Troubleshooting Mailchimp's Email Deliverability Issues

January 22, 2025

Email marketing can be a powerful tool—when your emails actually land in inboxes. But if you're struggling with deliverability issues like bounces or spam complaints, it can be frustrating and costly for your business. The good news? Many common deliverability problems have straightforward solutions. In this article, we’ll explore the root causes of poor email deliverability and how to resolve them.

The Problem: Why Emails Don’t Deliver

Deliverability issues can stem from several factors, including technical misconfigurations, poor list management, and even content mistakes. These challenges can lead to emails bouncing back or being flagged as spam.

Here are some of the most common issues:

  1. High Bounce Ratessome text
    • Hard bounces occur when an email address is invalid.
    • Soft bounces happen when a recipient’s inbox is full or the server is temporarily unavailable.
  2. Spam Complaints
    Emails flagged as spam damage your sender reputation and can lead to Mailchimp or internet service providers (ISPs) throttling or blocking your campaigns.
  3. Low Engagement Rates
    If recipients don’t open or interact with your emails, ISPs may mark your messages as less relevant or spammy.

The Solution: Steps to Fix Deliverability Problems

1. Validate Your Email List

Keep your contact list clean and up-to-date:

  • Remove invalid email addresses to prevent hard bounces.
  • Use tools to verify emails before sending campaigns.

2. Authenticate Your Domain

Boost trustworthiness by setting up domain authentication:

  • SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records help ISPs verify your emails come from a trusted source.
  • Ensure these are correctly configured in your DNS settings to improve deliverability.

3. Monitor Engagement Metrics

Low engagement signals ISPs that your emails aren’t relevant:

  • Send campaigns to active and engaged subscribers.
  • Remove or re-engage inactive contacts through targeted campaigns.

4. Optimise Content and Avoid Spam Triggers

Craft email content that aligns with best practices:

  • Avoid spammy keywords like "free," "urgent," or excessive punctuation (!!!).
  • Ensure your email has a clear sender name, professional tone, and relevant subject lines.

5. Monitor Your Sender Reputation

Your reputation with ISPs directly affects your deliverability:

  • Use tools like Google Postmaster or third-party monitoring services to track your sender score.
  • Consistently follow best practices to maintain a positive reputation.

Mailchimp to Salesforce Integration: A Helping Hand

While the focus of this article is Mailchimp, integrating it with Salesforce through the official Beaufort 12 solution can enhance your overall campaign performance. By syncing your Salesforce data, you can segment audiences effectively, personalise campaigns, and improve engagement—key factors in email deliverability.

Final Thoughts

Email deliverability issues can seem daunting, but with a proactive approach, you can resolve common problems and ensure your campaigns perform at their best.

💡 Need expert advice on optimising your email campaigns or integrating Mailchimp with Salesforce? Contact us today to learn how we can help you achieve better results.