Welcome to Email After Hours by Sender Score, powered by Validity.
By day, we help email senders all over the world boost their email performance. Once we’re off the clock, we interview email marketing experts to talk about email fails, spam, privacy laws, metrics that matter, content that converts—and anything else that keeps senders up at night. Nothing is off-limits. We know what works in email–and we know the road to your next great campaign is getting bumpier by the day. So, we’re making it our mission to answer the single most important question for senders: How can we give email subscribers what they really want? To find out, join us after hours. Hosted by Danielle Gallant, Senior Email Strategist, and Guy Hanson, VP of Customer Engagement at Validity, Inc.
What’s the Deal with Email Deliverability? (And Why Everyone Gets It Wrong)
December 15, 2022 • 17 MIN
In this introductory episode, Guy and Danielle discuss who they are, what makes them email experts, and some of the biggest challenges email marketers are facing (hot takes included). Listen as they dive into one of the biggest mistakes email marketers make: failing to understand and prioritize email deliverability.
BIMI, BIMI More: How to Boost Email Engagement with Tom Bartel, SVP of Data Services at Validity
January 5, 2023 • 23 MIN
Tom Bartel, Senior Vice President of Data Services for Validity, joins hosts Guy Hanson and Danielle Gallant to explain how senders can use BIMI to win more clicks and conversions in inboxes.
How Our Big Campaign Ended Up in the Spam Folder
January 19, 2023 • 31 MIN
In this episode of Email After Hours, Kate Adams, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Validity, and Jason Crichton, Director of Customer Success, join hosts Guy Hanson and Danielle Gallant to discuss how one of Validity’s high-profile campaigns landed in the spam folder—and what senders can do to avoid the same fate.
Quick Email Wins and Subject Line Secrets with Jay Schwedelson, Founder of Subjectline.com
February 2, 2023 • 30 MIN
Jay Schwedelson, President and CEO of Outcome Media and Founder of Subjectline.com, offers a masterclass on easy email wins to boost subscriber engagement. He’ll share quick, cost-effective strategies to optimize all elements of the email—from subject lines to CTAs.
How to Automate Emails for Maximum Revenue with Jeanne Jennings, Founder and CEO of Email Optimization Shop
February 16, 2023 • 31 MIN
Jeanne Jennings, a twenty-year veteran in the email marketing space and the Founder and CEO of Email Optimization Shop, discusses all aspects of email automation, from implementation tips to pitfalls.
Risky Business: Navigating ESP Migrations, SMS, & Other Email Challenges with Michael Cabral, Sr. Manager, Email Operations and Strategy at J. Jill
March 2, 2023 • 25 MIN
Michael Cabral, a seventeen-year veteran in the email management space and the Senior Manager of Email Operations and Strategy at J.Jill, walks us through a step-by-step checklist for migrating ESPs. Plus, he’ll share J.Jill’s go-to strategies for keeping subscribers engaged through email and SMS marketing.
The Role of Empathy in Email Marketing with Kate Barrett of eFocus Marketing
March 16, 2023 • 24 MIN
Kate Barrett, a twelve-year veteran in the email marketing space and founder of eFocus Marketing, shares her insights on how to add empathy to email campaigns in a way that is authentic and credible.
Mastering Email & SMS as Complementary Forces with Karen Talavera, Founder of Synchronicity Marketing
March 30, 2023 • 36 MIN
Karen Talavera, Founder and Principal at Synchronicity Marketing brings her thirty years of digital marketing experience and shares her insight on how by using SMS marketing correctly, you can turbocharge your email campaigns.
Using Email to Improve the Ecommerce Buying Experience with Michael Affronti, SVP at Salesforce Commerce Cloud
April 13, 2023 • 24 MIN
Michael Affronti, SVP and General Manager at Commerce Cloud, uses his nineteen years of domain experience to shed light on how companies need to use emails to raise engagement levels by offering personalization options to get to know the customer better.
Why We’re Still Mad About Apple’s MPP (and How Senders Can Adapt) with Oracle’s Chad S. White
April 27, 2023 • 30 MIN
Chad S. White, Head of Research at Oracle Marketing Consulting and a 5x author of Email Marketing Rules, shares strategies that senders can use to succeed in the post-MPP world. He also discusses some of the policy’s unexpected consequences and how it might unintentionally facilitate unethical marketing practices.
Testing, 1, 2, 3: Innovative Email Testing Strategies with Auto Trader’s Sarah Jones
May 11, 2023 • 23 MIN
Sarah Jones, Senior CRM Manager at Auto Trader, shares her expert advice on email testing—and some of the most surprising things she's learned from her tests.
New Consumer Email Trends & Tips to Become a BFF Brand with the Data & Marketing Association (DMA)
May 25, 2023 • 35 MIN
In this episode, we share new research from the DMA that reveals what subscribers really want from email in 2023. Some spoilers: People check their spam folders more than you might think, subscribers can only remember ten brands at a time, and logos are more important than subject lines.
The One Email Metric You’re Not Tracking (& Other Secrets to Killer Email Content) with MarketingProfs’ Ann Handley
June 8, 2023 • 30 MIN
In this new episode of Email After Hours, certified content queen Ann Handley, Chief Content Marketing Officer at MarketingProfs, shares her secrets to creating engaging email content that converts casual email browsers into lifetime customers.
Stop! It's Scammer Time
June 22, 2023 • 33 MIN
In this hosts-only episode, we’ll explore the weird, wacky, and dangerous world of email scams. We’ll share some great stories, valuable tips, and maybe even a few surprises.
Privacy Please! How to Implement a Privacy-First Email Marketing Strategy with Anteriad
July 6, 2023 • 32 MIN
In this episode, Anteriad’s Karie Burt, Chief Data and Privacy Officer, and Courtney Cope, Vice President of Data, share their strategies for mastering evolving privacy legislations, collecting customer data, and leveraging Anteriad’s privacy-first mindset to build brand loyalty.
Guardians of the Email Galaxy: Global Deliverability Lessons from the Certified Senders Alliance
July 20, 2023 • 28 MIN
In this new episode of Email After Hours, Sebastian Kluth, Team Lead at the Certified Senders Alliance (CSA), shares his insights and trade secrets on the importance of transparency, proper permissioning, and good data in effective email marketing strategies. He’ll also dive into lessons senders in all regions can learn from German senders—who enjoy some of the highest inbox placement rates in the world.
Stay out of the ‘Haus: How to Avoid Being Listed by Spamhaus
August 3, 2023 • 31 MIN
In this episode of Email After Hours, spam slayer extraordinaire Sridhar Chandran, Anti-spam Consultant at the Spamhaus Project, shares the secrets to staying on Spamhaus’ good side.
He’ll cover the importance of consent, best practices, and proper list management to maintain a good reputation. Plus, he’ll reveal emerging trends in the online threat landscape, like subscription bombing and the use of AI in email.
Oops! We Emailed Again: Turning Email Blunders into Brand Wins
September 1, 2023 • 26 MIN
In this hosts-only episode, we’ll delve deep into the world of Oops emails, exploring hilarious stories, handy advice, and the potential impact of these emails on subscriber engagement.
ESP vs Sender: Whose Responsibility Is It, Anyway?
September 14, 2023 • 33 MIN
In this episode, we’ll drill down into the intricate dance between marketers and ESPs—mapping out the territory of who takes charge of what, look into unexpected challenges, share insider tips, and unveil the often-overlooked players in the email marketing arena.
Inbox X-Files: A Detective’s Guide to Solving Email Mysteries
September 28, 2023 • 22 MIN
Enter Alice Cornell, deliverability consultant and email sleuth extraordinaire. In this episode, we'll delve into captivating email cases, bewitching red herrings, and the basics that often trip up even the most experienced email pros.
The Loyalty Loop: Turning Automated Emails into Customer Loyalty Gold
October 12, 2023 • 23 MIN
Enter Lauren Pestana, the Director of Brand Marketing at Drip, a rare company that prioritizes relationships over sales in the ecommerce world. In this episode, we'll delve into the power and secrets of marketing automation in building customer connections.
Making Moves in the Inbox: How JLL Navigates Deliverability in The Commercial Real Estate Industry
October 26, 2023 • 29 MIN
In this episode, Lola Gandara, the first-ever Head of Deliverability at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), explains how she manages the many mail streams JLL operates and educates the team on email best practices.
Rethinking Customer Loyalty Programs: The Good, The Bad, and The Free Coffee
November 8, 2023 • 27 MIN
A great customer loyalty program goes beyond points and perks. In this episode, we’ll explore the intricacies of loyalty programs and how they can be leveraged to build strong customer relationships.
The Email Personalization Paradox: Striking a Balance Between Clever and Creepy
November 22, 2023 • 25 MIN
In this episode, we'll give senders practical tips to pump up their personalization and unravel the complexities behind the 'Show me you know me,' philosophy.
2023 Unwrapped: Email Marketing's Highs, Lows, and Holiday Showstoppers
December 7, 2023 • 25 MIN
In this special hosts-only episode (and our LAST EPISODE of 2023), we're giving you the ultimate year-end roundup before you switch on your out-of-office messages and dive into holiday festivities. We're not just looking back, though! Get ready to explore the best and worst holiday campaigns, and how these lessons can propel us into a more effective new year in email marketing.
Back to Basics: 5 (Free!) Email Tactics to Beat Soft Consumer Demand
January 18, 2024 • 27 MIN
In this episode, we’ll give you practical advice on how to use the basic tools you already have more effectively in your email marketing. Nothing too flashy, nothing out-of-reach, just ordinary assets at our disposal already. From Google Annotations, to time-of-day testing, to Friendly Froms—we’ll reveal the best ways to use these tools, and others!
Email for Entrepreneurs: Moving from Clicks to Business Conquests
February 1, 2024 • 23 MIN
In this episode of Email After Hours, Tyler ‘Sully’ Sullivan dives into how to build genuine relationships through email marketing, how engaging conversations drive loyalty in low-frequency markets, and the importance of “doing the unexpected.”
Love in the Inbox: Valentine’s Day Email Strategies That Work All Year Long
February 14, 2024 • 26 MIN
In a special Valentine's Day episode of Email After Hours, we share insights on navigating the challenges of Valentine's Day email campaigns, examine real-world examples of campaigns effectively standing out in the inbox, explain the new Gmail and Yahoo sender requirements, and dive into our unique past experiences running email campaigns for dating programs.
Navigating Yahoo and Gmail’s New Bulk Sender Rules Like a Boss
February 29, 2024 • 34 MIN
In this episode, we’re talking to Marcel Becker: the Senior Director of Product Management at Yahoo. We’ll do a little mythbusting, address the biggest questions and misconceptions that have come from new requirements, and give senders practical advice to navigate them.
Booking a Ticket to Email Success with Ice Travel Group
March 14, 2024 • 30 MIN
To learn how travel marketers are keeping their programs competitive, Guy and Danielle spoke to Jon Kirk, CRM and Design Manager at Ice Travel Group.
He shared his flight plan for standing out in a crowded market, navigating a corporate merger and ESP migration, using AI in email, keeping subscribers engaged during off-peak travel times, and more.
5 Stats Email Marketers Need to See in 2024
March 28, 2024 • 25 MIN
In this quick, 25-minute episode, Guy and Danielle chat with Laura Christensen, Senior Director of Professional Services at Validity, to explore the top five data points marketers need to know in 2024—and how they’ll change the status quo for marketers. They look at trends and expert forecasts for open rates, clicks, unsubscribes, spam trap volumes, and more.
(PS: To read the full report, visit: bit.ly/3TRQCAx)
Reading Between the Lines: The Art of Accessible Email Design and Content
April 18, 2024 • 19 MIN
In this episode, Guy and Danielle sit down with Michael Knapp, Lead Email Designer and Developer at Skipton Building Society, to delve into the how and why of crafting accessible email campaigns.
They’ll explore the power of accessible email design, uncovering practical strategies to ensure every subscriber can engage with your content. From optimizing for screen readers to embracing alternative formats, discover how small changes can make a monumental difference in amplifying your message and fostering connections with your audience.
Email Personalization in the AI Era: Nicholas Greatrex on Delivering Top-Notch Email Experiences Across Multiple Brands
May 10, 2024 • 31 MIN
In this action-packed episode, Nicholas breaks down real-life examples that helped him and his team build an email program responsible for one out of every three of his business's transactions with Guy Hanson and guest cohost Laura Christensen.
How Data Protection and Trust-Building Fuels Germany's Email Marketing Success
May 23, 2024 • 33 MIN
In this episode of the "Email After Hours" podcast, Danielle and Guy sat down with marketing experts Carlos Arriaga Frias and Markus Dang of DIGITALL to discuss their email approach and to learn the tips Carlos and Markus recommend for senders across the globe.
The Elements of a Successful Email: It's Not Rocket Science...Or Is It?
June 6, 2024 • 27 MIN
Lab coats on, please! In this episode of Email After Hours, we're breaking down the elements of a successful marketing email—from pre-headers down to footers.
Demystifying DMARC and BIMI: The (Plain English!) Guide to Defending Your Domains
June 20, 2024 • 26 MIN
In this episode of Email After Hours, we’re officially demystifying the DMARC record.
DMARC is critical for brands looking to protect their domains from spoofing and phishing attacks. Plus, it’s now required by major mailbox providers like Gmail and Yahoo.
How AI is Changing the Email Ecosystem: The Risks, Benefits, and Implications
July 11, 2024 • 35 MIN
Like it or not, AI is here to stay—and it’s only by knowing the risks, benefits, and ethical implications of using AI that email marketers can stay ahead of the curve.
That’s why we’re spending 30 minutes discussing all things AI and email, including topics like streamlining campaign generation, deep fakes, AI and this year’s election, and how AI impacts email security.
How to Future-Proof Your Email Campaigns with Deliverability Expert Al Iverson (Part 1)
July 25, 2024 • 17 MIN
These days, senders are constantly adapting to new regulations and policies that make it harder to reach inboxes.
Gmail and Yahoo’s recent bulk sender requirements, Apple’s Mail Privacy Protection, and GDPR are just a few recent industry shakeups that left marketers playing catch-up.
How to Future-Proof Your Email Campaigns with Deliverability Expert Al Iverson (Part 2)
August 1, 2024 • 23 MIN
In this second part of our two-part episode with deliverability expert Al Iverson, we answer hard-hitting questions about how the world of email is changing.
Email After Hours Greatest Hits: Top Email Learnings from 2024 (So Far!)
August 15, 2024 • 13 MIN
Revisit some of your favorite episodes of Email After Hours—or catch up on those you missed the first time around! In just 15 minutes, get tips and secrets to success from email experts at Yahoo, Hickory Farms, the Bradford Group, TFG Brands, Mapp Digital, and more!
How to Measure Email Success (And Bounce Back After Mishaps) with Edward Cunningham of Vision Express
August 29, 2024 • 27 MIN
In this episode, Edward Cunningham, Senior CRM Data & Campaigns Manager at Vision Express, shares his journey through the highs and lows of campaign measurement, heat mapping, the art of personalization, and the surprising power of the "oops" email.
The iOS 18 Impact: What Email Marketers Need to Know About Apple’s Latest Release
September 12, 2024 • 35 MIN
Every year, Apple’s latest iOS release feels like Groundhog Day for email marketers—another update, another round of unpredictable shockwaves through the industry.
Remember: Staying informed and proactive is key to staying ahead.
Crafting Compelling Email Content: Strategies for Success with Samar Owais
September 26, 2024 • 33 MIN
In this episode of Email After Hours, hosts Guy Hanson and Danielle Gallant welcome Samar Owais, a seasoned email strategist and copywriter to dive into the details of email content.
Inboxes and Algorithms: Uniting Social Media and Email Marketing with Carlos Gil
October 10, 2024 • 23 MIN
In this episode of Email After Hours, hosts Guy Hanson and Danielle Gallant dive into the intersection of social media and email marketing with guest Carlos Gil, a distinguished expert in digital marketing and Brand Evangelist at GetResponse.
How to Lose a Subscriber in 10 Emails (And What to Do Instead)
October 24, 2024 • 36 MIN
In this episode, we’re diving into the world of "anti-best practices" in email marketing—the tactics that seem smart but could actually tank your campaigns.
Crafting Email Conversions: From Opens to Outcomes with Prerna Malik
November 7, 2024 • 36 MIN
In a world where email marketing success hinges on turning clicks into conversions, mastering the nuances of optimization is crucial. Enter Prerna Malik—an email marketing and conversion expert renowned for transforming underperforming campaigns into powerful success stories.
Beyond A/B: The Science of Smarter Email Testing with Kath Pay
November 21, 2024 • 31 MIN
In today’s lightning-fast email marketing world, basic A/B testing just doesn’t cut it anymore.
That’s where Kath Pay comes in. With over two decades of experience in testing, deliverability, and campaign optimization, Kath has one mission: to help marketers ditch the guesswork and embrace testing strategies that actually move the needle.
Black Friday Post-Mortem: Making Sense of the Email Marketing Madness with Seth Charles
December 19, 2024 • 35 MIN
Hot off Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024, we’re breaking down the email strategies that soared—and the ones that flopped—in this year’s retail rush.