Apple’s iOS 26 update just changed the game for retention marketers. With link tracking stripped, device signals scrambled, inflated open rates, and SMS promos getting buried in “Unknown Senders,” the old email and SMS playbooks won’t cut it anymore.

In this episode, Jimmy Kim and Chase Dimond unpack exactly what’s different, why it matters, and how ecommerce brands can adapt ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. They break down what these changes mean for attribution, campaign visibility, and KPIs. Plus, they share the tactical fixes you can implement now to keep your flows performing.

EP 51: iOS 26 Explained: What Apple’s New Update Means for Email & SMS Marketers

Here's what we're diving into:

- iOS 26 changes: link tracking protection, fingerprinting defenses, noisy open rates, SMS filtering

- How attribution breaks (and how to fix it with server-side tracking + incrementality tests)

- Becoming a “known sender” on SMS: two-tap opt-ins, first-message replies, vCard saves

- KPI shifts: stop celebrating opens; track RPR/RPS, replies, and 30–90 day lift

- Lifecycle plays that still work: welcome, abandoned cart, back-in-stock, VIP promos

Thank you our friends at Omnisend, Kintsugi and eCom Email Certified for sponsoring the podcast!

Omnisend is an all in one eCommerce email and SMS marketing automation platform that enables marketers to engage customers and drive sales through personalized experiences. https://eemtrk.com/omnisend-sendit

Kintsugi is an AI platform that monitors, files, and optimizes sales tax for you with a 98.3% reduction in errors. Mention Chase and Jimmy to receive your first three months free! https://eemtrk.com/sendit-kintsugi

eCom Email Certified is a hands-on, results-driven program with a step-by-step guide to mastering retention marketing and driving serious results. Access over 25 hours of learnings and become a certified email & SMS marketer. Use code: SENDIT! for $300 OFF https://eemtrk.com/eec-sendit

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00:00 Welcome to The Show

03:11 Deep Dive into iOS 26 Changes

05:55 Link Tracking Protection Explained

08:53 Device Fingerprinting Defenses

09:35 Email Engagement Distortion

10:52 SMS Filtering and Placement

14:00 Impacts and Future Strategies

16:50 Strategies for Retention Marketers

26:23 Multi-Channel Marketing Insights

27:43 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

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Enjoying the pod? Subscribe to The eCom Email Marketer Newsletter for your weekly dose of retention strategy, actionable insights, & exclusive industry news! http://ecomemailmarketer.com/

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Follow Jimmy & Chase on social!

Follow Jimmy Kim at:

https://x.com/yojimmykim

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yojimmykim/

https://www.instagram.com/yojimmykim/

https://www.tiktok.com/@yojimmykim

Follow Chase Dimond at:

https://x.com/ecomchasedimond

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasedimond/

https://www.instagram.com/chasehunterdimond/

https://www.tiktok.com/@chasehunterdimond

Contact us at [email protected] for sponsorships, appearance requests, interviews, or general information!