How to improve Gmail deliverability for a gambling/fantasy league newsletter with a history of deliverability issues?

Summary

To improve Gmail deliverability for a gambling/fantasy league newsletter with a history of issues, a multifaceted approach is needed. This includes addressing domain and IP reputation, prioritizing engagement through segmentation and list hygiene, creating high-quality content, adhering to Gmail's bulk sender guidelines (including authentication), using Google Postmaster Tools for monitoring, and carefully managing content related to gambling. Consider warming up IPs, using a dedicated IP, maintaining consistent email volume, avoiding URL shorteners, and proactively reporting deliverability issues to Google.

Key findings

  • Reputation is Key: Both domain and IP reputation play a crucial role in Gmail deliverability.
  • Engagement Matters: Focusing on engaged subscribers and removing inactive ones significantly improves deliverability.
  • Authentication is Essential: Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is a fundamental requirement for building trust with Gmail.
  • Content Quality Counts: Avoiding spam triggers, using clean design, and providing valuable content reduce the likelihood of being flagged as spam.
  • Gambling Content is Sensitive: Content related to gambling requires extra caution due to regulatory concerns and increased scrutiny from Gmail.
  • List Hygiene is Critical: Regularly cleaning the email list is paramount to reducing bounce rates and improving sender reputation.
  • Monitoring is Crucial: Utilizing Google Postmaster Tools allows for continuous monitoring of sender reputation and deliverability metrics.

Key considerations

  • Segmentation Strategy: Implement a robust segmentation strategy to target specific audiences and improve engagement.
  • Content Compliance: Ensure all content adheres to gambling regulations and is transparent about the nature of the newsletter.
  • Dedicated IP Investment: Consider using a dedicated IP address to establish a unique sending reputation.
  • Warm-Up Process: Thoroughly warm up new IP addresses to avoid being immediately flagged as spam.
  • Domain Change (Last Resort): Changing sending domains should only be considered as a last resort to reset a severely damaged reputation.
  • Feedback Loops: Encourage recipients to move emails from the spam folder and provide feedback on content.
  • Volume Control: Maintain a consistent email volume to establish a predictable sending pattern.

What email marketers say
9Marketer opinions

To improve Gmail deliverability for a gambling/fantasy league newsletter with a history of issues, focus on engagement-based segmentation, clean and professional content, sender reputation management, list hygiene, using a dedicated IP, consistent sending volume, avoiding URL shorteners, monitoring bounce rates, and being extra cautious with gambling-related content.

Key opinions

  • Segmentation: Segmenting email lists by engagement and sending only to active subscribers reduces bounce rates and spam complaints.
  • Content: Avoiding spam triggers, using clean design, and providing valuable content lowers the chances of being flagged as spam.
  • Sender Reputation: Maintaining a good sender reputation through consistent practices and avoiding blacklists is essential.
  • Gambling Content: Be cautious with gambling-related content, focusing on value, transparency, and avoiding overly promotional language.
  • List Hygiene: Regularly cleaning the email list by removing inactive addresses reduces bounce rates and improves sender reputation.
  • Dedicated IP: A dedicated IP helps establish a specific sending reputation for the newsletter.
  • Consistent Volume: Maintaining consistent sending volume and frequency helps establish a predictable pattern with Gmail.
  • URL Shorteners: Avoid using URL shorteners, opting for full, transparent URLs.
  • Bounce Rates: Regularly monitoring and addressing high bounce rates is crucial for sender reputation.

Key considerations

  • Industry: The gambling/fantasy league industry faces stricter scrutiny from email providers.
  • Engagement: Prioritize engaged subscribers and remove inactive ones to improve deliverability.
  • Transparency: Be transparent about the newsletter's content and purpose to build trust with Gmail and subscribers.
  • Technical Setup: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication to verify email authenticity.
  • Monitoring: Continuously monitor sender reputation and deliverability metrics to identify and address potential issues promptly.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sender explains avoiding spam trigger words, using a clean and professional email design, and providing valuable content to reduce the likelihood of emails being flagged as spam.

February 2025 - Sender
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit recommends being extra cautious with gambling-related content, as Gmail may be more likely to filter it. Focusing on providing value, being transparent, and avoiding overly promotional language is key.

September 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit highlights the importance of regularly cleaning the email list to remove inactive or invalid addresses, as this reduces bounce rates and improves sender reputation with Gmail.

August 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum shares maintaining a consistent email volume and frequency over time helps establish a predictable sending pattern with Gmail. This helps in building a trusted sending reputation.

May 2021 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid explains using a dedicated IP address for sending emails from a fantasy league newsletter helps in establishing a sending reputation specific to the sender's email practices. This can improve email deliverability over time.

February 2022 - Email On Acid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum shares avoiding the use of URL shorteners in emails for the fantasy league newsletter as they are often associated with spam and can negatively impact Gmail deliverability. Using full, transparent URLs is better.

July 2023 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot explains regularly monitoring bounce rates and taking action to address high bounce rates (e.g., removing invalid email addresses) as high bounce rates negatively impact sender reputation and email deliverability with Gmail.

January 2024 - HubSpot
Marketer view

Email marketer from Campaign Monitor explains that maintaining a good sender reputation, which includes IP address reputation and domain reputation, is crucial for Gmail deliverability. This is achieved through consistent sending practices and avoiding blacklists.

November 2022 - Campaign Monitor
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet shares that segmenting email lists based on engagement and sending only to active subscribers improves deliverability by reducing bounce rates and spam complaints.

June 2023 - Mailjet

What the experts say
7Expert opinions

Improving Gmail deliverability for a gambling/fantasy league newsletter with past issues requires addressing domain and IP reputation, engagement, content, and list hygiene. Focus on sending to engaged users, consider changing sending domains as a last resort, warm up new IPs, encourage users to move mail from the bulk folder, comply with gambling regulations, and maintain a clean email list. Submitting a deliverability issue report to Google may also help.

Key opinions

  • Domain Reputation: Low engagement can lead to domain reputation issues, impacting deliverability.
  • Engagement Focus: Prioritizing engaged users or newest users can improve deliverability.
  • IP Warmup: Warming up new IP/domain combinations is crucial as Gmail is wary of unseen IPs.
  • Bulking Impact: Being placed in the bulk/spam folder negatively affects sender reputation.
  • Content Filtering: Gambling-related content is prone to triggering spam filters due to regulatory concerns.
  • List Hygiene: Maintaining a clean email list by removing inactive addresses is essential.

Key considerations

  • Domain Reset: Changing sending and bounce domains should be a last resort to reset Gmail reputation.
  • User Action: Encourage users to move emails from the bulk folder to the inbox.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with all gambling regulations and be transparent about content.
  • Proactive Reporting: Submitting a "help why are you bulking this mail" request to Google might provide insights.
  • Shared Domain Reputation: Shared domain reputation can impact deliverability.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests changing the sending and bounce domains as a last resort to reset the client’s Gmail reputation.

March 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that bulking impacts reputation. Recommends sending only to users who have opened mail since the new IP. Suggests using other communication channels to ask users to move mail from the bulk folder.

July 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise stresses that list hygiene is critical and involves regularly removing invalid or inactive email addresses and suggests implementing a confirmation opt-in process to ensure only engaged recipients are added to the mailing list. It also goes on to explain that engagement is more important than total number of emails.

October 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that content related to gambling often triggers spam filters due to regulatory concerns. The recommendation is to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and to be transparent about the nature of the content.

August 2024 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests warming up the IP/domain combination and mentions Google isn’t fond of mail from IPs it’s never seen before.

April 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests submitting a "help why are you bulking this mail" request to Google.

August 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suspects a domain reputation issue due to low engagement. Suggests focusing on engaged users or newest users for 3-4 weeks. Mentions shared domain reputation can be an issue.

May 2021 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
6Technical articles

Improving Gmail deliverability requires adherence to Gmail's bulk sender guidelines, including proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), avoidance of unwanted mail, easy unsubscription options, and utilization of Google Postmaster Tools for monitoring. Gradual IP warming and robust email authentication frameworks are crucial for establishing and maintaining a positive sender reputation and preventing spoofing.

Key findings

  • Bulk Sender Guidelines: Gmail has specific guidelines for bulk email senders that must be followed to ensure deliverability.
  • Postmaster Tools: Google Postmaster Tools provide valuable insights into sending reputation, spam rates, and other metrics.
  • IP Warming: Gradually warming up IP addresses builds a positive sending reputation with Gmail.
  • SPF Authentication: SPF records authorize sending email servers and prevent spoofing.
  • DKIM Signatures: DKIM signatures verify the integrity of emails and ensure they haven't been altered.
  • DMARC Policy: DMARC specifies how email receivers should handle emails that fail authentication checks, protecting against spoofing.

Key considerations

  • Authentication: Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is essential for establishing trust with Gmail.
  • Monitoring: Regularly monitor sending reputation and spam rates using Postmaster Tools.
  • Sender Reputation: Proactively manage sender reputation by adhering to best practices and avoiding practices that lead to blacklisting.
  • Email Volume: Gradually increase email volume during IP warming to establish a stable sending pattern.
  • Unwanted Mail: Minimize sending unwanted mail and provide easy unsubscription options to reduce spam complaints.
Technical article

Documentation from Gmail Help explains Gmail has guidelines for bulk email senders, including authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), avoiding sending unwanted mail, and making it easy for users to unsubscribe.

March 2023 - Gmail Help
Technical article

Documentation from Gmail Help explains how to use Google Postmaster Tools to monitor sending reputation, spam rate, and other metrics to diagnose and fix deliverability issues.

April 2022 - Gmail Help
Technical article

Documentation from DKIM explains implementing DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) signatures helps in verifying the integrity of emails. DKIM helps Gmail verify that the email was not altered during transit.

October 2023 - DKIM
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost explains warming up IPs gradually by sending increasing volumes of email over time, starting with engaged users, to build a positive sending reputation with ISPs like Gmail.

December 2022 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from DMARC explains Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC) helps in specifying how email receivers should handle emails that fail SPF and DKIM checks. Implementing DMARC helps in telling email providers what to do with unauthenticated emails and protects the domain from spoofing.

February 2025 - DMARC
Technical article

Documentation from RFC explains setting up Sender Policy Framework (SPF) records for the domain authorizes the sending email server to send emails on behalf of the domain. SPF records help prevent spoofing and improve email deliverability.

August 2024 - RFC