Importance of Email Marketing Security

Email marketing becoming largely digital, email. In particular, has become a huge driver for generating more leads, conversions and ultimately revenue.

While it may sound easy to simply click and send off a slew of emails. The least of our worries is a full inbox. Email is one of the most valuable online distribution channels. But it’s also the least secure with people’s personal information at stake.

At the end of the day, it’s not just about ensuring that your marketing campaigns are effective. But it’s also protecting your brand’s reputation and helping your customers, past, present or future. From falling for possible scams and cyber attacks like the most common one for email marketing: phishing.

Email Phishing 

Phishing is a type of social engineering attack often used to steal user data, including login credentials and credit card numbers. It occurs when an attacker, masquerading as a trusted entity, dupes a victim into opening an email, instant message, or text message. The recipient then tricked by clicking a malicious link, which can lead to the installation of malware, the freezing of the system as part of a ransomware attack or the revealing of sensitive information.

Phishing is an extremely successful tactic for hackers to get what they want, and marketers should take extra caution. Email phishing has a huge impact on marketing email campaigns, so it’s important to know the warning signs.

Here are some warning signs to look out for when identifying a potential spoofed or phishing email:

• Urgency detected-  If the email message seems geared towards promoting a sense of urgency or flagged as high importance. As counter-intuitive, the email which might be spoofed pay particular attention to emails that demand a response “at your earliest convenience” and call on specific actions to be taken, like verifying information online. Typically, urgent matters are handled over the phone, so when in doubt, double check through another mode of communication.
• Personal Information Request –  If you asked for personal information or asked to verify your identity by clicking a link, for example, be wary. Banks, for example, will never ask you for personal information over email. It only takes a second to verify the link before you proceed to click or download. An attachment and that can save you from dealing with the overwhelming burden. And consequences that come with a phishing attack.
• Poor spelling and grammar-  We are all human and make mistakes. Then there is every reason to be suspicious. Since a reliable and professional entity will rarely make that many blatant typos.