Why am I seeing open rate drops specifically in California?

Summary

A drop in email open rates specifically in California can stem from various interconnected factors. Google delivery issues and pre-fetching, as suggested by Email Geeks, could be a significant cause. However, since Google controls image fetches and geolocation is often inaccurate (Word to the Wise), these data points should be interpreted cautiously. More broadly, deliverability issues are indicated (Sendinblue), particularly those related to Gmail (Google Postmaster Tools) and Outlook.com (Microsoft), requiring adherence to bulk sender guidelines, managing sender reputation, and implementing email authentication (RFC Editor). In addition, general best practices like good list hygiene (ActiveCampaign), relevant subject lines (Campaign Monitor), segmentation (HubSpot), and avoiding blocklists (Stack Overflow) remain critical. External factors like Apple Mail Privacy Protection (Litmus), spam filter updates, recipient behavior changes (Reddit), and rendering inconsistencies (Email on Acid) could also contribute. A thorough investigation is needed (Spam Resource), coupled with data analysis (Neil Patel) to pinpoint the root cause.

Key findings

  • Google & Deliverability: Google delivery problems and pre-fetching issues are potential causes, especially within California, but consider geolocation inaccuracies.
  • General Deliverability: Issues reaching Gmail (Google) and Outlook.com (Microsoft) users are common. Sender reputation and authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are crucial.
  • Segmentation and Personalization: Personalized and relevant content significantly increases open rates (HubSpot).
  • External Factors: Apple Mail Privacy Protection (Litmus) skews data. Spam filters, recipient behavior, and list fatigue (Reddit) also affect open rates.
  • List Hygiene and Maintenance: Clean, engaged lists, and non-misleading subject lines are vital for deliverability and open rates.
  • Geolocation Issues: Geolocation data is often inaccurate and shouldn't be solely relied upon for analysis.

Key considerations

  • Investigate Google: Examine Gmail delivery specifically, keeping pre-fetch and geolocation accuracy in mind.
  • Monitor Deliverability: Review sender reputation across major email providers (Gmail, Outlook.com).
  • Email Authentication: Verify SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are properly configured.
  • Improve Segmentation: Segment audiences and personalize email content to boost engagement.
  • Review List Hygiene: Remove inactive subscribers and focus on engaged recipients.
  • Data Analysis: Carefully analyze data trends considering that reported open rates can be affected by Apple Privacy Protection and prefetching.
  • Testing: Conduct A/B testing on subject lines and email content to improve opens.

What email marketers say
9Marketer opinions

Several factors can contribute to open rate drops in California. Deliverability issues, such as poor sender reputation, being blocklisted, and failing email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), can prevent emails from reaching inboxes. Segmentation and personalization play a crucial role, as tailored content increases relevance. External factors like Apple Mail Privacy Protection can skew data. Other potential issues include spam filter updates, changes in recipient behavior, list fatigue, seasonality, inconsistent email rendering across clients, and poor list hygiene. Analyzing trends, A/B testing subject lines, and ensuring compliance with email best practices are recommended.

Key opinions

  • Deliverability Issues: Poor sender reputation, blocklisting, and email authentication failures can prevent emails from reaching the inbox.
  • Segmentation & Personalization: Tailored content to specific audience segments increases engagement and open rates.
  • Apple Mail Privacy Protection: This feature can skew open rate data, making the metric less reliable.
  • External Factors: Spam filter updates, changes in recipient behavior, seasonality, and list fatigue can impact open rates.
  • List Hygiene: Clean and engaged email lists are essential for maintaining good open rates.

Key considerations

  • Analyze Data: Identify trends and patterns in your data to understand the cause of the open rate drop.
  • Check Sender Reputation: Monitor your sender reputation and address any deliverability issues.
  • Implement Email Authentication: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are properly configured.
  • A/B Test Subject Lines: Experiment with different subject lines to optimize open rates.
  • Maintain List Hygiene: Remove inactive subscribers and focus on engaging your active audience.
  • Test Email Rendering: Ensure your emails render correctly across different clients and devices.
Marketer view

Email marketer from ActiveCampaign states that clean and engaged email lists directly impact open rates. Remove inactive subscribers and focus on reaching those who are genuinely interested in your content.

December 2023 - ActiveCampaign Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sendinblue Blog suggests that deliverability issues could be the reason for the open rate drop. Check your sender reputation, IP address, and authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to ensure your emails are reaching the inbox.

February 2024 - Sendinblue Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Campaign Monitor shares the importance of A/B testing subject lines to optimize open rates. Experiment with different wording, personalization, and offers to see what resonates best with your audience.

August 2023 - Campaign Monitor
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares a variety of potential factors, including spam filter updates, changes in recipient behavior, list fatigue, and seasonality. They suggest analyzing your data to identify any trends or patterns.

October 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid suggests testing email rendering across different email clients and devices. Inconsistent rendering can impact user experience and engagement, potentially leading to lower open rates.

June 2024 - Email on Acid Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow suggests that being blocklisted is a common cause of email deliverability issues, significantly affecting open rates. They recommend checking if your IP or domain is on any major blocklists.

August 2022 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus explains that Apple Mail Privacy Protection can skew open rate data. The service automatically opens emails, making open rates less reliable as a metric.

March 2023 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Neil Patel's Blog explains that several factors can affect open rates, including sender reputation, subject line relevance, email list quality, and timing. It's important to analyze these factors to identify the cause of the drop.

January 2024 - Neil Patel's Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot Blog shares that segmentation and personalization play a crucial role in improving open rates. Tailoring your email content to specific audience segments can increase relevance and engagement, leading to higher open rates.

January 2022 - HubSpot Blog

What the experts say
5Expert opinions

The open rate drop in California may be due to Google delivery problems and reduced pre-fetching. Google controls image fetches, and geolocation can be inaccurate due to VPNs and proxy servers. Additionally, the open rates might be skewed by pre-fetching, making those opens less valuable. Other potential reasons include poor list hygiene, bad subject lines, and spam filtering, warranting a thorough investigation.

Key opinions

  • Google Delivery: Open rate drops in California may indicate delivery problems with Google.
  • Pre-fetching: A decrease in Google pre-fetching of pixels can lower open rates, but these may not be valuable opens.
  • Geolocation Inaccuracy: IP geolocation for email opens is unreliable, making location data questionable.
  • Various Factors: Low open rates can result from poor list hygiene, bad subject lines, and spam filtering.

Key considerations

  • Investigate Google Delivery: Check for any issues with email delivery to Google users in California.
  • Re-evaluate Open Rate Metric: Consider the impact of pre-fetching on open rates and explore alternative metrics.
  • Review Geolocation Data: Be cautious when interpreting geolocation data due to its inherent inaccuracies.
  • Audit Email Practices: Assess list hygiene, subject lines, and spam filtering practices to identify and address potential issues.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks says that if the open rate drop is due to pre-fetching, those aren't opens you want to be counting anyhow.

June 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares that the drop in open rates specifically in California may indicate delivery problems with Google and a decrease in Google pre-fetching of pixels.

March 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that low open rates can result from many reasons and it requires investigation. Some example reasons are poor list hygiene, bad subject lines, spam filtering and various other causes.

December 2024 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that all Google image fetches go through servers controlled by Google, and while the exact location is unknown, some geolocation databases accept locations from large companies that don't correspond to the actual server locations.

September 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that IP geolocation for email opens is notoriously inaccurate. Data showing opens from California may not actually be from that location due to various factors, including the use of VPNs and proxy servers.

December 2022 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Open rate drops could be due to Gmail delivery issues. Comply with Google's bulk sender guidelines, focusing on authentication, list management, and handling spam complaints. Geolocation of email opens is not always accurate. Maintaining a good sender reputation with Outlook.com is vital to avoid emails being filtered as junk. Implementing email authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC verifies senders and improves deliverability.

Key findings

  • Gmail Delivery: Delivery issues to Gmail users can significantly impact open rates.
  • Geolocation Accuracy: Geolocation data for email opens is often inaccurate.
  • Sender Reputation: A good sender reputation with Outlook.com is crucial for avoiding the junk folder.
  • Email Authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are vital for verifying senders and improving deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Review Google Guidelines: Ensure compliance with Google's bulk sender guidelines.
  • Be Cautious with Geolocation: Interpret geolocation data with caution due to potential inaccuracies.
  • Monitor Sender Reputation: Maintain a good sender reputation with Outlook.com and other ISPs.
  • Implement Email Authentication: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are properly configured and maintained.
Technical article

Documentation from RFC Editor explains the technical specifications of email authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. These protocols help verify the authenticity of email senders and improve deliverability.

December 2024 - RFC Editor
Technical article

Documentation from Mailchimp explains that geolocation of email opens is not always accurate due to various factors, including VPN usage, proxy servers, and the location of email servers. Open data should be regarded as approximate.

July 2024 - Mailchimp
Technical article

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools indicates that delivery issues to Gmail users could cause open rate fluctuations. Ensure you comply with Google's bulk sender guidelines, including authentication, list management, and spam complaint handling.

September 2023 - Google Postmaster Tools
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft highlights the importance of maintaining a good sender reputation when sending emails to Outlook.com users. Low reputation can lead to emails being filtered to the junk folder, decreasing open rates.

September 2021 - Microsoft