The hidden dangers of unbranded emails

Did you know, that more than 90% of successful cyber-attacks start with a phishing email? With billions of emails sent out every day, unbranded emails make it easier for attackers to impersonate your company and erode customer trust. 

Why email branding matters 

With email being a key channel of communication between brands and their customers, branding is very important to establish trust. Consistent branding across your company provides repeated exposure creating lasting brand recognition. Beyond marketing value, branding can also prevent financial and legal concerns.  

Risks of unbranded emails 

Phishing is the most common threat when leaving emails unbranded. The lack of branding helps them trick people into falling for their scam. Scammers will often use urgent warnings and attach malicious links to their emails. These emails are not only targeted at customers but can also happen internally. Hackers may try to impersonate a CEO or fake an invoice to trick employees into sending them money. 

Unbranded emails pose the following including (but not limited to): 

• Loss of engagement 
• Increased risk of phishing success 
• Damages brand reputation 
• Potential financial and legal problems

How to protect your organization 

Two major ways you can protect your organization from phishing is through technical safeguards and consistent email branding.

Safeguards: 

• SPF (Sender Policy Framework): Your company establishes a list of which mail servers are allowed to send emails on your behalf. If an email comes from outside of this list, it can be flagged or blocked. 

• DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): DKIM adds a digital “stamp” to each email, so when the recipient receives it, their email server can confirm the message hasn’t been changed or altered in transit. 

• DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance): DMARC tells receiving email servers what to do if an email fails SPF and DKIM checks. It also provides status reports on anyone who may try to spoof your domain.  

Email Branding: 

• Standardize your emails in a branded template 
• Utilize tools like Black Pearl Mail to centrally manage and create consistency throughout your company.  

Tips for stronger emails

Creating strong email branding is simple yet effective.  

Some key features to include are: 

• Company Logo 
• Company Colors
• Company Fonts 
• Clear contact info 
• Sender photo 
• Mobile-first design 

It’s equally important to educate your employees on how to identify suspicious emails. Ensure they understand your company’s email branding so they can feel confident in identifying a potential threat. 

The bottom line

Unbranded emails can pose liability threats, treat your email branding as both a marketing and security strategy. A simple fix to your emails can save you the headache of unwanted scams and defamation to your brand.  

Unsure on how to start your email branding journey? Book a time with our team today.  

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