Why are Microsoft email open rates low during IP warm-up?

Email marketer from StackOverflow shares that deliverability problems to Microsoft can be caused by a number of factors including; content, bad IPs, DNS and poor authentication.

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests checking the SNDS reputation and blocks, noting that a dedicated PTR is generally better for Microsoft.

Email marketer from GMass indicates that low open rates with Microsoft (and Gmail) are common during the early stages of IP warming. They suggest a conservative approach with a gradual ramp-up, focusing on quality over quantity to establish a positive reputation.

Email marketer from Email on Acid shares that warming up a new IP address involves building a positive reputation with ISPs. Lower open rates at Microsoft during this phase are common, indicating that Microsoft is carefully evaluating the traffic. Consistency and gradual increases in volume are crucial.

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that MSFT always lags for her clients despite best efforts, so as long as MSFT didn't get any worse, they carried on.

Email marketer from Litmus notes that Microsoft's filtering can be more challenging during IP warm-up. They recommend focusing on engagement-based sending, targeting highly active subscribers first, and actively monitoring feedback loops to address any issues promptly.

Marketer from Email Geeks shares experiencing similar issues and that it can take anywhere from 5 weeks to 3 months for open rates to normalise, sometimes pre-emptive accommodation helps.

Email marketer from SendGrid shares that during the IP warm-up process, deliverability to some email providers like Microsoft can be lower until a sending reputation is built, even when sending to engaged subscribers. Proper authentication and respecting Microsoft's sending limits are key to improving deliverability.

Email marketer from Neil Patel Digital explains that several factors can impact open rates, including sender reputation, list quality, and content relevance. During IP warm-up, the reputation is still being established, which can lead to lower open rates, especially with stricter ISPs like Microsoft.

Email marketer from Mailjet shares that during IP warm-up, Microsoft domains may exhibit lower open rates due to their conservative filtering approach. They recommend gradually increasing sending volume, monitoring sender reputation, and authenticating emails to improve deliverability to Microsoft inboxes.

Marketer from Email Geeks shares resources, directing to a write-up from <@U02KPM4GEDB> on Microsoft warming and links to articles about requesting pre-emptive accommodation and why Microsoft might be stricter.

Email marketer from Reddit user u/EmailNoob explains that Outlook is generally more stringent when it comes to new IPs, so a more cautious warming strategy is required. This includes starting with a very small, highly engaged segment and slowly increasing volume based on performance.

Marketer from Email Geeks agrees with <@U02KPM4GEDB> that lower open rates are the new normal but notes improvement after a week of warmup, expecting issues in the first week.

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum mentions that they have seen Microsoft can be very particular, and low open rates are to be expected initially. They say that focusing on sending to opted-in users only and providing easy unsubscribe options are vital steps.

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that Microsoft uses reputation filters that can be sensitive during IP warm-up. They respond that consistent sending practices, proper authentication, and sending to engaged users will help build a good reputation and improve open rates over time.

Expert from Email Geeks confirms Microsoft is stricter and quicker to block mail compared to other ISPs, suggesting lower open rates at Microsoft are now common.

Expert from Spam Resource shares insight to preemptively requesting accommodation from Microsoft. If successful this will give you increased sending limits, however it depends on a number of factors.

Documentation from RFC Standards advises that email authentication methods should be up to scratch, as many email providers now need this.

Documentation from Microsoft Docs details that Outlook.com uses various filtering technologies to protect users from spam. During IP warm-up, these filters may be more aggressive until the sending IP establishes a positive reputation. Senders should ensure compliance with Microsoft's sending policies to improve deliverability.

Documentation from SparkPost highlights that Microsoft uses sophisticated algorithms to assess incoming email. During IP warm-up, these algorithms may be more sensitive, leading to lower initial open rates. Proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and list hygiene are essential for improving deliverability to Microsoft.

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools explains that while focused on Gmail, the principles of IP warming are universal. Microsoft will observe sending patterns closely and early adherence to best practices will prevent deliverability issues.