How to manage SFMC email delivery issues in Yahoo with delays and no bounces?

Summary

Managing SFMC email delivery issues in Yahoo with delays and no bounces requires a multi-faceted approach. Experts and marketers emphasize factors such as sender reputation, authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), content quality, and subscriber engagement. Yahoo's engagement-based filtering means subscriber interaction directly impacts deliverability. Troubleshooting involves checking SMTP settings, IP reputation (using tools like AboutMyEmail), reviewing Yahoo's postmaster resources, and verifying compliance with Yahoo's bulk email policies. Techniques like list segmentation, IP warming, compelling preview text, and participation in feedback loops can also improve deliverability. If emails are neither bouncing nor in the inbox or spam folder, SFMC may have declined to send them. RFC documentation highlights the importance of correct SPF configuration, while Salesforce documentation details bounce management, SAP implementation, and DMARC setup.

Key findings

  • Deliverability Factors: Email deliverability depends on sender reputation, authentication, content quality, and subscriber engagement.
  • Engagement Filtering: Yahoo uses engagement-based filtering, where subscriber interaction directly influences inbox placement.
  • Rejection Handling: If emails aren't in the inbox or spam folder and are not bouncing, Yahoo might have rejected the connection or SFMC might have declined to send.
  • IP Reputation: A poor IP reputation can cause delivery delays; utilize online tools and remediation as needed.
  • Authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are crucial for authentication; incorrect configuration can lead to failures.

Key considerations

  • Yahoo Resources: Consult Yahoo's postmaster resources for specific requirements and troubleshooting steps.
  • Log Analysis: Check email logs and SMTP messages for more insights into rejection or delivery issues.
  • List Management: Practice list segmentation and suppression of inactive users to improve engagement.
  • SMTP Settings: Verify SMTP settings are correctly configured in SFMC.
  • SAP and DMARC: Implement SAP and set up correct DMARC policies to enhance security and brand reputation.
  • Warming IPs: Warm up new IPs/domains to establish a positive reputation.

What email marketers say
10Marketer opinions

Several factors contribute to SFMC email delivery issues in Yahoo, even without bounces. These include Yahoo's filtering mechanisms, which consider sender reputation, content quality, and subscriber engagement. Troubleshooting involves checking SMTP settings, IP reputation, and compliance with Yahoo's bulk email policies. Optimizing content, segmenting lists, warming up IPs, and participating in feedback loops can improve deliverability.

Key opinions

  • Filtering: Yahoo uses filtering mechanisms, including engagement-based filters, to determine inbox placement.
  • Rejection Handling: If emails are not in the inbox or spam folder, Yahoo may have rejected them, requiring review of SMTP logs.
  • IP Reputation: A poor IP reputation can cause delivery delays, necessitating checks and remediation if blacklisted.
  • Content Quality: Low-quality content can be flagged as spam, causing delays. Content needs to be tested on various devices.
  • Volume Spikes: Sudden volume spikes can trigger filters, recommending a gradual increase in sending volume.
  • SMTP Settings: Incorrect SMTP settings can cause connection issues and delays.

Key considerations

  • Postmaster Resources: Consult Yahoo's postmaster resources for specific requirements and troubleshooting steps.
  • Feedback Loops: Participate in Yahoo's feedback loop program to receive spam complaints and address reputation issues.
  • List Segmentation: Segment lists to send targeted content to engaged subscribers, reducing spam complaints.
  • IP Warm-up: Warm up new IPs gradually to build a positive reputation with Yahoo.
  • Preview Text: Use compelling preview text to encourage engagement and improve perceived email value.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Provider Community recommends warming up new IPs or domains by gradually increasing sending volume over time. Warming up allows you to build a positive reputation with ISPs and mailbox providers like Yahoo.

August 2023 - Email Provider Community
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit suggests checking your IP reputation using online tools. They advise that a poor IP reputation can cause significant delivery delays, especially with larger providers like Yahoo. If your IP has been blacklisted, remediation steps may be necessary.

September 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange notes that sudden volume spikes can trigger filters and result in delays. Gradually increase sending volume and monitor deliverability metrics to avoid overwhelming receiving servers and damaging your sender reputation.

September 2022 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackOverflow suggests ensuring that your SMTP settings in SFMC are correctly configured for Yahoo. Verify the SMTP server address, port number, and authentication method. Incorrect settings can cause connection issues and delivery delays.

September 2024 - StackOverflow
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that Yahoo either accepts the email (and then they are in the inbox or the spam folder) or reject the connection temporarily or permanently. He says if the mail is not the in the inbox or spam folder, it would have been rejected and you need to look at the actual SMTP messages and logs.

November 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from LinkedIn recommends writing compelling email preview text to encourage engagement. Good preview text can increase open rates, signaling to mailbox providers like Yahoo that subscribers find your emails valuable, thus improving deliverability.

November 2024 - LinkedIn
Marketer view

Email marketer from Quora emphasizes the importance of high-quality content that resonates with your audience. Avoid spam triggers, ensure emails are well-formatted, and test emails across different devices and email clients to improve user experience and reduce the likelihood of emails being flagged as spam or delayed.

November 2021 - Quora
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Blog explains the value of list segmentation to send targeted emails that engage specific audience segments. This helps reduce bounce rates, improve open rates, and maintain a positive sender reputation, as engaged subscribers are less likely to mark emails as spam.

August 2024 - Email Marketing Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum recommends participating in Yahoo's feedback loop program if available. This helps you receive reports about spam complaints from Yahoo users, allowing you to identify and address issues affecting your sender reputation.

August 2024 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailGeek Community shares the suggestion to check Yahoo's postmaster resources for specific guidance on their requirements and troubleshooting steps. They may offer insights into Yahoo's filtering practices and preferred sender configurations.

June 2024 - EmailGeek Community

What the experts say
5Expert opinions

Addressing SFMC email delivery delays to Yahoo, even without bounces, requires examining various factors. Key areas to investigate include Yahoo's handling of accepted mail (potential queueing), sender reputation (using tools like AboutMyEmail), compliance with Yahoo's bulk email policies, and subscriber engagement. If the bounce data view doesn't show bounces and the email isn't in the inbox or spam folder, SFMC may have declined to send the email. Addressing issues such as poor authentication, list management, or content relevance can improve deliverability. Yahoo's engagement-based filtering means subscriber interaction heavily influences inbox placement, encouraging targeted content and suppression of inactive users.

Key opinions

  • Yahoo Handling: If Yahoo accepts the email but delivery is delayed, the email is likely queued; check logs to verify.
  • Sender Reputation: If there are no bounces and delays impact sends and tests, Yahoo doesn't think highly of the email so you need to ensure everything is configured correctly.
  • SFMC Decline: If there are no bounces and the email is not present in the inbox/spam, SFMC may have declined sending the email.
  • Bulk Email Policies: Compliance with Yahoo's bulk email policies is crucial, focusing on authentication, list management, and engagement.
  • Engagement Filtering: Yahoo's engagement-based filtering requires focusing on relevant content and suppressing inactive users.

Key considerations

  • Log Analysis: Check email logs for transactions to understand what is happening with delayed emails.
  • AboutMyEmail Tool: Utilize AboutMyEmail to assess sender reputation and configuration issues.
  • Engagement Metrics: Monitor engagement metrics to identify areas for improvement and ensure relevant content.
  • Content Relevance: Focus on sending relevant content to active subscribers to increase inbox placement.
  • Authentication: Ensure correct setup of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to authenticate your email.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests using AboutMyEmail to see what's happening. He says that if there are no bounces and delays impact sends and tests, this suggests Yahoo doesn't think highly of the email so you need to ensure everything is configured correctly.

August 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise advises to check Yahoo's bulk email policies and ensure compliance. Specifically, Yahoo emphasizes the importance of authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), list management, and subscriber engagement. Non-compliance can lead to delays or filtering.

January 2025 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks advises to look at the _Bounce dataview but if the summary data isn’t showing bounces and you’re not seeing in inbox or spam folder (and Marcel’s saying Yahoo! never silently deletes), that means that SFMC declined to send.

September 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that Yahoo uses engagement-based filtering, which means the level of interaction subscribers have with your emails directly influences deliverability. They recommend focusing on sending relevant content to engaged subscribers, suppressing inactive users, and monitoring engagement metrics to improve inbox placement.

September 2022 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests that if Yahoo is accepting the mail, then it becomes Yahoo's responsibility, but if it's taking 6-8 hours, it's likely the mail is being temporarily failed and is sitting in queues. She recommends checking spam folders and filters and also checking the logs to see the transactions to understand what is happening.

April 2022 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

Managing SFMC email delivery issues in Yahoo requires careful attention to several factors, primarily centered around authentication and sender reputation. Salesforce documentation emphasizes that deliverability relies on sender reputation, authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), content quality, and subscriber engagement. Proper implementation of Sender Authentication Packages (SAP) and DMARC enhances deliverability by branding emails and ensuring authentication. Regularly cleaning subscriber lists, monitoring bounce rates, and effectively managing bounce data are also important. RFC documentation highlights the technical specifications of SPF records, stressing the need for correct configuration to authorize sending IPs and domains.

Key findings

  • Deliverability Factors: Email deliverability depends on sender reputation, authentication, content quality, and subscriber engagement.
  • Authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are crucial for authenticating email sends and improving security.
  • SAP Importance: Implementing Sender Authentication Packages (SAP) brands emails, enhances reputation, and ensures consistent authentication.
  • Bounce Management: Effective bounce management, including categorizing bounces and automating data handling, helps maintain list hygiene.
  • RFC SPF Specs: Correct SPF configuration is essential to authorize sending IPs and domains, avoiding authentication failures.
  • DMARC Policy: Correct DMARC polices are essential to improve security and show trustworthiness to receiving mail servers.

Key considerations

  • Monitor Reputation: Continuously monitor sender reputation through bounce rates and spam complaints.
  • List Hygiene: Regularly clean subscriber lists to remove inactive or invalid email addresses.
  • SPF Configuration: Ensure SPF records are correctly configured to authorize SFMC sending IPs and domains.
  • DMARC Setup: Properly set up DMARC policies to dictate handling of emails failing authentication checks.
  • Bounce Automation: Implement automation to manage bounce data effectively and maintain a clean subscriber list.
Technical article

Documentation from RFC explains the technical specifications of SPF records. It emphasizes ensuring the SPF record is correctly configured to authorize SFMC sending IP addresses and domains. Incorrect SPF records can lead to authentication failures, resulting in delays or rejection by receiving mail servers.

June 2023 - RFC-Editor
Technical article

Documentation from Salesforce Help explains about setting up DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance). Correct DMARC policies dictate what happens when an email fails SPF or DKIM checks, improving security and indicating your trustworthiness to receiving mail servers like Yahoo.

December 2023 - Salesforce Help
Technical article

Documentation from Salesforce Help describes how to use Bounce Management in SFMC, explaining how it categorizes hard and soft bounces, and how to set up automation to handle bounce data effectively. It also suggests regularly cleaning subscriber lists to avoid sending to inactive or invalid email addresses.

August 2021 - Salesforce Help
Technical article

Documentation from Salesforce Help details the importance of implementing Sender Authentication Packages (SAP) in SFMC. SAP helps improve email deliverability by branding your email sends with your domain, improving sender reputation, and ensuring consistent authentication.

August 2022 - Salesforce Help
Technical article

Documentation from Salesforce Help explains that email deliverability depends on factors like sender reputation, authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), content quality, and subscriber engagement. Monitor bounce rates and spam complaints, and ensure proper list hygiene to maintain a good sending reputation.

July 2024 - Salesforce Help