Email Marketing terms

Seed List

A list of internal email addresses used to test the deliverability of an email before sending it to the main list.

What is a seed list in email marketing?

A seed list in email marketing is a list of email addresses used to monitor the deliverability of an email campaign. This list is typically composed of internal email addresses or addresses from a third-party service. The purpose of a seed list is to test and ensure that marketing emails are being delivered properly and are not being flagged as spam.

When an email campaign is sent, it is also sent to the seed list. The results are then monitored to see if the emails are successfully reaching the inboxes, or if they are being sent to the spam folder. This allows marketers to make necessary adjustments to their campaigns to improve deliverability rates. It's a crucial tool for businesses to maximize the effectiveness of their email marketing efforts.

How can I create a seed list in email marketing?

Creating a seed list in email marketing involves gathering a group of email addresses to test your email campaign before sending it to your main audience. This list can include your own email address, colleagues, or a group of trusted individuals who can provide feedback on your email content, design, and functionality.

Start by identifying individuals who can provide valuable feedback. You can use your company's internal email addresses or ask for volunteers who are interested in helping. Once you have your list, you can send your email campaign to this group first to test things like deliverability and to see how your email appears in different email clients. Based on the feedback and results you get from this seed list, you can make necessary adjustments before sending out the email to your main list. Remember, the goal of a seed list is to improve your email campaign's effectiveness, so choose individuals who can provide constructive feedback.

Why is a seed list important in email marketing?

A seed list is crucial in email marketing for several reasons. Firstly, it serves as a starting point for your email marketing campaign. It is a list of email addresses that you send your marketing emails to. These are usually people who have shown interest in your product or service, and have given you permission to send them emails. This means they are more likely to engage with your emails, making your campaign more effective.

Secondly, a seed list can help improve the deliverability of your emails. By sending your emails to the seed list first, you can check if your emails are being delivered properly and are not being marked as spam. This allows you to make necessary adjustments to your emails before sending them out to your main list. Furthermore, a seed list can provide valuable feedback and insights on your email content, design, and overall strategy, helping you optimize your email marketing efforts.

What are the best practices for using a seed list in email marketing?

The best practices for using a seed list in email marketing involve careful planning and strategic implementation. Firstly, it's crucial to ensure that the seed list is updated and contains active and relevant email addresses. This list should be a mix of different email providers to get a comprehensive understanding of your email performance. It's also important to include internal email addresses in your seed list to monitor the delivery process.

Secondly, use the seed list to test your email campaigns before sending them out to your main list. This allows you to check for any issues with deliverability, formatting, or content. It's also recommended to use seed lists to monitor your sender reputation. If your emails are consistently landing in the spam folder of your seed list, it's a clear indication that you need to review and adjust your email practices. Lastly, remember that while seed lists are a valuable tool, they should not replace regular engagement metrics and feedback from your actual subscribers.

Alsongside email marketing, if you're into video marketing...

You should try Tella.tv - your all-in-one screen recorder, to create launch videos, product demos, social media videos, 1:1s for customers, and more!

Tella isn't just a screen recorder. It combines the simplicity of Loom with the creativity of Canva to create great looking videos with no effort.

With Tella, you can record your screen and/or camera, combine separate clips and quickly remove mistakes, apply beautiful backgrounds, change the camera layout, add zoom effects - almost instantly.

Tella screen recorder

< Back to Email Marketing glossary

Try Tella today!

Screen recording for creators — simple and powerful.

7-day free trial — no credit card required