Experts, marketers, and Microsoft's own documentation suggest that SNDS data provides a directional overview of deliverability, but it's not an absolute measure. SNDS functions independently from Outlook's spam filters and might not capture all spam trap hits. Data is often lagged and may differ from other ISPs' assessments. For small senders SNDS is less statistically relevant. A holistic approach using SNDS alongside other tools (e.g., Google Postmaster Tools, Litmus), focusing on long-term trends, correlating data with bounce rates and engagement, and proactively addressing feedback (e.g., cleaning lists) is recommended.
10 marketer opinions
Experts and marketers generally agree that Microsoft SNDS data should be viewed as a directional indicator rather than an absolute source of truth for deliverability. Discrepancies exist between SNDS data and actual inbox placement, especially for small volume senders. Various factors, including data latency, spam trap variations, and audience engagement, impact SNDS accuracy. Utilizing SNDS in conjunction with other deliverability tools like Google Postmaster Tools and internal metrics is recommended. Acting on feedback from SNDS, such as addressing high complaint rates and cleaning email lists, is crucial.
Marketer view
Email marketer from StackOverflow answers that interpreting SNDS data requires understanding the context of your email program and audience. Sudden spikes in complaints could be due to a specific campaign or list quality issues.
16 Feb 2025 - StackOverflow
Marketer view
Email marketer from NeilPatel.com shares that SNDS data should be viewed as directional indicators rather than absolute truth. High complaint rates warrant investigation, but don't always indicate a severe problem, especially if volume is low.
26 Apr 2023 - NeilPatel.com
3 expert opinions
Experts indicate that Microsoft SNDS has limitations as a deliverability monitoring tool. It operates separately from Outlook.com's spam filters, leading to potential discrepancies between SNDS reports and actual inbox placement. SNDS data might not capture all spam trap hits, and the information is often lagged, hindering real-time response to deliverability issues. Differences in complaint calculation between ISPs and ESPs further complicate the accuracy of SNDS for precise monitoring.
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise answers that the data in SNDS is known to be lagged (often by a few days), so it doesn't necessarily give you an immediate picture of your current sending reputation or any sudden changes. This can be problematic if you're trying to react quickly to deliverability issues.
29 Jan 2024 - Word to the Wise
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains that SNDS is a wholly separate system from the actual spam filters inside of Outlook.com. It can be useful for broad strokes monitoring, but it is not uncommon to have a red result in SNDS but mail still delivers to the inbox, or vice versa. Complaint rates can be useful directionally, but sender and receiver calculations often differ, with ISPs counting complaints on the date of the complaint and ESPs rolling it back to the send date.
19 Aug 2024 - Email Geeks
4 technical articles
Microsoft's documentation states that SNDS aims to provide data on sending IP addresses, including complaint rates and spam trap hits, to help address deliverability issues. However, it also acknowledges that SNDS data is not real-time and has latency, impacting its immediacy. Furthermore, the accuracy of JMRP data depends on user participation and may not represent the entire user base. The IP reputation metrics reflect Microsoft's assessment, which might differ from other ISPs.
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft clarifies that the IP reputation metrics in SNDS reflect Microsoft's assessment of your sending practices. This assessment might differ from how other ISPs view your reputation.
6 Sep 2023 - Microsoft
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft notes that SNDS data isn't real-time. There's often a delay between when an event occurs (e.g., a user marks an email as spam) and when it's reflected in SNDS. This latency can affect the immediacy of the data's usefulness.
2 Feb 2022 - Microsoft
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