What are the top email deliverability best practices for Yahoo and shared DKIM domains?
Summary
What email marketers say12Marketer opinions
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that if almost all traffic signed with a specific DKIM domain is bad, and you find yourself in that crowd with deliverability problems, you should consider switching providers. Changing settings will not help.
Email marketer from SparkPost Blog advises senders using shared DKIM domains to maintain a high sender reputation. They share that Yahoo weighs sender reputation heavily, and a poor reputation due to other senders on the shared domain can negatively impact your deliverability, regardless of authentication.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum suggests using a dedicated subdomain for sending emails to Yahoo, especially when using shared DKIM domains. This isolates your sending reputation from other users on the shared domain and improves deliverability.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that it is ideal to double sign with DKIM, not just sign with the shared DKIM domain.
Email marketer from EmailOctopus Blog suggests to segment your email list and tailor content, regularly clean inactive subscribers, and monitor your sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools. This will help maintain good deliverability across various email providers, including Yahoo.
Email marketer from GMass Blog recommends segmenting email lists based on engagement, sending personalized content, and regularly cleaning inactive subscribers to maintain a high sender reputation. They state that this practice significantly improves deliverability to Yahoo and other major email providers.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that the aligned DKIM domain has far more weight than the non-aligned/shared one, assuming you sign with both. If the latter impacts deliverability, it means the vast majority of senders using that key are likely bad.
Email marketer from Reddit user EmailExpert explains that gradually increasing email volume to Yahoo helps establish a positive sending reputation. A sudden spike in volume can trigger spam filters, especially for new senders or those using shared DKIM domains.
Email marketer from MailerQ Blog shares that using a dedicated IP address, properly authenticating emails with SPF and DKIM, and sending engaging content are vital for Yahoo deliverability. They also advise monitoring sender reputation through Yahoo's Postmaster tools.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares 3 best practices which are to properly authenticate your emails, send only to opt-in traffic and manage engagement.
Email marketer from Email Deliverability Forum advises closely monitoring DMARC reports to identify any unauthorized use of your domain. They state this is especially important when using shared DKIM domains, as malicious actors might exploit the shared domain to send spam, impacting your Yahoo deliverability.
Email marketer from Reddit user DeliverabilityGuru stresses the importance of monitoring feedback loops (FBLs) when using shared DKIM domains. They advise that FBLs provide insights into spam complaints, allowing you to quickly identify and address any issues affecting your reputation with Yahoo.
What the experts say4Expert opinions
Expert from Spamresource.com explains that managing your sender reputation is critical. They state this involves monitoring your IP and domain reputation and actively working to address any issues that arise, especially important when using shared infrastructure like shared DKIM domains, where the actions of other senders can affect your deliverability.
Expert from Spamresource.com shares that proper bounce processing is a cornerstone of good deliverability. It involves accurately classifying and handling both hard and soft bounces to maintain a clean email list, which is essential when dealing with Yahoo's strict deliverability policies and shared DKIM environments.
Expert from Email Geeks expresses concerns about shared DKIM domains, particularly with Gmail. They explain that if someone using a shared domain engages in spammy behavior, Gmail is likely to bulk or block it.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that Return Path certification can improve deliverability. They share that by meeting Return Path's stringent requirements you increase your chances of inbox placement at major ISPs, including Yahoo. Return Path monitors DKIM
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from Yahoo Help emphasizes the importance of authenticating your email using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. They also highlight the need to send wanted mail, maintain consistent sending volumes, and monitor reputation.
Documentation from DMARC.org explains that implementing DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) helps protect your domain from email spoofing and phishing attacks. They state it is vital to align SPF and DKIM records and actively monitor DMARC reports to identify and address any deliverability issues with Yahoo.
Documentation from AuthSMTP Knowledge Base emphasizes using a unique DKIM selector for each sender, especially with shared domains. This helps receivers differentiate between different sending entities and prevents deliverability issues arising from overlapping DKIM signatures.
Documentation from Yahoo Postmaster shares that consistently sending emails that recipients find valuable and engaging helps build a positive sender reputation. They advise avoiding sending unsolicited bulk emails and respecting recipient preferences.
Documentation from RFC 4871 specifies that when using DKIM with shared domains, it's crucial to ensure that each sending entity uses its own unique DKIM selector. This prevents spoofing and helps receivers accurately identify the origin of the email.