👋 Hey friends,
Just wrapped a banger conversation with Bryan Jenkins (Email Oversight), and if you care about inboxing, revenue, or not lighting your sender reputation on fire… this one’s for you.
We dug into the unsexy truth: bad data quietly destroys good email programs.
One bogus address? Fine.
Thousands? That’s a domain reputation problem with a side of lost revenue.
Below are the biggest takeaways you can put to work today. Then hit play and catch the full episode — it’s packed.
But first, a quick message from Audience Bridge…
Smart Delivery
If you’re not hitting the inbox, you’re not even in the game. Smart Delivery fixes that.
…Now let’s get into the meat and potatoes.
Big Takeaways (and quick plays to run)
Bryan and I covered a ton of ground in this episode — from why validation has to start at acquisition to how to keep your reputation intact when lists decay. The common thread?
Clean data = better inboxing. If you ignore hygiene, you’re handing ISPs every reason to sideline your emails.
✅ Validate at the front door
The cheapest bounce is the one you never send.
Do this:
Add real-time validation on signup/checkout (syntax + mailbox + risk checks).
Block disposable, role-based, and obvious typos (gmial, hotnail, etc.).
For partner/reg path traffic, require a validation pass before ingest.
✅ Re-clean, routinely
Lists decay. Engagement shifts. Hygiene isn’t one-and-done.
Do this:
Monthly: run a hygiene pass on your non-engagers + recent bouncers.
Quarterly: deep clean your whole file; suppress chronic soft-bouncers.
Before big sends (promos, launches): pre-scan the target segment.
✅ Complaints travel with you
That address might complain about someone else… and still hurt you.
Do this:
Use complainer/reputation signals where possible; set your own risk tolerance.
Improve your off-ramps: one-click unsubscribe + easy list management.
Measure complaint rate by domain and pull back when it spikes.
✅ Trim ≠ shrink — it sharpens
Cutting dead weight is not losing muscle; it’s how you regain inboxing.
Do this:
Stick to your Base Sending Segment (BSS) when things wobble.
Build win-back drips for the rest. No response? Let them go.
Protect reputation first; scale responsibly second.
✅ Know your bounce math
Treat bounces like signals, not trash.
Do this:
Hard = suppress immediately.
Soft = retry sanely; 2–3 attempts over a few days, then park.
Special cases (e.g., Yahoo deferrals, Gmail 552 over-quota): throttle, prioritize recent clickers, and retry over time before suppressing.
✅ Source discipline is deliverability
Not all growth is good growth.
Do this:
Track performance by acquisition source (engagement, bounces, complaints).
Pause or cap poor performers quickly — don’t let one source sink the ship.
For 2nd-party/partner data: validate + warm carefully with BSS rules.
This episode is packed with field-tested moves to keep your list clean, your inboxing high, and your growth sustainable.
🎧 Listen now 👇
✅ Final Thought
Deliverability isn’t magic; it’s math + discipline. Validate early, re-clean often, protect your reputation with a tight BSS, and your email program will compound.
Clean your data,
Chris Miquel
PS: Want a second set of eyes on your data pipeline or validation setup? Reply “VALIDATE” and I’ll send you my 15-point hygiene audit checklist.
BEFORE YOU GO
Better Inbox Placement Starts Here
If your emails aren’t landing in the inbox, they’re not doing their job. I’ve seen too many brands struggle with deliverability issues without knowing why.
The truth is, a few key optimizations can make all the difference in getting your emails seen, opened, and clicked.
