It is consistently the highest-revenue automation in ecommerce because intent is already proven.
The metrics that matter#
- Authentication pass rate: share of mail passing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC alignment. Healthy: 99% or higher.
- Spam complaint rate: Gmail enforces at 0.3%; stay under 0.1%.
- Hard bounce rate: under 2%; above 5% triggers platform reviews.
- Inbox placement: above 90% across major providers via seed tests.
- Engagement: click and reply rates by segment; opens are unreliable after Mail Privacy Protection.
Where to read them#
- Google Postmaster Tools for Gmail domain reputation, spam rate, and authentication.
- Microsoft SNDS and JMRP for Outlook.com IP reputation and complaints.
- Your ESP's delivery and bounce reports.
- DMARC aggregate reports for authentication by source.
Improving the numbers#
- Capture email early in checkout or via identified sessions.
- Send the first message within an hour, the second at 24 hours, and an optional third with a modest incentive.
- Embed the actual products with images and a one-click return link.
- Suppress if the purchase completes at any point.
Frequently asked questions#
How many abandoned cart emails should I send?
Two or three. Beyond that, returns fall and complaints rise.