Do different TLDs affect cold email deliverability?
Summary
What email marketers say9Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Sendinblue responds that while not a primary factor, some ISPs might associate certain TLDs with higher spam activity. Focus on building a positive domain reputation through authentication and engagement.
Email marketer from GMass suggests the TLD is a minor consideration; domain age, email authentication and sender reputation are critical to consider.
Email marketer from Quora suggests that while the TLD might play a very minor role, the content of your emails, sender reputation, and authentication methods are the most important factors for deliverability.
Email marketer from Neil Patel Digital explains that while TLDs themselves don't directly impact deliverability, using unfamiliar or spammy-looking TLDs can raise red flags with spam filters and hurt sender reputation. Sticking to common TLDs like .com, .net, and .org is recommended.
Email marketer from Reddit responds that focusing on domain reputation and email authentication is more important than the TLD when it comes to deliverability.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that cold emailing is spam, regardless of how targeted it is or if it's for charity, because it involves adding email addresses to a mailing list without consent. It also violates the terms of service for reputable email providers.
Email marketer from Mailjet shares that factors like domain age, email volume, and bounce rate are more important for deliverability than the TLD. Maintaining a good sender reputation is key.
Email marketer from StackOverflow notes that some newer or less common TLDs might have a higher association with spam, potentially affecting deliverability. Using a reputable and established TLD is generally recommended.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that different TLDs don't impact deliverability for cold email senders. Newer domains are considered guilty until proven innocent.
What the experts say1Expert opinion
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that the TLD is one small piece of the puzzle. It's far more important to have good sending practices, authenticate your mail, and maintain a good reputation. Newer TLDs might be viewed with more suspicion initially.
What the documentation says3Technical articles
Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are critical for deliverability and have a much larger impact than the TLD used. Implementing these protocols helps verify the sender's identity and prevents spoofing.
Documentation from RFC shares the Sender Policy Framework (SPF) which helps combat email spoofing. SPF records in DNS allow domain owners to specify which mail servers are authorized to send email on their behalf, improving deliverability.
Documentation from Microsoft explains the importance of domain reputation and authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) for ensuring emails reach the inbox. Using a reputable sending domain is important.