
How to Improve Email Deliverability With B2B Lists
Improving email deliverability with B2B lists is essential for any SME running cold email campaigns. Even with a strong offer and a well-crafted message, your efforts mean little if your emails end up in the spam folder — or worse, never reach your prospect at all.
The root issue? It often comes down to the quality of your data. Outdated or poorly sourced lists can spike your bounce rates, trigger spam filters, and damage your sender reputation. Once that happens, it’s tough to bounce back.
This guide will show you how to improve email deliverability with B2B lists — covering everything from smart data sourcing and segmentation, to technical setup and content tips. With the right approach, you’ll increase your inbox placement, get more responses, and stay on the right side of compliance.
Table of contents:
Why Deliverability Matters More Than Ever
Email continues to be a high-ROI channel for B2B marketing — but only if your emails actually land where they should. Low deliverability doesn’t just reduce your open rate; it slows sales, harms your domain health, and undermines your entire campaign.
For SMEs buying B2B lists, deliverability risks are higher. If the data isn’t regularly updated, permission-based, and CTPS-checked, providers like Gmail or Outlook are more likely to flag you as spam.
Getting this right means treating deliverability as a business-critical metric — not just a technical detail. It’s the foundation of campaign success.
Common Reasons Emails Don’t Get Delivered
Understanding what hurts deliverability is the first step toward fixing it. Common issues include:
Low-Quality or Outdated Data
- High bounce rates from invalid or irrelevant contacts
- Signals to ISPs that your domain might be risky
- Always choose data that is UK-sourced and frequently updated
Poor Sending Infrastructure
- Missing SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records
- Cold domains that haven’t been properly warmed up
- All of these reduce trust and inbox reach
Overuse of Salesy Language
- Spam-triggering words and formatting like all caps or too many exclamation marks
- Poor design or lack of clarity in layout
7 Steps to Improve Email Deliverability With B2B Lists
1. Start With Clean, Targeted Data
- Use data providers who build lists to your brief
- Avoid recycled lists or generic data dumps
- CTPS-checked, GDPR-compliant records are a must
2. Segment and Personalise
- Group your audience by job role, sector, or company size
- Write relevant content for each segment to drive engagement
3. Warm Up Your Domain
- Start with small volumes and increase steadily
- Build trust with email platforms gradually
4. Use a Custom Sending Domain
- Protect your main business domain
- Helps isolate and manage sending reputation
5. Monitor Key Metrics
- Watch open rates, bounce rates, spam complaints
- Investigate issues early to avoid bigger deliverability problems
6. Be Consistent
- Sudden surges in sending activity can raise red flags
- Stick to a regular schedule
7. Keep Your Content Clear and Compliant
- Avoid spammy phrases
- Make it easy to unsubscribe
What to Look for in a Data Provider
Your provider plays a huge role in email success. Make sure they tick the following boxes:
Transparent Sourcing
- Can they explain where the data comes from?
- Trusted names like 118 Information, Thomson, CorpData are good signs
Regular Updates
- Data decays fast — ensure updates happen monthly or more
- Ask for specifics on volume and frequency
Relevance to Your Campaign
- Does the list fit your channel (email, phone, or mail)?
- Can they filter by decision-maker level, location, or sector?
Compliance Assured
- Is the data CTPS-screened and aligned with GDPR?
- If not, you risk more than just poor performance
Why Choose Results Driven Marketing
We help UK SMEs get better results from their B2B email campaigns — starting with the right data.
Trusted UK Sources
- We work with top UK providers like 118 Information, Thomson, CorpData
- No scraping, no fluff — just clean, structured business data
Updated and CTPS Checked
- 700,000+ records refreshed monthly
- Every list checked for CTPS and GDPR compliance
Campaign-Matched Lists
- Built to your outreach goals, whether email, phone or direct mail
- Delivered in under 24 hours in most cases
Real Support, Real Advice
- You’ll talk to real people, not bots or scripts
- We’ll guide you on list build, campaign planning and follow-up
Ready to Improve Your Email Campaign Results?
Better data leads to better campaigns. Let’s help you get there:
- Need tailored, compliant data? Contact us today.
- Looking to buy email lists? We’ll match your brief and turnaround fast.
Results Driven Marketing
B2B Data Lists | GDPR & CTPS Compliant | Delivered Fast
📍 Newcastle, UK | 📞 0191 406 6399 | 🌐 rdmarketing.co.uk