Google has introduced a new Gmail feature that lets users turn their “Promotions” tab into a more visual, almost Pinteresty shopping experience.
This is one at least minor improvement to the current state of Gmail for email marketers. The introduction of the Promotions tab and the tabbed interface in general is something a lot of markers have had to struggle with because messages mostly go there to rot. Be honest. How often do you really look at your Promotions tab?
“Promotional mail has a lot of images, from pictures of snazzy new shoes to photos of that rock-climbing gym you’ve been wanting to try,” product manager Aaron Rothman says in a blog post. “But right now, those images are buried inside your messages—and with only subject lines to go on, it can be a challenge to quickly pick out the deals and offers that interest you most.”
“Buried” is a good word. Let’s not forget that the images are really buried in the messages which are buried themselves within the Promotions tab.
“You’ll be able to toggle between the new visual grid view and the standard list view by clicking a button at the top of the tab,” Rothman says.
The grid view includes infinite scrolling (again, much like Pinterest).
Gmail uses an algorithm to determine the most relevant image from a message to display, but you can also use markup to specify the image you want to show up. More on this here.
For now, the feature is only available in a field trial, which you can sign up for here.
Image via Google