The Complete Email Deliverability Checklist

Creating strong content and strategizing targeted campaigns are important in B2B marketing. But what good is a perfectly designed email if it never reaches your intended audience? That's where email deliverability steps in, as it ensures your message lands in the right inboxes.

Imagine putting efforts into an email campaign, only to discover low open rates and engagement. This scenario, unfortunately, is a harsh reality for marketers struggling with poor email deliverability. Here's why it deserves your attention:

• Engagement: Email deliverability rate nurtures lead and customer relationships. If your emails get blocked by spam filters or land in the junk folder, your created content never gains success. This results in missed opportunities to connect with potential customers and nurture existing relationships.
• Wasted Resources: B2B marketing campaigns involve significant investments in time, effort, and resources. When emails fail to reach their targets, it's not just the message that gets lost. The money spent on content creation, design, and list acquisition is also wasted.
• Damaged Sender Reputation: Every time your emails bounce or get flagged as spam, it negatively impacts your sender's reputation. This invisible score is used by email providers to determine the trustworthiness of your domain. A poor sender reputation can lead to even stricter filtering in the future, making it even harder for your emails to reach inboxes.
• The Domino Effect: Low open rates due to poor deliverability can trigger a domino effect. Email providers track engagement metrics, and consistently low open rates can lead to them further restricting your email flow, making it even more challenging to reach your audience.

The good news? You can take control of your email deliverability and ensure your messages reach the right inboxes.?

The Complete Email Deliverability Checklist:?

Now that we've established the importance of email deliverability, let's explore the actionable steps you can take to ensure your B2B marketing messages reach the right inboxes. This comprehensive checklist will guide you through key areas to optimize your email campaigns:

1. Sender Reputation:?

Sender reputation is a score assigned by email providers that reflects the trustworthiness of your domain and email-sending practices. A good reputation ensures your emails land in inboxes, while a bad one sends them straight to spam folders. Here's how to build a positive sender reputation:

• Avoid Spam Traps: Spam traps are inactive email addresses deliberately placed on mailing lists to identify spammers. Sending emails to these traps can significantly damage your reputation. Focus on building your list organically or through reputable sources.
• Authenticate Your Emails: Email authentication protocols like SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail), and DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) verify that your emails are indeed coming from your authorized domain. Implementing these protocols builds trust with email providers and improves deliverability.
• Maintain a Consistent Sending Schedule: Avoid sending a large number of emails at the same time. Instead, establish a regular sending schedule (e.g., weekly or bi-weekly) and stick to it. This consistency helps email providers recognize your sending patterns as legitimate and reduces the risk of being flagged as spam.
• Monitor Your Bounce Rates: Bounce rates indicate the percentage of emails that couldn't be delivered. A high bounce rate can be a red flag for email providers. Regularly monitor your bounce rates and take action to clean your list of invalid addresses.
• Minimize Unsubscribes: A high unsubscribe rate can negatively impact your sender's reputation. Ensure your emails provide clear value and offer an easy unsubscribe option. Analyze unsubscribe reasons and adapt your content strategy accordingly.

2. Email List Hygiene:?

Your email list is the foundation of your B2B marketing efforts. A clean and up-to-date list ensures your emails reach engaged recipients, boosting deliverability and engagement rates. Here's how to keep your list clean:

• Remove Inactive Subscribers: People change jobs, and email addresses become outdated. Regularly remove inactive subscribers who haven't opened or engaged with your emails in a set timeframe (e.g., 3-6 months).
• Encourage Re-confirmation: Periodically send re-confirmation emails to verify if subscribers still want to receive your messages. This helps remove outdated addresses and confirms engagement with your remaining list.
• Use Confirmed Opt-in Lists: When building your list, ensure you have explicit permission from subscribers to receive your emails. Avoid purchasing pre-built lists, as they often contain invalid or unconfirmed addresses.
• Double Opt-in for Extra Assurance: Implement a double opt-in process where subscribers have to confirm their email address after signing up. This extra step ensures they are who they say they are and genuinely interested in your content.

3. Content Optimization:?

The content of your emails can significantly impact deliverability. Here's how to optimize your content for:

• Avoid Spam Trigger Words: Spam filters scan emails for words and phrases commonly used in spam messages. Avoid excessive use of exclamation points, ALL CAPS, or overly promotional language like "Free!" or "Guaranteed!"
• Personalized Subject Lines: Personalized subject lines are more likely to be opened. Use subscriber names, reference previous interactions, or highlight relevant content that speaks to their needs.
• Maintain a Clean Design: Keep your email design simple and professional. Avoid excessive images, broken links, or large file sizes, as these can trigger spam filters.
• Offer Value, Not Just Sales Pitches: People are bombarded with emails daily. Focus on providing valuable content that addresses their pain points, educates them, or offers solutions.
• Include a Clear Unsubscribe Option: Make it easy for subscribers to unsubscribe if they're no longer interested. A readily available unsubscribe option demonstrates good email practices and helps maintain a clean list.

4. Technical Considerations:?

While content and list hygiene are important, some technical aspects also play a role in email deliverability. Here's a brief overview:

• Spam Filters: Understanding how spam filters work can help you create emails that avoid getting flagged. Familiarize yourself with common spam filter triggers and personalize your content accordingly. There are numerous spam filters in operation, each with its criteria for identifying spam. While the specifics can be complex, some general guidelines can help you avoid common triggers:
• Authentication Protocols: We briefly mentioned SPF, DKIM, and DMARC earlier. Implementing these email authentication protocols verifies your identity as the legitimate sender and helps email providers distinguish your emails from fake messages.
• IP Reputation: Your email-sending IP address also plays a role. If other senders using the same IP have a poor reputation, it can impact your deliverability. Consider dedicated IP solutions if you send high volumes of emails or have concerns about your shared IP address.
• Warming Up a New IP: If you're using a new IP address for email sending, it's important to "warm it up" gradually. Start with low sending volumes and gradually increase them over time to establish a positive reputation with email providers.
• Monitor and Analyze: Don't set your email marketing on autopilot. Track your deliverability metrics, including bounce rates, spam complaints, and open rates. Analyze the data and make adjustments to your strategy as needed.

By following these steps you can significantly improve your email deliverability and ensure your B2B marketing messages reach the right inboxes, paving the way for successful campaigns and improved lead generation.

By prioritizing good email deliverability, you can get multiple benefits:

• Increased Engagement: Imagine your carefully created content reaching the right people. Higher deliverability leads to more opens, clicks, and conversions, maximizing the return on your B2B marketing efforts.
• Enhanced Brand Reputation: When your emails consistently land in inboxes, it portrays your brand as professional and trustworthy. This positive association creates stronger customer relationships and builds long-term loyalty.
• Improved Resource Efficiency: By avoiding spam filters and ensuring deliverability, you eliminate wasted resources. Your valuable time, effort, and budget are then directed toward creating strong content and nurturing leads, leading to a more cost-effective marketing strategy.

Taking control of your email deliverability is an ongoing process, but the rewards are undeniable. Don't let your B2B marketing efforts fall prey to spam folders. Utilize the "Email Deliverability Checklist" outlined above, and watch your open rates soar and lead generation accelerate. By investing in good email deliverability, you're investing in the future of your B2B marketing success.?

Let your emails do the talking, and ensure they reach the right audience, ready to engage with your brand!

Also Read: How to Recover from a B2B Email Deliverability Crisis