The one-sentence version#
A re-engagement campaign targets inactive subscribers with a deliberate attempt to win them back; a sunset policy defines when to stop sending to those who do not respond.
Why you should care#
Continuing to mail unengaged contacts teaches providers your mail is unwanted. Sunsetting protects the rest of the list.
The mental model#
Think of re-engagement campaigns as a contract between you and the mailbox providers receiving your mail. You publish or configure something they can check; they check it on every message; the result feeds their decision about where your message lands. Everything below is about making that check pass consistently.
Your first setup, step by step#
- Define inactivity: no clicks or replies in 90 days is a common threshold.
- Send a 2 to 3 message win-back series with a clear ask to stay subscribed.
- Suppress anyone who does not engage after the series.
- Keep a record of suppressed contacts for compliance and future opt-in.
Words you will see#
- Mailbox provider: Gmail, Microsoft, Yahoo, Apple, and the corporate gateways that decide where mail lands.
- Authentication: proof that a message is from who it says it is (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
- Reputation: the provider's running score of your domain and IP.
- Placement: whether a message reaches the inbox, spam, or is rejected.
Common mistakes#
- Never sunsetting because list size is a vanity metric.
- Using 'We miss you' subject lines that read as spam.
Frequently asked questions#
Will sunsetting hurt my revenue?
Rarely. Inactive contacts produce little revenue, and improved placement for engaged contacts usually offsets any loss.