📚✨ Google's Silent, But Seismic Policy Change

Hey Y'all! 👋🏼

The new Gmail regulations went into effect this month. Google will now require mass email senders (over 5,000 emails per day) to authenticate their email. If this is news to you, don't stress. The fixes are technical but doable with some foundational knowledge. Read on for more...

On Tap This Week
🌱 Rushing to Authenticate Gmails New Mass Email Policy
🌺 Email Domain Authentication: Explain It to Me Like I'm 10
🌺 Authentication instructions by email platform
🧮 Creator platform pricing calculator
🌱 Analyzing Changing media habits

Google quietly announced these changes in October. While we picked up the news quickly, most email platforms were asleep when it came to giving their customers the news, instructions, and support to make the change. We recorded this back in October when the announcement was made. I think it still holds up.

Honestly, Google’s shift is a good policy. It means more good emails are getting to people's inbox and we get less spammy/junky emails. I’m happy as a subscriber and as a sender! It means that my personal inbox is nice and my newsletter gets sent to a cleaner inbox and a less annoyed (hopefully) person.

But sadly, it has added a much bigger headache for smaller organizations, grassroots, and volunteer groups that are doing good work on the ground. While I'm not a born coder, I know my way around and this new policy shift had me learning way too much about the technical side of email sending! It's not for the faint of heart to dive in fresh so I hope to give a primer below for 🌺 Flowering members who still need to authenticate.

If you’ve not yet authenticated your domain, I can help with your gmail authentication setup for a $250-400 project fee (price varies by email/domain setup). All I need is access to your domain login and your email service platform.

🌺 Flowering & 🍋 Fruitful Member Zone

*NEW* Email Domain Verification Toolkit

This guide will help you set up your email domain verification to meet Google’s new verification requirements. Customized for 🫶🏼 non-profits & 🗳 campaigns. Why use it?The new Gmail regulations went into effect in February 2024. Google will now require mass email senders (over 5,000 emails per day) to authenticate their email. If this is news to you, don’t stress! The fixes are technical but doable with some foundational knowledge.What’s Included🍄 Explained: New Gmail Mass Email Policy - what is the new policy and why?🍄 What does this all mean? - Explaining the changes with no tech experience necessary.🍄 Step-By-Step Instructions & Screenshots - We take you through the steps to verify your email domain. Included screenshots and tips for all major domain and email platforms. 🍄 Instructions per Email Platform - For more technical instructions, choose your email platform and use their platform-specific instructions. 🍄 Email Planning Template - Included is a Google spreadsheet to help you plan your email program. Best ForNon-profit and advocacy organizations Grassroots organizationsPolitical campaignsActivists/EntrepreneursSmall businesses

Gumroad

• 📚 Music Down on TikTok - Anyone experience the chaos on TikTok when Universal Music Group took down their music on the platform?
  • 🤓 The Root 🌱 - It’s a reminder that TikTok is a for profit company and that we do not own our data or content. Make sure you are regularly downloading and storing your social media data.
• 🧮 Creator Platform Comparison Calculator - As the creator economy has been shaken up and people look for alternatives to Substack, use this comparison calculator.
  • 🤓 The Root 🌱 - Creator platforms that help creators monetize can often have hidden fees involved. Some platforms charge a % fee, while others use a flat monthly fee. This calculator shows the real value cost to help you make an informed decision.
• 📈 Sports Have Landed on Streaming - Peacock’s streaming-only NFL Wild Card game drove a record 2.8 million sign ups to the service. They will also be hosting the Paris Olympics this summer and Netflix have a new WWE deal.
  • 🤓 The Root 🌱 - While this has nothing to do with social change, this is a big shift. Sports have been why people don’t leave cable. If they can get live sports on streaming, we might see cable crumble faster than we thought.
• 📚 TikTok Tests 30-Minute Uploads - While everyone chases TikTok, TikTok wants to capture YouTube’s audience with longer form videos. They have been quietly testing 30 minute videos.
  • 🤓 The Root 🌱 - As people spend most of their digital time, search, and get their information on TikTok, it’s only natural that they will try to steal YouTube’s crown.

In Solidarity,
Sam Chavez
Roots of Change Founder

Not yet a 🌺 Flowering subscriber? Join today to get our resource library and extra storytelling insights each week.

🌱 about the roots of change agency

The Roots of Change Agency was founded to support nonprofits, campaigns, and activists to avoid burnout and tell empathetic stories to cultivate connections that empower social change. We were founded in 2020. Learn more.

Support Our Work

💸 shouldn't be a barrier to social change! 🌍 We believe that the work of social change is for all of us. We aim to have our resources accessible and affordable to anyone who may need them.