How should I interpret sender rejection data from ReturnPath compared to my ESP?

Summary

Interpreting sender rejection data from Return Path compared to your ESP requires a multifaceted approach. Since Return Path monitors a subset of the email ecosystem, discrepancies with your ESP are common. Experts and marketers recommend comparing Return Path's data with your ESP's data, Google Postmaster Tools (if Gmail is significant), Microsoft SNDS, and analyzing bounce codes and SMTP error codes. Investigate specific ISPs monitored by Return Path if issues are localized. Prioritize your ESP's data but use Return Path as an early warning system. Verify sender authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), clean email lists, prioritize inbox placement, ensure list segmentation, correlate engagement metrics, and analyze rejection patterns to identify and address potential deliverability issues. Understand the differences between reputation blocks at ISPs (based on engagement) and blocklist providers (focused on spam), and focus on understanding which ISPs are more important for your business.

Key findings

  • Subset Monitoring: Return Path monitors a subset of ISPs and mailboxes, leading to potential discrepancies with ESP data.
  • Early Warning System: Return Path can serve as an early warning system for potential deliverability issues.
  • Localized Problems: Issues identified by Return Path may be localized to specific ISPs or segments.
  • Data Correlation is Key: Comparing Return Path with ESP, Google Postmaster Tools, Microsoft SNDS, bounce codes, and SMTP errors is essential.
  • Engagement Matters: Low engagement within the Return Path subset indicates content or filtering issues.
  • Blocklist vs. ISP Reputation: Reputation blocks based on engagement (ISP) differ from spam-focused blocklists.

Key considerations

  • Prioritize ESP Data: While valuable, ESP data generally offers more complete view than Return Path
  • Detailed Report Analysis: Request and analyze detailed reports from both Return Path and your ESP.
  • Authentication is Crucial: Verify SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to ensure proper authentication.
  • List Hygiene is Paramount: Clean your email list to remove invalid or risky addresses.
  • Optimize for Engagement: Segment lists and tailor content to increase engagement and relevance.
  • Monitor Gmail and Microsoft: Monitor Google Postmaster Tools (Gmail) and Microsoft SNDS for specific deliverability insights.
  • Acquisition Process Evaluation: Assess email list acquisition methods to identify potential problems.

What email marketers say
10Marketer opinions

Interpreting sender rejection data from Return Path in relation to your ESP requires understanding that Return Path monitors a subset of the overall email ecosystem. Discrepancies often arise due to this limited scope. Experts advise comparing Return Path data with your ESP data, examining bounce data and error codes, investigating specific ISPs monitored by Return Path, verifying sender authentication, and cleaning email lists. Prioritizing inbox placement data and engagement metrics can also provide a more accurate understanding of email performance. Analyzing patterns in rejections and ensuring proper list segmentation are also recommended to identify and address potential deliverability issues.

Key opinions

  • Subset Monitoring: Return Path monitors a subset of ISPs and mailboxes, leading to potential discrepancies with your ESP's broader view.
  • Early Warning: Return Path data can act as an early warning system for deliverability issues before they become widespread.
  • Localized Issues: Problems identified by Return Path might be localized to specific ISPs or segments of your audience.
  • Actionable Insights: Analyzing error codes and patterns in rejections reported by Return Path can highlight potential target areas for improvement.
  • Engagement Matters: Low engagement within the Return Path monitored subset may indicate content irrelevance or spam filter triggers.

Key considerations

  • Compare Data: Compare Return Path data with your ESP data, bounce data, and error codes to identify patterns and discrepancies.
  • Authentication: Verify sender authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to ensure proper email authentication and prevent deliverability issues.
  • List Hygiene: Clean your email list using a third-party email verification service to remove invalid or risky email addresses.
  • Inbox Placement: Prioritize inbox placement data over just deliverability metrics for a more accurate understanding of email performance.
  • List Segmentation: Ensure proper email list segmentation to deliver relevant content to recipients and reduce spam complaints.
  • ISP Focus: Investigate specific ISPs and email domains monitored by Return Path exhibiting higher rejection rates.
Marketer view

Email marketer from MarketingProfs advises looking for patterns in the rejections reported by Return Path. Are rejections concentrated on specific domains? What are the error messages associated with rejections. The trends will highlight potential target areas.

June 2024 - MarketingProfs
Marketer view

Email marketer from LinkedIn recommends to ensure your email lists are properly segmented. Poor segmentation can lead to some recipients receiving emails that are not relevant to them. This can lead to recipients reporting spam or unsubscribing, both of which impact your sending reputation.

May 2024 - LinkedIn
Marketer view

Email marketer from Deliverability Forum advises prioritizing inbox placement data over just deliverability metrics from your ESP and Return Path. Use tools that measure actual inbox placement rates to gain a more accurate understanding of your email's performance.

September 2021 - Deliverability Forum
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that Return Path's monitoring network represents a subset of all mail/data providers. He advises to check bounce data for blocked messages, compare list composition based on blocks to prioritize efforts, and inquire with Emarsys about rejected mail reports and associated error codes to help troubleshoot. He also suggests regularly monitoring blocks at different providers, as error codes can help identify issues early on.

November 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that Return Path data can be an early warning system, showing potential deliverability issues before they become widespread in your ESP data. He recommends investigating any significant discrepancies and proactively addressing potential problems with your sending practices.

August 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailchimp Community Forum suggests examining the seed list performance within Return Path. A poor seed list performance, combined with discrepancies with your ESP, may mean that your email content or subject lines are triggering spam filters for a subset of recipients.

October 2024 - Mailchimp Community Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Tips Blog explains that differences between Return Path and ESP data may stem from list hygiene issues. He suggests using a third-party email verification service to clean your list of invalid or risky email addresses to improve overall deliverability and reduce discrepancies between data sources.

October 2021 - Email Marketing Tips Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Community suggests correlating engagement metrics (opens, clicks) from your ESP with the rejection data from Return Path. A low engagement rate among recipients monitored by Return Path may indicate that your content is not resonating with that specific audience segment.

April 2024 - Email Marketing Community
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum advises that if Return Path indicates issues not reflected in your ESP, investigate the specific ISPs monitored by Return Path. It's possible your problems are localized. Verify sender authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and check your IP address against known blocklists to isolate the source of the discrepancy.

August 2021 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow responds that discrepancies between Return Path and ESP data often arise because Return Path monitors a specific subset of ISPs and mailboxes. Focus on your ESP data as it provides a more comprehensive view of your overall sending reputation and deliverability.

August 2021 - Stack Overflow

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

Interpreting sender rejection data from Return Path in relation to your ESP involves understanding the nuances of the data sources. Experts recommend requesting detailed reports from Return Path to compare with your ESP data, focusing on delivery rates and identifying acquisition process issues. It's crucial to recognize that Return Path data represents a subset of the email ecosystem and shouldn't be the sole basis for panic. Understanding the importance of different ISPs to your business and differentiating between reputation blocks at ISPs (based on engagement) versus blocklist providers (focused on spam) is also essential for informed decision-making.

Key opinions

  • Data Comparison: Compare detailed rejection data from Return Path with your ESP's data to assess the scope and significance of the issue.
  • Subset Perspective: Recognize that Return Path data represents a subset of the email ecosystem and may not reflect overall deliverability.
  • ISP Importance: Identify the ISPs that are most crucial to your business to prioritize efforts based on their impact.
  • Engagement vs. Spam: Distinguish between reputation blocks at ISPs (based on engagement data) and those at blocklist providers (focused on spam).

Key considerations

  • Request Details: Request detailed reports from Return Path regarding rejected emails to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issue.
  • Acquisition Process: Evaluate your email acquisition process for potential problems that may be contributing to sender rejection.
  • Data Source Differences: Understand the methodologies and data sources used by Return Path and your ESP to interpret discrepancies accurately.
  • Prioritize Action: Focus on actions that address the most critical issues based on the importance of specific ISPs to your business.
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that you should understand the difference between reputation blocks at ISPs and blocks at blocklist providers. ISPs use real engagement data to determine what mail gets to their customer while blocklist providers only focus on spam.

October 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that you should try to understand which ISPs are more important to your business and then understand the differences between the data that each data source is providing, and understand what each source is measuring. You can then take action based on what is most important for you.

April 2024 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests asking ReturnPath for details about the rejected emails and comparing that data with Emarsys's data to determine the significance of the issue. He suggests focusing on actual delivery rates and addressing any acquisition process issues, but cautions against panicking solely based on ReturnPath's numbers.

March 2024 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

Interpreting sender rejection data from Return Path in relation to your ESP involves comparing it with other data sources to get a holistic view. Documentation emphasizes that Return Path data represents a sample of the overall email ecosystem. Experts advise cross-referencing Return Path data with ESP data, Google Postmaster Tools (if Gmail is significant), Microsoft SNDS, and analyzing bounce codes and SMTP error codes to identify patterns and pinpoint specific deliverability issues. Prioritize your ESP's comprehensive data while using Return Path to identify issues at specific ISPs. It's important to monitor bounce types (hard vs. soft) and analyze feedback loops for spam complaints to adjust sending practices.

Key findings

  • Sampled Data: Return Path data represents a sample of the overall email ecosystem, not a complete picture.
  • Data Correlation: Comparing Return Path data with ESP data, Google Postmaster Tools, and Microsoft SNDS helps identify correlations and discrepancies.
  • Bounce Code Analysis: Understanding bounce codes (hard vs. soft) can provide insights into the nature of delivery issues.
  • SMTP Error Codes: Monitoring SMTP error codes generated upon rejection can give insight on the issue.
  • Feedback Loops: Utilizing feedback loops to monitor spam complaints provides insights into recipient perceptions.

Key considerations

  • ESP Priority: Prioritize your ESP's comprehensive data as the primary indicator of deliverability.
  • ISP Identification: Use Return Path data to identify potential issues at specific ISPs within their monitored network.
  • Adjust Practices: Adjust sending practices based on bounce code analysis and spam complaint feedback.
  • Gmail Monitoring: Monitor Google Postmaster Tools if Gmail is a significant portion of your audience.
  • Microsoft SNDS: Monitor Microsoft SNDS to address deliverability issues affecting Microsoft email addresses.
Technical article

Documentation from Validity Knowledge Base explains that Return Path data provides insights into your sender reputation within their monitored network, which is a sample of the overall email ecosystem. Compare the Return Path data with your ESP data to identify potential issues at specific ISPs, but prioritize your ESP's comprehensive data.

October 2023 - Validity Knowledge Base
Technical article

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools explains that you should compare their data (if a significant portion of your audience uses Gmail) with Return Path's data and your ESP. Look for correlations between reputation scores and delivery issues reported by both Return Path and your ESP. Use the feedback loop to identify spam complaints.

December 2022 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft SNDS explains monitoring your sender health via Microsoft's Smart Network Data Services (SNDS). Compare SNDS data with Return Path and ESP data to identify any specific deliverability issues affecting Microsoft email addresses. Address any spam trap hits or complaint rates reported in SNDS.

December 2022 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost explains understanding bounce codes from your ESP and comparing them against potential blocks reported by ReturnPath can provide insights into delivery issues, focusing on hard bounces indicating permanent delivery failures, and soft bounces indicating temporary delivery issues, allowing you to adjust your sending practices accordingly.

December 2023 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from ietf.org outlines standards and protocols related to internet technologies, explains that when a message is rejected, an SMTP error code is generated. It may be transient or permanent, it is recommended to monitor SMTP error codes.

July 2024 - ietf.org