How does infrequent email sending impact deliverability and what strategies can be used to mitigate these effects?

Summary

Infrequent email sending negatively impacts deliverability by damaging sender reputation, causing emails to be flagged as spam. This is due to ISPs and recipients treating infrequent sends with suspicion, lower engagement rates (recipients forgetting who you are), and increased spam complaints. Maintaining a consistent sending volume and frequency is crucial for building and maintaining a good sending reputation. Strategies to mitigate these effects include establishing a regular sending schedule, warming up IP addresses gradually, segmenting audiences, consistently cleaning email lists to remove unengaged subscribers, using double opt-in, sending re-engagement campaigns, monitoring sender scores and deliverability metrics, using smaller, more frequent batches, and implementing robust authentication methods (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). Sending less than monthly requires extra vigilance in list hygiene, spam complaint management, and authentication.

Key findings

  • Sender Reputation: Infrequent sending damages sender reputation, making emails appear suspicious and more likely to be marked as spam.
  • Engagement Drop: Infrequent sends lead to lower engagement rates as recipients forget the sender.
  • Increased Spam Complaints: Lower engagement increases spam complaints, further harming deliverability.
  • Dedicated IPs Require Frequency: Dedicated IPs require frequent sending (multiple times a week) to maintain a good reputation; infrequent sends can waste this resource.
  • SMTP Consistency Matters: Consistent SMTP connections and adherence to protocol standards are essential for reliable email delivery; erratic patterns are suspicious.

Key considerations

  • Consistent Schedule: Establish a regular sending schedule (aim for at least monthly) to build trust and avoid suspicion. Even if volume varies, try to maintain a predictable pattern.
  • Gradual Warm-up: When starting a new IP/domain or resuming after a long break, gradually warm up your IP address with increasing volume over time.
  • Robust List Hygiene: Practice vigilant list hygiene by regularly removing unengaged subscribers, using double opt-in, and suppressing known complainers.
  • Implement Authentication: Use SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to authenticate your emails, improving deliverability and sender reputation.
  • Monitor Performance: Monitor sender scores, spam complaint rates, and other deliverability metrics. Use tools like Google Postmaster Tools to understand deliverability to Gmail.
  • Re-engage Inactives: Before resuming sends to a large inactive segment, consider a re-engagement campaign to clean the list and warm up recipients.

What email marketers say
8Marketer opinions

Infrequent email sending negatively impacts deliverability by damaging sender reputation, leading ISPs to filter emails as spam. Recipients may forget who the sender is, resulting in lower engagement and increased spam complaints. Strategies to mitigate these effects include warming up IP addresses, maintaining a consistent sending frequency, using double opt-in, segmenting audiences, regularly cleaning email lists, sending re-engagement campaigns, and monitoring sender scores and deliverability metrics.

Key opinions

  • Sender Reputation: Infrequent sending damages sender reputation, causing ISPs to filter emails as spam.
  • Engagement: Infrequent sends lead to lower engagement rates as recipients forget who the sender is.
  • Spam Complaints: Lower engagement increases spam complaints, further harming deliverability.
  • Warming Up: Warming up IP addresses gradually before large sends helps establish a positive sending reputation.
  • Re-engagement: Re-engagement campaigns can help revive inactive subscribers before resuming regular sends.

Key considerations

  • Sending Frequency: Maintain a consistent sending frequency to build and maintain sender reputation.
  • List Hygiene: Regularly clean email lists to remove unengaged subscribers and reduce spam complaints.
  • Segmentation: Segment audiences to send relevant content and improve engagement.
  • Double Opt-in: Use double opt-in to ensure high-quality subscribers and minimize spam complaints.
  • Monitoring: Monitor sender scores and deliverability metrics to identify and address problems promptly.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that infrequent sends cause recipients to forget who you are, leading to lower engagement and increased spam complaints. The Reddit user recommends sending a re-engagement campaign to inactive subscribers before resuming regular sends to improve deliverability.

August 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from ActiveCampaign shares that inconsistent sending can lead to lower engagement rates and increased spam complaints, negatively impacting deliverability. ActiveCampaign suggests warming your IP address gradually, segmenting your audience, and regularly cleaning your list to remove inactive subscribers.

December 2021 - ActiveCampaign
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sender shares that inconsistent sending schedules can damage your sender reputation, causing ISPs to filter your emails as spam. Sender suggests maintaining a regular sending frequency, using double opt-in to ensure high-quality subscribers, and monitoring your sender score to identify and address deliverability problems promptly.

November 2023 - Sender
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus explains that infrequent sending can damage your sender reputation, leading to deliverability issues. Litmus recommends maintaining a consistent sending schedule, engaging with your subscribers, and regularly monitoring your deliverability metrics to identify and address problems promptly.

April 2021 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that infrequent sending can negatively impact sender reputation, leading to deliverability issues. Mailjet recommends warming up your IP address before large sends, segmenting your audience, and consistently cleaning your email list to remove unengaged subscribers.

February 2025 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Gmass advises warming up your IP address before sending large email campaigns to establish a positive sending reputation. Gmass suggests gradually increasing your sending volume and monitoring your deliverability metrics to avoid being flagged as spam.

February 2023 - Gmass
Marketer view

Email marketer from Campaign Monitor recommends maintaining a consistent sending schedule and regularly engaging with your subscribers to improve deliverability. Campaign Monitor suggests sending valuable content and personalizing your messages to keep subscribers interested and engaged.

November 2024 - Campaign Monitor
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests throttling the send over several days leading up to the delivery date, starting with a small volume and gradually increasing it to warm up the IP address.

September 2022 - Email Geeks

What the experts say
7Expert opinions

Infrequent email sending negatively impacts deliverability by damaging sender reputation. Sending large volumes infrequently is likely to be seen as spam. Consistent sending volume and frequency are crucial for maintaining a good sending reputation and building trust with recipients and ISPs. Strategies to mitigate these effects include establishing a regular sending schedule, warming up new IPs/domains, gradually increasing sending volume, vigilant list hygiene, managing spam complaints, and implementing robust authentication methods. Dedicated IPs need to be mailed multiple times a week to maintain a good reputation, and infrequent sends make it difficult to establish a positive reputation. Smaller, more frequent batches can facilitate A/B testing and reputation building.

Key opinions

  • Sender Reputation: Infrequent sending damages sender reputation, making emails appear suspicious.
  • Volume and Frequency: Consistent sending volume and frequency are crucial for a good sending reputation.
  • Dedicated IPs: Dedicated IPs require frequent sending (multiple times a week) to maintain reputation.
  • Warming Up: Warming up IPs/domains gradually builds a solid sending reputation.
  • Minimum Frequency: Sending less than monthly can lead to inboxing problems, even with other best practices.

Key considerations

  • Regular Schedule: Establish a regular sending schedule to build trust and avoid suspicion.
  • Gradual Increase: Gradually increase sending volume when warming up new IPs/domains.
  • List Hygiene: Practice vigilant list hygiene to minimize spam complaints.
  • Authentication: Implement robust authentication methods to improve deliverability.
  • Frequency Options: Explore smaller, more frequent batches to facilitate A/B testing and reputation building.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks highlights that building a good IP reputation requires consistent sending over time and that infrequent sending makes it difficult to establish a positive reputation.

May 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks asks questions about whether smaller batches can be sent more frequently to A/B test, build reputation and messaging between sends to maintain reputation.

October 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that dedicated IPs need to be mailed multiple times a week to maintain a good reputation.

October 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks states that sending 4 million emails every 3 months is not good for deliverability and will likely be seen as spam.

March 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource shares that sender reputation is built on consistent behavior, and sudden changes in sending patterns, including frequency, can harm deliverability. Spam Resource suggests warming up new IPs/domains and gradually increasing volume to establish a solid reputation.

February 2023 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that senders who send very rarely (like less than monthly) are more likely to see inboxing problems, even when doing everything else right. If you can’t send at least monthly, you will need to be extra vigilant about list hygiene, spam complaints, and authentication.

May 2021 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that consistent sending volume is crucial for maintaining a good sending reputation. Infrequent sends can cause recipients and ISPs to treat your emails with suspicion, leading to deliverability problems. Spam Resource recommends establishing a regular sending schedule to build trust.

November 2023 - Spam Resource

What the documentation says
3Technical articles

Infrequent email sending impacts deliverability negatively through several factors, including damaged sender reputation, increased spam rates, and inconsistent connection patterns. Google Postmaster Tools highlights that high spam rates and sudden changes in sending volume are detrimental to Gmail deliverability, recommending low spam rates and gradual volume increases. Microsoft emphasizes consistent sending volumes and discourages sudden spikes, suggesting the use of authentication methods like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. The RFC Editor points out that consistent SMTP connections and adherence to protocols are vital, with infrequent and erratic patterns leading to deliverability issues due to suspicious behavior flags.

Key findings

  • Spam Rates: High spam rates negatively impact sender reputation and deliverability.
  • Volume Changes: Sudden changes in sending volume can harm sender reputation.
  • Sending Volumes: Consistent sending volumes are a best practice for senders.
  • Authentication: Authentication methods like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC improve deliverability.
  • SMTP Connections: Consistent SMTP connections and protocol adherence are crucial for email delivery.

Key considerations

  • Maintain Low Spam Rates: Actively work to keep spam rates low to protect sender reputation.
  • Gradual Volume Increase: When increasing sending volume, do so gradually to avoid being flagged as spam.
  • Consistent Sending: Maintain consistent sending volumes to avoid being interpreted as spam.
  • Implement Authentication: Use SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to authenticate your emails and improve deliverability.
  • Protocol Adherence: Ensure consistent SMTP connections and adherence to email protocols.
Technical article

Documentation from RFC Editor explains that consistent SMTP connections and adherence to protocol standards are crucial for reliable email delivery. Infrequent and erratic connection patterns can lead to delays and deliverability issues, as they may be flagged as suspicious behavior.

January 2023 - RFC Editor
Technical article

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools indicates that high spam rates and sudden changes in sending volume can negatively impact your sender reputation and deliverability to Gmail users. Google recommends maintaining low spam rates and gradually increasing sending volume to establish a positive reputation.

May 2023 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft outlines best practices for senders, including maintaining consistent sending volumes and avoiding sudden spikes in email frequency, which can be interpreted as spam. Microsoft recommends using authentication methods like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to improve deliverability.

June 2021 - Microsoft