What is a good email delivery rate without double opt-in and how to improve it?

Summary

Achieving a good email delivery rate without double opt-in is a multifaceted process that hinges on maintaining a strong sender reputation, practicing diligent list hygiene, prioritizing recipient engagement, and adhering to technical standards. While a 90-99% delivery rate is generally considered a reasonable target, the key takeaway is that focusing on sending wanted mail to engaged users is paramount. Key methods for improving deliverability include implementing robust authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), regularly cleaning email lists, segmenting audiences for targeted content, and monitoring critical metrics like bounce rates, spam complaints, and engagement levels. The importance of ethical email practices and permission-based sending are also emphasized.

Key findings

  • Delivery vs. Deliverability: Delivery rate (accept rate) is not the same as deliverability (inbox placement); inbox placement is a more accurate measure of success.
  • Desired Delivery Rate: Without double opt-in, aim for a delivery rate between 90% and 99%.
  • Key Factors for Deliverability: Sender reputation, list hygiene, engagement, and authentication are all crucial determinants of deliverability.
  • Email Authentication: Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is critical for verifying sender identity and improving deliverability.
  • List Management: Regular list cleaning (removing invalid, inactive, or unengaged subscribers) is essential.
  • Audience Segmentation: Segmenting lists and personalizing content increases engagement and reduces spam complaints.
  • Ethical Email Practices: Sending emails without explicit permission is considered spam and should be avoided.
  • Feedback Loops: Leveraging feedback loops from mailbox providers (Yahoo, Microsoft) helps remove complainers.

Key considerations

  • B2B Considerations: B2B streams lack feedback loops, so be extra cautious and prioritize list quality.
  • Google's Recommendations: Take Google's claims about spam handling with a grain of salt, as user experiences may vary.
  • New IP Warm-up: Warm up new IP addresses slowly by sending small volumes of email to highly engaged subscribers.
  • Complaint Rate Monitoring: Focus on monitoring complaint rates and bulk foldering more than bounce rates.
  • Leverage Postmaster Tools: Monitor sender reputation and spam rates using tools like Google Postmaster Tools.
  • Content and Formatting: Avoid spam trigger words and ensure your emails are properly formatted.
  • Email Validation: Consider using an email validation API to improve delivery rates.

What email marketers say
12Marketer opinions

The consensus is that achieving a 'good' email delivery rate without double opt-in requires proactive management of sender reputation, list hygiene, and engagement. While specific target rates vary (90-99% is generally considered good), the overarching strategies include regular list cleaning, implementing email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), monitoring bounce rates and spam complaints, segmenting lists for targeted content, and warming up IP addresses. Overall emphasis should be placed on delivering wanted mail to engaged users.

Key opinions

  • Accept vs. Deliverability: Delivery rate (accept rate) is not the same as deliverability (inbox placement). Focus on inbox placement for a true measure of success.
  • Target Delivery Rate: Without double opt-in, aim for a delivery rate of 90-99%.
  • Factors Affecting Deliverability: Sender reputation, authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), content quality, and list hygiene all significantly impact deliverability.
  • Importance of List Hygiene: Regularly clean your email lists by removing inactive, invalid, or unengaged subscribers.
  • Segmentation & Personalization: Segment your email lists and personalize content to increase engagement and reduce spam complaints.
  • Engagement Metrics: Monitor open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, and spam complaints to get a holistic view of email performance.
  • Authentication Matters: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to verify your identity and improve sender reputation.

Key considerations

  • List Source: If using cold email lists, ensure they are highly targeted and provide easy opt-out options.
  • IP Warm-up: When using a new IP address, gradually increase sending volume to build a positive reputation with ISPs.
  • Sender Reputation Monitoring: Regularly monitor your sender reputation through tools like Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS.
  • Content Quality: Ensure your emails have proper formatting and avoid spam trigger words.
  • Compliance with Standards: Adhere to SMTP standards to ensure correct routing and delivery.
  • Double Opt-in: Double opt-in is always a best practice for ensuring a healthy list and high deliverability.
  • ESP Selection: Use a reputable Email Service Provider (ESP) to assist with deliverability best practices and compliance.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Woodpecker shares that a delivery rate between 90% and 99% is considered good. Woodpecker recommends focusing on sending relevant and personalized emails to boost engagement, cleaning email lists regularly to remove invalid or inactive addresses, and monitoring sender reputation through tools like Google Postmaster Tools. They note that a low bounce rate (under 2%) is also crucial.

May 2022 - Woodpecker
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks says that 98% is alright, 94% is not impressive and that if the list leans heavily to one provider that could signal problems. Also, suggests using an email validation API.

March 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks says that a 94-98% accept rate is normal for someone with a relatively clean list, and advises to monitor engagement and spam-related bounces for a better indicator.

November 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks corrects that the user is seeing delivery rates, AKA accept rates, not deliverability rates, which generally refer to inbox placement.

December 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Gmass responds that without double opt-in, you should still aim for a delivery rate above 95%. To achieve this, Gmass recommends closely monitoring bounce rates, segmenting your lists based on engagement, and removing unengaged subscribers regularly. They also suggest using authentication methods (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to improve sender reputation.

August 2022 - Gmass
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sendinblue shares that without double opt-in, maintaining a high delivery rate is crucial. Sendinblue recommends list cleaning through regular removal of inactive subscribers, monitoring sender reputation to identify and resolve issues promptly, segmenting email lists to send targeted content, and warming up your IP address by gradually increasing sending volume to establish a positive reputation with ISPs.

April 2023 - Sendinblue
Marketer view

Email marketer from ActiveCampaign recommends that sending targeted and relevant content to segmented audiences improves engagement and deliverability. ActiveCampaign advises segmenting lists based on demographics, behavior, and engagement levels. By sending personalized content, you're more likely to avoid spam complaints and increase positive engagement, which helps improve your sender reputation.

May 2022 - ActiveCampaign
Marketer view

Email marketer from Campaign Monitor emphasizes that a good delivery rate is just one part of the equation. They suggest monitoring other metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and bounce rates to gain a holistic view of email performance. Campaign Monitor advises that improvements can be made through better content, audience segmentation, and ensuring a good sender reputation.

May 2022 - Campaign Monitor
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that while double opt-in is best, a delivery rate of 90%+ is achievable without it. Reddit User u/EmailExpert recommends aggressive list cleaning (removing inactive subscribers), using a reputable ESP, and closely monitoring bounce rates and spam complaints. They also suggest segmenting lists and personalizing emails to increase engagement.

August 2022 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that several factors can affect deliverability, including sender reputation (affected by spam complaints, bounce rates, and engagement), email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and content quality (avoiding spam trigger words and ensuring proper formatting). Mailjet also notes the importance of list hygiene and segmentation to improve deliverability.

November 2022 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from ZeroBounce emphasizes that maintaining a healthy email list is critical for good deliverability. ZeroBounce suggests regularly validating email addresses to remove invalid or inactive addresses, segmenting email lists based on engagement, and using double opt-in whenever possible. They also recommend monitoring spam complaints and bounce rates to identify and address issues proactively.

April 2024 - ZeroBounce
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum responds that when cold emailing (without opt-in), a good strategy is to focus on highly targeted lists, personalize each email, and provide easy opt-out options. Forum User 'MailGuru' stresses the importance of using email verification tools to minimize bounce rates and monitoring sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools.

November 2022 - Email Marketing Forum

What the experts say
10Expert opinions

These expert insights emphasize the critical role of permission, proactive reputation management, and authentication in achieving good email deliverability, particularly without double opt-in. Key actions include leveraging feedback loops (where available), prioritizing complaint monitoring over bounce rates, being cautious with B2B lists due to the absence of feedback loops, and diligently warming up new IPs. Authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is considered foundational for sender verification, while Google's claims about spam behavior should be approached with caution.

Key opinions

  • Permission is Paramount: Sending emails without explicit permission is considered spam, regardless of the delivery rate.
  • B2B List Caution: Be extra careful with B2B lists as they lack feedback loops, making complaint monitoring challenging.
  • Importance of Feedback Loops: Leverage feedback loops from providers like Yahoo and Microsoft to remove complainers from your list.
  • Monitor Complaint Rates: Complaint rates and bulk foldering are more critical to monitor than bounce rates.
  • Authentication is Key: Authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is foundational for sender verification and improving deliverability.
  • IP Warm-Up: When using a new IP, warm it up gradually with small volumes and clean lists.
  • Temporary Errors: Investigate temporary errors to identify and address potential spam triggers.

Key considerations

  • Statistical Noise: Don't overreact to small numbers of bounces, as they may be statistical noise.
  • Google's Claims: Approach Google's claims about spam handling with caution, as anecdotal evidence suggests discrepancies.
  • Braze Error Details: Obtain detailed temporary error information from Braze to pinpoint spam-related issues.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that feedback loops from Yahoo and Microsoft allow you to receive a message when someone marks your email as spam, so you can remove that recipient from future emails. Mentions that at Google, you can monitor your complaint rate in the postmaster interface.

November 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that at Google, emails marked as spam may go to the bulk folder, affecting your reputation over time, or they may continue to appear in the inbox, leading to repeated spam reports, also impacting your reputation. Recommends removing unengaged users over time.

May 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks notes that Google's claim that emails marked as spam don't end up in inbox isn't always true, hence their recommendations should be taken with a grain of salt

March 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that email authentication (SPF, DKIM, and DMARC) acts as a form of sender verification. Correctly implementing these protocols is a foundational element of email deliverability and helps ISPs identify legitimate senders, decreasing the likelihood that your emails will be marked as spam.

July 2021 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks says that for B2B streams, it's important to be careful about pulling addresses off the list because there isn't a FBL, so you don't know who has complained, and this may degrade your reputation over time.

October 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks says to not worry about the small number of bounces because it is statistical noise

May 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource, Steve Linford, responds that any email sent to someone who hasn't given permission is spam, regardless of delivery rate. He emphasizes that focusing on permission is more important than achieving a high delivery rate without consent.

June 2024 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks says to worry more about complaints and bulk foldering than bounces

January 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise, Laura Atkins, responds about strategies for warming up new IP addresses including starting with low volume, using very clean lists, and increasing slowly over time. She also emphasizes the necessity of authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to build a positive reputation, which will aid in improving deliverability to a range between 90-99%.

September 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests getting the actual temporary error from the Braze interface to provide more information about what is suspected as spam, so advice can be provided on how to address it.

December 2023 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

These documentation sources collectively emphasize the crucial roles of authentication, sender reputation, and adherence to standards in achieving good email deliverability. All sources (Google, RFC 5321, Microsoft, and SparkPost) highlight the need for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication to verify sender identity and reduce the risk of emails being marked as spam. They also stress the importance of maintaining a good sender reputation, monitoring spam rates, and avoiding unsolicited bulk email. Adherence to SMTP standards is also vital.

Key findings

  • Email Authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC): SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are essential for verifying sender identity and improving deliverability.
  • Sender Reputation: Maintaining a good sender reputation is critical for high deliverability.
  • Avoid Unsolicited Bulk Email: Sending unsolicited bulk email negatively impacts deliverability.
  • SMTP Standards: Adhering to SMTP standards is vital for proper email formatting, error handling, and communication protocols.

Key considerations

  • Monitor Spam Rate: Monitor your spam rate through Google Postmaster Tools and ensure it remains low (below 0.1%).
  • Microsoft SNDS: Monitor sender reputation through the Microsoft SNDS (Smart Network Data Services) program.
  • Follow Best Practices: Follow best practices for sending email as outlined by ESPs and mailbox providers.
  • Setup Authentication Correctly: Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records correctly and monitor results to ensure they are working.
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost highlights the importance of email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) for improving deliverability. SparkPost explains that these authentication methods help verify the sender's identity, reducing the likelihood of emails being marked as spam. They recommend setting up these records correctly and monitoring authentication results to ensure they are working as expected.

June 2022 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft shares that to improve email deliverability in Office 365, it's important to avoid sending unsolicited bulk email and to ensure that your sending domain is properly authenticated with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Microsoft also recommends monitoring your sender reputation through the Microsoft SNDS (Smart Network Data Services) program and following their best practices for sending email.

March 2023 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from RFC 5321 details that adherence to SMTP standards is vital for deliverability. The RFC specifies proper email formatting, error handling, and communication protocols that email servers must follow to ensure messages are correctly routed and delivered. Consistent compliance with these standards helps maintain a positive sender reputation and reduces the risk of emails being marked as spam.

May 2023 - RFC 5321
Technical article

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools explains that maintaining a good sender reputation is essential for high deliverability. Google recommends authenticating your emails using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to verify your identity. They also suggest monitoring your spam rate in Postmaster Tools and ensuring it remains low (below 0.1%). Google highlights the importance of sending wanted mail to engaged users.

May 2023 - Google Postmaster Tools