Why do email threading issues occur in lemlist, and how can they be resolved?
Email threading is an important feature for maintaining continuity in conversations, ensuring all related responses are grouped together under a single thread. However, certain settings or actions in lemlist may influence email threading behavior. Below, we provide a detailed explanation of why email threading issues may occur, along with actionable tips to resolve them.
Understanding Email Threading
How Threading Works: Email threading is primarily determined by the recipient's email service provider (ESP) (e.g., Gmail, Outlook). Messages are grouped into threads based on common elements, such as subject lines and sender/recipient pairs. - In lemlist, emails may not appear threaded in your Sent folder, but recipients often see them grouped appropriately.
Influence of lemlist Settings: While ESPs handle threading logic, certain lemlist configurations (like subject lines and sender options) can impact whether emails stay in the same thread.
lemlist Threading Guidelines
1. Subject Line Consistency
Emails with the same subject line and participants are usually threaded together. However, specific actions can break threading:
Avoid changing the subject line in follow-up messages, as this disrupts continuity with the original email.
For follow-ups, leaving the subject field completely empty (no spaces or characters) ensures they are grouped with the initial step.
2. Impact of CC and Forced Sender Options
CCing Yourself in Replies: If you CC yourself in a reply, lemlist may display these as separate threads in your account. Although not threaded on your side, recipients typically see them as part of the same conversation. To avoid confusion within lemlist, refrain from CCing yourself.
Forced Sender Option: Enabling the "force sender" option for follow-up emails sends them as new messages, breaking the thread even if the sender matches. To maintain threading: - Disable "force sender" for follow-up steps. - Ensure the first email has a subject, while follow-ups use an empty subject line.
What to Expect from Recipients’ Perspectives
Although your Sent folder may display emails as individual messages, most recipients will see them grouped into a single thread if subject lines and participants are consistent. However, lemlist does not provide threaded history for CCed individuals, and threading behavior may slightly vary depending on the recipient’s ESP.
Troubleshooting Common Threading Issues
Emails Sent as Separate Threads: Review whether you have changed the subject line or enabled "force sender."
Recipient Complaints About Unthreaded Emails: Confirm with recipients their ESP’s behavior and adjust your campaign settings accordingly.
Summary
Effective email threading in lemlist requires:
Consistent subject lines across emails.
Avoiding the "force sender" option for follow-ups.
Understanding how ESPs influence threading. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your email campaigns maintain a clear and consistent conversation flow.