Summary
To reduce spam complaints after email warmup with engaged users, real estate companies need a multi-faceted approach. First, prioritize list hygiene by implementing double opt-in, using list scrubbing services, and regularly removing inactive subscribers and complainers (though Gmail doesn't provide complainer lists). Implement clear preference centers and honor unsubscribe requests. Ensure content relevance by segmenting lists and tailoring content to meet subscriber expectations and provide value. Respect send frequency to avoid subscriber fatigue. On the technical side, set up feedback loops, use SNDS to monitor IP reputation, and implement proper email authentication (DKIM, SPF, DMARC). Preview emails to avoid formatting issues. Be aware of Gmail's spam reporting calculation and avoid spam traps.
Key findings
- List Hygiene is Crucial: Regularly clean your list by removing inactive subscribers, using scrubbing services to eliminate invalid addresses and spam traps. Remove complainers where possible, though Gmail does not give you this data.
- Content Must Be Relevant and Valuable: Ensure your email content is tailored to the interests and needs of your subscribers, aligning with expectations set during signup and providing value in each message.
- Technical Configuration Matters: Implement and maintain proper email authentication (DKIM, SPF, DMARC), set up feedback loops to monitor spam complaints, and use SNDS to track IP reputation.
- Subscriber Management and Control: Offer clear and accessible preference centers, honor unsubscribe requests promptly, and respect send frequency preferences to avoid subscriber fatigue.
- Proactive Warming: Warm up new IPs/domains with your most engaged subscribers. And always be aware of the metrics you are trying to affect.
Key considerations
- Segmentation and Personalization: Pay close attention to segmenting your email list based on engagement levels and tailoring your content to match their interests. Personalize when possible.
- Explicit Permission: Ensure all subscribers have given explicit permission to receive your emails, ideally through double opt-in, to minimize the risk of spam complaints.
- Continuous Monitoring and Optimization: Constantly monitor your sender reputation, spam complaint rates, and deliverability metrics, and adjust your strategies accordingly to address any issues that arise.
- Email Previewing: Always preview your emails across different devices and email clients to ensure they render correctly and look professional to avoid users marking them as spam due to formatting issues.
- Avoid spam traps: Make sure you don't have any spam trap emails on your list
What email marketers say
12 marketer opinions
To reduce high spam complaints after email warmup with engaged users, real estate companies should focus on several key areas. First, prioritize list hygiene by removing complainers, inactive subscribers, and using list scrubbing services. Implement double opt-in and clear preference centers to manage subscriber expectations and preferences. Ensure content relevance by segmenting lists based on engagement and tailoring content accordingly. Respect send frequency to avoid subscriber fatigue. Finally, check DMARC records and authentication settings and preview emails across different devices to maintain a professional appearance.
Key opinions
- List Hygiene: Regularly clean your email list by removing complainers and inactive subscribers.
- Subscriber Management: Implement double opt-in and clear preference centers to manage subscriber expectations and preferences.
- Content Relevance: Segment lists based on engagement and tailor content accordingly.
- Send Frequency: Respect send frequency to avoid subscriber fatigue.
- Technical Setup: Check DMARC records and authentication settings, preview emails across different devices.
Key considerations
- List Segmentation: Pay special attention to how you segment your lists to align content with user engagement.
- Content Strategy: Ensure your email content aligns with what you promised during signup and provides value with each message.
- Feedback Loops: Monitor spam complaints closely, especially during and after the warmup process, and adjust strategies as needed.
- Transparency: Be transparent about send frequency and provide options for users to easily unsubscribe or manage their preferences.
- Technical Compliance: Confirm your email setup is technically sound by ensuring you authenticate your emails properly (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
Marketer view
Email marketer from Neil Patel explains that segmenting your email list based on engagement is crucial. Send targeted content to engaged users and different content to less engaged users to reduce spam complaints.
7 Mar 2024 - Neil Patel
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests high spam rates could indicate a poorly engaged list or DMARC issues. Also recommends including an unsubscribe link at the top of emails to decrease spam rates.
3 Nov 2024 - Email Geeks
What the experts say
4 expert opinions
To reduce high spam complaints, especially after email warmup, real estate companies should focus on content alignment with subscriber expectations and actively manage list hygiene. Understand that Gmail calculates spam rate as the number of users marking emails as spam divided by the number of users who saw it in inbox and that Gmail does not share the list of complainers with the senders. Ensure email content is valuable and aligns with initial promises. Use email testing tools to improve deliverability and rendering. Regularly scrub the list to remove inactive or problematic addresses, focusing on sending to engaged recipients.
Key opinions
- Gmail Reporting: Gmail calculates spam rate as (number of users marking as spam) / (number of users who saw it in inbox).
- List Hygiene: Actively manage the subscriber list to remove inactive, unresponsive, or problem addresses.
- Content Alignment: Content-related complaints stem from a mismatch between subscriber expectations and received content.
- Sender Anonymity: Gmail does not give senders a list of users who marked their emails as spam.
Key considerations
- Content Value: Prioritize delivering valuable content that meets or exceeds initial subscriber expectations.
- Proactive Testing: Use email testing tools to identify and resolve deliverability and rendering issues before sending.
- Continuous Scrubbing: Regularly clean your list to ensure you're sending only to engaged and receptive recipients.
- Expectations: Be sure to set clear expectations from the start about what value users will get.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains Gmail's current spam reporting calculation: 'number of folks who hit this is spam’ / ‘number of people who saw the message in their inbox.’
23 Nov 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource, Laura Atkins, explains that content-related spam complaints often stem from mismatches between what subscribers expect and what they receive. Ensure your email content aligns with what you promised during signup and provide value with each message. Also using an email testing tool can help identify and resolve potential deliverability and rendering issues before sending.
10 Apr 2024 - Spam Resource
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
To reduce high spam complaints after email warmup, real estate companies should prioritize technical configurations and monitoring. Setting up feedback loops (FBLs) allows identification and removal of users marking emails as spam. Utilize Microsoft's Smart Network Data Services (SNDS) to monitor IP reputation and identify issues. Implement DKIM, SPF, and DMARC to authenticate emails. Avoid spam traps, as they severely damage sender reputation.
Key findings
- Feedback Loops: Feedback loops allow identification and removal of users marking emails as spam.
- IP Monitoring: Smart Network Data Services (SNDS) helps monitor IP reputation and identify issues.
- Email Authentication: DKIM, SPF, and DMARC verify email legitimacy and reduce spam flags.
- Spam Traps: Hitting spam traps severely damages sender reputation.
Key considerations
- FBL Setup: Ensure proper setup and monitoring of feedback loops to address spam complaints promptly.
- SNDS Utilization: Actively monitor SNDS data to identify and mitigate potential issues impacting IP reputation.
- Authentication Implementation: Implement and maintain DKIM, SPF, and DMARC records correctly to ensure proper email authentication.
- List Hygiene: Implement robust list hygiene practices to avoid hitting spam traps.
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft explains that using the Smart Network Data Services (SNDS) can help you monitor your IP reputation and identify potential issues that may be causing spam complaints.
2 Jul 2024 - Microsoft
Technical article
Documentation from RFC explains that implementing proper email authentication protocols (DKIM, SPF, and DMARC) helps verify that your emails are legitimate and not spoofed, reducing the chances of being flagged as spam.
16 Apr 2022 - RFC
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