This discussion focuses on strategies to maximize email delivery and avoid spam filters when communicating with a large contact list. Participants recommend sending emails in smaller batches, ideally no more than 10 recipients at a time, and spacing out sends by at least an hour. Tools like Constant Contact are suggested for their ability to manage bulk emails effectively, while users also emphasize the importance of having recipients add the sender to their safe list. Additionally, cleaning up outdated email addresses is crucial to improve delivery rates.
PREREQUISITESEmail marketers, small business owners, and anyone looking to enhance their email communication strategies and ensure higher delivery rates to their contact lists.
Oh boy, that would take me a million years. I probably have 700-800 email addresses. Some of those are old and get bounced back, so I should REALLY go through and weed those out.tlennhoff said:
pamperedbecky said:
Yep, I send them through email. I know some of them get through, but I do wonder. I can't send more than 100 at a time and after a few rounds of that, Comcast cuts me off because they limit how many you can send out in a 24 hour period. Then I just send out the 2nd half a day or two later. I KNOW a good number of people get them because about every month, I get 1-2 people asking to be removed. And I do get replies to them. But it does have to make me wonder who doesn't get them because they go into spam folders. Hmmm, ,maybe I should do constant contact. With the amount of emails I have, I'd have to pay $30/month. I suppose peace of mind that they actually got to their destinations would be worth it.jlevernier said:
Becky~pamperedbecky said:Yep, I send them through email. I know some of them get through, but I do wonder. I can't send more than 100 at a time and after a few rounds of that, Comcast cuts me off because they limit how many you can send out in a 24 hour period. Then I just send out the 2nd half a day or two later. I KNOW a good number of people get them because about every month, I get 1-2 people asking to be removed. And I do get replies to them. But it does have to make me wonder who doesn't get them because they go into spam folders. Hmmm, ,maybe I should do constant contact. With the amount of emails I have, I'd have to pay $30/month. I suppose peace of mind that they actually got to their destinations would be worth it.
Is it a newsletter format? I guess I've only seen the emails with certain themes/subjects like recruiting, the specialty recipes, announcing host specials, etc. Can you add your own typical newsletter "stuff?" I'd love to hear more about what exactly you put in it.cathyskitchen said:I use our Customer Connection through our PWS - they fixed that on their end, so that it only routes 9 email addresses at a time and doesn't come out like "bulk" mail. More people tell me they get my emails now that I use the customer connection emails than when I was using my Yahoo group (where I subscribed everyone individually). Plus, it's more professional looking and directs them right to your website, where you want them to go anyway!! Just my 2 cents!!
To avoid bulk filters, keep your subject lines clear and concise. Avoid using all caps, excessive punctuation, and spammy words like "free" or "guaranteed." Personalizing subject lines with the recipient's name can also improve open rates and reduce the likelihood of being marked as spam.
Regularly clean your email list by removing inactive subscribers and invalid email addresses. Use double opt-in methods to ensure that subscribers genuinely want to receive your emails. This practice helps maintain a healthy sender reputation and improves overall email deliverability.
Email authentication, including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, helps verify that your emails are sent from a legitimate source. Implementing these protocols can significantly reduce the chances of your emails being marked as spam and improve your overall deliverability rates.
It's important to find a balance in your email frequency. Sending emails too frequently can lead to higher unsubscribe rates and spam complaints. Aim for a consistent schedule, such as weekly or bi-weekly, and monitor engagement metrics to adjust your frequency as needed.
Focus on providing valuable, relevant content that resonates with your audience. Use engaging visuals, clear calls to action, and personalized messages to keep your subscribers interested. High engagement rates signal to email providers that your content is wanted, which can help improve deliverability.