Summary
Yahoo email delays and low open rates result from a combination of factors including Yahoo's internal issues, aggressive spam filtering, content-based filtering, poor IP/domain reputation, throttling, authentication problems (DKIM/SPF), and high email volume. Lili from Mailop is investigating these issues. Network congestion, server maintenance, greylisting, and temporary server unavailability also contribute. Monitoring delivery through seedlists, feedback loops, and tools like Google Postmaster Tools is vital. Compliance with authentication standards, list management, and engagement metrics is essential to mitigate these problems.
Key findings
- Internal Yahoo Issues: Yahoo experiences internal server and network issues affecting email delivery.
- Aggressive Spam Filtering: Yahoo employs aggressive spam filtering that impacts legitimate emails, especially with low sender reputation.
- Content Filtering: Email content with specific keywords can trigger delays or filtering.
- Reputation Impact: Poor IP and domain reputation significantly affects Yahoo deliverability.
- Throttling: Yahoo may throttle email traffic, causing delays.
- Authentication Issues: Missing or misconfigured DKIM/SPF records lead to delays or rejections.
- Volume Sensitivity: High email volume can trigger spam filters, especially for new senders.
- SMTP Delays: SMTP server delays from greylisting and server unavailability affect delivery.
- SmartScreen Filtering: SmartScreen filtering may delay emails based on sender reputation and content.
Key considerations
- Monitor Reputation: Regularly monitor and maintain a good IP and domain reputation.
- Optimize Content: Optimize email content to avoid spam triggers and improve engagement.
- Implement Authentication: Ensure DKIM/SPF records are correctly configured to authenticate emails.
- Manage Volume: Gradually increase email volume to avoid triggering spam filters.
- Feedback Loops: Participate in feedback loops with Yahoo to address deliverability issues.
- Monitor Seedlists: Use seedlists to proactively monitor email delivery times and placement.
- Comply with Standards: Ensure compliance with authentication standards, list management, and engagement metrics.
- Address Internal Issues: Acknowledge that Yahoo internal issues are impacting deliverability and be patient for resolution
What email marketers say
9 marketer opinions
Yahoo inbound email delays and low open rates are attributed to several factors including Yahoo's internal server issues, aggressive spam filtering, content-based filtering, IP and domain reputation, throttling, authentication issues (DKIM/SPF), and high email volume. Lili from Mailop is aware of the issue and investigating. Seedlist testing is helpful to monitor Yahoo's acceptance and delivery of messages.
Key opinions
- Yahoo Issues: Yahoo experiences fluctuating delivery times due to internal server issues.
- Spam Filtering: Yahoo's aggressive spam filtering can delay or prevent delivery, especially for senders with low reputation.
- Content Filtering: Email content with certain keywords or phrases can trigger delays or filtering.
- IP Reputation: Yahoo heavily relies on IP reputation, impacting deliverability.
- Throttling: Yahoo may throttle email traffic from certain IPs or domains.
- Authentication: Missing or misconfigured DKIM/SPF records can cause delays or rejection.
- Volume Impact: High email volume can trigger spam filters and cause delays.
- Seedlist Monitoring: Seedlist checks are useful to identify potential delivery delays.
Key considerations
- Monitor Reputation: Regularly monitor and maintain a good IP and domain reputation.
- Email Content: Review email content for potential spam triggers.
- Authentication: Ensure DKIM/SPF records are correctly configured.
- Volume Management: Gradually increase email volume, especially when starting with a new IP.
- Feedback Loops: Consider subscribing to Yahoo's feedback loop to monitor deliverability.
- Seedlist Testing: Use seedlists to test and monitor email delivery times and inbox placement.
- Contact Yahoo: If issues persist, consider contacting Yahoo support for assistance.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that an email to Mailop mentioned the same inbound Yahoo delays, and Lili replied that they are looking into it.
7 Feb 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Marketing Experts Group shares that sending large volumes of emails in a short period can trigger Yahoo's spam filters and cause delays, especially for new or less established senders.
11 Jul 2021 - Email Marketing Experts Group
What the experts say
3 expert opinions
Yahoo email delays and low open rates are attributed to throttling and aggressive bulk mail filtering. Maintaining email program compliance with authentication standards, list management, and engagement metrics is crucial. Actively monitor delivery by checking email headers in seedlists or by creating accounts on major free webmail services.
Key opinions
- Throttling: Yahoo's throttling can cause delays if email programs are not compliant.
- Bulk Mail Filtering: Yahoo uses aggressive bulk mail filtering that can affect legitimate emails if practices are not fully opt-in and compliant.
- Monitoring: Checking headers in a seedlist or creating accounts on big free webmails can help monitor delivery delays.
Key considerations
- Compliance: Ensure email programs comply with authentication standards, list management, and engagement metrics.
- Opt-in Practices: Adopt fully opt-in compliant email marketing practices.
- Monitor Delivery: Actively monitor email delivery by checking headers in seedlists or using free webmail accounts.
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource responds that Yahoo uses aggressive bulk mail filtering techniques, and that these techniques can lead to legitimate emails being delayed or not delivered if the email marketing practices are not fully opt-in and compliant.
15 Sep 2022 - Spam Resource
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains that to check for delivery delays, check the headers in a seedlist or create accounts on big free webmails to monitor.
15 Jul 2023 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
5 technical articles
Yahoo email delays and low open rates can result from network congestion, server maintenance, spam filtering, greylisting, and temporary server unavailability. Feedback loops, monitoring delivery times, and checking authentication status can help diagnose and address delivery issues. SmartScreen filtering may also contribute to delays based on sender reputation and content analysis.
Key findings
- Network Congestion: Network congestion can cause email delivery delays.
- Server Maintenance: Server maintenance on Yahoo's end can lead to delays.
- Spam Filtering: Yahoo's spam filtering processes may delay emails.
- Greylisting: SMTP server delays are often due to greylisting.
- Server Unavailability: Temporary server unavailability can cause deferred delivery attempts.
- SmartScreen Filtering: SmartScreen filtering can delay emails based on reputation and content.
Key considerations
- Monitor Delivery: Monitor email delivery times using tools like Google Postmaster Tools.
- Authentication Status: Check and ensure correct authentication status to avoid filtering.
- Feedback Loops: Configure and monitor feedback loops to identify and address deliverability issues.
- Sender Reputation: Maintain a good sender reputation to avoid SmartScreen filtering.
- Content Analysis: Ensure email content avoids triggers that can activate spam filters.
Technical article
Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools indicates that monitoring email delivery times and authentication status can help diagnose and address potential delivery issues with Yahoo, even if the issues are on Yahoo's end.
15 Jan 2024 - Google
Technical article
Documentation from Mandrill explains that feedback loops from Yahoo can help identify deliverability issues, but delays might occur if the feedback loop is not properly configured or monitored.
1 May 2025 - Mandrill
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