What are the best resources for learning about email deliverability basics?

Summary

Learning email deliverability basics encompasses technical configurations like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication, alongside strategic practices focused on sender reputation and subscriber engagement. Key resources include industry guides, ESP documentation, and expert insights. Essential strategies involve maintaining list hygiene through regular cleaning, segmenting audiences for tailored content, gradually warming new IP addresses, and vigilantly monitoring sender reputation metrics. Avoiding spam triggers, implementing double opt-in, and continuously A/B testing are vital for sustained deliverability success. Monitoring deliverability through seed lists and understanding the complexities of sender reputation with ISPs is key to long term success.

Key findings

  • Authentication Protocols: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are fundamental for verifying email origin and protecting against spoofing.
  • List Management: Consistent list cleaning, segmentation, and double opt-in processes improve engagement and sender reputation.
  • Sender Reputation: Sender reputation is assessed through various factors by ISPs. Regular monitoring is essential.
  • Engagement Metrics: Open rates, click-through rates, and minimal spam complaints are critical indicators of deliverability.
  • IP Warming: Gradually increasing sending volume from a new IP helps build a positive reputation.
  • Seed Lists: Seed lists are used to monitor inbox placement and identify deliverability issues.

Key considerations

  • Technical Implementation: Properly configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC based on technical specifications.
  • Content Optimization: Avoid spam trigger words and optimize content through A/B testing to enhance engagement.
  • ESP Selection: Select a reputable ESP with robust deliverability infrastructure and policies.
  • Monitoring and Adaptation: Continuously monitor deliverability metrics and adapt strategies based on feedback and performance.
  • Subscriber Experience: Prioritize a positive subscriber experience by offering clear unsubscribe options and delivering relevant content.

What email marketers say
13Marketer opinions

Learning email deliverability basics involves understanding technical aspects like email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), as well as strategic practices. Key resources include guides from ESPs like SendGrid and Mailjet, along with industry experts like those at Email on Acid, Litmus, and Campaign Monitor. Core strategies include list hygiene, segmentation, IP warming, engagement monitoring, and avoiding spam triggers. The focus is on building a positive sender reputation and ensuring subscribers genuinely want to receive your emails.

Key opinions

  • Authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are critical for verifying email authenticity and preventing spoofing.
  • List Hygiene: Regularly cleaning your email list by removing inactive subscribers and bounces improves sender reputation.
  • Segmentation: Segmenting lists allows for more targeted content, improving engagement and deliverability.
  • Sender Reputation: Monitoring sender reputation through tools like Google Postmaster Tools is essential.
  • Engagement: Factors like open rates, click-through rates, and low spam complaints are key to positive deliverability.
  • Resources: Deliverability Inferno and whitepapers by Trendline provide a good foundation.

Key considerations

  • IP Warming: Gradually increase sending volume with a new IP address to establish a positive reputation.
  • Spam Triggers: Avoid using spam trigger words in your emails.
  • Double Opt-in: Implement double opt-in to ensure subscribers want to receive your emails.
  • A/B Testing: Use A/B testing to optimize email elements and improve engagement.
  • ESP: Choose a reputable Email Service Provider (ESP) with strong deliverability practices.
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests grabbing copies of _Deliverability Inferno_ by <@U6A8DAAP6>, as it covers the basics well and gives the bigger picture of how content and engagement matter, not just the technical stuff.

February 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains that monitoring sender reputation is important and using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and Sender Score can help see sender reputation.

October 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Gmass shares that to improve deliverability, especially with a new IP, gradually warm up your IP address by slowly increasing sending volume over time to build a positive reputation.

January 2025 - Gmass
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus suggest using A/B testing different elements of your email such as subject lines and content. To find what resonates most with your audience to improve engagement and avoid spam filters.

December 2021 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot explains that using double opt-in ensures that subscribers genuinely want to receive emails from you, reducing the chances of spam complaints and improving deliverability.

December 2024 - HubSpot
Marketer view

Email marketer from Campaign Monitor explains that regularly cleaning your email list by removing inactive subscribers and hard bounces is essential for maintaining a good sender reputation and improving deliverability.

July 2023 - Campaign Monitor
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sender shares that factors like sender reputation, email authentication, engagement, bounce rates, and spam complaints significantly impact email deliverability.

March 2022 - Sender
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares whitepapers on deliverability: <http://info.trendlineinteractive.com/b2c-deliverability-guide> <http://info.trendlineinteractive.com/b2b-deliverability-guide>

November 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests checking out a guide written by <@U2UGZ5V33> and 101s written by dotdigital, trendline, and sendgrid. They also recommend Deliverability Inferno. Also recommends Kate Barrett's e-telligence podcast, especially the deliverability masterclass and episodes on understanding subscribers and data.

September 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that a good starting point is understanding the basics of email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), maintaining a clean email list, and monitoring sender reputation.

January 2023 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid shares a deliverability checklist including authenticating emails, segmenting lists, cleaning email lists and avoiding spam trigger words.

July 2022 - Email on Acid
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid shares that segmenting your email list based on engagement and demographics can help you send more relevant content, improving open rates and overall deliverability.

July 2022 - SendGrid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum suggests avoiding spam trigger words, using a reputable email service provider (ESP), and ensuring a clear unsubscribe process to avoid spam filters and improve deliverability.

June 2021 - Email Marketing Forum

What the experts say
2Expert opinions

Understanding email deliverability involves monitoring inbox placement using seed lists and recognizing that sender reputation is a complex assessment by ISPs based on various data points, not just a single score.

Key opinions

  • Seed Lists: Seed lists are used to monitor email deliverability by tracking inbox placement.
  • Sender Reputation: Sender reputation is a multi-faceted assessment by ISPs based on various data points regarding email sending practices.

Key considerations

  • Monitoring: Regularly monitor seed list performance to identify deliverability issues.
  • Holistic Approach: Focus on improving various aspects of your email sending practices to build a strong sender reputation.
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that your sender reputation is not one single score, but a collection of data points that ISPs use to judge the quality and trustworthiness of your email sending practices.

December 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that a seed list is a list of email addresses used to monitor email deliverability. These addresses are placed on various email lists and the resulting inbox placement is tracked to assess deliverability performance.

July 2021 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Improving email deliverability requires implementing email authentication protocols such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. These protocols help verify the sender's identity and protect against email spoofing and phishing. Additionally, monitoring domain reputation via tools like Google Postmaster Tools and avoiding unsolicited email are essential.

Key findings

  • SPF: Sender Policy Framework (SPF) authorizes sending mail servers to send email on behalf of your domain.
  • DKIM: DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) signs emails, verifying their authenticity and integrity.
  • DMARC: Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC) protects against email spoofing and phishing attacks.
  • Domain Reputation: Monitoring domain reputation via Google Postmaster Tools provides insights into deliverability issues.

Key considerations

  • Implementation: Properly implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC according to their technical specifications.
  • Unsolicited Email: Avoid sending unsolicited email to maintain a good sender reputation.
Technical article

Documentation from RFC explains the technical specifications of Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and how to create SPF records to authorize sending mail servers.

October 2024 - RFC
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that you should set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records. Also, avoid sending unsolicited email, and monitor your domain's reputation through Google Postmaster Tools.

November 2023 - Google Workspace Admin Help
Technical article

Documentation from DMARC.org explains how to implement DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) to protect your domain from email spoofing and phishing attacks.

June 2021 - DMARC.org
Technical article

Documentation from DKIM explains the technical specifications of DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) and how to implement it to sign your emails and verify their authenticity.

October 2021 - DKIM