Sponsored By:

AI Innovations, Shopify News, & The Email Shift You Can't Miss!  🚀

In today’s newsletter, we're providing you with trending news in Shopify, AI, and other email marketing innovations.

And, the biggest news yet?

The changes this month to Gmail and Yahoo Mail's email authentication requirements.

While many of these requirements reflect existing best practices, it's crucial to review and align your email strategies accordingly.

But, don’t worry!

We're here to provide you with an in-depth guide on how to implement these changes and ensure your emails continue to reach your audience effectively…

⬇️ Let's get started! ⬇️

Shopify Editions
Shopify has just released its bi-annual product showcase, packed with exciting new features and improvements to the platform. This Edition focuses on strengthening commerce foundations and meeting the diverse needs of businesses, developers, and buyers. Key highlights include a new checkout experience, increased variant limits, and enhanced storefront customization.


List of AI Softwares You Can Use in Digital Marketing
AI is taking the digital marketing world by storm, with more and more businesses leveraging AI-powered tools to optimize their marketing efforts. This website includes tons of options, from chatbots to personalized content recommendations, AI is helping businesses improve customer engagement and drive conversions.

Email Marketing Innovations
Email marketing remains a powerful tool for digital marketers, and new innovations are making it even more effective. This week, we've seen developments in AI-driven personalization, dynamic content, and interactive email elements, all aimed at improving the user experience and boosting engagement.

AI Made Easy: Free Webclass For "Non-Techies"
Ever feel like others are getting ahead in business with AI tools while you're overwhelmed not knowing where to even start?
This free class shares simple ways that anyone can use to get started to generate more leads, make more sales, and give better support through artificial intelligence tools.
 (Sponsored)

Your BEST Valentine’s Day gifts – all for under $10

Give them a crossword puzzle that is unlike any other….

Frame the thing they’d never expect….

Create a doodle of this that will make them laugh so hard they cry.

Get playbooks for these gifts and others now when you sign up for the Better Gift Coach!

Subscribe to the free Better Gift Coach newsletter

Google and Yahoo’s email authentication requirements - The Ultimate Guide

Your company probably already sends a lot of emails, whether for transactional or marketing purposes. And you might be concerned about the new email rules from Gmail and Yahoo Mail.

We are here to help make sure you’re prepared.

The good news is that most of these requirements are not technically new and have been suggested as best practices that many of you may already follow.

Now, let’s get into the nitty gritty.

Starting this month, February 2024, Gmail and Yahoo Mail will check that you have the following authentication methods set up:

Authentication

Senders will now need to set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication for their emails.

So, what are these? And how do they work?

SPF - Sender Policy Framework

SPF is a list of approved senders for your domain (e.g. yourcompany .com)

It tells recipients’ inbound email servers (in this case, Gmail and Yahoo Mail) which outbound servers are allowed to send emails on your behalf.

In turn, helping to prevent your emails from being marked as suspicious.

For example👇

If you’re sending emails through an email service provider like Mailchimp or ConstantContact, you’d need to add their servers to your list of approved senders.

DKIM - DomainKeys Identified Mail

DKIM, in short, adds an extra layer of security.

It attaches a private digital signature to each email, that confirms it was sent by your domain.

If the signature does not match with the public record, or if the message has been tampered with, the email will be more likely to be marked as spam.

DMARC - Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, & Conformance

DMARC is the most secure form of email authentication.

It guides Gmail and Yahoo Mail’s servers on how to handle emails that fail SPF and DKIM checks.

In other words…

It will determine if emails should be rejected or quarantined to the spam folder.

OK, but what is the difference between a DMARC policy and a DMARC record?

You’ll see these terms used interchangeably.

Essentially a DMARC record is the information you need to add to your DNS records to implement a DMARC policy for your domain.

And, a DMARC policy is the statement you make in your DMARC record that tells receivers what to do with emails that fail a DMARC check.

Want a guide to learn more about Email Authentication Methods?

Click Here to view an in depth blog by emailtooltester.

Now, how do you check to see if you meet the new requirements?

You can check if you have a DMARC record using this lookup tool.

Unsubscribes

Bulk senders must provide a one-click unsubscribe option in their email headers.

And, the unsubscribe requests need to be processed within two days.

Make it easy for recipients to opt out if they choose to.

For more information on setting up an unsubscribe header, check out this article from mailtrap.

Spam Complaints

Aim for a low spam complaint rate, ideally less than 0.3%.

Meaning, people shouldn't report your emails as spam frequently.

Want to learn more about how to lower your spam complaint rate?

Click here to view this article by segmentify.

Stay connected and stay innovative!

As we wrap up this edition, we encourage you to take these changes as opportunities to enhance your strategies, secure your communications, and deepen the trust with your audience.

"Digital marketing is about discovering the rhythm of changes, dancing to it, and leading the way for others to follow."

Remember…

Your resilience and willingness to evolve are the keys to success.

Catch you next week!

The Early Checkout Team

The Early Checkout Team

Did someone forward you this email? Sign up here!

Make An Impact & Be Seen: Advertise With Us

Want To Help Us Make TECO The #1 Shopify Community In The World?Make Us Better For You: Share Your Thoughts

At The Early Checkout, we are strongly committed to protecting your privacy and providing a safe & high-quality online experience for all visitors. See our Terms & Conditions here. If you have any questions, reply to this email or visit our Website to view our official policies.