Gmail Annotations display discount details directly in Gmail's Promotions tab inbox preview, making your promotional emails stand out without recipients opening them.
This guide shows you how to enable Gmail Annotations for Discount Item in emails in Omnisend.
Note: Gmail Annotations are currently available only for the Discount Item and visible only to Gmail users viewing their inbox in the Promotions tab.
What Are Gmail Annotations?
Gmail Annotations are a feature designed for promotional emails. They let you include additional promotion information displayed in the recipient's inbox before they open the email.
This additional information makes your email more noticeable in the Promotions tab.
Benefits
Preview Without Opening. Show a sneak peek of your email content without recipients needing to open it.
Engage Recipients. A quick preview encourages clicks and opens.
Stand Out. Your email catches attention with striking images, enticing offers, and urgency cues.
Enhanced Visibility. Provide important information upfront, enriching the user experience.
Enable Gmail Annotations
Step 1. Go to Campaigns or Automations → Open your email in the Email Builder.
Step 2. Add a Discount Item to your email content. In the Discount Item settings panel, toggle Gmail Annotations on.
Step 3. Add a discount description – this text appears in the inbox preview alongside your offer.
Your discount offer now appears directly in the inbox preview, increasing the likelihood recipients will open your email.
FAQ
What is the best way to test Gmail annotations?
Create a segment that includes only your email address, then send a real campaign to that segment. This lets you see exactly how annotations appear to actual recipients without affecting your full audience.
Do Gmail Annotations work in Automation emails or only Campaigns?
Gmail Annotations work in both email Campaigns and Automation workflows. Add the Discount Item to any email to enable this feature.
Do I need to add a discount description for annotations to work?
Yes. The discount description field is required for Gmail Annotations to display. If you don't add one, the annotation won't appear in Gmail.
Will Gmail Annotations show in Outlook, Yahoo Mail, or Apple Mail?
No. Gmail Annotations are only visible in Gmail's web and mobile apps within the Promotions tab. They will not appear in Outlook, Yahoo Mail, Apple Mail, or other email clients.
Why don't my annotations show in the Primary tab?
Gmail Annotations only appear in the Promotions tab. If your email lands in Primary, Social, or Updates, the annotation won't display. Learn more about Gmail tab placement.
Do Gmail annotations show up in test campaigns or previews?
No. Gmail annotations may not be visible in test campaigns or previews. To accurately test how they appear, create a segment with your email address and send a real campaign to that segment as described above.
For help with any issues, refer to the Gmail Promotions Tab troubleshooting guide.
Want to talk to support? Use the in-app chat feature or send your questions to [email protected].