Is domain authentication required for all Mailchimp senders after Gmail and Yahoo changes?
Summary
What email marketers say9Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Gmass shares that even if Mailchimp doesn't enforce authentication, not authenticating your domain can negatively impact your deliverability. It helps build trust with email providers.
Email marketer from StackOverflow explains that domain authentication is essential for all Mailchimp senders to maintain deliverability. This has become standard practice.
Email marketer from EmailOnAcid shares that the Gmail and Yahoo update requires senders to authenticate their email. To do so, they must set up SPF or DKIM.
Email marketer from Mailjet shares that authentication is the bedrock to ensure you emails are delivered and meet guidelines set out by mailbox providers.
Email marketer from Email Geeks explains Mailchimp isn’t requiring all customers to meet the new bulk sender criteria, but they have flagged accounts they believe may fall within the definition of “bulk sender” and are encouraging those accounts to set up DMARC and aligned DKIM.
Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that sending 4,999 emails per day can be seen as bulk sending. He recommends aligning domains as it is a long-standing best practice and Google and Yahoo are starting to crack down on non-compliant senders.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Tips Blog shares that domain authentication has quickly become an industry standard. Though not enforced by all ESP's its highly recommended.
Email marketer from Litmus shares that authentication verifies that an email was sent from an authorized sender, which builds trust with ISPs and improves deliverability.
Email marketer from Reddit user shares that even if you're not a bulk sender, authenticating your domain is becoming increasingly important. Gmail and Yahoo's changes prioritize authenticated senders, and Mailchimp may start treating unauthenticated domains with more suspicion.
What the experts say8Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks shares to use authentication with a custom DKIM for the client in Mailchimp, followed by DMARC in the DNS for the brand and that this approach works similarly for most ESPs.
Expert from Email Geeks explains MailChimp is trying to get everyone to clean up their authentication and are historically inflexible with customers who don’t comply with their requirements. But they are trying to make it as little work as possible for their clients.
Expert from Email Geeks recommends signing with your own DKIM domain as a good practice.
Expert from Email Geeks explains there is no volume threshold that makes you not a bulk sender.
Expert from Wortothewise.com shares that implementing authentication standards, such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is critical for email deliverability and overall email security. Without domain authentication there is a high risk of email ending up in spam folders.
Expert from Spamresource.com explains that domain authentication (SPF, DKIM, and DMARC) is increasingly critical for email deliverability, especially with Gmail and Yahoo's updated requirements. While Mailchimp may not explicitly require it for all users, neglecting authentication will likely lead to deliverability issues and placement in spam folders.
Expert from Email Geeks explains that aligning is a best practice that's been in place for years, and some ESPs are now enforcing it.
Expert from Email Geeks explains that for new clients, starting at <tel:5000-10000|5000 - 10000> emails is fine without warming.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from Yahoo explains that ensure that you set up authentication (SPF, DKIM, and DMARC) for your sending domain. Messages that aren't authenticated might get delivered to spam or get rejected.
Documentation from Microsoft explains that email authentication is the foundation of email security. Setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is essential to prevent spoofing and phishing.
Documentation from Google explains that senders must authenticate their email using SPF or DKIM. Google performs checks for authentication; email that isn't authenticated might be marked as spam or rejected.
Documentation from SparkPost explains that following authentication best practices, including DKIM, SPF, and DMARC, is critical for maintaining deliverability and sender reputation. They strongly encourage all senders to authenticate.
Documentation from Mailchimp explains that while not strictly required for all users, Mailchimp strongly recommends domain authentication (DKIM and SPF) for all senders, especially after Gmail and Yahoo's new requirements. They may flag accounts that appear to be bulk senders and strongly encourage authentication.