Did you know you can get a free email deliverability audit from Customers.ai? Start your free trial and get an automatic deliverability score!
Achieving that coveted spot in the inbox requires more than just sending messages; it requires navigating spam filters and privacy laws, all while writing copy that drives opens and keeps engagement high. No easy feat.
Email deliverability has long been a challenge and unfortunately, without the help of technology, it’s not going to get any easier.
That’s where AI comes in.
AI isn’t just helping to improve email deliverability. It’s turning the concept on its head, offering new strategies to help marketers deal with new changes and reach the inbox.
Let’s explore the transformation from basic deliverability tactics to cutting-edge, AI-enhanced strategies that are setting new benchmarks in email marketing success.
Convert Website Visitors into Real Contacts!
Identify who is visiting your site with name, email and more. Get 500 contacts for free!
Looking Back at Email Deliverability
In the early days of email marketing, deliverability hinged on one thing – avoiding the spam folder.
There weren’t promotions tabs or super-sophisticated filters. You didn’t have to worry about having too many links in your message or using characters incorrectly and ending up in the spam folder.
The biggest challenges were crafting non-spammy subject lines and managing bounce rates while the strategies were straightforward – focus on list hygiene and mass distribution without much nuance.
Ah, simpler times.
But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.
As email became ubiquitous, the landscape began to grow more complicated.
The introduction of Sender Policy Framework (SPF), DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM), and Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) marked significant milestones and new challenges for email marketers.
These authentication protocols, designed to verify the sender’s identity and combat phishing, also made deliverability much more difficult.
At the same time as new protocols were being put in place, ISPs were evolving and adopting more sophisticated algorithms to filter out spam.
All of this together led to one thing – the need for an email deliverability strategy.
These changes really forced email marketers to rethink how they got messages to the inbox and placed a greater emphasis on sender reputation and engagement metrics.
What began as a simple battle to reach the inbox has become a complex endeavor to ensure emails are welcomed by recipients and trusted by email providers.
Contemporary Challenges in Email Deliverability
With the glory days of email marketing behind us, today’s email marketers have to navigate a whole new set of challenges to achieve deliverability.
The sophistication of spam filters has reached unprecedented levels, employing AI and machine learning to scrutinize every aspect of an email, from technology to content to sender behavior.
These filters aren’t fooled by basic tactics. They demand genuine engagement and relevant content.
They also demand a clean sender reputation and adherence to privacy guidelines.
Sender Reputation
Sender reputation is a huge part of deliverability.
ISPs and email services meticulously score senders on various metrics, including open rates, click-through rates, and spam complaints.
This scrutiny means that maintaining a clean, engaged email list is more crucial than ever.
A drop in sender reputation can lead to emails being sent to the spam folder, or worse, blocked entirely.
Privacy Regulations
GDPR and CCPA have really reshaped the email marketing landscape by mandating compliance.
These regulations don’t just suggest consent for data collection, they require it. In fact, violations risk hefty fines.
With these new challenges, email marketers must employ more nuanced and sophisticated strategies.
It’s a balancing act – ensuring compliance with privacy laws, maintaining a positive sender reputation, navigating the intricate algorithms of spam filters, and requiring innovation and adaptability.
The Role of AI in Enhancing Email Deliverability
AI has ushered in a new era for email marketing.
From predictive analytics to personalization, AI is helping email marketers navigate all of the crazy changes taking place.
Predictive Analytics
I think we can all agree that predictive analytics has revolutionized email marketing, particularly when it comes to send time and frequency.
Instead of having to manually analyze data and test assumptions, AI can take your data and predict the optimal moment for email engagement. The results? Higher open rates and improved deliverability.
Personalization
Personalization is another area where AI is making its mark.
Through NLP, AI email writers can help craft email content that resonates with readers while steering clear of spam filters.
They can analyze the effectiveness of subject lines, call-to-actions, and overall content, suggesting improvements that enhance engagement rates.
Sender Reputation Management
The ability to predict and adapt content for better engagement and compliance is invaluable not just for getting your messages delivered but also for maintaining a healthy sender reputation.
Machine learning models can forecast potential deliverability issues before they even happen.
By analyzing email interactions, AI can identify patterns that may lead to blacklisting or spam complaints, allowing marketers to adjust strategies proactively.
Way better than being blacklisted right?
AI is already making waves when it comes to email deliverability and it’s only going to get better.
Marketers leveraging AI-driven platforms report significant improvements in open rates, reduced spam complaints, and enhanced overall campaign performance.
In fact, during a 2023 survey carried out among email marketers from the United States, the United Kingdom, and other European countries, it was found that ~51% of respondents believed that AI-supported email marketing was more effective than traditional email marketing approaches.
These advancements are not just about overcoming challenges; they’re about setting new benchmarks in email marketing effectiveness.
AI for Improved Email Deliverability
The evolution of email deliverability, from its simplest forms to the sophisticated, AI-driven landscape of today, shows us that email marketing is in a constant state of flux.
The challenges that once seemed impossible have given way to innovative solutions and opportunities for growth and engagement.
The role of AI in this evolution cannot be overstated.
It is now a pivotal tool, giving marketers the ability to navigate the many, many complexities of modern email marketing with unprecedented precision.
AI-driven insights and technologies are not just enhancing deliverability, they are reshaping the very foundations of email marketing strategies, offering a glimpse into a future where personalization, engagement, and compliance are seamlessly integrated.
For strategic email marketers, the message is clear – embracing AI-driven insights and technologies is no longer an option but a necessity for staying ahead.
The future of email deliverability lies in the ability to adapt, innovate, and harness the full potential of AI to create meaningful, engaging, and successful email campaigns.
Important Next Steps
- See what targeted outbound marketing is all about. Capture and engage your first 500 website visitor leads with Customers.ai X-Ray website visitor identification for free.
- Talk and learn about sales outreach automation with other growth enthusiasts. Join Customers.ai Island, our Facebook group of 40K marketers and entrepreneurs who are ready to support you.
- Advance your marketing performance with Sales Outreach School, a free tutorial and training area for sales pros and marketers.
