Deliverability

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Deliverability in Your First 30 Days

Introduction

Email deliverability refers to the ability of an email to successfully reach its intended recipient's inbox. Transitioning to a new email provider, such as ActiveCampaign, can bring about certain challenges, including the possibility of reduced deliverability levels during the initial period. This article provides essential insights into managing deliverability effectively during the critical first 30 days with ActiveCampaign. Understanding these principles is crucial as it directly impacts your email marketing successes, engagement rates, and overall sender reputation.

How to Access This Feature

To get started with managing deliverability within ActiveCampaign, simply log into your account. From your dashboard, you can access various settings and guides that play a crucial role in ensuring your emails reach inboxes effectively.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. **Import Contacts:**

  - Ensure you transfer your contacts accurately from your previous email provider.
  - Avoid reactivating non-engaged contacts during the import process, as this can harm your reputation.

2. **Start Sending Emails:**

  - Plan your initial send-outs carefully, using just your most engaged contacts.
  - Consider beginning your email strategy with small volumes that gradually increase.

3. **Monitor Engagement:**

  - Track metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and bounce rates through ActiveCampaign’s reporting feature.

Configuration Options and Settings

Establishing your email deliverability is crucial in the initial phase. Make sure to set the following:

- **Use a Consistent Email Address:** Use the same domain name as your previous email provider for your From email address. - **Set Up DKIM and DMARC:** These are essential authentication protocols to improve your sending reputation and trust with ISPs. Detailed configuration guides on setting up DKIM and DMARC are available through ActiveCampaign resources. - **Adjust Sending Volume:** Follow the suggested ramp-up schedule based on your list size. For lists over 50,000 contacts, begin by sending small volumes to assess engagement.

Best Practices and Tips

1. **Warm-Up Your Sending:**

  - Gradually increase your sending volume over the course of four weeks, starting with your most engaged contacts:
    - *Week 1:* Ramp up to 25,000 emails per day.
    - *Week 2:* Increase to 50,000 emails per day.
    - *Week 3:* Increase to 75,000 emails per day.
    - *Week 4:* Reach up to 100,000 emails per day.

2. **Avoid Sending Errors:**

  - Don’t send messages too quickly when transitioning to a new provider. Follow ISP rules to establish your reputation.

3. **Maintain a Clean List:**

  - Do not introduce new lists or send to disengaged contacts during the warm-up period.
  - Keep your email content consistent with branding to minimize confusion for recipients.

4. **Unsubscribe Link:**

  - Include an additional unsubscribe link at the top of your emails for the duration of the warm-up to encourage legitimate unsubscribes and reduce spam complaints.

Common Use Cases

- **Successful Migration:** Many users report that, by following the guidelines provided, they were able to improve their email deliverability after migrating to ActiveCampaign. - **Engagement Monitoring:** Regular monitoring of engagement statistics over the 30 days helps validate that your sending strategy is on track.

Troubleshooting

If you experience deliverability issues during the warm-up period, keep the following steps in mind: - **Pause Sending:** If you notice spikes in spam complaints or low open rates, pause your sending volume to allow time for spam filters to recalibrate. - **Adjust Sending Rates:** Scale back to previous sending volumes if you encounter throttling from ISPs. - **Engagement Metrics:** Monitor key metrics closely to determine when to increase your sending capacity again.

FAQ

1. **Why is my open rate low after switching providers?**

  - It’s common for new senders to experience lower open rates initially due to the lack of sender reputation.

2. **What steps can I take to improve deliverability?**

  - Ensure proper list management and follow the suggested warm-up schedule. Consistent monitoring of engagement metrics is crucial.

3. **How do I determine my contact list size?**

  - You can find your list size listed in your ActiveCampaign account under the contacts section.

4. **What are DKIM and DMARC, and why are they important?**

  - DKIM and DMARC are authentication protocols that help improve email deliverability and protect your brand’s reputation.

5. **What should I do if I experience high bounce rates?**

  - Investigate your bounce rate metrics to identify potential issues, such as sending to invalid email addresses.

6. **Is it necessary to keep the same domain as my previous email provider?**

  - Using the same domain can help maintain your sender reputation during the transition.

In conclusion, while transitioning to a new email provider can initially challenge deliverability, following the best practices outlined in this guide can help you achieve and possibly exceed your previous levels of engagement. Managing your sender reputation effectively will ensure that your emails are well-received in the long run.

For further learning, visit the guides provided for maintaining good deliverability when migrating to ActiveCampaign. ```