Do spam complaints from different email domains have different weights in deliverability?
Summary
What email marketers say9Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Senderscore.org details that the volume of complaints matters a lot, and that having a sustained high volume of complaints will harm deliverability over time, regardless of the original source.
Email marketer from Quora explains that spam complaints are a direct signal to ISPs that recipients don't want to receive your emails. High complaint rates can lead to blacklisting and reduced deliverability.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum responds that the impact of spam complaints varies depending on the ISP. Some ISPs may prioritize complaints from users with a history of accurate spam reporting.
Email marketer from GlockApps shares that complaints from major domains like Gmail and Yahoo can have a larger impact due to their significant user base. Monitoring complaint rates from these domains is crucial.
Email marketer from Litmus shares that spam complaints are a critical factor influencing email deliverability. Litmus recommends monitoring complaint rates and implementing best practices to minimize them.
Email marketer from StackExchange responds that while specific weights are secret, it's logical that complaints from highly engaged users on major platforms carry more weight. Focus on overall engagement.
Email marketer from Mailchimp explains that spam complaints are a critical factor in determining email deliverability. Mailchimp actively monitors complaints and provides feedback to users. Some ISPs may give more weight to complaints from certain domains or users.
Email marketer from Neil Patel Blog explains that sender reputation is crucial, and high spam complaint rates negatively impact it. Some ISPs may weigh complaints more heavily, especially from engaged users.
Email marketer from Reddit shares that while the exact weighting isn't public, larger ISPs like Gmail and Yahoo likely have more influence due to their user base. Focus on keeping all complaint rates low.
What the experts say3Expert opinions
Expert from Spam Resource explains that large mailbox providers like Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo! consider complaints as a factor in reputation. The weight given to a specific complaint is complex and depends on many factors, but it's reasonable to assume that complaints from active and engaged users of these providers carry more weight.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that the diversity of complaints from different domains can impact your reputation. If complaints are heavily concentrated from a specific provider, it may indicate a problem with your email practices targeting that provider's users.
Expert from Email Geeks explains that spam complaints should be viewed as a percentage of messages delivered to the inbox at each provider. ISPs only care about complaints for mail they see. Gmail complaints are rare because Gmail doesn't send complaints back to Klaviyo. ESPs use complaints to determine if customers violate their AUP. Complaint rates over 0.3% are generally considered bad, while rates below 0.1% are acceptable.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from SparkPost explains that feedback loops (FBLs) are essential for monitoring spam complaints. Different ISPs provide FBLs, and the data received helps senders identify and address deliverability issues.
Documentation from RFC details the technical specifications for feedback loops (FBLs) and automated spam reporting systems. These systems allow ISPs to provide senders with information about spam complaints.
Documentation from Microsoft explains that sender reputation is based on various factors, including spam complaints. Microsoft uses this reputation to filter incoming emails, and higher complaint rates can negatively affect deliverability.
Documentation from Google explains that spam complaints significantly impact deliverability to Gmail users. High complaint rates can lead to emails being filtered to spam folders.