Why am I still having deliverability issues after cleaning my email list?
Summary
What email marketers say12Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Sendinblue explains that lacking proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) can cause deliverability issues. Even with a clean list, if your emails aren't authenticated, ISPs might flag them as spam. Implementing these protocols helps verify your identity and improve trust.
Email marketer from Neil Patel's Blog explains that even with a clean list, irrelevant or low-quality content can hurt deliverability. If your content doesn't resonate with your audience, they're less likely to engage, leading to increased spam complaints and decreased deliverability. Tailoring content to your audience's interests is key.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum explains that inconsistent sending volume can raise red flags with ISPs. Sudden spikes or drops in volume can make you look like a spammer. Maintaining a consistent sending schedule helps build trust.
Email marketer from Litmus explains that poor domain reputation negatively impacts deliverability. Regularly check your domain's reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and take corrective actions if issues are identified. Domain reputation plays a significant role in how ISPs perceive your emails.
Email marketer from Reddit explains that list cleaning services aren't perfect and can miss spam traps. Landing in a spam trap severely damages your sender reputation, so regular monitoring and using reputable cleaning services are essential.
Email marketer from SuperOffice shares that a well-crafted welcome email sets the tone and encourages initial engagement. A poor or non-existent welcome email can lead to confusion and disengagement, potentially leading to unsubscribes or spam complaints.
Email marketer from Email on Acid shares that inconsistent rendering of emails across different email clients can damage user experience and increase the likelihood of being marked as spam. It's important to test and optimize your emails to display correctly on various devices and email clients.
Email marketer from Email Geeks highlights that list validation services cannot remove all spam traps or create permission where it doesn't exist, making a "good" database dependent on proper building, management, and targeting.
Email marketer from HubSpot explains that poor segmentation can lead to deliverability problems. A clean, but unsegmented list means sending irrelevant emails to portions of your audience. Segmenting lists based on demographics, behavior, or interests ensures recipients receive content they find valuable, boosting engagement and deliverability.
Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that deliverability issues stem from list quality, which involves whether recipients knowingly opted-in and continue to positively engage with the content. Negative actions like marking as spam also impact deliverability.
Email marketer from Reddit explains that sending too frequently can lead to recipients marking emails as spam, even if they initially opted in. Adjusting frequency and allowing users to set their preferences can reduce complaints and improve deliverability.
Email marketer from G2 explains that purchased lists are almost always problematic, even if recently cleaned. Recipients didn't opt-in, leading to low engagement, spam complaints, and deliverability issues. Building your list organically is always the best approach.
What the experts say5Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks shares that in their experience, 80% of deliverability problems stem from issues with the email list itself, especially after other common issues have been addressed.
Expert from Email Geeks clarifies that list problems aren't just about hygiene; it's about understanding why recipients are reacting negatively and adjusting the strategy to better appeal to them.
Expert from Spamresource explains that deliverability is not solely based on list hygiene but also on factors like sender reputation, email authentication, and content quality. Cleaning the list is just one piece of the puzzle; other aspects need attention.
Expert from Word to the Wise shares that even with a clean list, if recipients aren't engaging with your emails (opens, clicks), ISPs will eventually start filtering your messages. High engagement rates signal to ISPs that your emails are wanted and valuable.
Expert from Email Geeks explains that verification companies have marketed themselves as the solution to deliverability problems, leading clients to believe that regular list cleaning is sufficient.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from Mailchimp explains that recipient engagement (opens, clicks) heavily influences deliverability. A clean list doesn't guarantee engagement. If recipients aren't interacting with your emails, ISPs may start filtering them. Focusing on relevant content and audience segmentation can improve engagement.
Documentation from Google explains that even with a clean list, poor sender reputation can cause deliverability issues. Factors influencing reputation include spam complaints, sending frequency, and authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). Improving sender reputation requires consistent email practices and adhering to authentication standards.
Documentation from SparkPost explains that monitoring feedback loops is critical for deliverability. These loops provide data on spam complaints, allowing you to identify and remove problematic subscribers, thus protecting your sender reputation.
Documentation from Microsoft explains that your IP address reputation significantly impacts deliverability. Even with a clean list, if your IP address is associated with spam activity or is new, your emails might be filtered. Warming up your IP address and monitoring its reputation are crucial.