New Email Authentication Requirements from Gmail and Yahoo! What You Need to Know to ensure your emails are still delivered

As we step into 2024, significant changes in email authentication practices are on the horizon, especially for those using Gmail and Yahoo!

Understanding these changes is crucial for businesses and email marketers aiming to maintain high deliverability and a strong sender reputation. Let's dive into what these changes entail and how you can prepare for them.

Google and Yahoo! recently announced they're implementing new email authentication requirements for all email senders, effective February 2024, to improve deliverability and prevent spam

1. Tightening of Bulk Sender Policies:

Recently, both Yahoo and Google announced a tightening of their bulk sender policies. The intention is to restrict unauthenticated mail, thereby reducing spam from bulk senders. This move underscores the increasing importance of authenticating your emails to ensure they reach your audience.

2. The Role of Email Authentication:

Email Authentication ensures a message comes from the sender it claims to be from, and not from an imposter. If you want to stay in compliance with the latest Email Authentication best practices you will need to take note of the following:

DKIM (Domain Keys Identified Mail):

• This is the current best practice for email authentication.

• It uses cryptographic signatures to confirm the authenticity of emails.

• When emails are sent, they are signed with these special signatures.

Public Key and DNS:

• The domain owner (like a company) puts a public key in their DNS (Domain Name System).

• This public key is used by the email-receiving services to check the email's signature.

Role of V5 Digital:

• V5 Digital has the experience to assist you in authenticating your business domain.

• We are dedicated to ensuring that your email campaigns follow the highest standards in sending and deliverability practices, setting you up for success.

Evolving Email Security:

• Earlier, just using DKIM was sufficient.

• Now, email providers are also checking the domain in the email's "From:" address.

• This "From:" address is what the recipients see when they open an email.

These practices help ensure that the emails you receive are legitimate and not spam or phishing attempts. 📧

In the example above, the sender’s email address is attached to their business web domain. Authentication provides a behind-the-scenes-way to prove this address is legitimate.

3. Self-Authentication and Brand Reputation:

Using your own domain for sending emails and signing them with DKIM authentication helps in building your brand's email reputation. This is vital as it can lead to improved email deliverability, and for businesses with their own domains, it’s an opportunity to enhance trustworthiness in the eyes of their recipients.

Let’s face it, sending mail from <name@company.com> looks way more professional than <company@gmail.com>.

Data shows a 10-20% increase in opens and clicks after turning on self-authentication

4. Steps to Implement DKIM/CNAME Authentication:

To comply with the new standards, businesses should start self-authenticating their emails. This involves a few steps:

• Determine where your domain is hosted.

• Log in to your DNS host and add new CNAME records to your domain.

• Verify the setup in your email service provider's settings.

• If your provider is Constant Contact you can use this guide: HERE

5. The Benefits of Compliance:

By adhering to these new requirements, your business can stand out for its professionalism and reliability. Many companies have reported a significant increase in open and click rates post-implementation of self-authentication.

6. Preparing for these changes:

To ease the transition, email marketing experts like V5 Digital can guide you on setting up self-authentication and understanding the nuances of these changes.

Grabbing attention in crowded inboxes is tough enough, but imagine if your emails never even show up!

Conclusion:

The landscape of email marketing continues to evolve, with a strong emphasis on authentication and sender reputation. By proactively adapting to these changes from Gmail and Yahoo!, your business can ensure its emails not only reach the inbox but also resonate with credibility and professionalism. It's time to embrace these new standards and leverage them for better engagement and success.

Want to stay ahead of the curve? Interested in email marketing? Contact us today to discover how V5 Digital can empower your email campaigns! 

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Mother of all Data Breaches Reveals 26 Billion Records: Are You Affected?

This leak, containing user data from LinkedIn, Twitter, Weibo, Tencent, and other platforms, is undoubtedly the largest ever discovered.

In the world of cybersecurity, there have been data breaches, and then there's what experts are calling the "Mother of all Breaches" or MOAB for short. This supermassive leak contains an astonishing 26 billion records, making it almost certainly the largest data breach ever discovered.

The Astounding Scale of this Breach

The MOAB data leak comprises an incredible 12 terabytes of information, spanning over 26 billion records. What makes it unique is that it contains data from thousands of meticulously compiled and reindexed leaks, breaches, and privately sold databases.

It's a colossal compilation of compromised data that has been exposed over time.

Bob Dyachenko, a cybersecurity researcher, together with the Cybernews team, made this discovery. The exposed records were found on an open instance, and the owner is unlikely to ever be identified.

Platforms and Organizations Impacted

The MOAB includes records from various platforms, including Tencent QQ, Weibo, MySpace, Twitter, Deezer, LinkedIn, AdultFriendFinder, Adobe, Canva, VK, Daily Motion, Dropbox, Telegram, and many more.

Additionally, records from government organizations in the US, Brazil, Germany, the Philippines, Turkey, and other countries are also part of this breach.

Cybernews compiled the following list of affected brands and sites

The Threat Posed

The MOAB poses a significant threat to individuals as many people reuse usernames and passwords across multiple accounts. This could lead to a surge in credential-stuffing attacks, where attackers use stolen credentials to access other accounts. Furthermore, victims may be susceptible to spear-phishing attacks and an increase in spam emails.

“Threat actors could leverage the aggregated data for a wide range of attacks, including identity theft, sophisticated phishing schemes, targeted cyberattacks, and unauthorized access to personal and sensitive accounts,” they say.

Protecting Yourself

Given the unprecedented scale of this breach, everyone must take cybersecurity seriously. Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself:

1. Use Strong Passwords: Ensure your passwords are strong and difficult to guess.

2. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Activate MFA on all important accounts for an extra layer of security.

3. Watch for Phishing: Be vigilant for phishing and spear-phishing attempts, especially if you receive unexpected emails or messages.

4. Check for Password Duplicates: Avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.

5. Update Your Protection: Set up new security measures for accounts that share the same passwords.

Most of the exposed data is sensitive and, therefore, valuable for malicious actors

Have I been affected?

Wondering if your email address is among the leaked data? You can easily check your email address on the following websites to see if it has been compromised:

Cybernews Data Leak Checker: Simply visit this website and enter your email address to check if it has been affected by the breach.

Have I Been Pwned: Another reliable option is to visit this site and input your email address to check its status.

Stay Informed and Vigilant

As cybersecurity experts work to address the fallout from the MOAB, individuals need to stay informed and maintain good cybersecurity practices. By taking proactive steps to protect your online accounts and data, you can reduce the risk posed by massive breaches like these.

Please reach out to V5 Digital your trusted Digital Marketing Partner below.

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This article was written with information from Cybernews and Forbes.

Rocketseed's Impact: Unveiling the Cost-Effectiveness of Email Signature Marketing

Dive into the world of cost-effective email signature marketing with V5 Digital and our strategic partners at Rocketseed. Uncover powerful strategies that redefine efficiency and amplify your brand's impact with this dynamic collaboration.

Unleashing the Cost-Effective Potential of Email Signature Marketing

In the marketing world, adaptability is key, especially during challenging economic times. Building your brand, boosting sales, and growing your business demands cost-effective strategies. So, how can you maximize your marketing budget, drive sales, save time and money, and secure a substantial return on investment (ROI)?

Turn your attention to the neglected treasure of email signature marketing!

Whether you are a seasoned marketing pro or a business owner on a tight budget, email signature marketing is a channel you simply cannot afford to ignore. Email Signature Marketing acts as a powerhouse that can supercharge your marketing efforts while keeping your expenses in check.

Why Choose a Cost-Effective Marketing Strategy?

In an era of economic challenges characterized by escalating costs and declining demand, your marketing strategy must not only be smart but also budget-friendly. It becomes crucial to bring in cost-effective marketing strategies that not only bring in revenue but also keep things financially savvy. Keep in mind that being cost-effective should not translate to compromising the creativity or quality of your strategy.

Smart Choices: Embrace Cost-Effective Marketing!

Email Signature Marketing: The Cost-Effective Solution

1. Every Email is a Sales Opportunity

Email signature marketing turns every business email into a potential sales channel. It enhances your employees' everyday emails, transforming them into marketing and sales tools. With email signature campaigns, your entire team becomes an active part of your marketing and sales strategy.

2. A Remarkable 99% Open Rate

Email signature marketing boasts an astonishing 99% open rate, a significant contrast to the 10% to 30% open rates seen in bulk email campaigns. Why? Because these are the emails that your employees are sending as part of their daily business routines.

3. Versatility for Various Goals

Email signature marketing banners are incredibly versatile. They can target recipients with the most relevant messaging, from brand awareness and review requests to special offers and social responsibility initiatives. They can even drive direct sales effectively.

4. Prime High-Impact Space

While email signatures might appear at the bottom of emails, email signature marketing often includes top banners. These banners are the first thing recipients see when they open an email, making them a prime, high-impact advertising space.

5. Personal 1-to-1 Marketing at Scale

Email signature marketing combines the personal touch of 1-to-1 marketing with the scalability required for effective outreach. It builds relationships and fosters customer retention, as recipients connect with the individual sender on a personal level.

Opt for Rocketseed's Mastery in Email Signature Marketing

Exploring the Added Perks of Email Signature Marketing

Apart from its cost-effectiveness, email signature marketing offers many other advantages:

• Professional Appearance: A well-designed email signature portrays professionalism, instilling confidence in your brand.

• Time-Saving: The right email signature software can save your marketing and IT teams significant time through automation and central management.

• Consistent Brand Image: Maintain consistent branding across all emails, reinforcing your company's image.

• Insightful Tracking: Track every engagement to gain valuable insights to refine your future campaigns.

Enhancing the Efficiency of Alternative Channels

The cost-effectiveness of email signature marketing becomes evident when you consider how it can amplify the effectiveness on other digital platforms:

• Social Media Marketing: Displaying social media icons in email signatures can boost engagement on social platforms.

• Email Marketing: Grow your subscriber list by adding a Call-To-Action (CTA) in your email signatures.

• Content Marketing: Promote your content in email signature banners and drive engagement with your content.

• Website and Landing Pages: Include website links in your email signatures to boost traffic and conversions.

• Events: Use promotional email signature banners to increase event attendance.

The Cost of Email Signature Marketing

Email signature marketing is not necessarily cheap, but it is undoubtedly an affordable addition to your marketing strategy. Utilizing free email signature solutions may suffice for small businesses with a handful of staff. However, for SMEs and enterprises aiming to harness the full potential of email signature marketing, investing in a scalable solution is essential.

Email signature marketing is not just about branding your emails; it's about creating a wealth of engagement opportunities from every email your team sends. It is simple, cost-effective, and delivers excellent results, while also enhancing the impact of your other digital marketing channels.

Are you ready to make email signatures and banners part of your marketing strategy?

Connect confidently with V5 Digital, trusted partners of Rocketseed, for personalized assistance and support!

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This blog was inspired by "Cost-Effectiveness of Email Signature Marketing" and adapted for the V5 Digital Audience.