How should I handle users who may have been opted-in to marketing emails without consent, and how to diagnose low open rates with high inboxing rates?

Summary

Addressing users potentially opted-in without consent and diagnosing low open rates with high inboxing involves a multi-pronged strategy. The foundational step is clarifying consent, implementing double opt-in for new subscribers and re-permission campaigns for existing ones with uncertain consent. Segmentation by engagement is crucial, enabling targeted re-engagement campaigns for inactive users and removal of non-responders to safeguard sender reputation. Addressing low open rates requires A/B testing to optimize subject lines, sending times, and email content, as well as creating compelling preheaders. Maintaining list hygiene through regular cleaning, reducing spam scores by avoiding trigger words, and implementing authentication protocols (DKIM, SPF) are vital. Finally, monitoring sender reputation and promptly addressing any deliverability issues using tools like Microsoft SNDS ensures consistent inbox placement.

Key findings

  • Consent Is Key: Explicit consent is paramount; employ double opt-in for new subscribers and re-permission campaigns for existing ones with uncertain consent.
  • Segmentation for Engagement: Segment email lists based on engagement to target disengaged subscribers with tailored re-engagement campaigns.
  • Optimize Email Elements: A/B test subject lines, sending times, preheaders, and content to improve open rates and engagement.
  • Maintain List Hygiene: Regularly clean email lists to remove inactive subscribers, reducing the risk of hitting spam traps and improving sender reputation.
  • Authentication & Reputation: Implement DKIM and SPF, monitor sender reputation, and address deliverability issues promptly to ensure consistent inbox placement.

Key considerations

  • Re-Permission Risks & Rewards: Re-permission campaigns may lead to list attrition but often result in higher engagement rates and improved deliverability.
  • Assumption Avoidance: Avoid making assumptions about deliverability issues; thoroughly diagnose problems before implementing solutions.
  • Content Relevance & Engagement: Focus on creating relevant and engaging content to keep subscribers interested and reduce spam complaints.
  • Compliance with Regulations: Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations like GDPR by obtaining explicit consent and providing easy opt-out options.
  • Proactive Monitoring: Proactively monitor sender reputation and email performance using tools like Microsoft SNDS to identify and address issues before they significantly impact deliverability.

What email marketers say
11Marketer opinions

When handling users who may have been opted-in without consent, a multi-faceted approach is crucial. The primary step involves clarifying consent, potentially through a re-permission campaign, and implementing a double opt-in process for new subscribers. Segmentation based on engagement is essential, targeting disengaged users with re-engagement campaigns, and removing them if they don't respond. Addressing low open rates despite high inbox placement requires optimizing subject lines, sending times, and email content through A/B testing. Maintaining list hygiene through regular cleaning and reducing spam scores by avoiding trigger words are also important. Focusing on delivering engaging content to segmented lists will improve overall email performance.

Key opinions

  • Clarify Consent: Obtain explicit consent, especially for questionable opt-ins, through re-permission campaigns or double opt-in processes.
  • Segmentation: Segment lists based on engagement to target disengaged subscribers with re-engagement efforts.
  • List Hygiene: Regularly clean email lists by removing inactive or unengaged subscribers to improve sender reputation.
  • Optimization: Optimize subject lines, sending times, and content through A/B testing to increase open rates.
  • Spam Reduction: Reduce spam scores by avoiding trigger words, optimizing code-to-text ratio, and removing broken links.

Key considerations

  • Re-Permission Risks: Re-permission campaigns may result in losing a portion of your list, but can improve engagement and deliverability.
  • Engagement Metrics: Monitor engagement metrics to identify disengaged subscribers and tailor re-engagement strategies.
  • Content Relevance: Ensure email content is relevant and engaging to subscribers to increase open rates and reduce spam complaints.
  • Testing Strategies: Implement A/B testing to continuously improve email performance and optimize various elements of campaigns.
  • Spam Prevention: Regularly review email content and code to minimize spam triggers and maintain a positive sender reputation.
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests that because the user has potentially mixed consenting and non-consenting users, they may need to start over, recommending a re-consent campaign as a possible solution.

October 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from a Marketing Forum explains that regularly cleaning your email list by removing inactive or unengaged subscribers can significantly improve your sender reputation and deliverability, as it reduces the risk of sending to spam traps and hard bounces.

January 2024 - MarketingForums.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid notes that optimizing email preheaders to provide a compelling preview of your email content and influence recipients to open the email. A well-crafted preheader can significantly boost open rates.

May 2024 - Email on Acid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Campaign Monitor shares that low open rates despite high inbox placement can be due to several factors, including unengaging subject lines, sending emails at the wrong time, or your email content not matching subscriber expectations. They suggest A/B testing different elements to optimize performance.

August 2022 - Campaign Monitor
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot advises segmenting your email list based on engagement. They suggest sending targeted re-engagement campaigns to inactive subscribers. If they don't respond, remove them to improve your sender reputation and overall deliverability.

December 2024 - HubSpot
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that obtaining explicit consent is crucial. They advise implementing a double opt-in process to ensure users actively confirm their subscription, which helps maintain list hygiene and comply with data privacy regulations like GDPR.

January 2024 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus advocates for A/B testing different elements of your email campaigns, such as subject lines, sender names, and content, to identify what resonates best with your audience and improve open rates.

June 2022 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from OptinMonster shares ways to reduce the likelihood of emails being marked as spam. These actions include: avoiding spam trigger words, keeping the code to text ratio low, and removing broken links to prevent your email being filtered out as spam.

November 2024 - OptinMonster
Marketer view

Email marketer from NeilPatel.com advises that effective email list segmentation involves dividing your subscribers into smaller groups based on demographics, behavior, or preferences. Sending targeted emails to these segments can significantly increase open rates and engagement.

December 2024 - NeilPatel.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from ActiveCampaign suggests using list segmentation to identify and target disengaged subscribers. They recommend sending these segments targeted content designed to re-engage them, or removing them from your list if they don't respond.

August 2021 - ActiveCampaign
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares their experience by saying they ran a re-permission campaign with a clear explanation of why subscribers were receiving the email and a simple opt-in button. While they lost a portion of their list, their overall engagement rates significantly improved, and they saw a positive impact on deliverability.

March 2024 - Reddit

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

When dealing with uncertain consent and low open rates, the first step is to identify and accurately diagnose the specific deliverability problem before implementing solutions. Clarifying consent is essential, involving clear communication and easy opt-in/opt-out options, while documenting the process. Maintaining a good sender reputation is critical, which involves monitoring IP and domain reputation, addressing issues promptly, and ensuring consistent email volume.

Key opinions

  • Problem Identification: Accurately diagnose the specific deliverability problem before taking action to avoid incorrect assumptions.
  • Consent Clarification: Clarify consent with subscribers through clear communication and easy opt-in/opt-out options.
  • Sender Reputation: A good sender reputation is crucial for deliverability, achieved through consistent email volume and monitoring IP/domain reputation.

Key considerations

  • Assumption Risks: Avoid making assumptions about the causes of low open rates, as they can lead to damaging decisions like cutting off engaged users.
  • Communication Transparency: Communicate transparently with subscribers about consent issues and provide easy ways to manage their preferences.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Continuously monitor sender reputation metrics to identify and address potential deliverability issues promptly.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks advises to first identify if there's a problem and what the specific problem is, before implementing solutions. She also points out the risk of making assumptions and potentially damaging the entire list by cutting off unengaged users based on inaccurate assumptions about low open rates.

November 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that a good sender reputation is critical for deliverability. They advise monitoring your IP address and domain reputation, and addressing any issues promptly. They also note the importance of sending consistent volume and avoiding sudden spikes in email activity.

June 2022 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that when inheriting a list where consent is uncertain, the first action should be to clarify consent. She emphasizes the importance of clearly communicating the situation to subscribers and providing an easy way for them to opt-in or opt-out, while documenting the process.

April 2023 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

Email deliverability relies heavily on permission marketing, requiring explicit consent from recipients. For those with unknown consent, re-permission campaigns are recommended. Email providers use various signals to determine inbox placement, making sender reputation, email authentication (DKIM, SPF), and engaging content crucial. Monitoring tools like Microsoft SNDS help diagnose deliverability issues by identifying spam traps and complaint rates. Consistent adherence to best practices improves inbox placement rates.

Key findings

  • Permission Marketing: Explicit consent is required; use re-permission campaigns for users with unknown consent.
  • Spam Filtering Signals: Email providers use engagement rates, complaint rates, and content relevance to determine inbox placement.
  • Authentication Protocols: DKIM and SPF authentication are critical for verifying legitimacy and preventing spoofing.
  • Monitoring Tools: Tools like Microsoft SNDS help diagnose deliverability issues and monitor sender reputation.
  • Inbox Placement: Inbox placement depends on sender reputation, authentication, and engaging content.

Key considerations

  • Re-Permission Strategy: Implement clear and concise re-permission campaigns to re-engage or remove users with unknown consent.
  • Content Engagement: Create engaging and relevant content to avoid low engagement rates and high complaint rates.
  • Authentication Implementation: Properly implement and maintain DKIM and SPF records to ensure email legitimacy.
  • Reputation Management: Regularly monitor sender reputation and promptly address any identified issues.
  • Consistent Best Practices: Adhere to email marketing best practices consistently to maintain and improve inbox placement rates.
Technical article

Documentation from RFC explains that implementing email authentication protocols such as DKIM and SPF is crucial for verifying the legitimacy of your email and preventing spoofing. This helps build trust with email providers and improves deliverability.

July 2024 - RFC-Editor.org
Technical article

Documentation from Google explains that their spam filters use various signals to determine if an email should be placed in the inbox or spam folder. Low engagement rates, high complaint rates, and sending irrelevant content can all negatively impact your sender reputation and lead to filtering issues.

July 2022 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from SendGrid emphasizes the importance of permission marketing, stating that you should only send emails to recipients who have explicitly granted you permission. For users of unknown consent, they recommend a re-permission campaign to re-confirm their interest or remove them from the list.

January 2023 - SendGrid
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft describes how SNDS can be used to monitor your IP reputation and identify potential deliverability issues with Outlook.com. Analyzing the data provided can help you pinpoint spam traps, complaint rates, and other factors impacting inbox placement.

February 2024 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost explains inbox placement by saying it is influenced by your sender reputation, authentication protocols, and the content of your emails. Regularly monitoring your sender score and adhering to best practices can help improve inbox placement rates.

October 2023 - SparkPost