Summary
While technically valid, using a randomly generated customer ID in the 'From' address domain is generally discouraged. Experts and marketers agree that it can negatively impact subscriber perception, sender reputation, and engagement. Such addresses appear unprofessional, trigger spam filters, and decrease trust, leading to increased spam complaints and lower open rates. Prioritizing recognizable, brand-aligned 'From' addresses, and using the 'reply-to' header for routing replies are best practices for optimal deliverability.
Key findings
- Perception Matters: Subscriber perception of the 'From' address is crucial for engagement.
- Sender Reputation Impact: Random IDs harm sender reputation, crucial for deliverability.
- Spam Filter Triggers: Unusual addresses are more likely to trigger spam filters.
- Engagement Decline: Lower trust leads to reduced open rates and more spam complaints.
- Technical Validity Isn't Enough: The 'From' address must be both valid and trustworthy.
Key considerations
- Branding and Recognition: Align the 'From' address with your brand for easy recognition.
- Professional Appearance: Ensure the 'From' address looks professional and trustworthy.
- Use Reply-To: If routing replies is the goal, use the 'reply-to' header instead.
- Monitor Reputation: Regularly monitor your sender reputation.
- Authentication: Implement authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
What email marketers say
10 marketer opinions
Using a randomly generated customer ID in the 'From' address domain can negatively impact email deliverability and subscriber engagement. While technically valid, such addresses appear unprofessional and suspicious, potentially triggering spam filters, reducing open rates, and increasing unsubscribe/spam complaints. Maintaining a consistent and recognizable 'From' address that aligns with your brand is crucial for building trust and improving sender reputation.
Key opinions
- Sender Reputation: A recognizable 'From' address builds sender reputation, crucial for deliverability.
- Spam Filters: Random or cryptic addresses can trigger spam filters.
- Engagement Impact: Unprofessional 'From' addresses reduce open rates and increase negative reactions.
- Reply Routing: If routing replies is the goal, use the 'reply-to' header instead.
- Brand Alignment: 'From' address should align with your brand for trust and recognition.
Key considerations
- Address Appearance: Prioritize a professional and easily recognizable 'From' address.
- Alternative Routing: Use the 'reply-to' header if you need to route replies without impacting the primary 'From' address.
- Sender Authentication: Implement sender authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to bolster sender reputation.
- Subscriber Perception: Consider how the 'From' address will be perceived by your subscribers. Is it trustworthy and reflective of your brand?
- Consistent Branding: Maintain consistent branding across all aspects of your email communication, including the 'From' address.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Neil Patel explains that using a recognizable "From" address is crucial for building sender reputation. A random or unrecognizable sender address can negatively impact open rates and overall engagement, potentially leading to deliverability issues. It's better to use a consistent and branded "From" address.
5 Aug 2021 - Neil Patel
Marketer view
Email marketer from Superoffice shares that a good sender reputation is essential for deliverability and that the email address can affect this factor. Factors that affect this include the From address used. Whilst a randomly generated address does not directly affect the authentication, it can affect deliverability.
29 Dec 2023 - Superoffice
What the experts say
3 expert opinions
Experts generally agree that while a randomly generated customer ID in the 'From' address might not directly cause technical deliverability problems, it can negatively impact subscriber perception and engagement. The key concern is that it appears unprofessional and suspicious, potentially leading to increased spam complaints, lower open rates, and damage to sender reputation. Choosing a reputable and recognizable 'From' address is crucial for building trust and positive user experience.
Key opinions
- Technical vs. Perception: The technical validity of the 'From' address may not be the only important thing.
- Impact on Engagement: Suspicious 'From' addresses negatively affect engagement, leading to more spam complaints and less open rates.
- Importance of Reputation: A reputable 'From' address helps with building a good sending reputation
- Customer experience: Randomly generated customer IDs can appear unprofessional.
Key considerations
- Choose Reputable FROM: Use a recognizable and professional 'From' address.
- Avoid Suspicious IDs: Do not use automatically generated customer IDs in the visible FROM field.
- Prioritize Trust: Think about whether the 'From' address builds trust with recipients.
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise, Laura Atkins, answers that FROM addresses should be chosen carefully because they are highly visible and can cause a user to flag an email as spam. While a random customer ID may not cause an issue itself, using a reputable FROM address is important to ensure a good sending reputation.
26 Oct 2021 - Word to the Wise
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource, John Levine, responds that while the technical validity of a 'From' address is important, the perception of that address also matters. A randomly generated customer ID in the 'From' address could raise suspicion and negatively affect recipient engagement, potentially leading to increased spam complaints or lower open rates.
20 Oct 2021 - Spam Resource
What the documentation says
3 technical articles
Email deliverability documentation emphasizes that while any technically valid 'From' address is permissible, consistent and recognizable sending practices are crucial for maintaining a positive sender reputation. Using randomly generated customer IDs in the 'From' address, though not explicitly prohibited, raises usability concerns and could negatively impact deliverability due to the unusual nature of the address.
Key findings
- Technical Validity vs. Practice: While technically any valid 'From' address is permissible, practical considerations matter.
- Sender Reputation: Consistent and recognizable sending practices improve sender reputation.
- Implicit Warning: Documentation implies that unusual 'From' addresses could be detrimental to deliverability.
Key considerations
- Prioritize User Experience: Consider user experience when choosing a 'From' address.
- Maintain Consistency: Strive for consistent and recognizable sending practices.
- Adhere to Best Practices: Follow recommended best practices for email sending.
Technical article
Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools highlights the importance of sender reputation for email deliverability to Gmail users. While it doesn't directly address random IDs, it stresses that consistent and recognizable sending practices improve sender reputation, implying that unusual "From" addresses could be detrimental.
30 Mar 2025 - Google
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft SNDS recommends following best practices for sending email to Microsoft email users. It does not directly address random IDs, but it suggests consistent and trustworthy sending practices contribute positively to deliverability, implying that unusual "From" addresses could be problematic.
13 Mar 2022 - Microsoft
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