You work SO HARD to create a beautiful email… so why is it still going to spam?

In this episode of Email After Hours, hosts Guy Hanson and Danielle Gallant sit down with LB Blair to uncover the email content mistakes that sabotage inbox placement. They’ll also dive into emerging trends that senders, mailbox providers, and subscribers can all agree on.

LoriBeth (LB) Blair is a seasoned deliverability expert with years of hands-on experience solving complex sender reputation and inbox placement challenges for brands of all sizes. Known for her deep expertise in email authentication, content optimization, and cybersecurity's intersection with deliverability, LB has navigated virtually every email marketing trend and pitfall in the industry. 

In this episode, she shares critical insights on how email content—from image optimization and link security to responsive design and alt text—directly impacts inbox placement, providing actionable strategies that email marketing managers and deliverability professionals can implement immediately to protect their sender reputation.

Danielle Gallant - Danielle is a Senior Email Strategist at Validity. She has over seven years of experience working with global brands to craft strategies that amplify email performance. She is a self-professed email nerd, dog lover, and podcast fanatic.

Danielle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-gallant-6443a248/

Guy Hanson - Guy is Vice President of Customer Engagement at Validity. He has led global consulting teams working with clients to improve email deliverability, subscriber engagement, and revenue. He believes in giving back to his community and is a regular speaker at flagship events, providing training and producing fresh and insightful thought leadership.

Guy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guyhanson/

Episode Highlights:
[00:00] Intro

[00:54] Welcome LB Blair: A deliverability expert's perspective

[04:24] Images & computing resources: Why mailbox providers are filtering differently

[07:55] Descriptive alt text as a deliverability signal

[14:21] Broken links & cybersecurity red flags

[16:48] SSL security & custom-branded link domains

[20:20] Lossless image compression reduces file size by 90%

[23:43] Dark mode optimization prevents unsubscribes

[25:06] PDF links & corporate spam filter concerns

[27:37] Relevance remains king—technical perfection isn't enough

[29:58] Deliverability insurance: What won't be covered

[32:12] Connect with LB Blair & key takeaways

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