What are the best practices for email deliverability to QQ.com?

Summary

Email deliverability to QQ.com is a complex process requiring a combination of technical setup, localized content, sender reputation management, and diligent list hygiene. Key aspects include implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for authentication, sending slowly with mobile-optimized and localized Chinese content, and potentially registering with QQ.com with Chinese language assistance. Establishing a robust infrastructure with dedicated IPs and consistently sending valuable content are vital for building trust and avoiding spam filters. Segmentation, list hygiene, and avoiding spam traps further improve deliverability. Monitoring engagement metrics, blacklists, and feedback loops provide valuable insights for optimizing sending strategies. Some experts also suggest using a local IP address in China and working with ESPs familiar with the Chinese email landscape.

Key findings

  • Technical Authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC implementation are critical for verifying sender identity.
  • Localized Content: Emails should be in simplified Chinese, mobile-optimized, and culturally relevant.
  • Sender Reputation: Building and maintaining a strong sender reputation is paramount.
  • List Management: Regular list hygiene and avoidance of spam traps are crucial.
  • Monitoring & Feedback: Continuously monitoring engagement, blacklists, and feedback loops is essential.

Key considerations

  • China-Specific Knowledge: Consulting with ESPs familiar with the Chinese email environment or seeking Chinese language assistance can be beneficial.
  • Infrastructure Setup: Invest in a robust email infrastructure, including dedicated IPs and consistent sending volumes.
  • Cadence & Frequency: Maintain a consistent and reasonable sending frequency to avoid overwhelming recipients.
  • Data Privacy: Ensure compliance with Chinese data privacy regulations.
  • Continuous Improvement: Adapt your strategy based on performance data and feedback.

What email marketers say
12Marketer opinions

Achieving email deliverability to QQ.com involves a multi-faceted approach, emphasizing local presence, technical configurations, content adaptation, and reputation management. A physical presence in China and the use of local IP addresses can significantly improve deliverability. Segmenting email lists and personalizing content with simplified Chinese ensures better engagement and avoids spam filters. IP warming, building a positive sender reputation by consistently sending valuable content and avoiding spam complaints, and avoiding URL shorteners are crucial. Optimizing emails for mobile devices and properly encoding Chinese characters are essential, as is subscribing to feedback loops. Maintaining a consistent and reasonable sending frequency helps prevent overwhelming users and triggering spam filters.

Key opinions

  • Local Presence: Having a physical presence in China and using a local IP address can improve deliverability.
  • Content Localization: Using simplified Chinese and culturally relevant content increases engagement and avoids spam filters.
  • Sender Reputation: Building and maintaining a positive sender reputation is critical.
  • Technical Configuration: Proper character encoding, mobile optimization, and avoiding URL shorteners are important technical considerations.
  • Frequency: Maintaining a consistent and reasonable sending frequency prevents overwhelming users.

Key considerations

  • IP Warming: Gradually warm up your IP address to establish a positive sending reputation.
  • Content Adaptation: Tailor your content to resonate with the Chinese audience, avoiding direct translations.
  • Feedback Loops: Subscribe to QQ.com's feedback loops to address spam complaints proactively.
  • Monitoring: Continuously monitor your sender reputation and engagement metrics to adjust your strategy.
  • Legal Compliance: Understand and comply with local regulations and data privacy laws in China.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum recommends gradually warming up your IP address when sending to QQ.com to establish a positive sending reputation and avoid triggering spam filters.

December 2024 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares they deliver to QQ.com but highlights the numerous checkpoints involved, emphasizing the difficulty without a physical presence in China.

June 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit advises segmenting your QQ.com email list and sending personalized content to improve engagement and avoid being marked as spam.

November 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Deliverability Blog advises against using URL shorteners in emails sent to QQ.com, as they are often flagged as suspicious and can negatively impact deliverability.

February 2024 - Email Deliverability Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Forum suggests subscribing to QQ.com's feedback loops (if available) to receive information about spam complaints and adjust your sending practices accordingly.

October 2023 - Email Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Localization Blog emphasizes the importance of properly encoding Chinese characters in your emails to QQ.com to ensure they are displayed correctly and avoid garbled text.

March 2021 - Localization Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Blog highlights the importance of using simplified Chinese and culturally relevant content in your emails to QQ.com users to increase engagement and avoid being perceived as foreign spam.

June 2022 - Email Marketing Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Asia Email Tips Blog advises to optimise emails for mobile devices as most QQ.com users access their email on smartphones.

July 2022 - Asia Email Tips Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Online Forum emphasizes building a positive sender reputation with QQ.com by consistently sending valuable content and avoiding spam complaints.

November 2022 - Online Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks states they operate in China, having opened an office there in 2012, and mentions that sending a million daily emails depends on several factors.

April 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Global Email Marketing Blog recommends maintaining a consistent and reasonable sending frequency to QQ.com to avoid overwhelming users and triggering spam filters.

December 2023 - Global Email Marketing Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Marketing to China Guide recommends using a local IP address in China for sending emails to QQ.com to improve deliverability and reduce latency.

January 2024 - Marketing to China Guide

What the experts say
7Expert opinions

Improving email deliverability to QQ.com requires a multifaceted approach encompassing technical considerations, content adaptation, sender reputation management, and diligent list hygiene. Sending emails slowly, optimizing for mobile, and localizing content into Chinese are essential. Expert advice emphasizes the importance of infrastructure, dedicated IPs, consistent sending volumes, and avoiding spam traps. Monitoring blacklists, engaging data, and cleaning email lists regularly are also critical components.

Key opinions

  • Localization: Emails should be mobile-optimized and in localized Chinese for best results.
  • Infrastructure & Reputation: A robust infrastructure with dedicated IPs and consistent sending is crucial for building trust.
  • List Hygiene: Regularly cleaning email lists to remove inactive or invalid addresses maintains high engagement.
  • Monitoring: Regularly monitoring blacklists and engagement data helps identify and address deliverability issues.
  • Spam Trap Avoidance: Avoiding spam traps is essential to protect your sender reputation.

Key considerations

  • Language Assistance: The registration process with QQ.com may require someone who reads Chinese.
  • Technical Expertise: Consider consulting with ESPs specializing in Chinese email marketing or those familiar with QQ.com.
  • Dedicated Resources: Dedicate resources to regularly clean and maintain your email list.
  • Data Analysis: Implement systems for monitoring key engagement metrics and blacklist status.
  • Proactive Mitigation: Have a plan in place to quickly address any identified deliverability issues.
Expert view

Expert from SpamResource explains that a robust infrastructure and strong sender reputation are paramount for QQ.com deliverability, emphasizing the importance of dedicated IPs and consistent sending volumes to build trust.

April 2023 - SpamResource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise stresses the importance of avoiding spam traps in your email lists, explaining that hitting these addresses can severely damage your sender reputation and hinder QQ.com deliverability.

December 2021 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks indicates they don’t specialize in China due to its complexity, advising consultation with ESPs like Exacttarget / SFMC, Sparkpost and Oracle.

August 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise advises monitoring your engagement data, such as open rates and click-through rates, to identify and address any deliverability problems with QQ.com, using this information to refine your sending strategies.

December 2024 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from SpamResource suggests regularly monitoring your sending IPs and domains against various blacklists to promptly identify and address any issues that could impact QQ.com deliverability.

July 2023 - SpamResource
Expert view

Expert from SpamResource highlights the crucial role of list hygiene for QQ.com deliverability, recommending rigorous cleaning practices to remove inactive or invalid email addresses and maintain a high engagement rate.

January 2023 - SpamResource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares that QQ sending should be slow, mobile optimized, and preferably in localized Chinese. They also note the likelihood of filtering due to the Great Firewall and mention a registration process that benefits from Chinese language assistance.

May 2023 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records is essential for authenticating emails and improving deliverability to QQ.com. SPF verifies that the sending domain is authorized to send emails on behalf of that domain. DKIM provides a digital signature to ensure the message's authenticity and integrity. DMARC builds upon SPF and DKIM, allowing domain owners to specify how receiving mail servers should handle messages that fail authentication checks.

Key findings

  • Authentication is Key: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are crucial for authenticating email sources.
  • SPF Verification: SPF records allow receiving servers to verify the sender's authorization.
  • DKIM Integrity: DKIM signatures ensure message authenticity and integrity.
  • DMARC Policy: DMARC allows domain owners to define how unauthenticated emails should be handled.

Key considerations

  • Configuration Complexity: Setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC requires technical expertise and careful configuration.
  • Ongoing Maintenance: Regularly review and update your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to adapt to changes in your sending infrastructure.
  • Testing: Thoroughly test your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC implementation to ensure they are working correctly.
  • Policy Enforcement: Carefully consider the enforcement policy (e.g., quarantine, reject) defined in your DMARC record, balancing security with potential impact on legitimate emails.
  • Reporting: Utilize DMARC reporting to monitor authentication results and identify potential issues.
Technical article

Documentation from DMARC.org explains how to set up DMARC policies, allowing domain owners to specify how receiving mail servers should handle emails that fail SPF and DKIM checks.

June 2021 - DMARC.org
Technical article

Documentation from QQ Mail Official Website emphasizes implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for your sending domain to authenticate your emails and improve deliverability to QQ.com in their FAQ.

August 2024 - QQ Mail Official Website
Technical article

Documentation from DKIM.org details how to configure DKIM signatures, allowing email recipients to verify the authenticity of the sender and the integrity of the message content.

September 2022 - DKIM.org
Technical article

Documentation from RFC explains how to setup SPF records so that receiving mail servers can verify that mail appearing to come from a specific domain is authorized by the domain's administrators.

September 2021 - RFC Documentation