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đź’Š How to handle bounced and spam-flagged emails in Marketo
Thinking of re-sending to emails that bounced or were marked as spam? Be careful! Re-sending to these addresses can damage your sender reputation and reduce your chances of reaching inboxes. Here’s a straightforward guide to managing these issues in Marketo.
Key Tips for Email Deliverability 📧
- Understand Bounce Types:
Soft Bounces: These happen due to temporary issues, like a full inbox. Occasional soft bounces might resolve on their own, but repeated ones are a sign to pause sending to that address to avoid hurting your sender reputation.
Hard Bounces: Permanent issues like invalid or blocked addresses. Continuing to email hard bounces can lead to serious deliverability issues, so they’re best removed from future sends. - Respect Spam Flags:
If a recipient marks your email as spam, it’s a strong sign they don’t want to hear from you. Ignoring these flags can lead to your emails being blocked entirely.
Consider Your IP Type:
Dedicated IP: A dedicated IP is used only by you, meaning any spam flags or bounces will directly impact your reputation. Frequent issues could result in your emails being blocked to all recipients on that IP.
Shared IP: A shared IP is used by multiple senders. Any issues on this IP, such as frequent spam flags from one sender, can hurt everyone on that IP. - Use "Marketing Suspension" to Control Problematic Addresses:
Marketo’s “Marketing Suspended” feature lets you stop sending to addresses that repeatedly bounce or are marked as spam. Setting up a rule to mark emails as “Marketing Suspended” after three soft bounces or spam complaints will keep your list clean and focused on those who are interested in your emails. - Pay Attention to Bounce Codes:
Each bounce has a code explaining why it failed. Look for patterns—some errors may be due to temporary server issues, while others might show that the address has blocked you. Analyzing these codes helps you make informed choices about who to contact in the future. - Consider Whitelisting for Frequent Bounce Issues:
If you have recipients who want to receive your emails but face filtering issues, you can work with their IT teams to whitelist your IP. This is only advisable for contacts who explicitly want your messages.