Are inbox placement platforms a good strategy for email deliverability?

Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests that even if inbox placement platforms work as advertised, any benefits will be temporary unless the sender's practices are already good.

Email marketer from ZeroBounce suggests the foundation for email success starts with email verification of your list to remove invalid or risky email addresses. This combined with good sending practices will lead to better inbox placement.

Email marketer from Email Geeks compares inbox placement services to kindling: they can help start off, but without proper sending practices ('firewood' and 'oxygen'), the benefits will fizzle out, and you'll end up back in spam.

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that email warming can improve deliverability by establishing a positive sending history, but it is crucial to maintain good sending practices, such as list hygiene and relevant content. Warming alone will not fix underlying deliverability issues.

Email marketer from EmailToolTester explains that email warming tools can be helpful in improving sender reputation, but they are not a magic bullet and should be used in conjunction with other best practices like sending relevant content and managing your email list.

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that while some have successfully used engagement emulation (inbox placement platforms), many more have ended up in a worse position. He generally advises clients against it due to the cost and potential ineffectiveness.

Email marketer from Woodpecker believes email warming is a useful tactic, especially for new domains/IPs, but should not be the core of an email strategy. They emphasize the importance of valid email addresses, personalized messages, and a consistent sending schedule.

Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests there is no free lunch with email deliverability and these things might have short term benefits but that likely will come with a price later.

Email marketer from Gmass shares that while email warming services can provide short-term benefits, they carry risks, including potential detection by mailbox providers and damage to sender reputation if not used carefully. Building a genuine, engaged subscriber base is ultimately more effective.

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares their understanding that using inbox placement platforms is frowned upon.

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum writes that they've seen short-term improvements with email warming services, but they caution that these benefits disappear quickly if you don't address underlying issues like low engagement or poor list quality. Build strong foundations first.

Email marketer from Reddit shares that warming services can be a crutch if your email marketing foundation is weak. They emphasize focusing on high-quality content, segmentation, and consistent sending habits to build a strong sender reputation organically.

Email marketer from Email Geeks says that whether it's technically legal or not, or fraud or not, trying to game the system only leads, ultimately, to inbox jail.

Email marketer from Email Geeks advises against doing what spammers do if you don't want to be treated like one.

Email marketer from Hunter shares email warming tools can help build a positive sending reputation, but they are most effective when combined with other deliverability best practices, such as email authentication, list segmentation, and engaging content.

Email marketer from Litmus explains that while warming can have value, a key element of improving deliverability is using double opt-in to confirm subscribers want to receive messages. This leads to less spam complaints and stronger engagement signals.

Email marketer from Email Geeks believes inbox placement platforms operate too close to the line between "gaming the system" and "fraud."

Expert from Email Geeks argues that inbox placement platforms will not provide a lasting benefit, as changing to your own audience changes what you're doing.

Expert from SpamResource states that mailbox providers are very effective at detecting inauthentic engagement, and using services to generate fake positive engagement signals will, in the long run, do more harm than good to your sending reputation. They highlight the importance of earning genuine engagement through valuable content and permission-based marketing.

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that using 'engagement farms' (similar to inbox placement platforms) is risky. They highlight that mailbox providers are actively working to identify and penalize such services, and that these strategies can backfire and harm deliverability in the long run.

Expert from Email Geeks expresses concerns about the legality of inbox placement platforms, drawing parallels to a spam lawsuit where Microsoft alleged that similar practices violated the law.

Documentation from Mailchimp recommends that ensuring your email is properly authenticated, using a familiar 'From' address, segmenting your lists, and cleaning your audience regularly are all key components of a good deliverability strategy. Mailchimp does not recommend or mention warming services.

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools explains that sender reputation is a key factor in deliverability. Consistently sending emails that recipients find valuable is crucial for building a positive reputation and avoiding spam filters. This cannot be bypassed by warming services.

Documentation from Microsoft states that sending unwanted email can result in the blacklisting of your IP address. Focusing on acquiring users that want your email, using confirmed opt-in, and honoring unsubscribe requests will help keep your email out of the junk folder. Warming services are not mentioned as part of their guidance.

Documentation from Sendgrid states that consistent sending volume, proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and engaged recipients are critical for email deliverability. Warming IP addresses can be a part of this strategy, but it's not a replacement for fundamental best practices.

Documentation from SparkPost explains that factors like authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), list hygiene, and engagement significantly impact deliverability. While warming IP addresses is sometimes necessary, focusing on fundamental best practices is more critical for long-term success.