Is There Anybody Out There? Mailtrack Helps 1.2 Million Gmail Users Monitor and Manage Essential Business Leads and Relationships

TL; DR: Mailtrack, a simple, practical way to manage Gmail communications, employs a double-check system to ensure emails are successfully sent and opened. The intuitive, two-check system provides peace of mind at a glance, allowing users to effortlessly manage leads and customer relationships. With ongoing development based on customer feedback and robust support through Mailtrack Pro, the company is making it easier than ever to monitor email delivery.

In our personal and business lives alike, it’s never pleasant to send out a well-crafted email and receive nothing in return. After a few hours of crickets, the racing thoughts begin: Was my email offensive? Did it go through? Is the recipient avoiding me? Should I follow up, or is it too soon?

Serial entrepreneur Nacho González-Barros must have had some of those same thoughts in November 2013 when he founded Mailtrack, a tool that tracks whether emails sent through Gmail are successfully delivered and read.

“He was a bit of a control freak, so he started Mailtrack as a simple, resourceful tool that would remove the uncertainties involved in email communication,” said Eduardo Manchón, CEO of Mailtrack. “For many people, it provides a feeling of security regarding what’s going on with their email.”

Since then, Nacho has moved on to other products, placing Eduardo at the helm of Mailtrack. Since then, Eduardo has used his experience as founder of Panoramio (acquired by Google), as well as his background in psychology, to grow the Barcelona-based company into the popular email tracking solution it is today.

The tool, which in some cases eliminates the need for CRM software, offers users an effortless option for managing leads and customer relationships. It’s as practical as it is beneficial, allowing users to achieve peace of mind with a simple, two-check-mark tracking system. With ongoing feedback based on customer need and robust support through Mailtrack Pro, Mailtrack is making it easier than ever to gain control over your inbox.

Mailtrack’s company philosophy boils down to simplicity and practicality. The tracking system was designed to integrate seamlessly into Gmail, adding a simple double-check system to track emails and provide a read receipt.

The goal, Eduardo said, is to ensure an uninterrupted Gmail experience bolstered by additional at-a-glance information. “It’s a very simple concept,” he said. “Mailtrack displays one check (✓) to signify that the email is being sent and then two checks (✓✓) to show it has been opened.”

The tool, available as an extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera, also provides information on how long ago the recipient read the email, as well as how many times he or she read it. Certain plans include full control over this information via a handy dashboard, where users can filter emails that have been read or not read. Eduardo said other features include notifications when emails are opened and reminders when an email hasn’t been opened after a certain period.

Eduardo said professionals have used the extension at Harvard, Yahoo, Uber, BBVA, and LinkedIn, among other well-known institutions. High-profile news outlets, including Forbes, Mashable, Inc., and Lifehacker, have featured the tool in their publications. And, if a glance at the Chrome Web Store is any indication of its success, Mailtrack boasts more than 1.2 million active users and more than 9,500 reviewers, who rate the extension a whopping 4.5 out of 5 stars.

“This year we plan to double the headcount of the company in step with our growth,” Eduardo said. “Until now, we have had a staff of 10 people, including five engineers. In a year, we’ll employ 20 people.”

Mailtrack is one of the only free Gmail tracking tools in the Chrome Web Store, according to Eduardo. “Our business model is to offer unlimited email tracking for all users at no cost, indefinitely,” he said.

The free version includes a “Sent with Mailtrack” branded signature, which may be removed — albeit manually — on each email. Eduardo said many customers prefer to keep the signature, as it encourages the recipient to take the message seriously. Others, including salespeople, don’t want potential customers to know they’re being tracked.

The company offers a paid plan through Mailtrack Pro to remove the branding for good. Like the free plan, the paid plan includes unlimited email tracking for Gmail, plus extra features. The email activity feature, for example, shows the user when and how many times the recipient opens an email, and on what device. Hot notifications, on the other hand, alert the user by mail when an email has been opened multiple times in a brief period.

In addition to real-time notifications that alert the user when a recipient opens an email, Mailtrack Pro provides a host of bonus features, including daily email tracking reports, click tracking, support via email and phone, reminders, an activity dashboard, and integration with third-party CRM software.

All of these features allow users to gain a sense of control over their business and personal communications — and they’re proving quite popular. Eduardo said Mailtrack currently serves more than 52,000 paying customers via its monthly, quarterly, or yearly rates, which decrease in price with longer commitments.

Between its free and paid plans, the company receives more than 120,000 new customers per month — an increase that Eduardo expects will continue. “Our affordable prices and wide range of features make the business very sustainable,” he said.

Anyone who sends emails using Gmail will benefit from using Mailtrack. The tool is an excellent fit for professionals seeking to increase their productivity by tracking emails, as well as account managers, sales teams, and other employees navigating direct client relationships. It’s also useful for streamlining internal communications and working with freelancers.

“We have all kinds of customers — everyone from salespeople to professionals actively looking for employment,” Eduardo said. “Because we offer such an elegant, simple solution, it’s appropriate for a range of different users.”

Others use the tool in place of traditional CRM software. “Our customers, and even competitors, perceive us as an entry-level CRM solution,” Eduardo said. “While some people start using Mailtrack and then move to a more complex solution as they grow, many will remain with us forever because they don’t need a more complex solution. Plus, we are always adding new features.”

Mailtrack’s goal is to help customers manage leads and relationships in a resourceful way. The company isn’t trying to compete with large CRM systems. Eduardo said the idea is to add functionality so that Mailtrack can serve as a “light CRM” within Gmail. Ultimately, though, he doesn’t want the software to become too complex.

“People don’t like change,” he said. “We aim to modify Gmail as little as possible because simplicity is important.”

Eduardo’s experience leading Askaro, Panoramio, Loque, and other businesses to success has taught him the importance of attentive customer care. Even as CEO of Mailtrack, Eduardo isn’t afraid to put his ear to the ground when it comes to customers.

“I often reply to support tickets myself,” he said. “It’s such an important thing to do, no matter what position you’re in because you get to spend time with the people you serve while gaining insight into their wants and needs.”

Feedback informs approximately 50% of Mailtrack’s product development. But the company also keeps a close watch on the market to determine what upcoming technologies might better the product — especially in terms of machine learning. “We want to offer new features that users wouldn’t necessarily think of, or expect,” Eduardo said.

Whatever the result, users can rest assured that Mailtrack will stick to its mission: to provide a simple, intuitive way for users to eliminate the uncertainties so often experienced through email-based communication.