How long does it take to recover a bad Gmail sender reputation and what steps should I take?
Summary
What email marketers say12Marketer opinions
Marketer from Email Geeks shares it can take a couple of days to months to get back to normal. All you can do is get your practices back to normal and show Gmail that the issue was not the norm.
Email marketer from Reddit shares that if you've been blacklisted, identify the blacklist(s) and request removal. Address the issues that led to being blacklisted in the first place to prevent recurrence.
Email marketer from Mailjet advises gradually increasing sending volume to build a positive reputation and avoid spam filters. Start with your most engaged users and increase slowly.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains the usual approach is to have the reputation reset (pause sending 2-4 weeks) and re-ramp with the most engaged first.
Email marketer from GMass stresses the importance of avoiding spam traps (email addresses created to identify spammers) by practicing diligent list hygiene and permission-based marketing.
Marketer from Email Geeks says it usually takes 4-6 weeks of contacting their postmaster and being very careful about volume and who you’re emailing to before your rep goes back to normal.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains to reach out to Gmail’s postmaster consistently, provide them with new data every week or so, reduce your sending volume, target only your most engaged Gmail recipients and slowly build your volume up over time.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum suggests that consistent sending volume over time can help establish a positive reputation with Gmail. Avoid sudden spikes or drops in volume.
Email marketer from HubSpot recommends using a dedicated IP address for sending emails, especially if you send large volumes, as it allows you to build your own reputation independently.
Email marketer from SendPulse says that consistently cleaning your email list by removing inactive or invalid addresses reduces bounce rates and improves sender reputation. Also implement a double opt-in process to ensure recipients want to receive your emails.
Email marketer from Neil Patel explains that focusing on creating valuable and engaging content that recipients want to receive helps improve open rates and reduce spam complaints, thus boosting sender reputation.
Email marketer from Litmus suggests testing emails with different email clients, to ensure consistent formatting, as spam filters can be triggered by emails that display poorly.
What the experts say2Expert opinions
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that fixing a low Gmail reputation starts with identifying the cause (spam complaints, low engagement, etc.), cleaning your list, and improving your sending practices. Consistent, permission-based sending is key.
Expert from Spam Resource explains that if an IP address has a poor reputation, it can take weeks or months to rebuild it, depending on the severity of the issues and the steps taken to correct them. Consistent monitoring is essential.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from RFC states that correctly configuring SPF records to specify which mail servers are authorized to send emails on your domain's behalf can prevent spoofing and improve deliverability.
Documentation from SparkPost notes that sender reputation is a crucial factor in deliverability, and it's built over time based on sending behavior. Monitoring your reputation and addressing issues promptly is essential.
Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains you should ensure mail is authenticated using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Also, avoid sending unwanted mail, and follow Gmail's bulk sender guidelines.
Documentation from Microsoft Learn advises monitoring bounce rates and spam complaint rates in Google Postmaster Tools to identify and address any issues affecting sender reputation.