Be careful with this message

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Why do my emails have a "Be careful with this message" warning?

When using ActiveCampaign for email communication, you may encounter a warning message that indicates, "Be careful with this message." This warning is generated by Gmail and appears when specific conditions are met within your email settings. Understanding the causes of this warning and how to manage it is crucial for ensuring that your emails are perceived as legitimate and trustworthy by your recipients. This article aims to provide comprehensive insights regarding this feature, why it matters, and how you can mitigate its occurrence.

How to Access This Feature

To address the "Be careful with this message" warning, you will need to navigate through your email settings in ActiveCampaign. Specifically, adjustments can be made in the Campaign Summary page and the campaign designer for your email.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these detailed steps to manage your email settings and reduce the likelihood of Gmail displaying the warning:

1. **Accessing the Campaign Summary**

  - Go to your ActiveCampaign account and navigate to the **Campaigns** section.
  - Locate the specific campaign you want to edit and click on it to open the **Campaign Summary** page.

2. **Turning Off Reply Tracking**

  - On the **Campaign Summary** page, find the **Reply Tracking** toggle.
  - If the toggle is set to **On**, click it to turn it **Off**. This will prevent the "Reply to" email address from differing from your "From" email address.

3. **Changing the "From" Email Address Domain**

  - Access the campaign designer by clicking on the campaign.
  - In the upper right corner, click on the **gear icon** to access **Email Settings**.
  - In the **From Email Address** field, enter an email address that has a different domain from the **To Email Address**. This can help in ensuring that the warning does not appear when sending emails.

4. **Setting Up SPF and DKIM Authentication**

  - It is also advisable to set up **SPF** (Sender Policy Framework) and **DKIM** (DomainKeys Identified Mail) authentication. 
  - These settings help verify that your emails are legitimately from your domain and not part of a phishing attempt. For more information on setting up SPF and DKIM, see the ActiveCampaign guides on these topics.

Configuration Options and Settings

Understanding the following bold configuration options will help you manage your email communications more effectively:

• Reply Tracking: This feature, when enabled, causes the "Reply to" address to be different from the "From" address, which may trigger the warning.
• From Email Address: The domain of the "From" email must differ from the recipient's domain to minimize warning messages.
• SPF and DKIM Authentication: Implementing these authentication measures enhances email legitimacy.

Best Practices and Tips

To further reduce the chances of your emails triggering the "Be careful with this message" warning, consider the following best practices:

1. Regularly review your email settings and ensure that they are correctly configured. 2. Avoid sending internal emails to team members or internal contacts from the same domain that differ in their "Reply to" addresses. 3. Use distinct domains for different campaigns whenever possible to eliminate confusion. 4. Regularly check ActiveCampaign’s latest updates and guides to ensure you are following the best practices for deliverability.

Troubleshooting

If you continue to see the "Be careful with this message" warning despite making adjustments, consider the following troubleshooting steps:

- Reassess your email domain configurations to ensure that the "From" and "To" email addresses are set up correctly. - Verify that SPF and DKIM settings are fully configured and recognized by email providers. - Consult ActiveCampaign support for further assistance tailored to your specific email behaviors.

Related Features

For more information regarding email deliverability and related functionalities, you might find the following features useful:

• Email Authentication
• Spam Testing
• Email Deliverability Reports

FAQ

• What does the "Be careful with this message" warning mean?

 The warning indicates that there is a potential risk of phishing, occurring due to certain configurations in the email settings.

• Can I remove this warning?

 No, this warning cannot be removed or altered by ActiveCampaign, but you can adjust settings to minimize its occurrence.

• What should I do if my emails are being marked as spam?

 Ensure you have proper authentication set up and review your email practices to comply with best standards.

• What are SPF and DKIM?

 SPF and DKIM are email authentication techniques that help verify the legitimacy of your emails.

• Will this warning appear for all recipients?

 No, the warning primarily affects internal team members using the same domain.

• Can I ignore the warning?

 It's advisable not to ignore the warning as it can impact your email deliverability and recipient perceptions.

• Where can I find more help on email settings?

 For more guidance, refer to the ActiveCampaign documentation related to Email and Deliverability.

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