to ensure proper deliverability to Gmail accounts, it's crucial to authenticate your sending domain with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Also, maintaining a good sender reputation and avoiding spam complaints are essential for your emails to reach the inbox.
12 Oct 2024 - Google
Technical article
Documentation from DKIM.org emphasizes the importance of DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) for email authentication. It explains that DKIM allows recipient servers to verify that an email was indeed sent by the domain it claims to be from and that the message content hasn't been altered during transit, significantly improving deliverability and trust.
22 Dec 2021 - DKIM.org
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