A high Gmail complaint rate is a critical factor negatively impacting sender reputation and deliverability, potentially leading to emails being filtered as spam or blocked entirely. Segmentation is essential to improve inbox placement by delivering relevant content to specific subscriber groups, increasing engagement, and reducing spam complaints. Effective strategies involve acquiring explicit consent, honoring unsubscribe requests promptly, providing valuable and targeted content, practicing good list hygiene, monitoring complaint rates, and utilizing feedback loops. While high engagement can offset negative impacts of complaints to a certain extent, low engagement coupled with high complaints is severely detrimental. Smaller sending volumes may experience more lenient treatment from Gmail regarding spam thresholds.
11 marketer opinions
A high Gmail complaint rate significantly harms email deliverability and sender reputation, potentially leading to filtering or blocking. Segmentation is key to mitigating this by sending relevant content to specific groups, increasing engagement, and decreasing spam complaints. High engagement can offset negative impacts, but low engagement with high complaints is detrimental. Other best practices include cleaning email lists, providing user control over email frequency, and obtaining explicit consent.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum responds that in their experience, a high spam complaint rate is a death sentence for deliverability. They stress the importance of a clean, segmented list and relevant content to avoid triggering spam filters. Also advises using double opt-in.
23 Dec 2022 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view
Email marketer from HubSpot explains that proper segmentation helps to reduce spam complaints because subscribers are more likely to find your content relevant and engaging, avoiding the urge to mark your emails as spam. Also advises giving users control of how often they receive emails.
12 Sep 2023 - HubSpot
3 expert opinions
Experts emphasize that the Gmail complaint rate is the most crucial factor for Google's deliverability assessment. High complaint rates lead to emails being marked as spam and delivery problems. Segmentation should focus on engaging subscribers who actively want the mail. Utilizing feedback loops to identify and remove complainers is essential, alongside proactive list management and permission practices to maintain a positive sending reputation.
Expert view
Expert from Spamresource.com explains that spam complaints directly and negatively affect your sending reputation, leading to decreased deliverability. They emphasize proactive list management and permission practices to minimize complaints. Maintaining a good sending reputation with email providers is vital for inbox placement.
26 Jun 2023 - Spamresource.com
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that understanding and participating in feedback loops (FBLs) is crucial. FBLs provide data on spam complaints, allowing senders to identify and remove subscribers who mark their mail as spam, directly improving deliverability. Also explains how to request access to Gmail's FBL.
23 Jun 2023 - Word to the Wise
4 technical articles
Email service provider documentation consistently highlights that spam complaint rates severely impact sender reputation and deliverability. High complaint rates lead to messages being filtered as spam or entirely blocked. Essential strategies to minimize complaints include acquiring explicit consent, promptly honoring unsubscribe requests, providing valuable content, maintaining excellent list hygiene, targeting content, and monitoring complaint rates to take corrective actions.
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft Docs explains that spam complaints significantly impact your sender reputation with Outlook.com and other Microsoft services. It highlights the importance of list hygiene and targeted content to reduce the likelihood of users marking messages as spam.
22 Aug 2022 - Microsoft Docs
Technical article
Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that a high spam complaint rate can negatively impact your sender reputation, leading to messages being filtered to spam or blocked entirely. Reducing spam complaints is crucial for maintaining good deliverability.
12 Oct 2021 - Google Workspace Admin Help
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