Gmail Unsubscribe Links - Inconsistency in Gmail App

SCockerill
Level 2

Gmail Unsubscribe Links - Inconsistency in Gmail App

Our company has set up all our marketing emails as Non-Operational in order to ensure that we are complying with the new Google inbox requirements. Since Marketo adds the List-Unsubscribe header feature  to all emails we assumed everything was working properly. We implemented the changes on Jan. 31. 

 

Given the impact on non-compliance, we wanted to ensure that everything was working properly within Gmail. Since we can't send sample emails to see if the unsubscribe link is working properly (per Marketo documentation / support), our team set up deliverability tests to check using our teams personal gmail addresses. Unfortunately, in some of our emails that are set up as a non-operational emails we are seeing that the unsubscribe link does not show up in the Gmail App. However, on another email (also set up as non-operational) it is showing the link in the header of the Gmail App. When you look at both emails in the generic iPhone email app – these both have a message to unsubscribe.

 

It’s hard for us to understand / document if things are performing or set up the way that it should be – when we see these mismatches. In some documentation, we've found that Gmail is deciding which emails to add this unsubscribe link too. However, when I look at other emails that I have personally received I see this unsubscribe link on almost all emails sent out. 

 

Has anyone else experienced this? 

3 REPLIES 3
Christiane_Rode
Level 7 - Community Advisor + Adobe Champion

Re: Gmail Unsubscribe Links - Inconsistency in Gmail App

Just to get some additional clarifications here, are people checking gmail in a browser, or via an app? 

If you're not seeing the blue unsubscribe while looking at the browser, if you click on the little arrow next to the To (right under the From Name), that should bring up some information that could include an "Unsubscribe from this sender" option. Are you seeing that instead of the blue unsubscribe?

SCockerill
Level 2

Re: Gmail Unsubscribe Links - Inconsistency in Gmail App

We were checking both the App, browser and multiple devices. I've tried to provide some of those examples below. 

 

We do not see the unsubscribe in the Gmail App on iPhone. 

Gmail_NoUnsubscribe.png

 

When I'm in the browser (Chrome) for both emails (one that I see unsubscribe and the one I don't), when I click on the arrow I do NOT see the unsubscribe there. 

 

Email_NoUnsubscribe.png

 

Unsubscribe Link visible, but not on drop downUnsubscribe Link visible, but not on drop down

 

I can confirm that I checked all emails again while putting this response together and they are marked: 

"Operational: No"
 
This is what it looks like in the iPhone generic email app: 
 
Unsubscribe_Generic.png
 
Unsubscribe working in Gmail App
UnsubscribeGmailApp.png
SanfordWhiteman
Level 10 - Community Moderator

Re: Gmail Unsubscribe Links - Inconsistency in Gmail App


It’s hard for us to understand / document if things are performing or set up the way that it should be – when we see these mismatches. In some documentation, we've found that Gmail is deciding which emails to add this unsubscribe link too. However, when I look at other emails that I have personally received I see this unsubscribe link on almost all emails sent out. 

 

Has anyone else experienced this? 


Of course. Gmail apples additional heuristics beyond just the presence of the List-Unsubscribe and List-Unsubscribe-Post headers. It’s possible for an email to have the correct headers but still not have the Unsubscribe link added in the client — in essence, Gmail may not believe an email is “list-like.” In such cases, you’re not being penalized but it obviously makes testing difficult.