Ever received an email with a no-reply email address? We all do. So how does it feel to receive an email from this address to which you cannot reply? Well, these email addresses look very unwelcoming. Hence chances are that they are mostly unsubscribed or sent to trash without opening them. Sending an email from a no-reply address simply comes across as uncaring to subscribers. As a result, it may even negatively affect your email reputation and delivery rates. It has become more important to evaluate whether you should use a no-reply address for your email marketing campaigns post GDPR. Sending your marketing emails using a reply-to address is always the best idea. In this blog, let’s discuss the reasons why you should not be sending emails from a no-reply email address.
What is a no-reply email address?
A no-reply is an email address using the format “noreply@domain.com”. A no-reply email blocks customers from replying. Many businesses use no-reply email addresses to avoid getting a response to their transactional emails. But, It can frustrate customers if their replies go unanswered or bounce.
How does it affect your email marketing campaign?
When you ask someone to subscribe for your newsletter or your emails, you should always have a two-way conversation, wherein you send your latest updates, blogs, etc. and your subscribers reply to your email with their feedback, views, suggestions or just a thank you! By doing this you make sure, that your subscriber finds your emails engaging and your conversion rates are increasing. Not to forget, you also get a lot of suggestions to improve your product! Discouraging email replies by using “no-reply” violates CAN-SPAM because your subscribers must be able to opt out just by replying to the email.
Let’s ponder over the reasons why you should not send emails with a no-reply email address
1. Your customers will not appreciate it
Email is a two-way conversation. When you send an email, you can expect a reply from the receiver if they have some new relevant information or some doubts. But by using no-reply emails, you take away from them this opportunity which leaves your customers dissatisfied and ill-treated.
2. Increase in spam complaints
If a subscriber wants to unsubscribe from your emails, they try sending you an email about the same. But their email response bounces as you are using a no-reply email address. Hence, the chances of your unsubscriber reporting you as spam increases affecting your email reputation and delivery rate.
3. It affects your brand image
Your customers want to feel valued by you and by sending them an email from a no-reply email address you are pushing them away. Seeing a no-reply address or receiving an auto-generated email from you which says “do not reply to this email” or “this is auto-generated email” disappoints them. This highlights the fact that you are up for just one-way conversation and do not care about your customers, hence affecting the image of your brand.
4. It limits business opportunities
When you use a no-reply email address to send an email, you do not receive any replies or feedback from your customers. The main objective of email marketing is to build customer relationships which gets affected when you use a no-reply email address for your campaigns. If you don’t allow your customers to reply, you might miss a chance at a sale, feedback, business proposal, referral.
5. Reduces conversion rate
When you are trying to build a relationship with your customers, you should give a personal touch to your emails. Which means, sending emails that are from no-reply email address is not a good strategy as no one likes to receive emails from machines. Building customer relationships become easier when you send your emails which are from reply-to email address. Also, they are personal and hence they encourage your customer to take the desired action.
What is the alternative to a no-reply email address?
What about sending your emails from a special email address like pleasereply@company.com, or sayhello@ company.com or hello@company.com? These addresses look welcoming and chances are that if your customers give you feedback, you might even get added to their list. Which means next time your email lands directly into their inbox!
No-reply email addresses are generally used for sending transactional emails. In this case, try to make the transactional emails more personalized and focused on the customer’s needs and requirements. According to a study by Experian, transactional emails have 8x more opens and clicks than any other type of email and can generate 6x more revenue!
The bottom-line is to never use the no-reply email address for your email campaigns because, in this way, you are not only hurting your email marketing but are also missing out on an opportunity to build a better customer relationship, collect feedback and learn how to improve your product.