How to troubleshoot email deliverability issues to specific business domains?

Summary

Troubleshooting email deliverability issues to specific business domains involves a comprehensive approach encompassing technical diagnostics, reputation management, authentication protocols, content optimization, and list hygiene. Begin by examining the MX records and EHLO responses of the recipient domains. Consider the possibility of spamtrap domains and contact postmaster@proofpoint for assistance when those domains utilize Proofpoint. Check response statuses with security vendors. Employ seed lists to track email delivery paths and pinpoint blocking points. Monitor sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools, Cisco SenderBase and MXToolbox. Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for robust email authentication. Analyze bounce codes to understand delivery failures. Test email content for spam triggers using tools like Litmus and Email on Acid. Personalize email content and encourage whitelisting to improve engagement. Utilize deliverability testing tools like GlockApps. Maintain list hygiene through regular removal of inactive addresses. Monitor feedback loops to promptly address recipient complaints and utilize Junk Email Reporting (JER) programs from Microsoft for feedback.

Key findings

  • MX Records & EHLO: Check MX records and EHLO for initial diagnosis.
  • Spam Traps: Consider possibility of recipient domains being spam traps.
  • Vendor Specifics: Security vendors such as Proofpoint may cause deliverability issues; contact them directly.
  • Response Status: Check response status for clues about blocked messages.
  • IP Reputation: IP reputation significantly affects deliverability.
  • Authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are essential for authentication.
  • Sender Reputation Monitoring: Use Google Postmaster Tools, Cisco SenderBase & MXToolbox for monitoring reputation.
  • Bounce Code Analysis: Analyze bounce codes for delivery failure insights.
  • Content Testing: Test content using Litmus or Email on Acid to avoid spam triggers.
  • Personalization & Whitelisting: Personalization and whitelisting improve engagement and deliverability.
  • Deliverability Tools: Use GlockApps for deliverability testing.
  • List Hygiene: List hygiene improves engagement and deliverability.
  • Feedback Loops: Feedback loops help address recipient complaints.
  • Seed Lists: Use seed lists to identify where emails are being blocked.

Key considerations

  • Technical Expertise: Requires technical expertise for MX record analysis and EHLO interpretation.
  • Vendor Configuration: Understand security vendor configurations (e.g., Proofpoint).
  • Tool Investment: Requires investment in tools like Google Postmaster Tools, GlockApps, Litmus, Email on Acid and MXToolbox.
  • Continuous Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of reputation and feedback loops is necessary.
  • Proactive Testing: Proactive deliverability testing is crucial for identifying potential issues.
  • Authentication Protocols: Properly implement and maintain authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
  • List Maintenance: Regular list cleaning is essential for optimal deliverability.

What email marketers say
11Marketer opinions

Troubleshooting email deliverability issues to specific business domains involves checking response statuses, particularly with security vendors like Proofpoint, and verifying potential quarantines. Maintaining a good IP reputation is critical, necessitating monitoring and immediate action to rectify issues. Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential to ensure emails aren't flagged as spam. Regularly check sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools. Identifying and addressing blacklist status is crucial, using tools like MXToolbox. Analyzing bounce codes provides insights into delivery failures, while content testing using platforms like Litmus helps avoid spam triggers and coding issues. Personalizing email content and avoiding generic messages improves engagement, and asking recipients to whitelist the sender's address can further enhance deliverability. Employ deliverability testing tools like GlockApps to identify placement problems across ISPs. Finally, maintaining list hygiene by removing inactive or invalid addresses can improve engagement rates.

Key opinions

  • Response Status: Check response statuses, especially with security vendors, to identify potential quarantines.
  • IP Reputation: Maintaining a good IP reputation is critical for email deliverability.
  • Authentication: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential to avoid spam filters.
  • Sender Reputation: Regularly check sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools.
  • Blacklist Status: Identify and address blacklist status using tools like MXToolbox.
  • Bounce Codes: Analyze bounce codes to understand reasons for delivery failures.
  • Content Testing: Test email content to avoid spam triggers and coding issues.
  • Personalization: Personalize email content to improve engagement and prevent spam flagging.
  • Whitelisting: Encourage recipients to whitelist the sender's address.
  • Deliverability Testing Tools: Utilize deliverability testing tools to identify placement issues across ISPs.
  • List Hygiene: Maintain list hygiene by removing inactive or invalid email addresses.

Key considerations

  • Security Vendors: Be aware that security vendors like Proofpoint may quarantine emails, requiring direct checks.
  • IP Monitoring: Regularly monitor IP reputation and swiftly address any issues.
  • Authentication Protocols: Implement and maintain SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for enhanced security.
  • Tool Utilization: Use tools like Google Postmaster Tools and MXToolbox for comprehensive analysis.
  • Content Optimization: Optimize email content to avoid triggering spam filters.
  • Engagement Improvement: Personalize emails and maintain list hygiene to improve engagement metrics.
  • Proactive Testing: Proactively use deliverability testing tools to detect and resolve potential issues.
Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps shares using deliverability testing tools like GlockApps helps identify placement issues across different ISPs.

February 2023 - GlockApps
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that checking if your domain or IP is blacklisted is crucial when troubleshooting deliverability problems, and suggests using tools like MXToolbox.

June 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailOnAcid shares testing email content using tools like Litmus or Email on Acid helps identify spam trigger words or poor HTML coding that can impact deliverability.

May 2022 - EmailOnAcid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sendinblue shares that proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for improving deliverability and ensuring emails are not flagged as spam.

August 2023 - Sendinblue
Marketer view

Email marketer from Gmass explains personalizing emails and avoiding generic content can improve engagement and prevent emails from being marked as spam.

August 2022 - Gmass
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot explains checking your sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools is essential for identifying deliverability issues.

July 2022 - HubSpot
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares to check the response status, noting that Proofpoint may quarantine emails for review. Suggests contacting someone at the receiving end to check their quarantine.

February 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum shares asking recipients to add your sending address to their address book or whitelist it can improve deliverability.

January 2025 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus explains practicing regular list hygiene by removing inactive or invalid email addresses to improve engagement rates.

July 2024 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackOverflow explains analyzing bounce codes provides insights into why emails are not being delivered (e.g., mailbox full, spam rejection).

July 2024 - StackOverflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that IP reputation significantly impacts deliverability. A poor IP reputation can lead to emails being marked as spam or blocked.

July 2022 - Mailjet

What the experts say
7Expert opinions

Troubleshooting email deliverability issues to specific business domains involves several diagnostic steps. First, check the MX records of the problematic domains and telnet to port 25 to examine the EHLO response. Consider that the domains may be spamtrap domains. Contacting postmaster@proofpoint is recommended for domains using Proofpoint, as they can provide insights into deliverability issues. Utilizing seed lists to send test emails and track their delivery paths can pinpoint blocking or filtering points. Monitoring sender reputation and identifying dips is critical, as it directly impacts deliverability. Furthermore, consistently removing inactive and invalid email addresses improves engagement metrics and overall deliverability. Finally, establishing and monitoring feedback loops is essential for promptly addressing recipient complaints.

Key opinions

  • MX Record Check: Checking MX records and EHLO response can reveal deliverability issues.
  • Spamtrap Consideration: Domains may be spamtrap domains, causing deliverability problems.
  • Proofpoint Contact: Contacting Proofpoint's postmaster can provide insights for domains using their services.
  • Seed List Testing: Seed lists can identify where emails are being blocked or filtered.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Monitoring sender reputation is crucial for maintaining deliverability.
  • List Hygiene: Removing inactive and invalid addresses improves engagement and deliverability.
  • Feedback Loops: Monitoring feedback loops is essential for addressing recipient complaints.

Key considerations

  • Technical Diagnostics: Perform technical diagnostics like MX record checks and EHLO analysis.
  • Vendor Specific Issues: Be aware of specific security vendor configurations and contact them for assistance.
  • Testing Methods: Use seed lists to proactively test deliverability paths.
  • Proactive Monitoring: Continuously monitor sender reputation and feedback loops.
  • Data Management: Implement regular list cleaning practices for optimal performance.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests that the domains might be spamtrap domains.

December 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests checking the MX records for the domains experiencing deliverability issues. Further suggests to telnet to port 25 on the MXs and see what the EHLO is.

June 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise responds that setting up and monitoring feedback loops (FBLs) to identify and address recipient complaints promptly is essential.

November 2024 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks recommends contacting postmaster@proofpoint for assistance, mentioning the response might indicate complaints about the mail.

October 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise shares that consistently removing inactive and invalid addresses improves engagement metrics, benefiting overall deliverability.

January 2025 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from SpamResource explains using seed lists to send test emails and track their delivery can help identify where emails are being blocked or filtered.

July 2021 - SpamResource
Expert view

Expert from SpamResource explains that your sender reputation is key to deliverability. Monitor it to identify dips which may indicate problems.

October 2024 - SpamResource

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

Troubleshooting email deliverability issues to specific business domains involves utilizing various monitoring tools and authentication methods. Google Postmaster Tools allows monitoring domain reputation, spam rates, and other key metrics impacting deliverability to Gmail users. Implementing SPF records, as defined by RFC, specifies authorized mail servers for your domain. DMARC policy, detailed by DMARC.org, enables senders to indicate email protection via SPF and/or DKIM and instructs receivers on handling unauthenticated emails. Microsoft's Junk Email Reporting (JER) program provides feedback on emails marked as junk. Cisco's SenderBase offers insights into IP address and domain reputation as seen by IronPort appliances.

Key findings

  • Google Postmaster Tools: Monitor domain reputation, spam rate, and other metrics for Gmail users.
  • SPF Records: SPF records specify authorized mail servers for your domain.
  • DMARC Policy: DMARC indicates email protection status and instructs receivers on unauthenticated emails.
  • Junk Email Reporting: Microsoft's JER program provides feedback on emails marked as junk.
  • Cisco SenderBase: SenderBase offers insight into IP address and domain reputation.

Key considerations

  • Gmail Deliverability: Prioritize monitoring Google Postmaster Tools for Gmail-specific issues.
  • Authentication Standards: Implement and maintain SPF and DMARC records for enhanced authentication.
  • Feedback Analysis: Actively analyze feedback from Microsoft's JER program to address issues.
  • Reputation Tracking: Utilize Cisco's SenderBase to track overall IP and domain reputation.
  • Holistic Approach: Combine insights from multiple tools for a comprehensive understanding of deliverability.
Technical article

Documentation from RFC explains that SPF records can specify which mail servers are authorized to send email on behalf of your domain.

July 2021 - RFC
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft explains utilizing the Junk Email Reporting (JER) program provides feedback on messages marked as junk by users.

February 2024 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from DMARC.org explains how DMARC policy allows senders to indicate that their emails are protected by SPF and/or DKIM, and tells receivers what to do if neither of those authentication methods passes.

December 2022 - DMARC.org
Technical article

Documentation from Cisco explains using SenderBase provides insight into your IP address and domain reputation as seen by IronPort email security appliances.

December 2022 - Cisco
Technical article

Documentation from Google details how to use Postmaster Tools to monitor your domain's reputation, spam rate, and other metrics impacting deliverability to Gmail users.

July 2023 - Google