Transactional vs Marketing Email
Not all email is the same. A password reset and a monthly newsletter are sent for very different reasons, and treating them the same way harms both. Separating transactional and marketing mail protects the deliverability of each.
Understanding the difference helps you choose the right tools and avoid one type dragging down the other.
Two Very Different Jobs
Transactional email is triggered by an action and is expected by the recipient. Marketing email is sent to promote, and recipients must have opted in.
Why Keep Them Apart
Mixing them risks a marketing complaint affecting critical transactional mail like receipts and resets.
- Use separate sending domains or subdomains for each.
- Send transactional mail through a reliable, fast service.
- Send marketing mail through a platform with consent and unsubscribe handling.
- Keep reputations separate so a marketing dip never blocks a receipt.
| Type | Trigger | Consent needed |
|---|---|---|
| Transactional | A user action | No — expected |
| Marketing | A campaign | Yes — opt-in required |
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.