Why does email engagement drop with Gmail on the 5th of each month?

Email marketer from Reddit suggests that engagement dips on a consistent date could be related to changes in Gmail's algorithm or filtering rules applied around that time. It also suggests considering the possibility that the email list is becoming stale or that content relevance is declining, prompting Gmail to adjust placement.

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests proactively sending to engaged recipients on the 5th of each month to potentially mitigate the pattern of engagement drop with Gmail. It's a way to test if it short-circuits the issue, while the underlying cause remains unknown.

Email marketer from Email Marketing Advice Forum responds that low interaction rates can damage your sender reputation and affect deliverability. Focus on encouraging subscriber engagement through compelling content, interactive elements, and clear calls to action. Regularly remove inactive subscribers from your list to improve engagement metrics.

Email marketer from Email Analytics Blog suggests A/B testing email elements like subject lines and 'from' names around the 5th of each month to identify potential issues triggering engagement drops. Comparing results before, during, and after the drop can reveal insights into what's affecting performance.

Email marketer from Marketing Automation Blog suggests that segmentation issues could contribute to engagement declines. Ensure that your segmentation criteria are accurate and up-to-date to target the right subscribers with relevant content. Regularly review and refine your segmentation strategy based on subscriber behavior and preferences.

Email marketer from Email Deliverability Blog responds that if using a new IP address, consistent engagement dips could be due to incomplete IP warming. Gmail might be temporarily restricting delivery until sufficient positive engagement is established.

Email marketer from Mailchimp Community responds that consistent drops could be due to list fatigue. Even with engaged subscribers, sending too frequently or with irrelevant content can lead to disengagement and filtering by Gmail.

Email marketer from Email Marketing Tips Website responds that a drop in engagement could stem from increasingly irrelevant content. They recommend reviewing email content to ensure it's highly targeted and valuable to subscribers. Segmenting lists and personalizing content can also help improve engagement.

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests a few troubleshooting tips for the monthly email engagement dips. He recommends checking if there are any other email sources besides the primary one and configuring DMARC p=none (reporting only) to discover potentially unknown sources. He also suggests considering the possibility of sales pushes or cold emails sent from other services or rogue staff at the end of the previous month, as their impact may appear in the send on the 5th.

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum suggests that Gmail's promotional tab filtering might become more aggressive on certain dates due to algorithm updates. They recommend testing different subject lines and content formats to see if it improves placement in the primary inbox.

Expert from Word to the Wise addresses the importance of monitoring list health and engagement. She emphasizes the need to monitor list quality proactively and that you should use Google Postmaster Tools to get a sense of where your mail is landing. You should expect deliverability issues if you are not monitoring.

Expert from Word to the Wise responds that sudden unsubscriptions could lead to a drop in engagement. She says that if the same types of complaints are present, the volume increases significantly, or the source of complaints changes, it may affect filtering at ISPs and inbox providers. She suggests you should examine both the hard and soft metrics that are available from your sending platform, Google Postmaster Tools or Microsoft SNDS, to see if the metrics support the hypothesis or point you in a different direction.

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools Help explains that maintaining a good sender reputation is critical for Gmail placement. Sudden drops in engagement can negatively impact reputation, leading to further filtering. They advise monitoring sender reputation metrics within Postmaster Tools to identify potential issues.

Documentation from Microsoft explains that SmartScreen Filter is a reputation-based technology designed to protect users from phishing scams and malicious websites. It's important to monitor your domain's reputation and enroll in sender programs (like Microsoft's SNDS) to proactively address any deliverability issues.

Documentation from RFC explains that DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) is an email authentication protocol that allows senders to indicate that their emails are protected by SPF and DKIM, and tells receivers what to do if neither of those authentication methods passes – such as junk or reject the message. DMARC helps prevent email spoofing and phishing, and helps improve email deliverability and placement by building a positive sender reputation.

Documentation from Spamhaus explains that maintaining a good IP reputation is crucial for email deliverability. Being listed on a Spamhaus blocklist can significantly impact your ability to reach inboxes. It's essential to monitor your IP reputation and promptly address any issues that could lead to blacklisting.

Documentation from Gmail Help explains that Gmail has specific guidelines for bulk senders. Failure to adhere to these guidelines can result in filtering or blocking. This documentation advises reviewing and complying with Gmail's bulk sender requirements, including proper authentication and list management practices.