iOS 10, the tenth major release of the iOS operating system developed by Apple Inc., introduced several changes that have a significant impact on email marketing. Email marketers need to understand these changes and adapt their strategies accordingly to ensure maximum engagement and deliverability on iOS devices. In this article, we will explore the key factors that email marketers should know about iOS 10 and how it affects their email campaigns.

1. Enhanced Rich Media Support

iOS 10 brought improved support for rich media within emails. This means that marketers can now take advantage of advanced content such as embedded videos, interactive images, and animated GIFs directly within emails. With this enhancement, email marketers can create more engaging and interactive email experiences for users on iOS devices. However, it is crucial to optimize these rich media elements for mobile devices to ensure smooth loading and compatibility across various email clients.

2. Intelligent Tracking Prevention

iOS 10 introduced Intelligent Tracking Prevention, a feature that aims to enhance user privacy by limiting cross-site tracking and ad retargeting. While this is a positive step for user privacy, it can impact email marketers' ability to track user behavior and measure the effectiveness of their campaigns. Email marketers should be aware of this limitation and explore alternative methods for tracking and measuring engagement, such as using UTM parameters in email links or leveraging pixel-based tracking.

3. Unsubscribe Suggestions

One of the noteworthy features of iOS 10 is the ability to offer unsubscribe suggestions within the email client. When a user receives an email from a mailing list, iOS 10 can analyze the content and suggest that the user unsubscribes if it detects that the email is a newsletter or commercial promotion. While this feature aims to declutter users' inboxes, it poses a challenge for email marketers to retain subscribers and ensure their emails are compelling and valuable enough to avoid being marked as spam or unwanted.

4. Optimized Text Rendering

iOS 10 introduced improved typography and text rendering capabilities, resulting in better email readability on iOS devices. Email marketers should take advantage of this enhancement by focusing on attractive and legible typography that enhances the overall user experience. It is essential to choose email-safe fonts and ensure proper text formatting to maintain the intended design and readability across different devices and email clients.

5. Integrated App Features

iOS 10 expanded email functionality by allowing the integration of various app features directly within the email client. Email marketers can leverage this integration to enhance the user experience and drive engagement. For example, integrating an RSVP feature for event invitations, a shopping cart for e-commerce emails, or an appointment scheduler for service-based businesses. By leveraging these integrated app features, email marketers can provide a seamless user experience and drive action directly from the inbox.

6. Increased Focus on Inbox Organization

iOS 10 introduced new features to prioritize and organize emails in the inbox. Users can now categorize emails into various folders, such as VIP, Flagged, and Unread, allowing them to focus on specific emails or prioritize important ones. Email marketers should be mindful of these organizational features and ensure their emails are relevant, personalized, and compelling to earn a spot in the user's priority inbox folders.

Conclusion

iOS 10 has significantly impacted email marketing by introducing various features and enhancements that shape how emails are created, tracked, and consumed on iOS devices. Email marketers should stay updated with these changes and adapt their strategies accordingly to ensure maximum engagement, deliverability, and user satisfaction. By leveraging the rich media support, optimizing for text rendering, utilizing integrated app features, and considering inbox organization, email marketers can unlock the full potential of email marketing on iOS 10 and drive impactful results.