Bulk email delivery issues and solutions

I helped a SaaS company 5x sales meetings. (Without changing their messaging) Last month, I gave an audit to a SaaS company. They were getting no results from their cold emails. I quickly found that it was all because of deliverability. I fixed it all with these 8 tactics: 1. Disabled open tracking pixels. ↳ Google and Outlook flag these as spam in 2025. ↳ Prevents emails from being marked as spam. 2. Implemented Spintax variations. ↳ Each prospect receives a truly unique email. ↳ Spam filters can’t detect mass sending patterns. 3. Sent plain text emails only. ↳ HTML, images, and links trigger spam filters. ↳ Text-only feels more personal and authentic. 4. Set up proper mail infrastructure with Maildoso. ↳ 98%+ inbox placement. ↳ Their IP rotation lands you in primary inbox. ↳ Their new AI Warmup feature increases deliverability. 5. Balanced sending with strategic warm-up. ↳ Each account maintains consistent activity. ↳ Protects domain reputation long-term. 6. Randomized daily sending times. ↳ Fixed schedules look automated to AI filters. ↳ Natural patterns mimic human behavior. ↳ Avoids the “marketing automation” flag. 7. Varied time gaps between emails. ↳ Eliminated the perfect 5-minute intervals. ↳ Created natural, human-like sending patterns. 8. Used a spam checker before campaigns. ↳ Caught deliverability issues before sending. ↳ Identified spam trigger words and fixed them. 9. Limited to 15 targeted emails per account daily. ↳ Quality over quantity approach. ↳ Maintained pristine sender reputation. ↳ Each prospect received truly personalized outreach. The results? Reply rates jumped from 0.5% to 2.4%. That’s nearly 5X more meetings from the same list. Without changing a single word in their pitch. Cold email is still the highest ROI channel in B2B. But only for those who master deliverability first. If your emails land in spam, it won't work. P.S. How are you currently handling deliverability?

Deliverability recovery isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing less — strategically. Here’s how to act without making things worse... 💌 Suppress the right people… based on your own data signals. Removing unengaged recipients from your active mailings is helpful in the short-term because mailbox providers will see a higher percentage of their users engaging positively with what you send. Go beyond the generic 30/60/90-day rule. Your definition of "unengaged" depends entirely on your send volume and frequency, your audience’s buying cycle, your acquisition sources ,and your segmentation strategy. How aggressively you’ll need to pull back — and how quickly you start to see improvement — depends on how aggressive your sending practices have been until now. 💌 Slow your roll More sending ≠ more inbox placement. In fact, it’s often the opposite when you’re seeing signs of an issue. Consider throttling or pausing campaigns temporarily while you monitor, and let your engaged users carry the weight while you stabilize. And once things do start to stabilize, resist the urge to go back to business as usual. It burned you last time, it’ll burn you again. Instead, pause and re-assess how often you really need to be emailing each segment. 💌 Fix authentication issues Check your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records. If anything’s missing, misconfigured, or recently changed, FIX IT. Failing any of these will affect inbox placement, no matter how great your content or opt-in process is. 💌 Don’t Panic-Tweak Everything If you change five things at once, you won’t know what worked! Start by suppressing your sketchiest addresses. Monitor mailbox-level performance (especially Gmail and Microsoft), and don’t mess with your frequency or creative elements unless you have a specific reason to do so. 💌 Watch the right metrics Tracking your trends in opens, spam complaint rates, and bounce codes... by mailbox provider, (not just in aggregate). That's how you'll spot issues early and get to the bottom of what’s happening quickly. I’m not gonna say much more here, but I’ve written a LOT about this (along with a bunch of incredibly expert email folks) over on the SocketLabs blog. If you're unsure what to track, get to Googlin’. 💌 Involve your ESP (without blaming them) Bring facts. Be honest. Be kind. They’ll help you, and they’ll escalate to the mailbox provider when (ahem, *if*) it's truly needed. I walk through every step in detail on the Send It Right blog — including what not to waste your time on, how to pace your recovery, and how to avoid landing right back in the same mess a few weeks later. It’s not a silver bullet (because those don’t exist within email 🙃), but it is a repeatable way to diagnose the issue, stabilize your sending, and earn your way back to the inbox without guessing. What else do you think senders should do when things go pear-shaped?

Is your mail sliding into the spam folder? Has your reputation slipped to "low" in Google Postmaster Tools? Does Microsoft SNDS think you stink like a kid who just came in from recess? Well, I have good news and bad news. 🟢 Good first: Most major mailbox providers (MBPs) provide methods of contacting them! Gmail, Microsoft, Yahoo, Comcast, Apple (and more!) all offer sender support forms or publish postmaster email addresses so that you can reach out directly when you're encountering an issue delivering mail to their users. 🔴 Now for the bad: These MBPs receive a ton of submissions, most of them from spammers. They already have information on your traffic, which is why you're blocked or bulked in the first place. They're not going to just fix whatever problem you're having because you asked nicely. They're definitely not going to fix it if you're being rude. They don't care about your business model, or your bottom line, or your legal requirements. What they care most about is their own customers. And if you're sending to the right people, then those people are also *your* customers, and you should care about them, too! So, even though it's an option to ask the MBP for help, it's probably not the first (or best) one, because all the evidence they have available so far indicates that your mail is potentially dangerous, and maybe you are too. Your job now is to demonstrate that they got it wrong, ideally using your actions and not just words. Before submitting that sender contact form, review the MBP's guidelines and your own practices. After all, their playground, their rules! Each MBP has its own quirks, but the basics tend to be the same. If you're not sure where to start, it's here! 🛝 Rule 1: Keep spam complaints as low as possible. The best way to do that? Get permission, always. Maintain a healthy list by removing bounces and sending to your most-engaged subscribers. Make it easy to unsubscribe, and honor unsubscribe requests when you get them. 🛝 Rule 2: Authenticate your mail. Use SPF, DKIM, and DMARC so you earn the deliverability you deserve (and don't forget to actually review your DMARC reports!). Authentication doesn't guarantee inbox placement, but you'll be left in the dust without it. 🛝 Rule 3: Be predictably yourself. MBPs and subscribers both reward consistency, and results tend to be stronger when everyone knows what to expect, when. Send similar volumes at similar times on similar days, ensuring increases are gradual to give the filters (and the audience) time to adjust. If you're ramping up and see increased delays, blocks, or complaints, or lower opens than expected, slow down and reassess. It's possible that the segment is no longer viable, or requires a different approach. If these bases are covered, THEN you can reach out. Include your name, your company, your domain & IP, the specific outcome you're having (including the bounce reason, if applicable), and what you've done to improve. And be nice!

Sending 1,000+ cold emails a day and suddenly your replies drop to zero? You’ve got a SERIOUS deliverability problem. Here’s what you need to do: 1️⃣ Stop EVERYTHING and drop the volume ASAP. Sending too much after being flagged is like robbing a bank… and then hitting the next one the next day. Filters are watching you. What to do: - Drop email volume to 1–2 per mailbox per day. - Don’t go to zero. Trickling a few emails keeps your inbox active without waving more red flags. 2️⃣ Test your placement with fresh copy. Your script is likely the #1 culprit. Spam filters LOVE patterns. If the same copy has been running for weeks, it’s probably burned. What to do: - Run inbox placement tests using GlockApps or MailReach. - Pick 3 inboxes (Gmail, Outlook, SMTP) and test a new copy variation. - If one version lands in spam, switch it up. Keep testing until you hit the inbox again. 3️⃣ Monitor reputation signals. To troubleshoot your inbox placement, you need to look under the rug. What to do: - Use Google Postmaster Tools to monitor spam rates, domain reputation, and IP health for Gmail inboxes. - Use Microsoft Defender for Outlook to identify issues with flagged mailboxes and domain health. These tools give you insights into WHY your emails are getting flagged, so you can fix problems faster. 4️⃣ Burned accounts? Start fresh. If you are still landing in spam after changing the copy, move on. It means your domain or IP reputation is completely shot. What to do: 💡 Here’s when having aged domains parked can save you so much time and money. If you have 30-60 days old domain, just switch to those with new copies and ramp up the volume slowly. If not: - Buy new domains (GoDaddy, Cloudflare, or Porkbun) - Warm up your new domains with the reply rate set at 100%. Start with low volume and increase slowly by 10-15% weekly. When deliverability tanks, don’t keep pushing. Stop, test, and rebuild—slowly. 💬 Got any questions/cases you want me to look into? Drop a comment!

The Email secret 90% of Marketers miss: And It’s Not Just About Open Rates! I once helped a client discover that 30% of their “engaged” email list was full of dead ends. This was also affecting conversions and revenue. The culprit? Bounces. But not all bounces are created equal—and ignoring the difference could tank your sender reputation. Here’s the breakdown: 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 (𝗧𝗵𝗲 “𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲” 𝗭𝗼𝗻𝗲): Temporary delivery failures. Causes: Full inboxes, server outages, or temporary blocklisting. Fix: Wait it out. If it happens 3 times in a short span, remove the address. 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 (𝗧𝗵𝗲 “𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿” 𝗭𝗼𝗻𝗲): Permanent failures. Causes: Invalid addresses (typos like “gmial.com”), abandoned accounts, or catch-all inboxes that silently swallow (catch-all status) emails, even after you verified the list. Fix: Remove these immediately. Sending to them repeatedly flags you as spam. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: Clean lists = higher engagement = better ROI. ISPs track bounce rates to decide if you’re a spammer. Weekly list audits prevent deliverability disasters. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻? - Ask your email service provider how they handle bounces (do they auto-retry soft ones?). - Scrub hard bounces after the first failure. - Monitor soft bounces like a hawk—3 strikes, they’re out. - Test-drive solutions like EmailAddress.ai to pre-verify addresses and avoid guessing which emails are valid, catch-alls, or outright spam traps. As someone who’s spent 20+ years in B2B data industry, I’ve seen companies lose deals because their “perfect” email list wasn't perfect after all. Tools that separate real leads from dead ends turn your data into a revenue engine—not a liability. Seeing bounce issues as well? DM me for a chat! #EmailMarketing #B2BData #LeadGeneration #GTMStrategy

If you're an email marketer, you're likely in the loop on the latest bulk email guidelines from Gmail and Yahoo being implemented this week. To ensure your messages reach their targets moving forward, be sure to follow these best practices - Authentication: Implement robust email authentication using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. This not only verifies your sender identity but also fights email spoofing, safeguarding both you and your recipients. One-Click Unsubscribe: Make unsubscribing a breeze with a clear, easy, one-click option. Honor all unsubscribe requests within 48 hours to keep a stellar reputation with email providers and users. Spam Monitoring: Monitor your spam complaint rates closely and aim to keep them below 0.3%. Sending relevant, permission-based emails and avoiding spammy practices are vital for inbox placement. Additional tips for email success - Segment your audience and tailor your content to their interests and needs. Ensure your emails are mobile-friendly for the best user experience. Use a reputable email service provider (ESP) like @Netcore because it prioritizes deliverability and compliance. Provide valuable content, engage in conversations, and send messages at an appropriate cadence for your audience. By adopting these best practices, you can ensure your email marketing game remains effective for the coming year. #EmailMarketing #DigitalMarketing #StayInformed #Google #Yahoo #MarketingTips

Email deliverability is killing your DTC brand's revenue. Here's why it matters: - 20% of all marketing emails never reach the inbox - Poor deliverability can cut email revenue by 50%+ - Gmail and others are cracking down harder than ever 7 steps I’d take to fix it right now: 1. Maintain a consistent sending schedule 2. Avoid spam trigger words in subject lines 3. Segment & personalize to boost engagement 4. Implement SPF, DKIM, & DMARC authentication 5. Monitor & improve your sender score religiously 6. Use a reputable ESP with strong deliverability tools 7. Clean your list monthly (remove inactive subscribers) Brands that nail this see higher engagement. And that could mean 2-3x more revenue from email. What's your biggest email challenge right now? Drop it in the comments and I'll try to help.

Struggling with email deliverability? (Here’s what’s hurting your outreach) You craft the perfect email, hit send And… it never reaches the inbox. Frustrating, right? Poor deliverability isn’t just a tech issue It’s a revenue blocker. If your emails land in spam, your chances of getting replies (or closing deals) drop instantly. Here’s what might be working against you: 🚫 Using a free email domain instead of a custom one 🚫 Sending too many emails at once without warming up 🚫 Neglecting to clean your list of inactive contacts 🚫 Ignoring SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication 🚫 Skipping personalization, making your emails look like mass outreach The good news? Small fixes can make a massive impact. Warming up your domain, optimizing sending times, and keeping a clean list can transform your email performance. ✅ Inbox placement isn’t luck, It’s strategy.

Writing great cold emails is easy. 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱? That’s the real challenge in 2025. If your emails are landing in spam or getting ghosted, It’s probably not your copy. It’s your deliverability. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝟱 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀:  • 𝟭. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝗽 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 Before you send anything, make sure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are properly configured. These tell inboxes: “I’m verified. You can trust me.”  • 𝟮. 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 Most sales tools track opens/clicks, but their generic tracking URLs can trigger spam filters. Solution? Set up a branded tracking domain to keep everything aligned.  • 𝟯. 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 Sending to outdated or fake emails hurts your sender reputation. Use verified data only. Remove bounced and unengaged contacts often.  • 𝟰. 𝗔/𝗕 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 Engagement = credibility. Test different subject lines to increase opens and prove your emails are worth delivering.  • 𝟱. 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝘄𝗸 Track deliverability, open rates, bounce rates, and domain health. If anything drops, fix it fast—before your entire domain gets flagged. 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 = 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 = 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘴. If you’re serious about outbound, start here. Cold email still works. But only when it lands where it’s supposed to. Start with these 5 steps and give your emails the best shot at success. 💡 And tag a teammate who should check their domain health right now. ------------------ Follow Ak Upadhyay to know more about AI and Automation. Repost to share the valuable knowledge with your connections. #EmailDeliverability #OutboundSales #B2BSales #ColdEmail #SalesStrategy #GrowthMarketing #Founders #CMO #SDR #CRO #MarketingAutomation