Rocketseed’s Most Frequently Asked Questions

What is email branding?

Email branding is the concept of using rich-text or HTML-based email to support a company’s corporate identity. Rocketseed makes it easier for businesses to place graphical branding into every email of their employees. Instead of sending bland, vanilla email, Rocketseed enables graphic enhancements within each message, targeted by campaigns.

How do we define email marketing campaigns?

For the most part, email marketing has become synonymous with ‘bulk email’ or sending a broadcast email to a list of email addresses. At Rocketseed, an email marketing campaign is one that leverages the sender (corporate staff), the receiver (to whom the staffer is sending an email), the messages to be sent (e.g. graphical elements or links within the email branding) and the date of the email being sent. These characteristics determine what we at Rocketseed call an email marketing campaign – ensuring that marketing messages are included within trusted email communications between your staff and their recipients.

Is Rocketseed the same as spam or bulk email? How does it differ?

No. Rocketseed uses your everyday email as the message carrier. It does not send an unsolicited email to a receiver nor does it use lists of email addresses to send a generic or customized email.

Do we have to change our email software in order to use Rocketseed?

No. You continue to use your existing software (e.g. Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, etc). Rocketseed only impacts the email after it is sent out from your mail server, therefore it is seamless to the email sender.

What response rates can be expected from Rocketseed?

Response rates depend on many factors. However, because Rocketseed is a solicited communication channel and the affinity is high (of those viewing the messages and their interests), Rocketseed response rates far exceed other marketing channels. Note that Rocketseed Inserts can be forwarded by the initial email receiver, which creates a viral marketing effect.

Where can an inserted message link to?

When a receiver clicks on an inserted message, that action can open a browser, download a file, display a video or display any content such as an HTML web site, a PDF document, an ASP page or a survey form.

Can Rocketseed insert footers?

Yes. Rocketseed can insert a footer which can be used for disclaimers, to disseminate general information, give up to date contact details, etc.

What file types can I insert as messages?

Rocketseed can insert static/animated graphic images (gif and jpg) and text into emails. Rocketseed allows for receivers to then click and download PDF or other types of documents if you wish. For security reasons, Rocketseed does not allow any scripts or executable files (including Flash) to be inserted as these can pose a security threat.

Can the email sender control if a message is inserted, and do private emails also get an insert message added?

Yes. A sender can enter a simple exclusion code [xrs] in the subject line of an outgoing email, which will cause that email to pass through the Rocketseed relay without having an insert included. The exclusion code will be automatically removed from the subject line as the email passes through the relay and will not be seen by the receiver of the email.

Does Rocketseed work with mail servers like Lotus Notes, Microsoft Exchange and GroupWise?

Yes. Rocketseed will work with any SMTP server that is standards compliant and has the ability to forward outgoing mail to a specified network address.

If I don’t host my own web site, can I still use Rocketseed?

Yes. Rocketseed is not dependent on your website in any way. All Rocketseed does is point insert messages to pages on your website or any other site or web destination you choose.

How are images attached?

There are two ways that an image can be placed into your email:

• Embedded. The image content is embedded into the mail body and is transmitted with the email. We suggest that inserted images not exceed 15 kilobytes.
• Referenced. The image is not attached to the sender’s email. Instead an HTML reference is created that points to the actual image located on the Rocketseed server. This means that when you send the email, your bandwidth is not affected by the image, since the receiver’s email software actually ‘pulls’ the image from the Rocketseed server.

How will Rocketseed impact my bandwidth?

There is little to no impact on the outgoing email bandwidth. It is worth noting that traffic to your website should increase considerably because Rocketseed will drive people there. Inserts are also limited by the Rocketseed system to a maximum of 25 kilobytes. This is done purely as a courtesy to the receiver. We suggest that inserts do not exceed 15 kilobytes.

How safe is the Rocketseed server?

We rigorously test our solution to make sure that it is secure and safe from external attacks. As mail passes through the Rocketseed server, that is, it is not actually ‘opened’, the server cannot be affected by a virus.

All that is recorded about the mail is the information contained in the message headers. This means that the information contained in the email body is not stored, cannot be accessed and remains confidential.

How do I access the Rocketseed server?

The Rocketseed server is a straight forward SMTP relay, complying with all appropriate standards. Depending upon your needs, you can access a Rocketseed server housed in a Tier 1 data centre (which are geographically spread around the globe, giving access to a convenient local point of presence) or you can host a Rocketseed server within your own network. The choice is yours. Our architects will work with you to ensure that Rocketseed is incorporated into your environment in the way that makes most sense for you.

How is the Rocketseed server set up to safely deliver my mail?

We ensure that the server is set up with all the correct DNS references. In addition, Rocketseed adds all the popular email authentication methods to your campaigns: DKIM, SenderID, SPF, and Domain Keys.