What is the best strategy for a one-time email reactivation campaign to recently inactive users?
Summary
What email marketers say14Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Marketing Forums answers by recommending A/B testing different subject lines, content, and incentives in reactivation emails to determine what resonates best with inactive users. Continual optimization is key.
Email marketer from Mailchimp Resource advises on cleaning your email list regularly and removing unengaged contacts. They recommend using segmentation to target inactives with reactivation campaigns before removing them entirely, but emphasize list hygiene for overall deliverability.
Email marketer from Sendinblue Blog responds by advising on including a clear and compelling call to action in the reactivation email. Make it easy for users to click and re-engage, whether it's visiting a website, claiming a discount, or updating their preferences.
Marketer from Email Geeks advises that instead of targeting 30% of the entire inactive list, a maximum of 10% of the normal engaged volume should be targeted for a reactivation campaign.
Email marketer from Campaign Monitor Blog shares the recommendation that setting expectations for future communication is key. In the reactivation email, tell users what kind of emails they'll receive if they re-subscribe and how often they'll be sent.
Email marketer from Reddit explains that personalizing reactivation emails with the user's name and past activity can increase engagement. Suggests referencing specific content they previously enjoyed or products they viewed.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares advice for reactivation campaigns, recommending sending in stages from earliest to latest engagers with days in-between to isolate problem recipients. Also states that going past 12 months of no engagement risks spam traps and higher bounces, which can impact reputation/deliverability. Suggests informing your ESP about the plan in advance.
Email marketer from Neil Patel's Blog explains that segmenting inactive users based on their last activity date is crucial. This allows for tailored messaging, addressing the reasons for inactivity and offering relevant incentives to re-engage.
Email marketer from SmartrMail Blog describes win-back emails as a way to send targeted email campaigns to customers who are no longer engaging with your business. This shows them what they are missing out on and incentivizes them to make a purchase.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains the risks associated with targeting disengaged users in a reactivation campaign, highlighting the importance of the length of disengagement due to spam traps. The main risk is addresses called "spam traps" that are designed to catch senders with poor practices.
Email marketer from Litmus Blog answers that ensuring mobile-friendliness of your reactivation emails is key. Many users check emails on their phones, so make sure your email is responsive and easy to read on smaller screens.
Email marketer from OptinMonster Blog shares the suggestion of using a re-engagement email series, not just a single email. The series could include a reminder of the value they provide, an offer, and finally, a clear opt-out option.
Email marketer from HubSpot Blog shares the importance of offering incentives like discounts, exclusive content, or early access to new features in reactivation emails. These incentives can motivate inactive users to take action and rejoin the active list.
Marketer from Email Geeks suggests an alternative to a one-time reactivation campaign. They recommend moving inactive users to a reactivation list after 6 months and sending them evergreen content once or twice. If they still don’t reactivate, drop them.
What the experts say2Expert opinions
Expert from SpamResource shares to gradually warm up your IP address before sending a reactivation campaign, especially if you are using a new IP or haven't sent emails in a while. This involves starting with a small volume of emails to your most engaged subscribers and gradually increasing the volume over time.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that proper list hygiene is crucial before embarking on a reactivation campaign. This includes removing hard bounces and unsubscribes from your list, as well as suppressing known complainers or those who haven't engaged in a significant period.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from Google Support answers that following Google's bulk sender guidelines is essential for ensuring deliverability. These guidelines include authenticating emails, using a consistent sending IP address, and providing an easy unsubscribe process.
Documentation from Validity Knowledge Base (formerly Return Path) explains that implementing proper email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for proving your legitimacy and improving deliverability rates. ISPs are more likely to trust and deliver emails from authenticated senders.
Documentation from Microsoft Documentation explains that maintaining a positive sender reputation is crucial for reaching the inbox. This involves consistently sending relevant emails, avoiding spam complaints, and quickly processing unsubscribe requests.
Documentation from RFC explains that implementing Feedback Loops is crucial for maintaining a healthy email list. Feedback loops enable mailbox providers to send complaints about unwanted emails back to the sender. This information is invaluable for identifying and removing problematic addresses and improving overall email deliverability.