What are the pros and cons of using deliverability software like Everest for email marketing?

Summary

The provided answers present a comprehensive overview of deliverability software like Everest. On the positive side, these tools offer pre-send testing, inbox placement monitoring, reputation management, assist in diagnosing deliverability issues, and help segment email lists. They also provide feedback loops for list hygiene and offer insights into factors affecting deliverability such as IP reputation, authentication, complaints, and engagement. However, significant downsides exist. The cost of Everest can be prohibitive, particularly for smaller businesses or those with already clean lists. The complexity can be overwhelming for beginners, requiring technical expertise to implement, interpret data, and integrate the software. Additionally, focusing on opt-in contacts, engagement, and compelling content can potentially reduce reliance on such software.

Key findings

  • Comprehensive Features: Everest offers pre-send testing, inbox placement monitoring, and comprehensive reputation management features.
  • Cost is a Major Factor: The cost is a significant concern, making Everest potentially unsuitable for smaller businesses and those with cleaner lists.
  • Technical Expertise Required: Implementation, integration, and data interpretation require significant technical expertise.
  • Benefits of Segmentation: Everest helps in effective email list segmentation, reducing risk and optimizing deliverability.
  • Issue Diagnostics: The software assists in diagnosing factors affecting deliverability, such as authentication issues and IP reputation.
  • Opt-in and Engagement: Focusing on opt-in contacts and engagement can reduce the reliance on deliverability software.
  • Larger Organizations Benefit Most: Larger organizations with complex deliverability needs are more likely to derive substantial value.
  • Content is Key: Great content and engagement strategies are still necessary for people to want to receive your emails, regardless of deliverability software.
  • Reputation Management: Helps to understand and proactively manage your sender reputation.

Key considerations

  • Budget Allocation: Assess if the cost aligns with the marketing budget and potential ROI.
  • Technical Capability: Evaluate whether the necessary technical expertise exists within the team.
  • List Hygiene: Consider the current state of the email list and whether a comprehensive solution is necessary.
  • Engagement Strategies: Prioritize building opt-in lists and creating engaging content to reduce reliance on deliverability software.
  • Explore Alternatives: Investigate more budget-friendly alternatives if cost is a concern.
  • Integration Planning: Carefully plan the integration of deliverability software with existing systems and processes.
  • Holistic Approach: Remember, deliverability software is just one piece of the puzzle, content and marketing strategy are still key!

What email marketers say
12Marketer opinions

The responses provide a balanced view of deliverability software like Everest. On the pro side, it offers comprehensive pre-send testing, inbox placement monitoring, and reputation management, aiding in identifying and resolving deliverability issues. It assists in segmenting email lists, reducing risks, and understanding why emails fail to reach inboxes, including IP reputation and authentication problems. However, the complexity can be overwhelming for beginners, requiring expertise to interpret the data. A significant con is the cost, making it potentially unsuitable for small businesses or those with clean lists. Technical implementation can demand expertise and resources.

Key opinions

  • Comprehensive Features: Everest offers pre-send testing, inbox placement monitoring, and reputation management.
  • Cost Concerns: Everest can be expensive, especially for small businesses or clean lists.
  • Segmentation Aid: It helps in segmenting email lists, reducing risk.
  • Issue Identification: Assists in identifying deliverability problems like IP reputation or authentication.
  • Technical Expertise: Implementing and interpreting data requires technical skills.
  • Engagement Focus: Opt-in contacts and engagement can reduce reliance on deliverability software.
  • Value for Larger Organizations: Larger organizations with complex deliverability needs benefit most.

Key considerations

  • Budget: Assess whether the cost of Everest aligns with the marketing budget.
  • Technical Skills: Evaluate the availability of in-house technical expertise for implementation and data interpretation.
  • List Quality: Determine if the current email list necessitates a comprehensive deliverability solution like Everest or if alternative strategies suffice.
  • Organizational Size: Consider the complexity of the organization's email marketing operations and whether the features of Everest are warranted.
  • Alternative Solutions: Explore alternatives like GlockApps or Mail-Tester for budget-friendly options.
  • Prioritize Engagement: Focus on opt-in contacts and engagement to potentially reduce the need for extensive deliverability software.
  • Implementation Complexity: Understand the technical implementation requirements of Deliverability software.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares an example of a client with high Gmail open rates still facing deliverability issues with Comcast.

December 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares why marketers should focus on opt-in contacts and engagement to save money on deliverability software.

May 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from G2 shares that Everest can be expensive for small businesses. They recommend exploring alternatives like GlockApps or Mail-Tester for budget-friendly deliverability solutions.

April 2021 - G2
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailVendorSelection answers that deliverability software like Everest helps in segmenting email lists effectively, and reducing the risk of sending to unengaged or problematic recipients.

June 2024 - EmailVendorSelection
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that Everest is expensive and may not be cost-effective for smaller senders or those with relatively clean lists.

September 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks asks about the pricing for Everest, assuming it will be expensive like Return Path.

November 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Institute answers that using tools such as Everest, can make your email marketing campaigns more successful and is an efficient method for list hygiene.

April 2021 - Email Institute
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that many marketers doing things 'the right way' still get value from deliverability tools, especially in larger organizations with many moving parts.

November 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow notes that the technical implementation and integration of deliverability software can require significant technical expertise and resources.

April 2023 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Quora mentions that deliverability tools can assist with understanding why emails are not reaching the inbox, like issues with IP reputation or email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).

December 2021 - Quora
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid answers that the complexity of deliverability platforms like Everest can be overwhelming for beginners and the data it provides requires expertise to interpret correctly.

May 2023 - Email on Acid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus explains that Everest offers pre-send testing, inbox placement monitoring, and reputation management, helping identify and fix deliverability issues before and after sending campaigns.

October 2024 - Litmus

What the experts say
2Expert opinions

The expert insights highlight that deliverability software like Everest serves as a tool for monitoring and troubleshooting the technical aspects of email delivery. It aids in understanding and managing sender reputation through metrics and insights. However, successful email marketing also requires compelling content and engagement strategies to attract and retain recipients.

Key opinions

  • Technical Monitoring: Deliverability software assists in monitoring and troubleshooting the technical aspects of email delivery.
  • Reputation Management: It provides metrics and insights for understanding and managing sender reputation.
  • Content Importance: Successful email marketing also requires compelling content and engagement strategies.

Key considerations

  • Holistic Approach: Consider deliverability software as part of a broader email marketing strategy that encompasses technical aspects and content creation.
  • Proactive Measures: Use the insights provided by the software to take proactive measures to maintain and improve sender reputation.
  • Content Strategy: Develop compelling content and engagement strategies to attract and retain recipients.
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise mentions that deliverability software helps in understanding your sender reputation by providing metrics and insights, allowing you to take proactive measures to maintain and improve it.

October 2021 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Spamresource shares that deliverability software like Everest are tools that help you monitor and troubleshoot the behind-the-scenes stuff, but you will also need great content and strategies to make people want to receive your emails.

July 2023 - Spamresource

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

The documentation highlights the value of deliverability software like Everest in diagnosing deliverability issues, monitoring inbox placement across various providers, and providing insights into sender reputation. The software offers comprehensive monitoring of sending reputation, identifies potential problems across ISPs, provides feedback loops for removing problematic addresses, and helps track factors like authentication, complaints, and engagement impacting deliverability. Ultimately leading to improved email marketing performance.

Key findings

  • Issue Diagnosis: Everest can diagnose deliverability issues.
  • Inbox Monitoring: Monitors inbox placement across multiple mailbox providers.
  • Reputation Insights: Provides insights into sender reputation.
  • Comprehensive Monitoring: Offers comprehensive monitoring of sending reputation.
  • Problem Identification: Identifies potential problems across different ISPs.
  • Feedback Loops: Provides feedback loops for identifying and removing problematic addresses.
  • Impact Tracking: Helps track the impact of authentication, complaints, and engagement on deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Proactive Monitoring: Regularly monitor deliverability metrics using the software to identify and address potential issues.
  • Data Analysis: Analyze the insights provided by the software to understand the factors impacting deliverability and take corrective actions.
  • List Hygiene: Utilize the feedback loops to maintain a clean email list and improve sender reputation.
  • Authentication: Ensure proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to improve deliverability.
  • Engagement: Focus on improving engagement metrics to positively impact deliverability.
Technical article

Documentation from Google explains that factors like email authentication, spam complaints, and engagement metrics impact deliverability, which Everest can help monitor and improve.

November 2022 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from Validity highlights Everest's key features, including its ability to diagnose deliverability issues, monitor inbox placement across various mailbox providers, and provide insights into sender reputation.

May 2023 - Validity
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost explains that deliverability software can provide comprehensive monitoring of your sending reputation and highlight potential problems across different ISPs to help you improve your email marketing performance.

April 2023 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from Mailjet answers that some deliverability software, including Everest, provides feedback loops, allowing senders to identify and remove problematic email addresses from their lists, improving sender reputation.

September 2023 - Mailjet
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft explains that deliverability tools provide insights into your sender reputation, which is a key factor in determining whether your emails reach the inbox or the spam folder.

September 2022 - Microsoft