Causes Related to Dirty Lists

[hrsibar4405]

Definition: The number of times recipients click the "report spam" or "junk" button in their email client. ISPs typically share this data with your ESP.

Impact on Sender Reputation: ISPs meticulously track spam complaints. A high complaint rate (typically above 0.1% of delivered emails, though even lower can be problematic) tells ISPs that your sending practices are problematic, whether it's unsolicited mail, irrelevant content, or a lack of proper consent. This significantly degrades your sender score, making it harder for your emails to reach the inbox. Repeated complaints can lead to your emails being automatically routed to spam folders for all recipients or even direct blacklisting.


Sending to Purchased Lists: Recipients on bought lists netherlands email list never opted in to hear from you, so they are highly likely to mark your emails as spam out of annoyance. This is arguably the quickest way to ruin your sender reputation.
Irrelevant or Unsolicited Content: If your content doesn't match subscriber expectations or if you're sending to unengaged segments, frustration can lead to complaints. A dirty list often implies a broad, untargeted audience.
Lack of Clear Unsubscribe Option: If subscribers cannot easily find an unsubscribe link (e.g., it's buried in tiny text at the bottom, or the process is cumbersome), they might resort to marking your email as spam as their only way out.
Sending to Very Old, Unengaged Segments: Subscribers who signed up years ago and haven't engaged can forget they opted in. When a new email arrives, perhaps as part of a list re-engagement effort, they might report it as spam simply because they don't recognize you.

B. Emails Landing in Spam/Junk Folders
This is the dreaded outcome for any email marketer. Your emails are sent, but instead of reaching the primary inbox, they are diverted to the spam or junk folder, where they are unlikely to be seen.

Monitoring: It's difficult to know definitively if your emails are going to spam without actively monitoring. Methods include:
Seed Lists: Sending your emails to a small list of accounts you control across various email providers (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, ProtonMail, etc.) to see where they land (inbox, promotions, spam).
Deliverability Tools: Services like Mail-Tester, GlockApps, or Inbox Placement tools offered by some ESPs can analyze your email content and sending practices and provide inbox placement reporting and spam filter testing.