A freemail address is a free email account that offers basic email services. The most popular freemail providers are Gmail and Yahoo, but many others exist. The freemail address will look like person@gmail.com or person@yahoo.com. This article will explain why you should not use freemail addresses in the “From” address when sending emails with ActiveCampaign.
Why we don’t recommend using a freemail address?
Using a freemail address like @gmail.com, @yahoo.com, or @outlook.com as your “From” address in ActiveCampaign will result in deliverability issues. This is because spammers often use freemail addresses to hide their identity, so they can be associated with spam and malicious activity.
Some domains, like @yahoo.com have public DMARC policies that completely prohibit you from using the domain with any 3rd party email provider like ActiveCampaign. If you send from freemail addresses with ActiveCampaign, almost all of your emails will bounce.
Specifically, if you are using an @gmail.com address, it is important to transition to a domain you own as soon as possible because of the changes Gmail is implementing as of February 2024. These changes will directly affect sending messages from @gmail.com addresses.
We highly recommend sending from your own domain if you are using any freemail address to maintain delivery of your emails with ActiveCampaign.
Specific changes for @gmail.com addresses
As of February 2024, Gmail has implemented email authentication and spam prevention policies that will prevent you from sending emails through ActiveCampaign with @gmail.com or @googlemail.com as the “From,” address.
If you send emails with @gmail.com in the “From” address, you must transition to a domain you own. This change only affects @gmail.com addresses. It does not affect Google Workspace addresses.
Learn more about these changes by Gmail.
What should I do if I am using an @gmail.com or freemium address?
To maintain delivery of your emails with ActiveCampaign, you must send from a domain you own. Here are two options:
Option 1:
If you already own a domain, add your domain to ActiveCampaign as a Sending Domain. This will establish the DKIM, DMARC and SPF authentication records you need to send campaigns with ActiveCampaign. This will also satisfy Google’s requirements for all senders to set up DKIM and DMARC authentication.
If you are adding a domain that has not been used to send email before, you must warm up this domain. Learn how to warm up a new sending domain for tips on warming up an unused domain.
Option 2:
If you don’t already own a domain, we strongly advise you to purchase one and start using it with ActiveCampaign. You can purchase a domain inside ActiveCampaign.
Note that you will need to warm up this domain. Learn how to warm up a new sending domain.
What will happen if I don’t take action with my @gmail.com address?
Beginning February 1, 2024, ActiveCampaign will replace your @gmail.com domain with a substitute address we own and will forward replies to you.
For example, if you set up a campaign to use an address like example@gmail.com, the “From” address for your emails will be replaced with one like this:
example.gmail.com@youraccount.emcampaign.com
The exact domain may vary, but will look something like “emcampaign.com.”
This generic, shared domain should not be adopted as a long-term solution, and you should add your own Sending Domain to ActiveCampaign as soon as possible.
Note that this temporary sender email may result in the following:
- Poor deliverability because this substitute address will be shared by other ActiveCampaign senders, and the domain reputation may be unreliable
- Subscribers may not recognize your new, temporary “From” email address, which can lead to confusion