Did Google just screw over email marketers tracking delivery/open rates?

C

CLKeenan

Banned
Jun 24, 2006
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Boston, MA
Just got a message when I logged into gmail today:

How Gmail makes images safe

Some senders try to use externally linked images in harmful ways, but Gmail takes action to ensure that images are loaded safely. Gmail serves all images through Google’s image proxy servers and transcodes them before delivery to protect you in the following ways:

Senders can’t use image loading to get information like your IP address or location.
Senders can’t set or read cookies in your browser.
Gmail checks your images for known viruses or malware.
In some cases, senders may be able to know whether an individual has opened a message with unique image links. As always, Gmail scans every message for suspicious content and if Gmail considers a sender or message potentially suspicious, images won’t be displayed and you’ll be asked whether you want to see the images.
Click to expand...

It appears as though, gmail will now render linked images for the recipient through their proxy servers. Does that mean the open rate will be 100% (assuming gmail processes every email -- even the ones you don't open)? Or will you just have no idea at all unless the user specifies to 'show all images from this sender' (which they will now have less of an incentive to do)?
 


I'm already mad my freaking emails are going into the "Promotional" folder.

Not even promotional, trying to close the lead and send people information they requested.

Changed e-mail domains though, so not worried about it all.

We're using auto merge fields for their name, info, requested product, etc.

But meh... Google really doesn't want your business to operate or profit outside of them.

That's what makes me mad honestly.
 
Uh- Who gives a flying fuck about tracking rates when retargeting is now farked.

I care about all the retargeting impressions I'm going to lose now by not being able cookie my audiences.

fffuuuu
 
elgordo said:
Uh- Who gives a flying fuck about tracking rates when retargeting is now farked.

I care about all the retargeting impressions I'm going to lose now by not being able cookie my audiences.

fffuuuu
Click to expand...
Care about it all. Every little piece COUNTS. Even the crust is part of the pie. Maybe not your favorite part but it is still part of the pie. Some however, love the crust. Fight for it all. Even if you prefer the soft parts. Your comrade next to you loves the crust, more crust for him more jelly for you. Unite.
 
Google wouldn't screw anyone over... not a group of someones or a single someone. That's just crazy talk.
 
From what I gather all they're doing is virus scanning images before they're displayed. The whole "display images" thing was a pointless feature most people didn't need that got in the way.

Only going to be a problem for people spamming huge lists that get flagged. If you're a mailchimp/aweber/whatever dude that's built a list and is sending reasonable stuff out, you have no reason to worry about it. Open rate measurements lead to better email content, and Google know that. They don't benefit from getting in the way of measuring them (unlike with keyword data in search, where Google can sell the info to Adwords customers).
 
Obviously this is the first phase before they introduce a Google-owned system of mass mailing that will allow you to pay-per-email to bypass the various spam/promo/image filters they put in place for mail sent using a system that isn't owned by them.
 
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