Gmail Now Displays Images by Default

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Gmail Now Displays Images by Default


You may have heard this week that Google madesome changes to the way Gmail displays images in their emails.Previously, Gmail would make a request for an image every time anemail was opened, but now they temporarily store those images,including the one we use for open tracking.

What does this mean for our users?

To facilitate opentracking in emails, we embed a transparent image (1x1 pixel) in eachemail, hosted on our servers. When you open the email, JangoSMTP knowsthat unique image has been accessed, and can then tell the sendertheir email has been opened. While using cached images is great ideafor Gmail, it does create a problem for any Email Service Provider(ESP). Mainly that, with this new image caching system in place,location tracking won't be available for Gmail addresses.

However, there are always two sides to the coin– we have done some tests here at the office and actually arehappy to see that open tracking appears to be more accurate with Gmailaddresses now. Additionally, this should not affect POP or IMAP mailclients in anyway. For forwarded messages or multiple opens, Googlewill need to load the image at least that first time before they cancache it. When a customer comes back and re-opens the email, orforwards it to additional address, that’s where you’llpossibly miss some of the tracking, but that doesn't affect thatfirst/unique open.
When Gmail users open up their webinterface, they are now presented with an alert regarding this newchange. They now have the option to turn images on or off by default. Leavingimages on enables image caching, but still lowers our ability to trackrepeat opens. Turning images off, however, allows users to openmessages without downloading our tracking pixel.

Remember, this doesn't affect the number ofsubscribers actually reading your email, it simply makes theunique opens more accurate.

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