Hi,
I don't know of any specific metrics off the top of my head but before the advent of image blocking open rates were perhaps 45-50% on average. Now they are down to around 20% on average. Not all of this can be attributed to image blocking as there are other factors like inbox clutter and spam filters but I would say it is by far the biggest factor.

Of course the reason open rates are important when talking about image blocking is that opens are tracked by an invisible image!

My own feeling is that image blocking is widespread as all major ISPs have this as the default setting and very few people change this.

Sean

On 10:50:25 21 September 2007 Handbags wrote:

Hi,

Does anyone have any metrics for the % of people who have explicitly switched off default image blocking within their email application / webmail client?

Any insight would be much appreciated.

Regards,

- S

Sarah

Marketing Sherpa produced metrics on this subject in their Email Marketing Benchmark Guide 2007.  2 charts of may be interest here:

1 How often do consumers see blocked images?
o Rarely 17%
o Never 35%
o Sometimes 29%
o Always 19%

2 Do consumers activate images in marketing emails?
o 83% in statements and order updates
o 79% from companies with permission to email them
o 77% from companies they do business with
o 54% from trusted companies without permission
o 35% from unrecognised senders when contents are of interest

But if your question is relating to "Should my client use images in their email" then the above is useful but it really depends on the nature of your clients business.  For example, I have one retail client who mainly sends image emails. They get a huge response rate. However this would not apply to everyone.

Feel free to contact me for further insights using our email marketing effectiveness service.

Chris Byrne CEO
www.spinnakerpro.com
www.sensorpro.net

Direct +353 61 234505