How to resolve spam filtering issues with seznam.cz?

Key findings

• Strict Policies: Seznam.cz has a stringent anti-spam policy, particularly for bulk emails, which are often filtered if they lack a valid digital DKIM signature.
• Header Impact: The precedence:bulk header's effectiveness is debated, but generally, it is considered harmless to include.
• Content Sensitivity: Subject lines containing special characters, excessive capitalization, or emojis can trigger Seznam.cz's spam filters, directing emails to bulk folders instead of the inbox.
• FBL Access Challenges: Accessing the Seznam.cz Feedback Loop (FBL) and postmaster tools can be difficult, often requiring a Czech mobile number for registration. However, direct support via chat might offer an alternative.
• Authentication Importance: Proper email authentication, including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, is critical for improving deliverability and avoiding blocklists.

Key considerations

• Authentication Setup: Ensure your sending domain has correctly configured SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to establish trust with Seznam.cz and other ISPs.
• Content Testing: Routinely test your subject lines and email content to identify elements that may trigger spam filters or blocklists (or blacklists), particularly for the Czech audience.
• Postmaster Access: Actively seek ways to register for the Seznam.cz Postmaster Tool and Feedback Loop. You may need to contact their support directly or leverage local contacts to gain access to critical insights and complaint data.
• Engagement Monitoring: Monitor your engagement rates specifically for Seznam.cz users and adjust sending practices based on their unique behavior and filtering outcomes.

Key opinions

• Lower Open Rates: Marketers consistently observe that open rates for emails sent to Seznam.cz are drastically lower, sometimes by as much as 90%, compared to other domains like Gmail and Yahoo.
• Subject Line Impact: Special characters, excessive capitalization, or emojis in subject lines are suspected to cause emails to land in the bulk or spam folder at Seznam.cz.
• Authentication and Consent: Initial checks by marketers often revolve around ensuring all authentication protocols are in place and that consent practices haven't changed to negatively impact deliverability.
• FBL Access Difficulty: A common frustration among marketers is the inability to easily join Seznam.cz's feedback loop, often due to a requirement for a Seznam.cz email address or a Czech mobile number.

Key considerations

• Test Subject Lines: Marketers should conduct A/B tests on subject lines, particularly avoiding characters or formatting that could be flagged by Seznam.cz's filtering. This is a common theme in general spam filtering advice.
• Review Basic Deliverability: Before trying complex solutions, ensure fundamental practices like proper authentication, consent management, and list hygiene are flawless.
• Seek Local Assistance: If direct access to Seznam.cz's FBL is blocked, consider collaborating with a customer or partner in the Czech Republic to gain access to the necessary tools.
• Holistic Approach: Marketers should avoid seeking a single 'magic fix' and instead adopt a comprehensive strategy that covers all aspects of email deliverability, from technical setup to content and recipient engagement.

Key opinions

• Authentication is Key: Experts stress that proper implementation of authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is fundamental for improving deliverability to Seznam.cz and avoiding blocklists.
• FBL and Postmaster Tools: Leveraging the Seznam.cz Postmaster Tool and understanding its integration with the Validity Universal FBL is crucial for gaining insights and managing complaints.
• Access Hurdles: The requirement of a Czech mobile number for Seznam.cz Postmaster Tool registration is a known barrier, but alternative access via chat support has been successful for some.
• No Magic Fix: While trying headers like precedence:bulk is harmless, experts caution against expecting it to be a standalone solution for complex deliverability issues.

Key considerations

• Implement DMARC: Ensure your email sending infrastructure is fully compliant with DMARC standards. Utilizing DMARC monitoring provides crucial insights into authentication failures that may affect Seznam.cz delivery.
• Leverage FBL Data: Once access is gained, actively use feedback loop data from Seznam.cz to identify and remove disengaged or complaining users, which is vital for maintaining a good sender reputation.
• Strategic Outreach: When facing registration hurdles for postmaster tools, experts advise using direct communication channels like chat support with Seznam.cz to explain your situation and request assistance.
• Monitor Reputation: Continuously monitor your sender reputation and deliverability metrics for Seznam.cz to detect and address issues proactively.

Key findings

• Policy Tightening: Seznam.cz Email has significantly tightened its anti-spam policy from April 1st, 2015.
• DKIM Requirement: All mass emails that do not contain a valid digital DKIM signature will be filtered, a critical point for senders targeting Seznam.cz users. Understanding DKIM setup is essential.
• Feedback Loops: Seznam.cz provides a feedback loop system (FBL) to help senders manage complaints and maintain healthy sending practices.
• Postmaster Tools: Access to Seznam.cz's postmaster tools offers valuable data and diagnostics for senders.

Key considerations

• Validate DKIM: Ensure every mass email sent has a proper and valid DKIM signature. Regular checks for issues like DKIM body hash mismatches are advisable.
• Monitor Policy Updates: Stay informed about any updates to Seznam.cz's anti-spam policies or technical requirements, as these can impact deliverability significantly.
• Utilize Feedback Loops: Actively use the Seznam.cz feedback loop to promptly remove recipients who mark your emails as spam, which helps maintain a healthy sender reputation and avoid blacklisting.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Regularly consult the data provided by Seznam.cz's postmaster tools to understand your sending performance and identify areas for improvement.