Why did my email open rates drop after increasing sending volume on a shared IP?

Email marketer from GlockApps Blog shares that deliverability testing can help you identify and fix issues that are affecting your open rates. Use deliverability testing tools to check your spam score, inbox placement, and authentication settings. This can help you pinpoint the cause of your deliverability problems.

Email marketer from Email on Acid Blog responds that poor list hygiene contributes to deliverability issues. If you're sending to a large number of inactive or invalid email addresses, it can increase your bounce rate and damage your sender reputation, leading to lower open rates. Regularly cleaning your email list is essential.

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum explains that any reputation damage on a shared IP affects everyone using that IP. If another user on the shared IP is sending spam or engaging in other bad practices, it can affect your deliverability. Consider using a dedicated IP to gain more control over your reputation.

Email marketer from Litmus Blog responds that a sudden drop in open rates could be a sign that more of your emails are landing in the spam folder. Inbox placement is a key indicator of deliverability, and changes in sending volume can affect how ISPs filter your messages. Monitoring your inbox placement rate can help you identify and address potential issues.

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests checking Microsoft SNDS for the IPs to see if there was a shift in performance.

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests checking IP blacklistings, as shared IP pools can be blacklisted by other senders. They also ask if the drop in opens is isolated to a particular network.

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that bounce reasons may indicate the cause of low open rates. High bounce rates can signal poor list quality to mailbox providers, leading to filtering. They also note that email deliverability is complex and involves multiple factors.

Email marketer from SendGrid Blog shares that properly warming up an IP address, even a shared one, is crucial. Sending a large volume of emails without gradually increasing the amount can hurt your deliverability. ISPs use sending patterns to determine the legitimacy of email traffic, so a sudden spike can raise red flags.

Marketer from Email Geeks mentions that Google doesn't typically care about increases in volume if recipients are engaging.

Marketer from Email Geeks advises that the original poster is lacking data points to efficiently troubleshoot and should ask their ESP for help to get exact bounce codes. They also advise to A/B test content.

Email marketer from Mailjet Blog explains that a sudden increase in email volume from a shared IP address can negatively impact your sender reputation. ISPs may view this as suspicious activity, especially if the IP is relatively new or hasn't established a consistent sending history. This can lead to emails being flagged as spam or blocked, resulting in lower open rates.

Email marketer from Reddit User u/EmailExpert shares that drastically changing your sending frequency can negatively impact deliverability. If you suddenly start sending more emails than usual, ISPs may view this as suspicious activity. Gradually increase your sending volume to avoid triggering spam filters.

Email marketer from Campaign Monitor Blog responds that proper email authentication is crucial for deliverability. Ensure your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly configured. Incorrect authentication can cause your emails to be flagged as spam, especially when sending from a shared IP.

Email marketer from SparkPost Blog shares that low engagement rates can lead to deliverability problems. If recipients aren't opening or clicking on your emails, ISPs may view your messages as unwanted, and your emails may be directed to the spam folder. Focus on sending relevant and engaging content to improve your open rates.

Expert from Spam Resource explains that a sudden increase in email volume, especially from a shared IP, can trigger spam filters because it deviates from established sending patterns. This can negatively affect your sender reputation, leading to lower open rates. Consistency and gradual increases are key.

Expert from Word to the Wise, Laura Atkins, responds that declining open rates after increasing sending volume from a shared IP may indicate issues with list acquisition or engagement. If the increased volume includes less engaged recipients, deliverability will suffer, as mailbox providers prioritize user engagement when filtering mail.

Expert from Email Geeks asks what the bounce reasons are, if any.

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools explains that maintaining a good sender reputation is vital for email deliverability. Significant changes in sending volume can affect your reputation, particularly if recipients aren't engaging with your emails. Google recommends monitoring your reputation and adjusting your sending practices accordingly.

Documentation from RFC explains that an improperly configured SPF record can negatively impact email deliverability, especially when using a shared IP. If your SPF record doesn't accurately reflect the sending sources for your domain, ISPs may flag your emails as suspicious, leading to lower open rates.

Documentation from Microsoft SNDS explains that using SNDS (Smart Network Data Services) allows you to monitor the health of your sending IPs on Microsoft's network. This includes data on complaint rates, spam trap hits, and other factors that can affect your deliverability. Monitoring these metrics can help you identify and address issues that are causing your open rates to drop.