To monitor your deliverability results, you must send your email campaigns to the Return Path Seed List. 

Getting started

Implementing the Return Path Seed List into your database may require the help of your internal database administrator or your email service provider (ESP): 

• Contact your database administrator to identify the best approach for importing a tab-delimited flat file. To identify this segment in your database, Return Path recommends adding a field or a value that allows your data administrator to manage these addresses separately from your core email data.
• Contact your ESP account team to identify their method for adding the Return Path Seed List. ESPs have unique methods and processes for incorporating seeds, so it is important to know how your ESP handles Return Path CoreSeeds and SmartSeeds.

Downloading the Return Path Seed List

To obtain the Return Path Seed List: 

1. Log in to Return Path Platform or Inbox Monitor.
2. Navigate to your Seed List page. In Return Path Platform, this is under My Account. In Inbox Monitor, this is under Seed List.
3. Select Seed List.
4. Download your seed list from the list of Current Active Seeds.

Sending to the Return Path Seed List

• For the most accurate deliverability results, Return Path recommends you distribute the CoreSeeds and SmartSeeds addresses randomly throughout your list so you can see if your deliverability rates change during your sending process.
• One way to randomize the seeds throughout your list is to add the seeds to your list and alphabetize it by email address. Alternatively, you can place your seeds at the end of your list. If you use an ESP to implement the Return Path Seed List, check with your ESP account team to see how they distribute the seeds.
• Include the entire Return Path Seed List in every email you want to monitor. If you send the same email to different list segments (for example, subject line testing), include the full Return Path Seed List in each segment to monitor the deliverability results individually.
• Important: Your list contains four critical CoreSeeds: two at the top and two at the bottom. These are called reference seeds and are created specifically for your account so Return Path can identify your campaigns. You must always include these reference seeds in your seed list for the Return Path system to fully track and report all the seed results for your emails.

Tip: For best results, place the first two reference seeds at the top of your list, and the last two at the end of your list.

When testing your campaigns using the seed list, use placeholder data for merge fields. Please do not send tests with personal data (e.g., customer or subscriber email, name, user name, account number, etc.) in your merge fields, or associate customer data to CoreSeeds or SmartSeeds email addresses.