What steps should I take to improve email deliverability with a large, unengaged contact list and high bounce rates?

Improving email deliverability with a large, unengaged contact list and high bounce rates requires a comprehensive strategy. A crucial initial step is to halt the addition of 'bad data' and suppress potentially purchased addresses. Thorough list hygiene is essential, involving the removal of unengaged subscribers, invalid addresses identified via email validation services, and honoring opt-outs, while adhering to CAN-SPAM regulations. Analyze bounce error codes and data from Google Postmaster Tools, Microsoft SNDS, rejection rates, image load data, and click data to understand engagement and blocking issues. Ensure proper email authentication using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Implement double opt-in for new subscribers. Segment lists, personalize emails, and A/B test subject lines to enhance engagement. Avoid spam trigger words and use responsive email designs. Warming up IP addresses gradually is important, particularly for new IPs. Monitoring sender reputation with tools like Microsoft's SRD is critical. Finally, setting and enforcing policies across business lines requires communication and collaboration to ensure sustainable email practices.

Improving email deliverability with a large, unengaged contact list and high bounce rates requires a multi-faceted approach. Initial steps involve immediate actions like ceasing the purchase of email lists and halting the influx of bad data. A thorough list cleaning process is crucial, encompassing the removal of unengaged subscribers, invalid email addresses, and honoring opt-outs, while also ensuring compliance with CAN-SPAM regulations. Technical implementations are essential, including email authentication using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC protocols. Engagement strategies, such as list segmentation, personalized emails, and A/B testing subject lines, are recommended to increase engagement and reduce bounce rates. Monitoring and analysis through tools like Google Postmaster and Microsoft SNDS are also important for understanding and improving sender reputation. For new IPs gradually warm up the audience to avoid large spikes. Ensure responsive email designs across all devices, and consider implementing double opt-in for new subscribers to ensure genuine interest.

Improving email deliverability with a large, unengaged contact list and high bounce rates is a multifaceted and often lengthy process. A crucial initial step is to suppress potentially purchased addresses to immediately reduce harm. Gathering data on rejection rates (bounces), ideally broken down by list and recipient domain, provides insights into problem areas. Analyzing image load and click data helps identify engaged recipients. Proactive list hygiene, involving email validation to verify syntax, domain, and mailbox existence, alongside regular removal of inactive subscribers, is essential. Additionally, ensuring proper email authentication with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC protects against spoofing and enhances sender reputation. It is recommended that you schedule time to speak with email leads from each business line to understand how they use email and whether they have any best practices. Building a sustainable email setup requires enforcing internal policies, cleaning data, and protecting reputation, but this is typically an ongoing project that will need constant work.

Improving email deliverability, especially with a large, unengaged list and high bounce rates, involves strict adherence to established guidelines and proactive monitoring. Google emphasizes following bulk sender guidelines, including authenticating email with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, maintaining a low spam rate, and providing easy unsubscription options. Microsoft recommends using Sender Reputation Data (SRD) for increased visibility into IP and domain reputation. Finally, implementing SPF records is essential, as specified by RFC standards, to authorize mail servers and prevent spoofing. All guidelines will improve deliverability.