Summary
The impact of starring a promotional email in Gmail on deliverability and inbox placement is multifaceted and not entirely conclusive. A prevalent viewpoint suggests starring acts as a positive engagement signal, potentially improving sender reputation and increasing the likelihood of future emails landing in the primary tab. While Google's documentation indicates starring helps users manage emails, the explicit link to deliverability is absent. The effect is likely more pronounced with widespread starring, as a single instance may not significantly alter deliverability. Experts also note that engagement, in general, plays a pivotal role in inbox placement and sender reputation. However, some believe starring's influence is minimal, primarily serving personal organizational needs, and that Gmail might not pay attention to it. Ultimately, sender reputation, derived from multiple engagement metrics, remains the most significant factor in determining inbox placement.
Key findings
- Engagement Signal: Starring is widely regarded as a positive engagement signal that may influence deliverability.
- Sender Reputation: Improved sender reputation, driven by engagement, is crucial for higher deliverability.
- Potential Primary Tab Placement: Starring may increase the chances of future emails landing in the primary tab.
- Collective Action Matters: The impact is amplified when many users star emails from the same sender.
- User Managment: Starring allows users to mark important emails.
Key considerations
- Inconclusive Evidence: The direct impact of starring on deliverability is not definitively proven and may be part of a broader engagement analysis.
- Engagement Variety: Deliverability relies on diverse engagement metrics, not solely on starring.
- Alternative Actions: Other engagement actions, like replying or marking as important, might have a stronger impact.
- Variable Inbox Placement: Inbox placement evolves and is subject to continuous changes in algorithms.
- Personal Use: Some experts believe that Google may not use this feature to change your inbox placement.
What email marketers say
12 marketer opinions
Starring a promo email in Gmail is generally considered a positive engagement signal. While the exact impact is debated, most sources agree that engagement metrics influence deliverability and inbox placement. Starring may indicate to Gmail that the user finds the email important or valuable, potentially improving sender reputation and increasing the likelihood of future emails landing in the primary tab. The effect of a single user starring an email is likely minimal, but widespread starring could significantly influence Gmail's algorithms.
Key opinions
- Engagement Signal: Starring acts as a positive engagement signal to Gmail.
- Sender Reputation: Positive engagement, including starring, can improve sender reputation, a key factor in deliverability.
- Inbox Placement: Starring may influence Gmail to place future emails in the primary tab.
- Collective Impact: Widespread starring is more likely to have a noticeable impact than a single instance.
- Overall Deliverability: By increasing engagement, Starring can contribute to improved overall deliverability.
Key considerations
- Debated Impact: The specific impact of starring alone is not definitively proven and may be part of a broader engagement analysis.
- Engagement as a Whole: Deliverability is influenced by a range of engagement metrics, not just starring.
- User Behavior: Encouraging valuable and relevant emails is important to increase stars, which in turn may increase deliverability.
- Starring vs. Other Actions: Other actions, such as marking as important with the Importance Marker, or replying may send stronger signals.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Mailjet Blog mentions that engagement signals like starring are used by mailbox providers to assess email quality and relevance, potentially influencing inbox placement.
24 Nov 2023 - Mailjet Blog
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that a single subscriber starring an email won't change much. However, many subscribers doing so might tell Gmail that subscribers like emails from the sender, potentially causing messages to be sent to the primary tab for those users and others.
16 Jan 2023 - Email Geeks
What the experts say
4 expert opinions
The impact of starring a promo email in Gmail on deliverability and inbox placement is debated. Some sources, including Google's official documentation, indicate that starring marks an email as important for the user's personal use, signaling the sender's importance. Others believe it sends positive engagement signals to mailbox providers, potentially improving inbox placement. However, one expert believes Gmail may not pay attention to stars, suggesting they are solely for personal organization. Overall, engagement is acknowledged as a factor in inbox placement.
Key opinions
- Marks Importance: Starring emails marks them as important to the user within Gmail.
- Engagement Signal: Starring is considered a potential engagement signal to mailbox providers.
- Inbox Placement Factor: Engagement is a factor that influences inbox placement.
Key considerations
- Uncertainty of Impact: The direct influence of starring on deliverability is not definitively established.
- Personal Use: Stars might primarily serve personal organizational purposes within Gmail.
- Engagement Importance: Engagement in general influences inbox placement.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks shares a quote from Google explaining that starring emails marks them as important and helps users remember to look at them later, signaling to Google that the sender is important.
9 Jun 2025 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks believes that Gmail probably doesn't pay attention to stars but they are there for personal use.
19 Nov 2022 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
Documentation from Google Support indicates starring helps users manage emails but doesn't confirm a direct impact on deliverability. Microsoft Support's information pertains to Outlook and not Gmail deliverability. Sendgrid highlights sender reputation's importance, with engagement being key, but doesn't specifically mention starring. SparkPost's documentation notes that engagement, which includes actions like starring, is observed by ISPs to determine sender reputation, indirectly influencing inbox placement.
Key findings
- User Organization: Starring primarily aids users in organizing and prioritizing emails within Gmail (Google Support).
- Sender Reputation Key: Positive sender reputation is critical for email deliverability (Sendgrid).
- Engagement is Factor: Engagement, including actions like starring, contributes to sender reputation (SparkPost).
Key considerations
- Indirect Impact: The connection between starring and improved deliverability is indirect, primarily through engagement's influence on sender reputation.
- No Direct Link: No documentation directly confirms starring as a definitive factor in Gmail's deliverability algorithm.
- Context Matters: The overall engagement strategy and sender reputation are more significant than any single action like starring.
Technical article
Documentation from Sendgrid states positive sender reputation is the core of getting emails delivered. It mentions engagement is the core aspect to this but does not explicitly state starring an email.
7 Jul 2023 - Sendgrid
Technical article
Documentation from Google Support explains that starring emails in Gmail marks them as important, helping users remember to look at them later. This does not explicitly state it affects deliverability for future emails.
16 May 2023 - Google Support
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