How to maintain dedicated IP reputation with ISPs for email sending?
Summary
What email marketers say11Marketer opinions
Email marketer from ActiveCampaign Blog answers that regularly cleaning your email list by removing inactive or invalid addresses is important. Sending to engaged recipients improves engagement metrics and IP reputation. Regularly removing unengaged users is key.
Email marketer from Litmus explains to monitor your IP address on various blocklists and quickly take action if you're listed. Most blocklists will have information to help guide you through their removal process.
Email marketer from Email on Acid Blog shares to ensure your signup process uses confirmed opt-in to avoid spam traps. Spam traps are email addresses used to catch spammers and damage your IP reputation.
Email marketer from SendGrid Blog answers that implementing robust email authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is critical for establishing legitimacy. These protocols verify the sender's identity and prevent spoofing, enhancing IP reputation.
Email marketer from Reddit shares that positive engagement metrics such as opens, clicks, and low complaint rates are essential. Encourage recipients to engage with your emails and promptly address any negative feedback to maintain a healthy IP reputation.
Email marketer from Email Geeks says there are multiple reputation systems at play like IP, Domain, or something else and that all of these may work in concert. These are based on things such as historical volume, customer interactions, complaint rates, etc. The ISP will likely tell you when you don't have sufficient reputation for the volume you're trying to send.
Email marketer from Email Geeks warns not to promise client anything you don't feel is actually reasonable, given that you can't know how the reputations are calculated or how recipients will react.
Marketer from Email Geeks adds that for places where IP reputation still has considerable weight (Microsoft, T-Online), the overall quality of the IP space is important, especially for dedicated senders. Sending from dedicated IPs associated with a cheap VM provider won't do any favors, regardless of volume/quality.
Email marketer from HubSpot advises to segment your email lists based on user engagement and preferences, and send relevant content to each segment. Targeted emails generally have higher open and click-through rates, which can help maintain a positive sender reputation. Don't blast everyone on your list with the same message.
Email marketer from Customer.io recommends that you sign up for feedback loops to monitor complaints. Feedback loops are a great way to see how users are reporting email.
Email marketer from Mailjet Blog shares that maintaining a consistent sending volume and frequency is vital. Avoid sudden spikes or drops in email volume as this can negatively impact IP reputation. Regular and predictable sending patterns help build trust with ISPs.
What the experts say7Expert opinions
Expert from Word to the Wise answers that if you run affiliate traffic on your dedicated IP, ensure you closely monitor and manage those affiliates. Poor quality affiliate traffic can lead to high complaint rates and impact your IP reputation. Enforce strict compliance and quality control measures on your affiliate partners.
Expert from Email Geeks shares an example from Google where if you take a warm domain and put it on a warm IP, you still need to warm up that particular IP/domain combination.
Expert from Email Geeks shares that IP reputation isn't as important as it once was, with filters better at stratifying based on sender size. She suggests using shared IPs with own domains/subdomains unless sending at least a million emails a day. While a common recommendation is 50,000 emails/day on a dedicated IP, there's no current evidence to support it, and IP-based reputation is mostly dead.
Expert from Email Geeks shares to start slow with best mail and hope that user interactions tell the filters the mail is good.
Expert from Email Geeks says to look at history and trends to determine how ISPs will react.
Expert from Spam Resource explains that understanding the blocklist removal process is vital. If your IP ends up on a blocklist, you need to identify the reason, fix the underlying issue (spam complaints, compromised account, etc.), and then follow the specific removal instructions provided by that blocklist. Some require a manual removal request while others automatically remove you after a certain time period if the problems aren't persistent.
Expert from Email Geeks explains that you can't judge it. That’s why you do warmup, starting with a low volume of mail and increasing that volume over time.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools explains that regularly monitoring your IP reputation through tools like Google Postmaster Tools is crucial. This provides insights into deliverability issues, spam complaints, and authentication problems, allowing for prompt corrective actions.
Documentation from SparkPost Documentation explains that IP warmup is essential for new dedicated IPs. Start with a small volume of emails to engaged users and gradually increase the volume daily, monitoring deliverability and engagement metrics. This helps build a positive reputation with ISPs.
Documentation from RFC Documentation indicates that correct DNS configuration is essential, including valid SPF and rDNS records. An incorrect configuration can cause delivery problems.
Documentation from Microsoft Documentation explains adhering to sender best practices outlined by ISPs is a must. Follow guidelines regarding email formatting, content, and frequency to align with their expectations and maintain a positive reputation.