Finding the right email deliverability speaker for an in-person event, especially in a specific location like NYC, involves considering a blend of expertise, relevance to the audience, and practical logistics. The best speakers are often those with deep industry knowledge who can also connect effectively with the specific needs of retail email marketers.
Key findings
Location matters: For an in-person event in NYC, speakers local to the area or those willing to travel internationally (if applicable) are preferred. Travel restrictions and comfort levels can influence speaker availability.
Audience specificity: Speakers should be able to tailor their content to the target audience, in this case, retail email marketers. This ensures the advice is directly applicable and engaging.
Industry connections: Leveraging industry networks, such as professional communities or associations, can yield valuable recommendations for qualified speakers.
Reputation and experience: Look for individuals with a proven track record of speaking at events and demonstrable expertise in email deliverability, particularly those who understand why emails fail and how to prevent it.
Key considerations
Event timeline: Be mindful of the event date (e.g., October in NYC) as potential speakers may already have prior engagements or travel restrictions. Early outreach is crucial.
Speaker bureau resources: Organizations like Women of Email offer speaker bureaus that can help connect event organizers with qualified professionals.
Content relevance: Ensure the speaker's expertise aligns with specific deliverability challenges faced by retail marketers, such as list hygiene, sender reputation, or handling promotional emails effectively.
Engagement style: Consider if the speaker's style is dynamic and engaging for an in-person setting, potentially including interactive elements or Q&A sessions.
What email marketers say
Email marketers often seek speakers who can provide practical, actionable advice on improving inbox placement and navigating the complexities of email deliverability. Their focus tends to be on real-world application, specific challenges related to their industry, and tangible results. They appreciate speakers who understand the nuances of marketing campaigns and how deliverability impacts overall performance.
Key opinions
Practical application: Marketers value speakers who can translate complex deliverability concepts into clear, actionable strategies relevant to their daily operations and campaign goals.
Industry relevance: Speakers who understand the specific challenges of retail email marketing (e.g., promotional content, holiday surges) are highly regarded.
Networking opportunities: Many marketers look for events that not only offer informative speakers but also opportunities to connect with peers and experts. Conferences are key for this.
Key considerations
Actionable takeaways: The primary goal for marketers attending deliverability sessions is to gain strategies they can immediately implement to boost email deliverability rates.
Audience engagement: Speakers should be able to engage with an audience of retail email marketers, addressing their specific concerns about campaign performance and ROI.
Current trends: Marketers appreciate speakers who are up-to-date on the latest changes from ISPs like Google and Yahoo, as these directly impact their campaigns. Monitoring Google Postmaster Tools is often a topic of interest.
Marketer view
An Email Geeks marketer noted the importance of knowing the event's location and target audience when seeking a speaker. This helps tailor the search to individuals who are geographically accessible and whose expertise aligns with attendee needs, such as retail email marketers.
27 Jul 2025 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
A Marketing Insider Group marketer suggests that the best speakers can transform complex marketing concepts into engaging presentations. This is crucial for keeping an audience of email marketers interested and ensuring they grasp key deliverability insights.
15 Apr 2025 - Marketing Insider Group
What the experts say
Email deliverability experts offer a deep technical understanding of how email systems interact and the intricate factors that influence inbox placement. They often focus on the underlying protocols, ISP behaviors, and advanced strategies for maintaining sender reputation. Their insights are critical for understanding the 'why' behind deliverability issues and implementing robust long-term solutions.
Key opinions
Technical depth: Experts emphasize the importance of understanding authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, as these are fundamental to deliverability.
Proactive strategies: They advocate for proactive measures, such as monitoring sender reputation and avoiding common pitfalls that lead to blocklistings (or blacklistings).
ISP relations: Many experts highlight the ongoing dialogue and understanding required with major Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to ensure optimal deliverability.
Key considerations
Authentication standards: A speaker should be proficient in explaining the nuances of DMARC, SPF, and DKIM, and how they impact email acceptance.
Reputation management: Understanding how sender reputation influences deliverability is a core area of expert knowledge.
Expert view
An Email Geeks expert emphasizes that speaker choice often depends on the type of email transaction being discussed. Deliverability for transactional emails differs from marketing emails, requiring specialized knowledge.
27 Jul 2025 - Email Geeks
Expert view
An expert from Word to the Wise suggests that an effective deliverability speaker must be able to break down complex technical concepts into understandable language for a business audience. This ensures the message resonates and is actionable.
14 Apr 2025 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
Official documentation and research often lay out the foundational principles of email deliverability, emphasizing compliance with internet standards and best practices. These sources provide the technical guidelines and theoretical frameworks that underpin successful email sending. When seeking a speaker, it's beneficial to find someone who not only understands these documents but can also interpret them for a practical, marketing-focused audience.
Key findings
Standard compliance: Documentation stresses adherence to RFCs and industry standards for email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to ensure messages are accepted by receiving servers.
Reputation building: Official guidelines often detail how positive sender reputation is built through consistent, wanted email sending and low complaint rates, which are key to avoiding blocklists (or blacklists).
Policy enforcement: ISPs enforce their own policies based on industry best practices, making it crucial for senders to understand these evolving rules.
Key considerations
Authentication configuration: A speaker should be able to explain the importance of properly configuring email authentication records, such as how to fix common DMARC issues.
Mailbox provider requirements: Speakers should be aware of specific deliverability updates from major mailbox providers like Google and Yahoo, as these often drive significant changes for marketers.
Best practices for bulk sending: Documentation outlines best practices for senders to maintain good standing and avoid getting on a blocklist. A speaker should be able to translate these into actionable advice.
Technical article
M3AAWG documentation frequently emphasizes that strong authentication via DMARC, SPF, and DKIM is fundamental for email deliverability. This foundation helps recipient servers verify the sender's legitimacy and combat phishing.
10 Aug 2025 - M3AAWG
Technical article
RFC 5322, which defines the format of internet text messages, underpins how emails are structured and processed. Compliance with these standards is critical for mail systems to correctly interpret and deliver messages.