This is part 3 of a 3 part QuickTip series on email deliverability. In the series we've talked about:
What to Expect from Your First Campaigns:
Part 3: Other Aspects of Email that Affect Deliverability
What other factors affect email deliverability?
In addition to people changing their email addresses, non-delivery of email can happen for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the most common:
Active Content embedded in the email. Video links, trackable links, survey links and graphics are considered active content by receiving ISPs. Most campaigns from Voodoo contain one or more links to active content—probably more than you otherwise send in your personal emails. Most ISPs allow active content within specific parameters, but if spam filters are set more aggressively, some messages may not get through. If you have a problem with a specific recipient, we recommend asking them to add your email address to their safe-sender list.
The Destination Server is temporarily unavailable. When this occurs, Voodoo automatically tries to resend your email—a total of three times over a 72-hour period. Many such messages get through on the second or third attempt.
Unauthorized Sender. If receiving ISPs check and find no record of SPF or other authorization on your outgoing email server allowing Voodoo to send on your behalf, the email may be rejected as potential spam. Make sure you've followed Voodoo’s instructions to install Sender Policy Framework on YOUR company's outgoing email server. This authorizes Voodoo’s email servers to mimic your address and send on your behalf, and it improves your deliverability rates. See our QuickTip Blog post, The Quest for Email Deliverability: Sender ID and Sender Policy Framework (SPF).
Sender reputation. Voodoo’s sender reputation and your own sender reputation (or lack of one) may jointly be factored into determining if a specific ISPs block delivery of your message. We often encounter new clients whose email domain has not yet sent enough bulk email to have a sender reputation ranking. Be patient and stick to your plan.
We are constantly parsing and analyzing returned emails to determine the reasons for non-delivery to make additional improvements where possible.
What about blacklists and whitelists?
Voodoo is considered a “very high volume sender” of email. We stand alongside a legion of reputable third-party email providers who serve the purpose of email list management and bulk email broadcasting on behalf of thousands upon thousands of US companies.
Our reputation metrics and blacklist status are monitored constantly through services such as ReturnPath and MX Toolbox. We consistently rank among the top of companies that push the volume of emails from the variety of clients that we do. We monitor close to 100 blacklists and have appeared on no known blacklists in the past five years. In addition, we take direct action to be whitelisted with many providers including Verizon, Time Warner, Comcast, Cox and others.
We rely on customers like you to install SPF so your emails are recognized as legitimate by receiving ISPs. This further improves Voodoo's sender reputation, so we really appreciate it!
We also appreciate knowing if you have delivery problems with any particular email provider. These sometimes occur as the result of a settings change or system upgrade at the provider, and can usually be rectified within 72 hours.
Business Builder, Deliverability, eVideo Launcher, Quick Tip
deliverability, non-delivery notifications, bouncebacks, SPF, sender policy framework, active content