Is it harmful to send to unengaged users during email warmup, and how can I avoid spam traps and improve data quality?

Summary

Sending emails to unengaged users, especially during email warm-up, is detrimental to sender reputation and deliverability. Experts recommend focusing on engaged subscribers and implementing stringent list hygiene practices. Key strategies include obtaining explicit consent, using double opt-in, regularly cleaning email lists, and employing segmentation based on engagement. Sunset policies are also essential for removing inactive users. While list validation tools can assist, a focus on organically grown lists is crucial. Implementing email authentication methods such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC also enhances sender reputation. In specific cases, using a separate IP and subdomain for mandatory broadcasts might be considered, but generally, prioritizing list quality over quantity yields better results.

Key findings

  • Sender Reputation Damage: Sending to unengaged users damages sender reputation, leading to deliverability issues.
  • Double Opt-In Importance: Double opt-in is critical for acquiring engaged subscribers and preventing spam complaints.
  • List Hygiene Necessity: Regular list cleaning and a sunset policy are essential for maintaining a healthy email list.
  • Engagement-Based Segmentation: Segmenting lists by engagement level ensures that only interested users receive emails.
  • Organically Grown Lists: Building organically grown lists with explicit consent is best for long-term deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Focus on Engagement: Prioritize engagement metrics and regularly assess subscriber activity.
  • Sunset Inactive Subscribers: Implement a clear sunset policy to remove inactive subscribers.
  • Authentication Protocols: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are correctly configured to authenticate emails.
  • Opt-In Procedures: Make opt-in procedures clear and user-friendly.
  • Validation Tools: Use list validation tools to catch typos and invalid addresses, but don't rely on them as a primary solution.
  • Separate IP/Subdomain Strategy: Consider a separate IP/subdomain for broadcasts to unengaged users as a last resort.

What email marketers say
13Marketer opinions

Sending to unengaged users during email warm-up can harm your deliverability. Experts recommend focusing on engaged subscribers, using double opt-in, regularly cleaning lists, and segmenting based on engagement. Other strategies include sunsetting inactive users, separate IP/subdomain for mandatory broadcasts, bot prevention, and avoiding purchased lists. While list validation tools can help, focusing on organically grown lists and explicit permissions is critical.

Key opinions

  • Harmful Sends: Sending to unengaged users can negatively impact sender reputation and increase spam complaints.
  • Double Opt-in: Confirmed/double opt-in is essential for preventing spam traps and improving data quality.
  • List Cleaning: Regularly cleaning your list to remove unengaged subscribers is critical for maintaining deliverability.
  • Segmentation: Segmenting your email list based on engagement helps target active users and avoid sending to those who are no longer interested.
  • Sunset Policies: Implement a sunset policy to automatically remove inactive users from your mailing list.

Key considerations

  • Separate IP/Subdomain: For mandatory broadcasts to unengaged users, consider using a separate IP and subdomain to isolate any negative impact.
  • Explicit Permission: Always ask for explicit permission and avoid purchasing email lists.
  • Bot Prevention: Implement bot prevention measures on your signup forms to reduce illegitimate signups.
  • List Validation: List validation tools can help catch some typos and invalid addresses, but are not a substitute for good list hygiene practices.
  • Organic Growth: Focus on building an organically grown list with engaged subscribers for better long-term deliverability.
Marketer view

Email marketer from ConvertKit advises regularly cleaning your list of unengaged subscribers. This reduces the risk of spam complaints and improves your sender reputation. Implement a clear sunset policy to automatically remove inactive users.

August 2022 - ConvertKit
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that list cleaning services don't solve the root issues of data quality and subscription processes. Emphasizes explicit permission, bot-prevention, double opt-in, and tools like Kickbox for signup form issues, but only after exhausting other options.

September 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot says that improving data quality involves implementing double opt-in, regularly cleaning your list to remove invalid or unengaged addresses, and using progressive profiling to gather more information from subscribers over time.

March 2022 - HubSpot
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks highlights that lead validation software is unlikely to find spam traps that harm your reputation and confirmed/double opt-in is the only legitimate way to ensure they don't wind up on your list.

April 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit user EmailExpert123 explains that sending to unengaged users is a quick way to get blacklisted. Focus on those who actively open and click your emails. Regularly prune your list of inactive subscribers, implement a double opt-in process, and use an email verification service to minimize bad addresses from the start.

October 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from ZeroBounce shares that regularly cleaning your email list is key to preventing bounces, complaints, and spam traps. List validation tools will help, but understanding the source of the data and implementing double opt-in are critical.

June 2024 - ZeroBounce
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests treating the send to unengaged users as a mandatory broadcast by using a separate IP and subdomain to isolate any negative impact.

August 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sendinblue responds that sending to unengaged users during a warm-up phase is generally not recommended. Focusing on engaged subscribers helps establish a positive sender reputation. Improving data quality involves implementing double opt-in, regularly cleaning lists, and segmenting based on engagement.

November 2021 - Sendinblue
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum user User42 shares that avoiding spam traps means practicing good list hygiene. Never purchase lists, always use double opt-in, and regularly remove unengaged users. Email validation services can catch some typos, but the best defense is a clean, organically grown list.

June 2022 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from ActiveCampaign explains that sending to unengaged users can harm your deliverability. Implement a sunset policy to remove inactive subscribers, use segmentation to target engaged users, and ensure a clear and easy unsubscribe process.

June 2022 - ActiveCampaign
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailchimp advises regularly cleaning your audience to remove unengaged subscribers. Sending to these users increases the risk of spam complaints and negatively impacts deliverability. Mailchimp also recommends using double opt-in to improve data quality from the start.

August 2021 - Mailchimp
Marketer view

Email marketer from Omnisend responds that you should segment your email list based on engagement to avoid sending campaigns to people who no longer want to receive your emails. Sending to unengaged recipients can result in lower engagement metrics and increased complaints.

October 2024 - Omnisend
Marketer view

Email marketer from Campaign Monitor explains that sunset policies are a crucial part of list hygiene. Use data to determine when subscribers are no longer engaging with your content and remove them from your mailing list.

June 2024 - Campaign Monitor

What the experts say
4Expert opinions

Sending to unengaged users, especially during email warmup, damages your sender reputation and negatively impacts deliverability. Consistent list hygiene, including sunsetting inactive subscribers, is critical for maintaining good engagement metrics and preventing spam complaints. The purpose of warming up an email list is to show that recipients want your mail.

Key opinions

  • Damaged Reputation: Sending to unengaged subscribers harms your sender reputation.
  • List Hygiene Importance: Consistent list hygiene is crucial for good deliverability.
  • Sunset Policies Needed: Implementing a sunset policy for inactive subscribers is important.
  • Warmup Purpose: Email warmup needs engaged users to show recipients want the mail.

Key considerations

  • Regularly Clean Lists: Develop a process for regularly cleaning your email lists.
  • Implement Sunset Policy: Create and implement a sunset policy to automatically remove inactive subscribers.
  • Engage Users During Warmup: Focus your email warmup efforts on engaged users only.
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise, Laura Atkins, explains the importance of a sunset policy for inactive subscribers. Failing to sunset inactive subscribers can negatively affect deliverability as engagement drops.

March 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains the purpose of warming up an email list is to show recipients want your mail. Sending to unengaged users undermines this process.

February 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource, Steve Linford, explains that sending to unengaged subscribers risks damaging your sender reputation, which affects deliverability.

January 2025 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise, Dennis Dayman, emphasizes that consistent list hygiene is crucial. He says neglecting list hygiene leads to deliverability problems due to increased spam complaints and engagement metrics that impact sender reputation.

November 2024 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Sending to unengaged users negatively impacts sender reputation, leading to deliverability issues due to spam complaints. Obtaining consent before sending emails is crucial, and low engagement rates signal to ISPs that your emails are unwanted. Email authentication methods like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC improve sender reputation and prevent spam traps.

Key findings

  • Sender Reputation: Sender reputation is a key factor in email deliverability.
  • Consent is Critical: Obtaining consent before sending emails is a best practice.
  • Engagement Signals: Low engagement rates signal to ISPs that emails are unwanted.
  • Authentication Methods: Email authentication methods like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC help improve reputation and prevent spam traps.

Key considerations

  • Focus on Engaged Users: Prioritize sending emails to engaged users to maintain a healthy sender reputation.
  • Implement Authentication: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to improve email authentication and prevent spam traps.
  • Double Opt-In: Use double opt-in to ensure users want to receive emails and maintain higher engagement rates.
  • Remove Inactive Users: Regularly remove inactive users from your email lists.
Technical article

Documentation from RFC describes email authentication methods like SPF, DKIM and DMARC. Implementing these will help improve sender reputation and prevent spam traps.

June 2021 - RFC
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost responds that low engagement rates signal to ISPs that your emails aren't wanted, impacting deliverability. Focusing on engaged users, using double opt-in, and removing inactive users are crucial for maintaining a healthy sender reputation.

August 2023 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from Google explains that sender reputation is a key factor in deliverability. Sending to unengaged users can negatively impact your reputation because they are more likely to mark your messages as spam, which is bad for sender reputation.

March 2024 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft shares best practices for sending bulk email, emphasizing the importance of obtaining consent before sending messages. Sending to unengaged users, especially without prior consent, is likely to result in spam complaints and damage your sending reputation.

August 2021 - Microsoft