How to interpret flagged identifiers with no spam rate in Gmail Compliance Dashboard?

Summary

Interpreting flagged identifiers without a spam rate in Gmail Compliance Dashboard involves a multifaceted approach. The absence of a spam rate doesn't necessarily indicate the absence of deliverability issues. The Gmail Compliance Dashboard helps in understanding deliverability issues, including spam rates and authentication status, while Google Postmaster Tools' Feedback Loop (FBL) helps identify campaigns causing spam complaints, although there are suggestions V2 is not working as expected. It's essential to analyze overall domain and sender reputation, which is influenced by authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), list hygiene, and engagement. Even with proper authentication, low engagement can impact deliverability. Implement DMARC policies to prevent spoofing. Ensure proper configuration of SPF and DKIM records. Consider segmenting email lists and using reputable email marketing services. Finally, remember to analyze email traffic, considering that the complaint origin may not be directly linked to flagged identifiers.

Key findings

  • No Spam Rate, Still Issues: Absence of spam rate for flagged identifiers doesn't rule out deliverability issues.
  • Tool Importance: Google Compliance Dashboard and Postmaster Tools are valuable for identifying deliverability issues.
  • Multi-Factor Impact: Deliverability is influenced by authentication, list hygiene, engagement, and sender reputation.
  • Identifier Issues: Complaints may come from emails outside the flagged identifiers.
  • V2 Functionality: Spam rates in V2 GPT may not be fully functional.

Key considerations

  • Authentication: Implement and monitor SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for proper email authentication.
  • List Hygiene: Regularly clean email lists, removing unengaged subscribers.
  • Engagement: Monitor and improve email engagement rates (open rates, click-through rates).
  • Reputation: Maintain a positive sender reputation by addressing complaints and improving engagement.
  • Segmentation: Segment email lists for more targeted and relevant messaging.
  • Service Provider: Consider using reputable email marketing services for better deliverability.
  • Traffic Source: Analyze email traffic to determine where complaints originate.
  • Data Interpretation: Remember identifiers in the Gmail Compliance Dashboard might not always show a spam percentage and requires analysis

What email marketers say
14Marketer opinions

The absence of a spam rate for flagged identifiers in the Gmail Compliance Dashboard doesn't necessarily mean there aren't deliverability issues. Several factors contribute to this scenario. Older dashboards used to display identifier-specific rates, but recent updates may have changed this. The complaints might originate from emails not associated with those flagged identifiers, necessitating a broader investigation of email traffic. Even if the spam rate is low, engagement metrics, sender reputation, email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), list segmentation, and the use of a reputable email marketing service all play crucial roles in ensuring emails reach the inbox. Monitoring engagement metrics, and ensuring email authentication, proper list segmentation, is important.

Key opinions

  • Incomplete Metrics: The absence of a spam rate for flagged identifiers does not guarantee the absence of deliverability problems.
  • Complaint Origin: Complaints may be coming from email traffic not properly identified by flagged identifiers.
  • Version Differences: Spam rate data in the Gmail Compliance Dashboard v2 might not be functioning as expected.
  • Engagement Impact: Low engagement metrics (open rates, click-through rates) can negatively impact sender reputation and deliverability, even with a low spam rate.
  • Identifier significance: If you see any identifier, focus on it because it means this identifier has complaint issues.

Key considerations

  • Authentication: Ensure proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is implemented to verify your emails are legitimate.
  • List Hygiene: Maintain a clean email list by removing unengaged subscribers and segmenting your audience to ensure relevance.
  • Sender Reputation: Monitor and manage your sender reputation by analyzing spam complaints and overall engagement.
  • Traffic Analysis: Investigate email traffic that is not being properly identified by the flagged identifiers.
  • Service Provider: Consider using a reputable email marketing service provider to benefit from their established relationships with ISPs and best practices for email delivery.
  • Dashboard Version: Be aware that the reliability and functionality of metrics in the Gmail Compliance Dashboard v2 may differ from previous versions.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus shares that engagement metrics like open rates and click-through rates are important for deliverability. Even with proper authentication, low engagement can negatively impact your sender reputation. Focus on creating relevant and engaging content to improve engagement metrics and overall deliverability.

November 2024 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Neil Patel shares that improving email deliverability involves several steps, including authenticating your email (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), segmenting your email list, and monitoring your sender reputation. Regularly cleaning your email list and removing unengaged subscribers can also improve your deliverability rates.

March 2023 - Neil Patel
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that if you see any identifier, focus on it because it means this identifier has complaint issues. Mentions since V2 migration they haven't seen any FBL Rate.

September 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow explains that if the Feedback Loop Spam Rate is 0.0% but the main "Spam" section shows complaint rates greater than 0%, it may suggest that complaints are coming from email that does not fall into the flagged identifiers. This means you should investigate email traffic that isn't being properly identified.

May 2024 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks clarifies that they were talking about the feedback loop V2 page and that no one in this group has reported seeing the spam rate on this page.

May 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet shares that analyzing spam complaints is essential for maintaining a good sender reputation. A sudden increase in complaints, even without a high spam rate, can indicate problems with list hygiene or content relevance. Further investigation is needed to pinpoint the cause.

January 2025 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that identifiers used to show in the old dashboard and asks if the identifier ID is shown in the data table when clicked.

March 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from GMass explains that DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) policies provide instructions to email receivers on how to handle emails that fail SPF and DKIM checks. Implementing a DMARC policy helps protect your domain from email spoofing and phishing attacks, as well as improves your email deliverability. DMARC reports provide valuable insights into your email authentication status.

January 2023 - GMass
Marketer view

Email marketer from Val Geisler shares that it is important to identify the different email lists in your organisation. As segmentation plays a vital role in understanding which email identifiers are performing well and which ones may be causing issues when there is a high spam score.

July 2022 - Val Geisler
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that the absence of a spam rate for flagged identifiers might mean those identifiers aren't directly causing spam complaints, but it doesn't rule out deliverability issues. Check your overall domain reputation and engagement metrics. It is also possible other emails are being flagged.

June 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sender.net explains that a low spam score does not always mean deliverability is perfect. Other factors like engagement and inbox placement play a significant role. Even if identifiers show no spam rate in the Compliance Dashboard, emails could still be landing in the spam folder due to low engagement.

March 2021 - Sender.net
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendPulse shares that proper email authentication is essential for ensuring your emails are delivered. Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records helps verify that your emails are legitimate and reduces the likelihood of them being marked as spam. Correct authentication can also improve your sender reputation.

October 2022 - SendPulse
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks states that the spam rates in v2 GPT just don't work (yet?).

September 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailToolTester shares that using a reputable email marketing service can improve deliverability. These services have established relationships with ISPs and use best practices for email delivery. They also handle authentication and sender reputation management, which can help ensure your emails reach the inbox.

May 2021 - EmailToolTester

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

When flagged identifiers in the Gmail Compliance Dashboard lack a spam rate, it necessitates considering alternative metrics and a comprehensive view of email deliverability factors. Experts emphasize the importance of using Google Postmaster Tools to analyze trends and correlations, as well as focusing on overall sender reputation. Evaluating aspects like email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), list hygiene, and audience engagement levels is crucial to understanding and addressing deliverability issues.

Key opinions

  • No Identifier Spam %: Identifiers in the Gmail Compliance Dashboard might not always show a spam percentage.
  • Holistic Analysis: A holistic view of email performance, using tools like Google Postmaster Tools, is necessary when specific metrics are unclear.
  • Sender Reputation Importance: Sender reputation is a key factor when evaluating deliverability issues, especially when flagged identifiers lack a spam rate.

Key considerations

  • Tool Utilization: Use Google Postmaster Tools to analyze trends and correlations for deliverability insights.
  • Authentication Focus: Review and ensure correct email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is implemented.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Continuously monitor and manage sender reputation by tracking email complaints and engagement metrics.
  • List Maintenance: Practice proper list hygiene by removing unengaged users and segmenting audiences.
  • Engagement Assessment: Assess audience engagement by analyzing open rates, click-through rates, and other engagement metrics.
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource shares that sender reputation is key to ensuring your emails reach your intended recipients. If flagged identifiers show no spam rate, consider other factors impacting your reputation, such as authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), list hygiene, and engagement levels. A holistic view is essential for pinpointing deliverability issues.

May 2023 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares that identifiers in the Gmail Compliance Dashboard never have a spam percentage.

January 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise emphasizes the importance of Google Postmaster Tools for understanding deliverability issues. He explains that analyzing the data provided, even when some metrics like spam rates for identifiers are missing or unclear, is vital for troubleshooting and improving email performance. Focus on trends and correlations across different metrics.

November 2024 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

The Gmail Compliance Dashboard and Postmaster Tools are valuable resources for understanding and addressing email delivery issues. The Compliance Dashboard allows you to monitor metrics such as spam rates and authentication status. Postmaster Tools' Feedback Loop (FBL) helps identify campaigns generating spam complaints by associating identifiers with specific campaigns. Maintaining a positive sender reputation, influenced by spam complaints, email authentication, and engagement rates, is essential. Properly configured SPF records authorize mail servers, while DKIM uses digital signatures to verify email senders, both enhancing sender reputation and preventing spoofing.

Key findings

  • Dashboard Utility: The Compliance Dashboard helps understand delivery issues via metrics like spam rates and authentication status.
  • FBL Identification: Postmaster Tools' FBL identifies spam-causing campaigns by associating identifiers with complaints.
  • Reputation Influence: Sender reputation is crucial for deliverability and is affected by spam complaints, authentication, and engagement.
  • SPF Authentication: SPF records specify authorized mail servers, preventing spoofing and improving sender reputation.
  • DKIM Verification: DKIM uses digital signatures to verify email senders, preventing spoofing and enhancing reputation.

Key considerations

  • Data Interpretation: Carefully analyze Compliance Dashboard metrics to identify and address deliverability problems.
  • FBL Setup: Ensure correct setup of FBL in Postmaster Tools to associate identifiers with specific campaigns.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Monitor sender reputation to identify potential issues affecting email delivery.
  • SPF Configuration: Properly configure SPF records to authorize mail servers and prevent spoofing.
  • DKIM Implementation: Implement DKIM with properly generated and configured records to verify email senders.
Technical article

Documentation from Google explains that the Feedback Loop (FBL) in Postmaster Tools helps identify campaigns causing spam complaints. It's crucial to set up FBL correctly to associate identifiers with specific campaigns. High complaint rates for specific identifiers can indicate issues with content or targeting.

May 2024 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost states that maintaining a positive sender reputation is crucial for deliverability. Sender reputation is influenced by factors like spam complaints, email authentication, and engagement rates. Monitoring these metrics helps identify and address potential issues affecting email delivery.

August 2024 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from DKIM shares that DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) is an email authentication method that uses digital signatures to verify the sender of an email. Implementing DKIM helps prevent email spoofing and phishing attacks, as well as improves your sender reputation. DKIM records must be properly generated and configured.

April 2022 - DKIM
Technical article

Documentation from RFC explains that SPF records are used to specify which mail servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain. Proper configuration of SPF records helps prevent spammers from forging your email address and improves your sender reputation. An SPF record must be correctly formatted to be effective.

October 2023 - RFC
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Updates explains that the Compliance dashboard helps you understand email delivery issues. Specifically, it helps you check if users are marking your email as spam, spam rates, and authentication status. Understanding these metrics can help identify and address deliverability problems, but interpreting the data requires careful analysis.

September 2022 - Google Workspace Updates