Boosting your email campaign delivery and open rates involves a combination of strategies. Here are proven best practices for messages, lists, IPs, domains, sending, and more.
Messages & Campaigns
- Write Effective Subject Lines: Test multiple subject lines by splitting your list and analyzing the results to find what resonates best. For example, with a list of 100,000, send 50,000 with one subject line and 50,000 with another, then compare open rates.
- Use the "View as Webpage" Option: Enabling this feature lets recipients view your message (with images) if their email client blocks them, potentially increasing opens.
- Keep it Clean and Simple: Avoid ALL CAPS, spammy keywords, and excessive formatting in both your subject line and message.
- Check Your Spam Score: Use our built-in spam checker (based on SpamAssassin) on your message and subject before sending.
- Control Frequency: Don't email the same recipients too often. Higher frequency can lead to more unsubscribes or spam complaints.
List Quality
- Regularly Clean Your List: Remove invalid, non-existent, or "server not found" addresses. A clean list ensures better delivery and sender reputation.
- Monitor Bounce Rates: High bounce rates indicate issues with list quality or aging data.
IP Address Management
- Rotate IP Addresses: If you have multiple IPs, alternate them (e.g., every week) to allow each IP to "cool down" and avoid getting flagged by ISPs.
- Warm Up New IPs Slowly: Start with low sending volumes and gradually increase as your sender reputation improves.
Domain Practices
- Refresh Sending Domains: High-volume mailers should consider changing out domains every few months to maintain high deliverability.
Other Technical Tips
- Sending Speed: Under "Create Campaign > Advanced Settings", select a slower sending speed for new IPs and list the slower you send, the better the delivery. Gradually increase speed as your reputation improves. See the FAQ on sending speeds for more details
- Handle New or Unclean Data Carefully: If using purchased or unverified data, dedicate a separate IP or server for initial "cleaning" before moving valid addresses into your main sending pools.
- Set Up Feedback Loops: Register for ISP feedback loops using our quick links. This helps you promptly handle spam complaints and improve sender reputation.
Consistent review and improvement across all these areas will help maximize your email delivery and open rates!