What could cause a sudden spike in spam rates for opted-in subscribers across multiple subdomains?
Summary
What email marketers say13Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Campaign Monitor states that spam filters trigger on words that are considered spam. Make sure to avoid using these spam words in your email copy. URL: https://www.campaignmonitor.com/resources/glossary/spam-filters/
Email marketer from HubSpot shares that if you suddenly increase the frequency of your emails without warming up your audience, it can lead to higher spam rates. Gradual increase of email frequency is best. URL: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/email-deliverability
Email marketer from Reddit shares that sudden changes in feedback loop (FBL) data can indicate issues with spam complaints. Monitoring FBL data and addressing any spikes in complaints can help identify and resolve deliverability problems. URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/emailmarketing/comments/12if1yd/sudden_increase_in_spam_rate/
Email marketer from EmailOctopus Blog explains that a sudden change in email content can trigger spam filters, even for opted-in subscribers. This includes changes in keywords, links, or the overall message structure. Reviewing recent email content for any significant alterations is recommended. URL: https://emailoctopus.com/blog/why-are-my-emails-going-to-spam/
Email marketer from EmailToolTester shares that ISPs track your sender reputation based on various factors, including spam complaints, bounce rates, and engagement metrics. A sudden drop in sender reputation can lead to increased spam rates. Monitoring your sender reputation and addressing any issues can help improve deliverability. URL: https://www.emailtooltester.com/en/blog/email-deliverability-guide/
Marketer from Email Geeks suggests that with the new Postmaster introduction, there might be some tinkering with spam calculation. States he only has anecdotal evidence.
Marketer from Email Geeks suggests keeping the spam rate below 0.3% to avoid significant delivery issues.
Email marketer from Email on Acid explains that poorly coded HTML emails can trigger spam filters. Ensure your emails are properly coded and avoid using excessive or unnecessary code. Using a tool to test your HTML code can help identify and resolve any issues. URL: https://www.emailonacid.com/blog/article/email-development/email-coding-best-practices/
Marketer from Email Geeks shares a possible reason for the spam spike, suggesting that an increase in open rates might lead to more subscribers hitting the spam button, thus increasing the spam rate. They suggest checking if open rates increased during the same period as the spike in spam rates.
Email marketer from Litmus states that your domain reputation impacts deliverability. If your domain is blacklisted or has a poor reputation, your emails are more likely to be marked as spam. Regularly monitor your domain reputation and take steps to improve it if necessary. URL: https://www.litmus.com/blog/how-to-improve-email-deliverability/
Email marketer from Sendinblue Blog explains that poor list hygiene can lead to increased spam rates. Regularly cleaning your email list to remove inactive or invalid addresses is crucial. A sudden influx of spam complaints could indicate a problem with list quality. URL: https://www.sendinblue.com/blog/why-are-my-emails-going-to-spam/
Email marketer from Stack Overflow explains that If you are using a shared IP address for sending emails, the activities of other users on the same IP can impact your spam rates. If another user is sending spam or has poor sending practices, it can negatively affect your deliverability, even if your own practices are sound. URL: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/907146/sudden-increase-in-spam-score
Email marketer from Mailjet Blog shares that a sudden spike in spam rates can occur due to a compromised IP address or a sudden change in sending volume. Check IP reputation and ensure it is not blacklisted. Also, maintain a consistent sending volume to avoid triggering spam filters. URL: https://www.mailjet.com/blog/email-deliverability/why-emails-go-spam-folder/
What the experts say4Expert opinions
Expert from SpamResource explains that referral spam can indirectly impact your deliverability, especially if it leads to skewed engagement metrics or inaccurate list data. Monitoring referral traffic and taking steps to filter out invalid or bot-generated sign-ups is crucial for maintaining list quality and preventing spam issues.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains the importance of verifiable permission and proper list hygiene practices. Maintaining a clean and engaged subscriber list can greatly reduce the risk of spam complaints and improve overall deliverability. Reviewing your subscription process and ensuring that you have explicit consent from subscribers can help prevent spam issues.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains the crucial role of engagement data in email deliverability. Low engagement rates, such as low open rates or click-through rates, can negatively impact your sender reputation and increase the likelihood of emails being marked as spam. Monitoring and improving engagement metrics can help maintain good deliverability.
Expert from SpamResource explains that 'email list bombing' can cause a sudden spike in spam complaints. This is a type of attack where a large number of unwanted emails are sent to a particular email address or domain, leading to deliverability issues and potential blacklisting.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from Microsoft explains that Exchange Online Protection (EOP) uses content filters that analyze email content for characteristics indicative of spam. Changes to these filters or the introduction of new rules can result in a sudden increase in spam detection. URL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/security/office-365-security/anti-spam-policies-configure?view=o365-worldwide
Documentation from RFC explains that failing to properly authenticate emails using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC can lead to increased spam rates. Implementing and verifying these authentication methods is crucial for ensuring that your emails are trusted by email providers. Incorrect or missing authentication records can cause deliverability issues. URL: https://www.rfc-editor.org/
Documentation from Google explains that maintaining a low spam rate is vital for ensuring email deliverability to Gmail users. A sudden increase beyond 0.3% can negatively impact deliverability, even for opted-in subscribers. Monitoring spam rates in Postmaster Tools and investigating any spikes is recommended. URL: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/h/1ourpdf4jam6ik/label/important
Documentation from GlockApps explains that using a deliverability testing tool can help identify issues that may be causing increased spam rates. Testing your emails before sending them can reveal problems with content, authentication, or IP reputation. URL: https://www.glockapps.com/