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Should I use direct adds or invites for a Google Group?

7Marketer opinions2Expert opinions3Technical articles0Resources

Summary

The consensus is that using invites to add members to a Google Group is generally preferred over direct adds. Invites ensure members are aware of and consent to joining, which helps avoid spam complaints, improves engagement, and aligns with compliance regulations like GDPR. While direct adds may seem faster, they can lead to negative perceptions and potential compliance issues. Experts also suggest that Google Groups may not be the best platform for announcements due to authentication problems and the risk of emails being ignored or blocked, recommending a dedicated ESP with an opt-in system instead. Key factors include user expectations, permissions, and the need for administrative control.

Key findings

  • Invites Preferred: Invites are generally favored over direct adds to ensure consent and reduce spam.
  • Compliance: Invites align with compliance regulations (e.g., GDPR) better than direct adds.
  • Google Groups Limitations: Google Groups might not be ideal for announcements due to authentication and deliverability issues.
  • Permission-Based Email: Sending emails requires permission to avoid being marked as spam.

Key considerations

  • User Consent: Prioritize explicit user consent when adding members to a Google Group.
  • Platform Choice: Evaluate whether Google Groups is the most suitable platform for your specific communication needs.
  • Compliance Requirements: Consider legal and regulatory requirements when choosing between direct adds and invites.
  • Administrative Control: Ensure you have the necessary permissions to manage group members effectively.

What email marketers say
7Marketer opinions

The consensus is that using invites to add members to a Google Group is generally preferred over direct adds. Invites ensure members are aware of and consent to joining, which helps to avoid spam complaints, improves engagement, and aligns with best practices for compliance, especially regarding regulations like GDPR. While direct adds may seem faster, they can lead to issues with member perception and potential compliance problems. The best approach depends on the specific context and the community's preferences, but prioritizing explicit consent is crucial.

Key opinions

  • Preference for Invites: Invites are generally favored over direct adds for Google Groups.
  • Compliance: Invites align better with compliance regulations like GDPR, ensuring user consent.
  • Spam Reduction: Invites help reduce spam complaints by ensuring users are aware of their membership.
  • Engagement: Invites can improve engagement as users actively choose to join the group.

Key considerations

  • Consent: Explicit consent is crucial, making invites the preferred option to ensure members are aware and agree to join.
  • Compliance: Consider legal and regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR) when choosing between direct adds and invites.
  • Member Perception: Direct adds can lead to negative perceptions if members feel they were added without permission.
  • Community Preferences: Consider the specific preferences and context of your community when making the decision.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that using invites ensures users are aware and consent to joining, which can reduce spam complaints and improve engagement.

December 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Steegle.com that using Direct Additions may cause issues with your members and should be avoided if possible.

January 2024 - Steegle.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from grey Matters explains that direct adding is faster and easier if you have explicit consent, but invites are better for giving users control over their membership and avoiding spam complaints.

February 2023 - grey Matters
Marketer view

Email marketer from Quora says that invites are best practice as it makes the user acknowledge they are joining. If you add a user directly to a Google Group they may think they have been added without permission and this can cause a lot of complaints.

May 2023 - Quora
Marketer view

Email marketer from Google Workspace Admin Community explains that direct adding is faster but invites give members more control over their membership. They suggest considering the community's preferences.

March 2024 - Google Workspace Admin Community
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks advocates for as close to double opt-in as possible, recommending invites over direct adds, especially for political mail, and suggests confirming before mailing.

May 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit suggests invites are better for compliance and avoiding issues, especially with GDPR and similar regulations.

April 2024 - Reddit

What the experts say
2Expert opinions

Experts recommend a permission-based approach to email communication, emphasizing that users should expect emails to avoid being marked as spam. Furthermore, Google Groups may not be the ideal platform for announcements due to authentication issues and the likelihood of emails being ignored or blocked. Setting up a dedicated ESP (Email Service Provider) with an opt-in system is suggested as a more effective alternative.

Key opinions

  • Permission-Based Email: Sending emails without prior permission can result in being marked as spam.
  • Google Groups Limitations: Google Groups may not authenticate well, leading to deliverability issues and ignored emails.
  • ESP Alternative: Setting up a dedicated ESP with an opt-in system is a more effective approach for announcements.

Key considerations

  • User Expectations: Ensure users expect to receive emails to avoid negative spam reports.
  • Authentication: Consider the authentication capabilities of the platform used for sending emails.
  • Platform Suitability: Evaluate whether Google Groups is the best platform for your specific email communication needs.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains Google Groups is not the best way to do this, they don’t authenticate well and people ignore it and I see a lot of a get blocked. set up a small ESP and have people optin to the list if it’s just for announcements

June 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that any email sent should be permission based. If users don't expect an email you will get marked as spam.

February 2023 - Spam Resource

What the documentation says
3Technical articles

Google Groups offers two methods for adding members: invitations and direct adds. Inviting members requires them to accept the invitation, while direct adding immediately adds members without their explicit consent, provided you have 'Can manage members' permission. This permission is also needed to remove members, giving administrators full control over the group's membership.

Key findings

  • Two Methods: Google Groups supports adding members via invitations or direct adds.
  • Invitation Requirement: Invited members must accept the invitation to join.
  • Direct Add Requirement: Direct adds require 'Can manage members' permission.
  • Immediate Addition: Directly added members are immediately added without needing to accept an invitation.

Key considerations

  • Consent: Consider whether explicit consent is needed, as direct adds bypass the consent process.
  • Permissions: Ensure you have 'Can manage members' permission if you plan to directly add or remove members.
  • Administrative Control: Direct adds, combined with necessary permissions, grant full administrative control over group membership.
Technical article

Documentation from Google Groups Help details how to directly add members, noting that you need 'Can manage members' permission. Members are immediately added without needing to accept an invitation.

February 2023 - Google Groups Help
Technical article

Documentation from Google Groups Help specifies that you need the 'Can manage members' permission to directly add or remove members from a group, ensuring administrative control.

October 2024 - Google Groups Help
Technical article

Documentation from Google Groups Help outlines the process for inviting new members, highlighting the email invitation method. It emphasizes that invitees must accept the invitation to join the group.

March 2023 - Google Groups Help

Related resources
0Resources

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