This guide explains everything you need to know about WooCommerce shortcodes, from essential shortcodes that display products and manage carts to advanced customizations for tailored user experiences.

Let’s explore how these tiny code snippets can significantly impact your ecommerce website.

What are shortcodes?

Shortcodes were introduced in WordPress 2.5 back in 2008. They are small pieces of code enclosed in square brackets like this: [shortcode]. They act as placeholders that tell WordPress to execute a specific function or display certain content dynamically.

For example, instead of manually coding a complex product grid, you can use a shortcode to create and display it instantly on your website. This saves time and reduces the potential for errors, making it easier to maintain and update your site.

Over the years, shortcodes have evolved, becoming more powerful and versatile. WooCommerce leverages this feature, offering a range of shortcodes specifically tailored for ecommerce functionality.

Getting started with WooCommerce shortcodes

To use WooCommerce shortcodes in your WordPress site, ensure the WooCommerce plugin is installed and activated.

To do that, log in to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New, and search for “WooCommerce.” Next, click Install Now on the WooCommerce plugin and Activate it.

Finally, you can follow the WooCommerce setup wizard to configure basic settings like store details, payment methods, and shipping options.

When you install the WooCommerce plugin, your WordPress site is automatically updated with the Cart, Checkout, and My Account pages. However, you can do more with your products, and that is what we will explore with shortcodes.

The basic syntax of shortcodes

WooCommerce shortcodes often include additional attributes to customize their output. Here’s the basic structure:

[shortcode attribute1="value1" attribute2="value2"]

For instance, the shortcode [products limit="4" columns="2"] displays four products in a two-column layout.

How to add shortcodes in posts, pages, and widgets

Shortcodes can be added almost anywhere in WordPress. You can add them to a post or a page by simply typing or pasting them into any text editor within WordPress or a shortcode block if you use Gutenberg or any page builder.

For this guide, Let’s use Gutenberg:

1. Navigate to Posts or Pages in the WordPress dashboard.
2. Open the post/page where you want to add the shortcode.
3. Click on the + icon to add a new block.

   

4. Search for and select the Shortcode block.
5. Paste your shortcode into the block.

For example, let’s say you want to display a grid of your latest products on your homepage. Using the block editor, you would enter the shortcode: [products limit="3" columns="3"] and Update or Publish your page.

This will create a grid with three products displayed in one column, offering a dynamic and attractive way to showcase your latest offerings.

You can also add shortcodes to widgets by navigating to Appearance > Widgets. Add a Text widget to your desired widget area (sidebar, footer, etc.). Enter your shortcode in the text box within the widget and save the widget.

Essential WooCommerce shortcodes

WooCommerce provides a variety of shortcodes that allow you to display products, manage the shopping cart, and enhance the checkout process.

Let’s explore the most essential WooCommerce shortcodes, their attributes, and detailed examples to help you effectively use them in your store.

Product display shortcodes

The [products] shortcode is one of the most versatile WooCommerce shortcodes. It allows you to display a list of products based on various criteria.

It has so many attributes that make you display products how you wish:

• limit — Number of products to display. The default is -1 (display all).
• columns — Number of columns. The default is 4.
• orderby — Order products by specific criteria such as date, title, price, popularity, etc.
• order — Order of products. Can be ASC (ascending) or DESC (descending).
• category — Slug of the product category.
• tag — Slug of the product tag.
• paginate — Enables pagination. Can be true or false. The default is false.

For example, if you want to display the latest eight products in a four-column layout, sorted by the date they were added in descending order. You can use the following shortcode.

[products limit="8" columns="4" orderby="date" order="DESC"]

If you also want to enable pagination so the user can access other products while displaying the limit, you can use the paginate attribute.

[products limit="8" columns="4" orderby="date" order="DESC" paginate="true"]

You may also want to display products from a specific category. The category attribute lets you do this. The shortcode below displays six products from the “accessories” category in a three-column layout:

[products category="accessories" limit="6" columns="3"]

Five products are displayed because only five are currently in the category. Seven will be available when two more are added to that category, but only six will appear because of the limit.

The [product] shortcode can also be used to display a single product based on its ID or SKU by adding either the id or sku attribute. For example, the shortcode below displays the product with the ID 22.

[product id="22"]

If you want to display more than one product selectively, you can use ids and skus attributes.

[products columns="3" ids="22,35,26"]

This shortcode displays products with the IDs 22, 35, and 26.

Another shortcode you may need is the [product_page] shortcode. This shortcode is similar to [product] but displays the entire product page, including tabs, related products, and reviews. For example, let’s display the full product page for the product with ID 22.

[product_page id="22"]

This can be useful for a feature product section within a page or post.

You also have access to a cat_operator attribute that allows you to control how products are filtered based on categories. Available options for this attribute are:

• AND — Display products in the chosen categories.
• IN — Display products belonging to any chosen category (default value).
• NOT IN — Display products not belonging to the chosen categories.

For example, if you want to display products in the “clothing” and “accessories” categories, you can use the AND operator:

[products category="clothing, accessories" cat_operator="AND"]

You can also exclude products from a specific category with the NOT In operator. For example, if you want to display all products except those in the “clothing” category.

[products category="clothing" cat_operator="NOT IN"]

Cart and checkout shortcodes

WooCommerce provides specific shortcodes for essential ecommerce pages like the cart, checkout, and user account.

For example, the [woocommerce_cart] shortcode can display the shopping cart page, including all cart items, quantities, and the total price.

This shortcode should be placed on the page designated as your cart page.

Similarly, the [woocommerce_checkout] shortcode displays the checkout page where customers can enter their billing and shipping details and place their orders.

This shortcode should be placed on the page designated as your checkout page.

The [woocommerce_my_account] shortcode can be used to display the user’s account, including sections for orders, downloads, addresses, and account details.

Finally, the [woocommerce_order_tracking] shortcode helps you display a form where customers can enter their order ID and email to track their orders.

This shortcode can be placed on any page where you want customers to track their orders.

Product category shortcodes

When you want to display a list or grid of product categories, you can use the [product_categories] shortcode. It has the following attributes that can be used to customize its appearance:

• number — Number of categories to display.
• columns — Number of columns.
• orderby — Order categories by specific criteria.
• order — Order of categories. It can be ASC or DESC.
• hide_empty — Hide empty categories. It can be 1 (true) or 0 (false).

For example, if you want to display product categories in a grid, you can use the following shortcode:

[product_categories number="12" columns="4" orderby="name" order="ASC"]

This shortcode displays 12 product categories in a four-column grid, sorted by name in ascending order.

If you add thumbnails, they will appear here, improving the look of your site. You can add thumbnails by accessing Products > Categories > editing a particular category and then scrolling to the Thumbnail field to upload the image.

Similarly, if you want to display products from a specific category, you can use the [product_category] shortcode. This accepts a per_page attribute, which specifies the number of products to display per page. It also accepts category to specify the product category slug and columns for the number of columns.

For example, this shortcode displays eight products from the “clothing” category in a four-column layout.

[product_category category="clothing" per_page="8" columns="4"]

Advanced WooCommerce shortcodes

Beyond the basic product display shortcodes, WooCommerce offers advanced shortcodes that provide greater control and customization options. These shortcodes allow you to tailor the display and functionality of your WooCommerce store to fit your specific needs.

Customizing product display

The [products] shortcode is highly flexible and allows various combinations of attributes to filter and display products differently.

Here are a few more attributes you can use:

• on_sale — Whether to display products on sale. true or false.
• best_selling — Whether to display best-selling products. true or false.
• top_rated — Whether to display top-rated products. true or false.

With this, you can display on-sale products.

[products on_sale="true" limit="8" columns="4"]

You can also display best-selling products in a category using the shortcode below:

[products category="accessories" best_selling="true" limit="6" columns="3"]

This shortcode displays six best-selling products from the “accessories” category in a 3-column layout.

Shortcodes for specific use cases

WooCommerce shortcodes can be tailored to meet specific use cases, providing dynamic content based on various criteria. For example, the [recent_products] shortcode can be used to display recently added products to your WooCommerce store.

[recent_products limit="5" columns="5"]

This shortcode displays the five most recently added products in a five-column layout.

Similarly, the [featured_products] shortcode can be used to display products marked as featured in your WooCommerce store.

[featured_products limit="6" columns="3"]

This shortcode displays six featured products in a three-column layout.

You can mark a product as featured by navigating to the products page and starring them, as shown in the image below.

Suppose you are running sales for some particular products. You can use the [sale_products] shortcode to display products currently on sale.

[sale_products limit="8" columns="3"]

To set up a sales price for your products, go to Products > All Products and click on the item you’d like to offer at a discount. Then, scroll down to the Product data section.

If you enter any value into the WooCommerce Sale price ($) field, that will be the price visitors see on the front end of the store. This field overrides the Regular price ($) value. If you’re not hosting a sale, leave that field empty so you don’t accidentally discount products.

If you have a plugin that helps you set up best-selling products, you can also use the [best_selling_products] shortcode to display the best-selling products in your WooCommerce store.

[best_selling_products limit="10" columns="4"]

The [top_rated_products] shortcode can also display the top-rated products in your WooCommerce store.

[top_rated_products limit="4" columns="2"]

Summary

WooCommerce shortcodes are powerful tools that enhance your online store’s functionality. Mastering these shortcodes allows you to customize product displays, manage the shopping cart, and optimize the checkout process.

Feel free to experiment with different shortcode combinations to find the perfect setup for your store. With these tools, you can create a dynamic and engaging WooCommerce site that meets your customers’ needs.

After setting up the perfect online store for your business, you’ll want to avoid a situation where your store gets attacked, is slow, or occasionally goes offline, affecting business.

The WooCommerce plugin can sometimes slow down WordPress sites, especially for large stores with many products. Fortunately, with Kinsta as your hosting provider for your WooCommerce store, you won’t need to worry about this.

The post Complete guide to WooCommerce shortcodes appeared first on Kinsta®.

One standout feature of WooCommerce is its ability to maintain detailed order information. It meticulously stores every aspect of an order, including the amount, currency, shipping details, taxes, and more.

This detailed information is valuable for both store owners and customers. Imagine creating a page where users can effortlessly check their order details and customize it to display additional information.

This guide walks you through the steps to build a custom WooCommerce page that displays order details based on the order ID.

Why would you create a custom order details page?

Creating a custom order details page in WooCommerce can offer several advantages, catering to both the store owner’s and the customer’s needs. Here are a few compelling reasons why you might want to go this route:

1. Enhanced user experience — A custom order details page lets you present order information that best suits your customers’ needs. It lets you tailor the layout and content of your page so you can highlight important details such as shipping status, product specifics, and delivery dates, making it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for quickly.
2. Additional features — A custom order details page can enable you to add unavailable features by default in WooCommerce. For instance, you can display custom fields like gift messages, special instructions, or personalized notes unique to each order.
3. Interactivity — A custom order details page allows you to include interactive elements such as progress bars for order tracking, links to related products, or direct access to customer support, providing a richer, more engaging experience for your users.
4. Flexibility and adaptability — Creating a custom order details page can allow you to implement business-specific logic and adapt to changing needs. You can display different information based on criteria unique to your store, such as the customer’s location or the type of products ordered.

How to get order data from the $order object

In WooCommerce, the $order object is a central piece that contains all the information about a specific order. By leveraging this object, you can retrieve various details about an order, such as the order ID, order date, billing and shipping information, and the products purchased.

Let’s go through how to access and use these different pieces of data from the $order object in detail.

1. Retrieve the order object

First, you must get the order object using the wc_get_order function. This function takes an order ID and returns the corresponding order object.

$order_id = 123; // Example order ID
$order = wc_get_order( $order_id );

2. Basic order information

Once you have the $order object, you can retrieve basic information about the order. Here are some examples:

• Order ID — The unique identifier for the order.

  $order_id = $order->get_id();
  echo 'Order ID: ' . $order_id;

• Order date — The date when the order was created.

  $order_date = $order->get_date_created();
  echo 'Order date: ' . wc_format_datetime( $order_date );

• Order total — The total amount for the order.

  $order_total = $order->get_formatted_order_total();
  echo 'Order total: ' . $order_total;

3. Billing information

Billing information includes details provided by the customer during the checkout process. You can retrieve these details using the following methods:

• Billing address:

  $billing_address = $order->get_formatted_billing_address();
  echo 'Billing address: ' . $billing_address;

• Billing email:

  $billing_email = $order->get_billing_email();
  echo 'Billing email: ' . $billing_email;

• Billing phone:

  $billing_phone = $order->get_billing_phone();
  echo 'Billing phone: ' . $billing_phone;

4. Shipping Information

Shipping information includes the details of where the order will be shipped. Similar to billing information, you can access these details using the $order object:

• Shipping address:

  $shipping_address = $order->get_formatted_shipping_address();
  echo 'Shipping address: ' . $shipping_address;

5. Order items

You can retrieve the items included in an order, which is particularly useful if you want to display purchased products. Here’s how to get the order items:

$items = $order->get_items();
foreach ( $items as $item_id => $item ) {
    $product_name = $item->get_name();
    $product_quantity = $item->get_quantity();
    $product_total = $item->get_total();
    echo 'Product name: ' . $product_name . '<br>';
    echo 'Quantity: ' . $product_quantity . '<br>';
    echo 'Total: ' . wc_price( $product_total ) . '<br>';
}

6. Payment and shipping methods

You can also retrieve information about the payment and shipping methods used for the order:

• Payment method:

  $payment_method = $order->get_payment_method_title();
  echo 'Payment method: ' . $payment_method;

• Shipping method:

  $shipping_methods = $order->get_shipping_methods();
  foreach ( $shipping_methods as $shipping_method ) {
  echo 'Shipping method: ' . $shipping_method->get_name();
  }

7. Order status

The status of the order can be helpful for various functionalities, such as tracking the progress of the order:

$order_status = wc_get_order_status_name( $order->get_status() );
echo 'Order status: ' . $order_status;

Creating a page to display order details by order ID

To provide a seamless experience for your customers, creating a custom page where they can view their order details by simply entering their order ID is beneficial.

Let’s guide you through creating a page, including setting up the template and displaying the order information.

Step 1: Create a custom page template

First, create a custom page template in your WordPress theme. This template will be used to display the order details.

To do this, navigate to your project’s source code. If you created your project with DevKinsta, this is easy to access. You can also use an FTP Client by using the settings on your site info page (WordPress Sites > sitename > Info).

In your child theme directory, create a new file named page-order-details.php. Add the following code to this file:

<?php
/**
 * Template Name: Order Details
 */
get_header();
?>

<div id="primary" class="content-area">
    <main id="main" class="site-main">

        <?php
        if ( isset( $_GET['order_id'] ) ) {
            $order_id = intval( $_GET['order_id'] );
            display_order_details( $order_id );
        } else {
            echo '<p>No order ID provided.</p>';
        }
        ?>

    </main><!-- #main -->
</div><!-- #primary -->

<?php
get_footer();

// Function to display order details
function display_order_details( $order_id ) {
    $order = wc_get_order( $order_id );
    if ( ! $order ) {
        echo '<p>Invalid order ID.</p>';
        return;
    }

    echo '<h2>Order Details</h2>';
    echo '<ul>';
    echo '<li>Order ID: ' . $order->get_id() . '</li>';
    echo '<li>Order Date: ' . wc_format_datetime( $order->get_date_created() ) . '</li>';
    echo '<li>Order Total: ' . $order->get_formatted_order_total() . '</li>';
    echo '<li>Billing Address: ' . $order->get_formatted_billing_address() . '</li>';
    echo '<li>Shipping Address: ' . $order->get_formatted_shipping_address() . '</li>';
    echo '<li>Billing Email: ' . $order->get_billing_email() . '</li>';
    echo '<li>Billing Phone: ' . $order->get_billing_phone() . '</li>';
    echo '<li>Payment Method: ' . $order->get_payment_method_title() . '</li>';
    echo '<li>Order Status: ' . wc_get_order_status_name( $order->get_status() ) . '</li>';
    echo '</ul>';

    echo '<h3>Order Items</h3>';
    echo '<ul>';
    $items = $order->get_items();
    foreach ( $items as $item_id => $item ) {
        echo '<li>';
        echo 'Product Name: ' . $item->get_name() . '<br>';
        echo 'Quantity: ' . $item->get_quantity() . '<br>';
        echo 'Total: ' . wc_price( $item->get_total() ) . '<br>';
        echo '</li>';
    }
    echo '</ul>';
}

Let’s break down this code so you understand.

First, you notice the get_header() and get_footer() functions, which include the standard WordPress header and footer for the page, ensuring it maintains the site’s overall design and layout.

We also have some basic HTML markups that are important for displaying text on the web. The next important code you notice is the condition that checks if an order_id is passed as a URL parameter.

if ( isset( $_GET['order_id'] ) ) {
    $order_id = intval( $_GET['order_id'] );
    display_order_details( $order_id );
} else {
    echo '<p>No order ID provided.</p>';
}

What it does is that if an order_id exists, it sanitizes the input using intval() and calls the display_order_details function. If no order_id is provided, it outputs a message indicating this.

The display_order_details function is the function declared below get_footer(). This function takes the order ID as an input and retrieves the corresponding order object using wc_get_order().

If the order ID is invalid, it outputs an error message. Otherwise, it retrieves and displays various order details such as order ID, date, total, billing and shipping addresses, email, phone, payment method, and order status in an unordered list.

Additionally, it loops through the order items and displays the product name, quantity, and total price for each item in another unordered list.

Step 2: Add the template to your theme and Create a new page in WordPress

Save the page-order-details.php file in your child theme directory. This will make the template available for selection when creating a new page in WordPress.

Next, go to Pages > Add New in your WordPress admin dashboard. Give the page a name, and then in the Page Attributes section on the right, select the Order Details template from the Template dropdown.

If you don’t see the Page Attributes section, you can navigate back to Pages, where you will see a list of all pages with some options when you hover over each page. Select Quick Edit, and then you will see the Page Attributes section.

Publish the page, and you can now test the custom order details page.

To test, navigate to your browser and append ?order_id=ORDER_ID to the URL, replacing ORDER_ID with a valid WooCommerce order ID. For example, https://yourwebsite.com/order-details/?order_id=70

This should display the order details for the specified order ID.

You can then add styling to the template as you like.

Creating an order details page using WooCommerce order tracking shortcode

Another option you may not be aware of is the WooCommerce order tracking shortcode, which provides a UI for users to search for their order details by entering their order number and email address.

This page displays the order number, date, status, items, shipping, and billing address. This can be useful if you do not intend to show more detailed information.

Creating an order tracking page using the WooCommerce order tracking shortcode is a straightforward way to enhance customer experience without delving into custom coding.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Log into your WordPress dashboard.
2. Next, create a new page by navigating to Pages > Add New.
3. Give the page a title, and in the page editor, add the following shortcode:

   [woocommerce_order_tracking]

4. Next, click the Publish button to make the page live.

It’s as simple as that. But this may not give you the flexibility you desire.

Summary

Creating an order details page in WooCommerce enhances the customer experience by providing easy access to order information, improving transparency and customer satisfaction.

If you are experiencing slowness in your WordPress store, especially large stores with lots of products, it is essential to know that a significant portion of your site’s performance depends on the quality of your hosting.

Fortunately, with Kinsta as your hosting provider for your WooCommerce store, you won’t need to worry about this.

The post Creating a page to display WooCommerce order details by order ID appeared first on Kinsta®.

Gmail and Yahoo Mail have recently introduced new email sending requirements. These changes benefit everyone doing business online and are intended to boost security, reduce spam, and improve email.

But for businesses, it means you need to make adjustments to how you send emails – immediately.

Here, we’ll explore what happens if you don’t meet these new requirements, walk you through the steps to get it right, and share some best practices to improve your email deliverability and engagement.

There’s no time to waste, so let’s begin.

Why are Gmail and Yahoo changing things?

Gmail and Yahoo are updating their email-sending requirements to enhance the security and quality of their email services. These changes are designed to protect users from spam, phishing attacks, and other forms of email fraud.

Let’s explore these key reasons a bit more:

Enhanced security

Both Gmail and Yahoo are tightening their email authentication protocols to prevent email spoofing and phishing. These new requirements will allow email providers to better verify the authenticity of emails. By default, this will make it more difficult for malicious actors to send emails from spoofed domains.

Reducing spam

Another major goal of these changes is to reduce the amount of spam that people receive. Gmail and Yahoo are implementing stricter spam complaint thresholds to ensure that only relevant and desired emails reach people’s inboxes. A low spam complaint rate will require that senders prioritize the overall user experience. If they comply, their emails will be more likely to be opened and read. Yes, setup will require effort on your part, but the potential for more read emails is worth it alone.

Legal compliance

These changes also align with global legal standards for email marketing, such as the CAN-SPAM Act in the United States. Enforcing clearer unsubscribe mechanisms, for instance, will help Gmail and Yahoo ensure that email senders comply with legal requirements and provide people with easy ways to opt-out if they want.

Improving user experience

The ultimate goal of these updates is to enhance the overall email user experience. Too many people are bogged down by unwanted emails every day, so adding measures that help filter out unwanted emails and ensure that only legitimate, relevant messages are delivered will improve the UX for email.

What are the new Gmail and Yahoo requirements?

So you know the why, but what are these new changes? First, it’s important to know that these changes primarily affect bulk senders who send over 5,000 emails per day.

If that’s you – or it might be in the future – here’s a breakdown of the new rules:

Authentication protocols: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC

The new requirements state that email senders will need to implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication protocols.

These protocols help to:

1. Verify the sender’s domain.
2. Ensure the email hasn’t been tampered with during transit.

The specific protocols are as follows:

• SPF (Sender Policy Framework): This protocol verifies that emails are sent from authorized IP addresses for the sender’s domain.
• DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): DKIM adds a digital signature to emails, helping to verify that they have not been altered.
• DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance): DMARC builds on SPF and DKIM to provide a comprehensive email authentication strategy. It helps protect domains from being used in phishing and email spoofing attacks.

Spam rate thresholds

Beyond authentication, Gmail and Yahoo are also enforcing stricter spam complaint rate thresholds to reduce the amount of unwanted emails people receive. Senders must maintain a spam complaint rate below 0.3% to ensure their emails are delivered.

The desired rate for Gmail is even lower, at 0.1%. Exceeding these thresholds can result in emails being marked as spam or not delivered at all.

Unsubscribe mechanisms

Senders will also need to include a one-click unsubscribe link in their emails. This feature must be prominently placed, either in the header or footer and must allow people to easily opt out of receiving future emails with a single click.

No, oddly hidden-away unsubscribe links or multi-tier questionnaires to unsubscribe are permitted no longer.

This requirement will reduce spam complaints and keep businesses compliant with legal standards, too.

What happens if you don’t comply with these changes?

Failing to comply with the new email-sending requirements could have significant consequences for your business. These range from deliverability issues to potential damage to your reputation – even legal ramifications!

Here’s a detailed look at what could go wrong:

Deliverability issues

Non-compliance with the new requirements can impact your email deliverability:

• Emails will be marked as spam: If you don’t meet the new authentication standards (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), your emails are more likely to be flagged as spam. These new protocols verify the legitimacy of the sender, and without them, your emails will be considered suspicious and filtered out.
• Reduced inbox placement: Even if your emails aren’t marked as spam, they may not make it to the inbox. Non-compliance with spam rate thresholds means your emails might end up in the spam folder or be blocked entirely. Gmail and Yahoo are particularly vigilant about maintaining low spam complaint rates.
• Delivery failures: Without proper DNS records and compliance with RFC 5322 standards, your emails may not be delivered at all. This technical non-compliance can lead to outright rejections by email servers, resulting in failed delivery attempts.

Potential reputation damage

As if your emails not being delivered wasn’t bad enough, ignoring these new requirements can also damage your reputation as an email sender:

• Sender reputation score: Email providers track the reputation of your sending domain and IP addresses. High spam complaint rates, frequent delivery failures, and non-compliance with authentication protocols can all negatively impact your sender score. A poor reputation score means future emails are more likely to be blocked or flagged as spam.
• Long-term impact on campaigns: A damaged reputation affects your current email campaign as well as your future ones. And restoring a tarnished reputation is a slow, tedious process. It means you’d have to be on your very best behavior for an extended period of time. But those prospects whose inboxes you landed into as spam? You can’t win them back.

Potential legal issues

Non-compliance can lead to legal problems, too:

• CAN-SPAM Act violations: The CAN-SPAM Act requires businesses to provide clear unsubscribe mechanisms, among other things. Failing to include a one-click unsubscribe link or not honoring unsubscribe requests promptly can result in legal penalties. This act mandates that unsubscribe requests must be processed within 10 business days, but Gmail and Yahoo’s requirements are even stricter. You will need to make it easy and take prompt action or suffer the consequences.
• Penalties and fines: Violations of email marketing laws can result in hefty fines. The CAN-SPAM Act, for instance, imposes penalties of up to $51,744 per email for non-compliance. Repeated violations can lead to more severe legal actions, including lawsuits and further regulatory scrutiny.

Step-by-step guide to preparing for email sender changes

To ensure your emails comply with these new requirements, we’ve put together detailed, step-by-step instructions. Let’s take on each aspect of this process individually.

Domain authentication

As you know by now, proper domain authentication is one of the key ways to prevent your emails from being marked as spam or rejected.

Here’s how to set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for your domain:

SPF setup

This process might vary a bit depending on the hosting provider or domain registrar you’re using, but this should still offer general insight into how to proceed.

To set up SPF, you need:

1. Access your DNS settings

Log in to your domain registrar or DNS hosting provider. Locate the Domains section and find where your DNS records are listed.

2. Add an SPF record

Next, locate the option to add a new DNS record.

Then, choose the TXT record type.

Enter your domain name in the Name field.

In the Value field, add your SPF record. It typically looks like this:

v=spf1 IP addresses

include:yourmailserver.com ~all

Where it says “IP addresses,” input all the IP addresses that can send mail on your behalf. Then, you can mention third-party servers that can send mail for you (that represent you), like your hosting provider’s mail server.

Ending with the “~all” tag tells the ISP what should happen if it encounters a server that you haven’t listed in your SPF record. The “~all” tag tells the server that the email should be categorized as a “soft fail” and should still be sent but labeled as such.

Using the “-all” tag instead will tell the ISP to reject all non-compliant emails outright.

Once done, click Save.

3. Verify the setup

Your last order of business here is to verify the setup process. It can take up to 24 hours for any DNS changes to take effect, so keep that in mind. You can use an SPF validation tool to ensure your record is correctly configured like SPF Record Check.

DKIM setup

For this process, you need to create DKIM keys and add a DKIM record to your DNS. So, hopefully, you’re still logged into your hosting provider’s dashboard.

1. Generate DKIM keys

Use your email service provider to generate a DKIM key pair (public and private keys). This is usually located in the Advanced settings and involves just clicking a button. Though it can take some time for the keys to be generated. In the meantime, you can move on to the next step.

2. Add DKIM Record to CNAME

Access your DNS settings.

Add a new CNAME record.

In the Name field, enter the DKIM selector followed by ._domainkey, so something like:

selector1._domainkey.

Paste the public key in the Value, Alias to, or Points to field.

Click Save or Add.

3. Enable DKIM signing

Go back to your email provider and select the option to have your email server sign outgoing emails with the private key you just set.

DMARC policies

Last of these domain authentication processes, you need to set a DMARC policy. Let’s explore how to do this now.

1. Create a DMARC record

Once again, you’ll need to access your DNS settings from your hosting provider.

Add a new TXT record.

In the Name field, enter _dmarc.

In the Value or Record field, add your DMARC policy. A basic policy might look like this:

v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@yourdomain.com; pct=100; adkim=s; aspf=s

Save the changes you make here.

2. Set DMARC policy

Start with p=none to monitor and gather data. Eventually, change to p=quarantine or p=reject to enforce stricter policies.

3. Monitor and adjust

Regularly review DMARC reports to understand how your emails are being processed and adjust your policies accordingly.

Setting up updated unsubscribe mechanisms

To comply with these latest standards, you will also need to make sure you have a one-click unsubscribe option in place. But there’s a bit more to it than that, so let’s cover the steps required:

1. Add unsubscribe link

In your email template, add a clearly visible unsubscribe link at the top or bottom of your email.

The link should direct users to a simple webpage where they can confirm unsubscription with one click.

2. Implement List-Unsubscribe header

Configure your email headers to include a List-Unsubscribe field. This can be done through your email service provider settings.

Example:

List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:unsubscribe@yourdomain.com>,

<https://yourdomain.com/unsubscribe>

It would look like this in your recipient’s inbox:

3. Test the Unsubscribe function

Send test emails to ensure that the unsubscribe link and process work correctly.

Then, verify that unsubscribe requests are processed promptly, ideally within 48 hours.

Tips for improving email deliverability and engagement

Beyond the new standards set by Google and Yahoo, there are still some other things you can do to improve your overall email engagement and deliverability. Let’s cover these tips and tricks now.

Email content optimization

Optimizing your email content will need to be a primary focus in the future to enhance email deliverability and engagement. This involves personalization, segmentation, and ensuring your messages are relevant and engaging.

To tackle personalization, you can:

1. Include the recipient’s name in the subject line or body of the email. For example, “Hi [First Name], here’s your exclusive offer!”
2. Use data from past interactions to customize content to the recipient’s interests. If a user has shown interest in a particular product or topic, highlight similar items or content (you can facilitate this through segmentation, which we’ll discuss in a moment).
3. Use dynamic content blocks that change based on the recipient’s profile or behavior. This can include product recommendations, relevant articles, or personalized offers.

Segmentation is one of the key ways you can implement personalization into your email marketing. It involves breaking your email recipients into groups and sending different messages to each. Here are some ways you can segment your audience:

1. Demographic: Segment your email list based on demographic information like age, gender, or location. This allows you to send more targeted and relevant content.
2. Behavioral: Segment your list based on user behavior, such as purchase history, website activity, and email engagement. For instance, send a follow-up email to users who clicked on a specific link in your previous email.
3. Lifecycle: Consider where your users are in the customer lifecycle. New subscribers might receive a welcome series, while loyal customers could receive exclusive offers or loyalty rewards.

Monitoring and analytics

Using monitoring tools and analytics can help you track the performance of your marketing campaigns and make data-driven decisions for future ones.

One key tool you should use right away is Google Postmaster Tools. Once set up, it’ll provide insights into your domain’s email performance. Set up your domain to start receiving data on email delivery errors, spam rates, and feedback loops.

You should also use an email analytics platform to keep tabs on your campaigns. Platforms like Mailchimp, SendGrid, and HubSpot offer detailed analytics on email performance. You can use these platforms to monitor open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates. You can also perform A/B tests on subject lines, email content, and call-to-action buttons to determine what resonates best with your audience. Use the results to refine your email campaigns.

Tips for maintaining a low spam rate

Since maintaining a low spam rate is even more important now, here are a few ways to keep yours ultra-low:

• Only send emails to users who have opted in and shown interest in your content. Avoid purchasing email lists, as these often contain uninterested or invalid addresses.
• Make sure each email offers value to the recipient, whether through informative content, special offers, or useful updates. High-value emails are less likely to be marked as spam.
• Sign up for feedback loops from major ISPs to receive notifications when recipients mark your emails as spam. Use this information to improve your email content and list hygiene.
• Remove inactive or invalid email addresses from your list regularly. This helps maintain a high sender reputation and reduces bounce rates.

Summary

Gmail and Yahoo are implementing new email-sending requirements to enhance security and the overall email user experience. As we’ve discussed here today, these changes include stricter domain authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, and DMARC), maintaining low spam complaint rates, and providing clear one-click unsubscribe options. Failing to comply can lead to deliverability issues, reputation damage, and potential legal consequences. All of which no business owner wants to deal with.

To prepare, follow steps for proper domain authentication, align email headers, and set up effective unsubscribe mechanisms. Once all the technical aspects are in place, you can focus on creating better email content through personalization and segmentation. Then, monitor performance over time.

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