What are the best practices for avoiding account shutdowns when doing outbound sales emails?

Summary

To avoid account shutdowns in outbound sales emails, a multi-faceted approach is necessary. Crucially, avoid spamming tactics like sending unsolicited emails or using purchased lists; permission is paramount. Focus on personalizing email content and subject lines. Practice rigorous list hygiene by regularly removing inactive and invalid addresses. Gradually warm up IP addresses, especially when starting new campaigns. Adhere to sending limits set by providers like Google Workspace. Implement email authentication methods (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to verify sender identity. Monitor your sender reputation using tools such as Google Postmaster Tools and proactively address issues. Refrain from using spam trigger words. Employ A/B testing to optimize email content. Consider using a dedicated IP. Ensure compliance with anti-spam regulations and industry best practices. Properly format emails according to RFC standards, and be mindful of the potential for blacklisting if these steps are ignored.

Key findings

  • Permission-Based Marketing: Always obtain permission before sending emails; unsolicited emails are considered spam and can lead to account suspension.
  • Personalization & Relevance: Personalized emails reduce the risk of being marked as spam, improving engagement and deliverability.
  • List Hygiene is Critical: Regularly cleaning your email list lowers bounce rates, protects your sender reputation, and prevents being flagged as a spammer.
  • Gradual IP Warm-up: Warming up IP addresses builds trust with ISPs, especially important when starting new campaigns or using new IPs.
  • Adhere to Sending Limits: Exceeding sending limits established by providers like Google Workspace can trigger account suspensions.
  • Implement Authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are crucial for verifying sender identity and improving email deliverability.
  • Monitor Reputation: Regularly monitor your sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools to identify and address potential issues.
  • Avoid Spam Triggers: Certain words and phrases trigger spam filters; avoid them in your subject lines and email content.
  • Optimize with A/B Testing: A/B testing helps refine subject lines and content, boosting engagement and reducing spam complaints.
  • Consider Dedicated IP: A dedicated IP isolates your sender reputation and shields you from the actions of others on a shared IP.
  • Compliance is Non-Negotiable: Adherence to anti-spam regulations (like GDPR, CAN-SPAM) is crucial for avoiding penalties and maintaining deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Complaint Rates Matter: High complaint rates from recipients signal that your emails are unwanted and can negatively impact your sender reputation.
  • Blacklisting is a Major Issue: Being blacklisted severely impacts deliverability; take proactive steps to avoid it.
  • Email Formatting Standards: Comply with RFC standards for email formatting to ensure proper delivery and avoid being flagged as spam.
  • Proactive Monitoring: Continuously monitor deliverability metrics and adapt your strategies based on the data.
  • Be Mindful of Platform Detection: Some email platforms are able to detect and penalize specific outbound email automation tools.
  • Long-term Strategy: Building and maintaining a good sender reputation is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix.

What email marketers say
10Marketer opinions

To avoid account shutdowns when conducting outbound sales emails, several best practices should be followed. First and foremost, avoid spamming tactics, including sending unsolicited emails. Focus on personalization, using tailored subject lines and content. Maintaining a clean email list by removing inactive or invalid addresses is crucial. Warming up IP addresses gradually when starting new campaigns or using new IPs builds a positive sender reputation. Continuously monitor your sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and avoid using spam trigger words. Employ A/B testing to optimize email content for better engagement. Consider using a dedicated IP address and adhering to email marketing regulations to prevent being blacklisted.

Key opinions

  • Avoid Spam: Do not send unsolicited emails or use spam tactics to acquire new business.
  • Personalization: Personalize emails with customized subject lines and content to avoid being marked as spam.
  • List Hygiene: Regularly clean your email list to remove inactive or invalid addresses.
  • IP Warm-up: Gradually warm up IP addresses, especially when starting new campaigns or using a new IP.
  • Sender Reputation: Monitor sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools.
  • Spam Words: Avoid using spam trigger words in subject lines and email content.
  • A/B Testing: A/B test different subject lines and content to improve engagement rates.
  • Dedicated IP: Consider using a dedicated IP address for sending outbound sales emails.

Key considerations

  • Compliance: Ensure your email practices are compliant with anti-spam regulations.
  • Engagement Metrics: Pay attention to engagement metrics to gauge deliverability and avoid being flagged as spam.
  • Domain Reputation: Focus on maintaining a healthy domain reputation to avoid being blacklisted.
  • Outbound Volume: Gradually increase outbound volume to avoid sudden spikes that trigger spam filters.
  • Email Authentication: Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication to verify the sender's identity and improve deliverability.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks advises against using spam as a way to get new business, as it doesn't work and will result in account shutdown and domain reputation destruction.

September 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from LinkedIn recommends A/B testing different subject lines and email content to identify what resonates best with the audience and improve engagement rates, reducing the likelihood of being marked as spam.

June 2023 - LinkedIn
Marketer view

Email marketer from Gmass Blog recommends regularly cleaning email lists to remove inactive or invalid addresses, reducing bounce rates and improving sender reputation.

March 2024 - Gmass Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares advice to gradually increase the volume of outbound emails sent, especially when starting a new campaign or using a new IP address, to avoid triggering spam filters.

August 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange suggests using a dedicated IP address for sending outbound sales emails to isolate sender reputation and avoid being affected by the actions of other senders on a shared IP.

April 2022 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Email marketer from Neil Patel Blog emphasizes the importance of warming up IP addresses before sending large volumes of emails to build a positive sender reputation with ISPs.

November 2023 - Neil Patel Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Woodpecker.co Blog advises personalizing emails to avoid being marked as spam, suggesting the use of customized subject lines and body content tailored to each recipient.

February 2024 - Woodpecker.co Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks states that sending unsolicited 1:1 messages is spam.

April 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Klenty Blog advises avoiding the use of spam trigger words in subject lines and email content, as these can increase the likelihood of emails being flagged as spam.

December 2021 - Klenty Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reply.io Blog suggests monitoring sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools to identify and address any deliverability issues proactively.

August 2021 - Reply.io Blog

What the experts say
4Expert opinions

To avoid account shutdowns when conducting outbound sales emails, ensure you have permission to send emails, as sending unsolicited emails constitutes spam. If hitting outbound email limits, re-evaluate your marketing strategy to avoid spamming. Maintain good list hygiene by removing invalid addresses to lower bounce rates and avoid being flagged as a spammer. Moreover, adhere to best practices and anti-spam regulations to avoid being blacklisted.

Key opinions

  • Permission-Based Emailing: Obtain permission before sending emails to avoid being considered a spammer.
  • Outbound Limits: Re-evaluate your marketing strategy if consistently hitting outbound email limits.
  • List Hygiene: Maintain a clean email list by removing invalid or inactive addresses.
  • Compliance: Adhere to best practices and anti-spam regulations.

Key considerations

  • Platform Detection: Be aware that email platforms may detect and penalize the use of specific outbound email tools.
  • Bounce Rates: Monitor and reduce bounce rates to maintain sender reputation.
  • Blacklisting: Take steps to avoid being blacklisted, which can severely impact deliverability.
  • Complaints: Be mindful of recipient complaints as they can lead to account suspensions.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that if you're hitting outbound email limits, you need to reconsider your outbound marketing strategy as there's no way around it other than to stop spamming.

July 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that if you don’t have permission to send emails, you’re sending spam. It's possible Gmail is receiving complaints about your sales teams’ mails and might be shutting down accounts using specific platforms faster.

April 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains the importance of avoiding blacklists by ensuring your outbound emails are compliant with best practices and anti-spam regulations.

December 2024 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise advises on maintaining good list hygiene, including removing invalid or inactive email addresses to reduce bounce rates and avoid being flagged as a spammer.

December 2023 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

To avoid account shutdowns when conducting outbound sales emails, adhere to the sending limits specified by email providers like Gmail and Google Workspace. Implement email authentication methods such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to verify sender identity and improve deliverability. Maintain a clean and engaged email list to avoid high bounce rates that negatively impact sender reputation. Follow email standards and protocols for proper message formatting to prevent being flagged as spam.

Key findings

  • Sending Limits: Stay within the sending limits specified by email providers to avoid account suspensions.
  • Email Authentication: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to verify sender identity.
  • List Hygiene: Maintain a clean and engaged email list.
  • Email Standards: Follow email standards and protocols for proper message formatting.

Key considerations

  • Bounce Rate Impact: Be aware that high bounce rates can negatively impact sender reputation.
  • RFC Compliance: Ensure compliance with RFC standards to avoid being flagged as spam.
  • Deliverability Improvement: Use authentication methods to improve overall email deliverability.
  • Account Suspensions: Understand the potential consequences of exceeding sending limits.
Technical article

Documentation from RFC Editor outlines the standards and protocols for sending email, including requirements for proper formatting and handling of email messages to ensure deliverability and avoid being flagged as spam.

February 2024 - RFC Editor
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help details the sending limits for Gmail and Google Workspace accounts, advising users to stay within these limits to avoid triggering account suspensions.

May 2023 - Google Workspace Admin Help
Technical article

Documentation from SendGrid explains the importance of implementing email authentication methods like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to verify the sender's identity and improve deliverability.

June 2023 - SendGrid Documentation
Technical article

Documentation from Mailchimp Knowledge Base warns that high bounce rates can negatively impact sender reputation, recommending efforts to maintain a clean and engaged email list.

February 2023 - Mailchimp Knowledge Base