How does Google's reputation system work and what are the best practices for warming up IPs?

Summary

Google's reputation system assesses senders based on factors like spam complaints and engagement. IP warming builds trust with ISPs through a gradual increase in email volume sent to engaged subscribers. Authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), consistent sending practices, quality content, and list management are crucial for building and maintaining a positive reputation. Segmenting lists, monitoring deliverability metrics, and understanding your audience are key considerations for successful IP warming and improved email deliverability.

Key findings

  • Spam Impact: Messages marked as spam negatively affect domain reputation within Google's system.
  • IP Inheritance: New IPs can inherit reputation from associated authenticated domains.
  • Warmup Process: IP warmup requires carefully planned gradual increase of sending volume.
  • Engagement is key: High engagement and low spam complaints during warmup are critical for building trust with ISPs.
  • Authentication: Email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) significantly contributes to sender reputation.
  • Consistent Sending: Maintaining consistent sending volumes and patterns strengthens sender reputation.

Key considerations

  • List Segmentation: Segment email lists to target engaged subscribers for optimal results during IP warming.
  • IP Infrastructure: Ensure proper IP configuration including contiguous IP ranges and correct FCrDNS setup.
  • Gradual Ramp-up: Adhere to a gradual ramp-up schedule, allowing filters and ISPs to adapt to the new IP.
  • Value-driven Content: Focus on delivering valuable content to encourage engagement and reduce spam complaints.
  • Monitoring Performance: Continuously monitor deliverability metrics (bounce rates, complaints, engagement) and adjust sending practices accordingly.
  • Audience Understanding: Thoroughly understand your audience and their engagement patterns for a successful warmup strategy.
  • Reputation Score: Track your sender and IP reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools, to identify and solve potential issues.

What email marketers say
11Marketer opinions

Google's sender reputation is a crucial factor in email deliverability, influenced by engagement metrics, spam complaints, and email authentication. Warming up IPs involves gradually increasing sending volume to engaged subscribers to establish a positive reputation with ISPs. Key best practices include segmenting email lists, sending relevant content, monitoring engagement, and adhering to authentication standards.

Key opinions

  • Sender Reputation: Sender reputation directly impacts deliverability; a good reputation leads to inbox placement, while a poor one results in spam filtering.
  • Key Metrics: Spam complaints, bounce rates, and user engagement (opens, clicks) are key metrics that influence sender reputation.
  • IP Warmup: IP warmup is the process of gradually increasing sending volume from a new IP address to build trust with ISPs.
  • Engagement Focus: Sending relevant content to engaged subscribers is crucial during IP warmup to avoid spam complaints and boost deliverability.
  • Authentication: Email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for verifying sender identity and improving sender reputation.

Key considerations

  • Segmentation: Segment email lists to send targeted content and increase engagement, improving sender reputation.
  • Gradual Increase: Increase sending volume gradually during IP warmup, monitoring deliverability metrics and adjusting as needed.
  • Content Relevance: Focus on providing value to subscribers to incentivize engagement and prevent spam complaints.
  • Monitoring: Closely monitor deliverability metrics (bounce rates, spam complaints, engagement) to identify and address issues promptly.
  • List Hygiene: Regularly clean email lists to remove inactive subscribers and maintain a high level of engagement.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Quora explains that warming up an IP involves slowly sending email to smaller portions of your subscriber list, and increasing over time while monitoring your statistics for any signs of deliverability issues. If you're seeing a high percentage of bounces or spam complaints, scale back your sending volume until the problem clears up.

May 2023 - Quora
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid explains that IP warmup is the process of gradually increasing the volume of emails sent from a new IP address to build a positive reputation with ISPs. Start with low volumes and increase over time. Consistency and engagement are key. Focus on sending relevant content to engaged subscribers to avoid spam complaints and improve deliverability.

April 2021 - SendGrid
Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps advises starting the IP warmup process by sending emails to engaged subscribers and gradually increasing the sending volume while monitoring deliverability. They state to segment your subscribers based on engagement and send the first emails to the most active segment. This will improve your IP reputation, as it is based on positive engagement signals from recipients.

November 2021 - GlockApps
Marketer view

Email marketer from Customer.io explains IP warmup requires segmenting your email list and increasing send volumes slowly to your most engaged subscribers, while actively monitoring deliverability metrics. A critical aspect is to focus on providing value to subscribers during the initial phases, incentivizing engagement and establishing a positive sending reputation with ISPs.

September 2023 - Customer.io
Marketer view

Email marketer from Hubspot details how to increase engagement to improve your Google reputation, by telling you to segment your email list. Make sure you're sending the right message to the right people to get higher open and click-through rates. Sending relevant content keeps your subscribers engaged, reduces opt-outs, and minimizes spam complaints.

October 2024 - HubSpot
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains that Google's sender reputation is heavily influenced by spam complaints and user engagement. High complaint rates and low engagement can negatively impact your sender reputation, leading to emails being filtered to spam folders. Reddit users recommend regularly cleaning your email list to remove inactive subscribers and ensuring that your content is relevant and engaging to your audience.

February 2025 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid explains that several factors impact sender reputation, including your IP address's history, the content of your emails, authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and how recipients interact with your messages. They state that low spam complaint rates and high engagement can improve sender reputation and boost email deliverability.

June 2023 - Email on Acid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus explains that sender reputation is based on various factors such as IP reputation, domain reputation, email authentication, spam complaints, and engagement. They recommend monitoring these factors closely and making adjustments to email campaigns as needed to maintain a good sender reputation and optimal deliverability.

March 2022 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that sender reputation is a score assigned to your sending IP address and domain, which indicates the likelihood of your emails being delivered to the inbox. Factors influencing sender reputation include email authentication, spam complaints, bounce rates, and engagement metrics. Maintaining a good sender reputation is vital for ensuring high deliverability rates.

August 2022 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from ActiveCampaign suggests starting with sending to the most engaged segments of your audience, gradually increasing the volume, and monitoring engagement to ensure positive feedback to the ISPs. The length of the IP warming process depends on list size and sending frequency but typically takes several weeks.

December 2024 - ActiveCampaign
Marketer view

Email marketer from Validity explains IP warming is about carefully building a positive sending history by starting with smaller email volumes and gradually increasing based on recipient engagement signals, such as opens and clicks. Proper authentication, consistent sending patterns, and adherence to industry best practices are fundamental to a successful IP warming strategy.

July 2023 - Validity

What the experts say
6Expert opinions

Google's reputation system considers spam reports when assessing sender reputation, impacting domain reputation. New IPs can benefit from association with authenticated domains. Warming IPs involves understanding your list, engagement, and carefully planning the process. Consider factors like contiguous IP ranges, FCrDNS setup, and email authentication. Gradual introduction to filters allows for adaptation. Consistent practices, quality content, and list management are vital for maintaining a strong sender reputation.

Key opinions

  • Spam Impact: Messages marked as spam negatively impact associated features and the overall domain reputation.
  • IP Inheritance: New IPs can inherit a good reputation by associating with authenticated domains.
  • Warmup Prerequisites: Warming up IPs requires careful consideration of IP ranges, FCrDNS setup, and email authentication.
  • Gradual Introduction: A slow start to IP warmup, allowing filters to adapt, is recommended.
  • Reputation Building: Consistent sending practices, quality content, and list management are vital for sender reputation.

Key considerations

  • Contiguous Ranges: Consider if the new IP is within a contiguous range and properly set up.
  • Authentication: Ensure emails are properly authenticated with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
  • Filter Adaptation: Allow machine learning filters time to adapt to the new IP and its sending patterns.
  • List Understanding: Have a clear understanding of your mailing list and its engagement levels before warming up.
  • Consistent Practices: Maintain consistent sending practices to build and maintain a positive sender reputation.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that when warming up IPs the critical consideration are if it’s inside a contiguous range, is the FcrDNS set up correctly and is it sending authenticated email. If it’s in a different /24 (or even on a different provider) then I think it’s probably not a good idea to warm it up faster.

July 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares insight from a Google employee regarding Google's reputation service, explaining that a message marked as spam negatively impacts all associated features and domain reputation. Conversely, a new IP can inherit a good reputation from an authenticated domain.

February 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that IP warmup should be done with a clear understanding of the mailing list and its engagement. She states it should be carefully planned and executed to ensure a positive reputation with ISPs.

March 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares that warmup is about introducing yourself to the filters and giving them a chance to adapt. Suggesting that the filters are a lot better at managing warmup than they were a decade ago.

January 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that sender reputation is critical to email deliverability, and it is built over time through consistent sending practices and positive engagement. He states that focusing on quality content, email authentication, and list management can help build and maintain a good reputation.

March 2024 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains her mental model for warming up IPs is based on the machine learning filters understanding the pattern of IP/domain/spf/dkim, allowing the filters to learn this is a valid source of mail. She suggests a slow start, doubling after a week if things are good, with the 'learning' needing to happen over 3 or 4 days.

October 2024 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
3Technical articles

Google's reputation system identifies spammers and impacts deliverability. IP warming involves gradually increasing email volume from a new IP to build a positive reputation with ISPs. Best practices include maintaining consistent sending volume, authenticating emails, avoiding unsolicited emails, starting with engaged subscribers, and monitoring deliverability metrics.

Key findings

  • Google Reputation: Google uses sender reputation to differentiate spammers from legitimate senders, impacting deliverability.
  • IP Warming Definition: IP warming is a gradual process of increasing email volume from a new IP to establish trust with ISPs.
  • Engagement Focus: Start with sending to the most active and engaged subscribers during IP warming.
  • Ramp-Up Schedule: IP warming involves a structured ramp-up schedule that considers list size and engagement.

Key considerations

  • Consistent Volume: Maintain a consistent sending volume to build and maintain a positive sender reputation.
  • Authentication: Authenticate emails using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to verify sender identity.
  • Avoid Unsolicited Emails: Avoid sending unsolicited emails to prevent spam complaints and maintain a positive reputation.
  • Deliverability Metrics: Monitor deliverability metrics and adjust sending practices based on feedback from ISPs.
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost explains that IP warmup involves gradually increasing sending volume based on a ramp-up schedule that considers your list size and engagement. They state to start by sending only to your most active and engaged subscribers and slowly expand to less engaged users over time. SparkPost's ramp-up schedule offers a structured approach to ensure your IP gains a positive reputation with ISPs.

August 2021 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools Help explains that Google uses sender reputation to identify spammers. A good reputation results in higher deliverability, while a poor reputation leads to messages being marked as spam or blocked. Maintaining a consistent sending volume, authenticating emails (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and avoiding sending unsolicited emails are essential for building a positive reputation.

June 2023 - Google Postmaster Tools Help
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft Docs explains that IP warming involves gradually increasing the volume of email sent from a new IP address to establish a positive sending reputation with ISPs. It is recommended to start with a small volume of emails to engaged subscribers and gradually increase the volume over several weeks. Monitoring deliverability metrics and adjusting sending practices based on feedback from ISPs is crucial for a successful IP warming process.

September 2021 - Microsoft Docs