What is the impact of increasing or decreasing email volume on IP reputation and deliverability?

Summary

Consistent email volume is crucial for maintaining a positive IP reputation and ensuring optimal deliverability. While occasional fluctuations aligning with typical activity are generally acceptable, sudden spikes or drops can negatively impact sender reputation and trigger spam filters. Gradual increases are recommended, particularly when warming up a new IP, to build trust with mailbox providers. A suggested approach is to not more than double daily volume week-by-week (around 10% daily increase). Dropping volume is less of an issue, but caution is advised when increasing it again. After about 30 days of reduced volume, reputation may fade. Consistent engagement metrics, such as opens and clicks, are essential to support changes in volume. Different mailbox providers have varying tolerances for volume fluctuations; Microsoft, for example, is stricter than Gmail. A planned and steady warm-up period will establish trust with ISPs.

Key findings

  • Consistency is Paramount: Maintaining consistent email volume is essential for a good sender reputation and deliverability.
  • Spikes and Drops Hurt: Sudden spikes or drops in email volume can negatively impact deliverability and trigger spam filters.
  • Gradual Warming Recommended: Gradually increasing volume, especially during IP warming, is crucial for building trust with ISPs and mailbox providers.
  • Engagement Matters: Maintaining consistent engagement metrics (opens, clicks) is crucial for supporting changes in volume.
  • Provider Tolerance Varies: Email providers have varying tolerances for volume changes; Microsoft is stricter than Gmail.
  • Reputation Decay: Long period of reduced volume can lead to the deterioration of reputation.

Key considerations

  • Monitor Volume Regularly: Continuously monitor email sending volume to avoid sudden spikes or drops.
  • Plan Volume Changes Strategically: Carefully plan volume increases and decreases, especially when introducing new IPs or ramping up new email programs.
  • Implement a Warming Strategy: Implement a gradual IP warming strategy for new IPs to establish trust with ISPs.
  • Adhere to Provider Guidelines: Be aware of and adhere to specific sending guidelines and limitations of major mailbox providers (e.g., Google, Microsoft).
  • Monitor Engagement Metrics: Closely monitor engagement metrics, such as opens, clicks, and complaints, to ensure they align with volume changes and to detect potential deliverability issues.
  • Consistency in Patterns: Maintain consistent sending patterns to help providers better understand the senders volume.

What email marketers say
9Marketer opinions

Maintaining consistent email volume is crucial for a positive IP reputation and optimal deliverability. Sudden increases or decreases can trigger spam filters and negatively impact sender reputation. Gradual increases, particularly when warming up a new IP, are recommended to build trust with mailbox providers. Consistent sending patterns, good engagement metrics, and adhering to provider-specific guidelines (e.g., Microsoft's strict volume requirements) are essential. Fluctuations in volume should align with engagement to ensure data accuracy.

Key opinions

  • Consistency is Key: Maintaining consistent email volume helps build a positive sender reputation.
  • Sudden Changes are Risky: Sudden spikes or drops in email volume can trigger spam filters and negatively impact deliverability.
  • Gradual Increase is Preferred: Gradually increasing volume, especially during IP warming, is recommended to establish trust.
  • Provider Tolerance Varies: Email providers have differing levels of tolerance for changes in volume; Microsoft is stricter than Gmail.
  • Engagement Matters: Significant volume changes without corresponding engagement can negatively impact IP reputation.

Key considerations

  • Monitor Volume: Continuously monitor your email sending volume to avoid sudden changes.
  • Warm-Up Strategy: Implement a gradual IP warming strategy when starting with a new IP address.
  • Provider Guidelines: Be aware of each email provider's specific guidelines and limitations regarding sending volume.
  • List Quality: Maintain a healthy and engaged email list to support consistent volume changes.
  • Engagement Metrics: Closely monitor engagement metrics to ensure they align with volume fluctuations.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that maintaining a consistent sending volume helps build a positive sender reputation and avoid triggering spam filters. Sudden spikes or drops can negatively impact deliverability.

October 2024 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit says that significant changes (increases or decreases) in volume without corresponding engagement metrics can signal to mailbox providers that something is amiss. This can impact IP reputation negatively. They recommend monitoring engagement metrics closely.

August 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that patterns are important, so consistent ups and downs may not be an issue if it aligns with typical activity. Sudden volume increases may cause scrutiny. Provider tolerance for change varies, with Gmail having more flexibility than Microsoft.

February 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Vendor Selection explains that fluctuations in volume directly impact reputation. Too much volume too soon will likely lead to deliverability issues. Gradual increase over time is recommended.

August 2023 - Email Vendor Selection
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendPulse shares that gradually increasing email volume, especially during the initial stages of a new IP address, is crucial for establishing a good sender reputation. This approach allows mailbox providers to recognize and trust the sender over time.

October 2021 - SendPulse
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackOverflow user states a sudden spike in email volume can trigger spam filters and negatively impact deliverability. Consistent volume helps build trust with ISPs and improve sender reputation.

November 2023 - StackOverflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus explains that the quality of your email list and engagement metrics are crucial. Sudden increases in volume without a corresponding increase in engagement could hurt your reputation. Also decreases in volume should be considered as it suggests your data isn't accurate.

May 2022 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that Microsoft is very strict about consistent volume and will limit sending until a certain threshold is met.

August 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps explains that sudden spikes or drops in email volume can trigger spam filters and negatively impact deliverability. Consistent volume helps build trust with ISPs and improve sender reputation.

May 2021 - GlockApps

What the experts say
6Expert opinions

Maintaining consistent email volume is crucial for IP reputation and deliverability. While changing volume doesn't directly harm reputation, significant spikes can affect deliverability, especially outside of established sending patterns. A gradual increase is recommended during IP warming, with a suggested limit of doubling volume weekly (approximately 10% daily). Dropping volume is less problematic but requires careful re-increase. After about 30 days of reduced volume, reputation can start to fade, so a consistent history with regular volume also helps.

Key opinions

  • Spikes Impact Deliverability: Large, unexpected volume increases can negatively affect deliverability, particularly if they deviate from established sending patterns.
  • Gradual Warming is Best: Gradually increasing sending volume during IP warming helps build trust with mailbox providers.
  • Volume Drops Less Problematic: Dropping volume is generally less harmful but requires caution when increasing it again.
  • Reputation Fades Over Time: After a prolonged period (around 30 days) of reduced volume, sender reputation can start to diminish.
  • Consistency is Key: Maintaining a consistent volume is the best way to maintain a good email deliverability reputation.

Key considerations

  • Monitor Volume Changes: Carefully monitor volume changes to avoid unexpected spikes.
  • Implement IP Warming: Develop a strategic IP warming plan for new IPs, gradually increasing volume.
  • Plan Volume Increases: Exercise caution when re-increasing volume after a drop, avoiding immediate returns to previous levels.
  • Establish Sending Patterns: Be aware of previous sending patterns so volume can be appropriately warmed up.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks mentions that after 30 days of reduced volume, reputation starts to fade.

August 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that consistency is essential; large unexpected volume increases or decreases compared to previous patterns can negatively affect your sending reputation and deliverability.

May 2023 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that changing volume doesn’t directly impact reputation, but massive spikes can affect deliverability. Some clients can double volume during warmup, particularly in later stages.

June 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests that during warming, clients should not more than double their daily volume week-by-week, which translates to approximately a 10% increase per day for daily senders.

August 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise responds that when launching a new IP or email program, gradually increasing sending volume over time, referred to as 'warming up' the IP, allows mailbox providers to learn your sending patterns and build trust, which is crucial for positive deliverability.

October 2021 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks says that dropping volume is less of an issue, but advises caution when increasing it again. Avoid immediately returning to the previous volume.

May 2023 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

Maintaining consistent sending patterns, including email volume, is essential for establishing a positive sender reputation and ensuring deliverability, as highlighted by Google, Microsoft, SparkPost, AWS, and RFC Editor. Unexpected volume changes, especially rapid increases, can negatively impact deliverability, potentially leading to temporary blocks or throttling by mailbox providers. A well-planned IP warming strategy with a gradual increase in volume is crucial for building trust with ISPs and avoiding being flagged as spam. Adhering to sending limits and quotas is also vital.

Key findings

  • Consistency is Key: Consistent sending patterns, including volume, are essential for establishing and maintaining a good sender reputation.
  • Unexpected Changes Hurt: Unexpected changes in volume can negatively affect deliverability.
  • Warming Strategy Important: A well-planned IP warming strategy with gradual volume increase is crucial for new IPs.
  • Rapid Increases Flagged as Spam: Rapid increases in volume can be interpreted as spamming behavior.
  • Adhere to Sending Limits: Adhering to sending limits and quotas is essential for avoiding blocks and throttling.

Key considerations

  • Establish Consistent Patterns: Establish consistent sending patterns to build trust with mailbox providers.
  • Plan for Volume Changes: Carefully plan and execute any changes in email volume.
  • Implement IP Warming: Develop a comprehensive IP warming strategy for new sending IPs.
  • Monitor Volume and Deliverability: Continuously monitor sending volume and deliverability metrics to identify and address issues promptly.
  • Follow Provider Guidelines: Adhere to the specific sending guidelines and recommendations of major mailbox providers like Google and Microsoft.
Technical article

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools explains that consistent sending patterns, including volume, are key factors in establishing and maintaining a positive sender reputation. Unexpected changes in volume can negatively affect deliverability to Gmail users.

January 2025 - Google Postmaster Tools
Technical article

Documentation from AWS explains the daily sending quotas, and it's best to warm up slowly, so that your sending rate and sending quota gradually increase over time. The warm-up period helps you establish a reputation as a legitimate sender with ISPs.

February 2024 - Amazon Web Services
Technical article

Documentation from RFC Editor explains that there are many factors that can impact deliverability of email, consistent volume is an important factor that should be considered and planned.

November 2023 - RFC Editor
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft states that adhering to sending limits and maintaining consistent sending volume are essential for ensuring email deliverability to Outlook.com and other Microsoft-owned domains. Sudden increases can result in temporary blocks or throttling.

March 2021 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost explains that a well-planned IP warming strategy, which includes gradually increasing email volume, is crucial for establishing a solid sender reputation and avoiding deliverability issues. Rapid increases can be interpreted as spamming behavior.

April 2022 - SparkPost