Lower Engagement in HubSpot Sequences Compared to Manual Sending

[Shaykh]

I’m facing an issue with email engagement and deliverability when using HubSpot Sequences.

Here’s the situation:

• I’m sending outreach emails via Sequences using my connected personal inbox.

• The content is exactly the same as what I send manually from my personal email.

• The domain has a solid sending reputation and authority.

• I’ve also tested these emails manually and consistently get higher open and reply rates when sent directly outside of HubSpot.

However, when using HubSpot Sequences, I experience lower open rates.

I’d like to understand:

1. Are there technical or behavioral factors in how HubSpot Sequences send emails (e.g., API vs SMTP, email headers, tracking pixels) that could cause inbox providers (like Gmail or Outlook) to treat them differently?

2. Is there a known difference in how manual 1:1 emails vs sequence emails are delivered or flagged by spam filters?

3. Are there recommended best practices to make sequences behave more like manual emails in terms of deliverability?

I’ve already taken steps like:

• Using plain text, personalized messages.

• Keeping send volume low.

Would love to hear from the support team or other users who have resolved similar issues.

[JWilliams26]

When we use sequences that have both calls and emails we have great open rates and engagement (50% open, 70% engagement). However, when we send the same sequence using dynamic sequences our rates drop drastically (12% open, 20% engagement).

Any idea what could be causing such a drastic difference between the sequence with emails and calls vs. the same exact sequence dynamically?

[STierney]

Hey @JWilliams26 - thanks so much for reaching out to the Community!

I haven't found any documentation that explains this behavior, so I'd like to inquire more regarding the setup of the dynamic sequences specifically. As noted here, rep-led steps, for instance, only trigger once a contact has opened or clicked the first automated email. Are the lower rates you're seeing in all steps, including the first, or subsequent steps only? 

Any more context you can provide regarding those dynamic sequences may help to provide better ideas around how to mitigate this moving forward.

Shane, Community Manager

[MaksKhan · Accepted solution]

Deliverability Improvements for HubSpot Sequences

Have you considered the following @Shaykh

• Turn off open tracking to avoid adding tracking pixels, which can trigger promotional or spam filtering.

• Disable click tracking so that URLs are not replaced with HubSpot redirect links.

• Remove the unsubscribe (opt-out) link in sequence settings if sending from a connected personal inbox.

• Vary the email content across sequence steps, including subject lines, greetings, and closing lines, to reduce the appearance of automation.

• Use manual send steps within sequences, particularly for initial outreach or key follow-ups, to make the activity appear more human.

• Avoid sending all sequence steps at fixed times; introduce slight variations or delays between emails.

• Minimise the use of links and attachments; stick to plain text where possible for better inbox placement.

• Limit reliance on personalisation tokens; overuse of merge fields can still appear formulaic to spam filters.