What are the risks and best practices for directly linking large PDF files in emails?

Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that linking directly to large PDF files can cause delivery issues, as some enterprise filters may try to download the file and error out. The severity of delivery problems can depend on the recipient demographic. They also state that it is rude and will annoy recipients, leading to negative consequences, especially for mobile users who may not download or read such large content. Steve suggests that doing a landing page is not that much effort and questions the practice of using such a large, graphic-heavy PDF in the first place.

Email marketer from Mailchimp Blog explains that directly linking large PDF files in emails carries risks like increasing spam scores, slow loading times, poor mobile experience, lack of tracking, and potential security issues. Best practices include hosting the PDF externally on a website or file-sharing service and linking to it, or directing users to a landing page where they can access the file.

Expert from Spam Resource explains that the primary risk with including files, such as large PDFs, in marketing emails comes from using attachments. Attachments risk rejection by ISPs and corporate spam filters, leading to deliverability issues. They also create a poor user experience due to slow downloads, especially for mobile users. The best practice to mitigate these risks is to host the large PDF file on a web server and include a direct link to it within the email, improving deliverability and user experience by allowing recipients to choose when and how to access the file.

Expert from Word to the Wise advises that the main risks associated with large files like PDFs in emails stem from attaching them, which can increase spam scores, lead to blocking by filters, and expose recipients to potential malware or require specific software. The best practice for distributing large PDF files is to avoid direct attachments. Instead, host the PDF on a web server and provide a clear, direct link to it in the email, which ensures better deliverability and a more secure, convenient experience for recipients.

Documentation from Google Workspace Learning Center explains that directly linking extremely large files, while not an attachment, still faces limitations as some recipients' servers might block emails that reference unusually large external resources or that are otherwise flagged. They recommend using Google Drive or other cloud services to host large files and sharing a link, ensuring recipients can access the content without issues.

Documentation from Microsoft Support indicates that while direct links are not attachments, the underlying principle of file size limits from various email clients and servers can still affect the perception and handling of emails. For large files, they recommend using cloud services like OneDrive or SharePoint to host documents and then sharing a link in the email, circumventing traditional attachment size constraints and improving delivery reliability.