What resources help explain IP addresses, sub-domains and domains reputation for sending?

Summary

A multitude of resources emphasize the importance of understanding and actively managing IP addresses, subdomains, and domain reputation to ensure successful email deliverability. Key strategies include gradually warming up new IPs, strategically using subdomains for different email types, consistently monitoring IP and domain health using provided tools, implementing email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), practicing good list hygiene to avoid spam traps, leveraging feedback loops to identify and remove problematic subscribers, and adhering to industry best practices. Sender reputation, influenced by metrics like complaint rates and engagement, significantly impacts inbox placement.

Key findings

  • IP Address Reputation: Your sending IP address reputation is a crucial factor influencing whether Gmail delivers your emails to the inbox or spam folder.
  • Domain Reputation as Credit Score: Domain reputation functions as a credit score, determining if mailbox providers trust your emails.
  • Subdomain Isolation Benefits: Subdomains can be used to isolate transactional emails, preventing deliverability issues from marketing emails affecting them.
  • IP Warming Process: IP warming involves gradually increasing email volume from a new IP to establish a positive sending reputation.
  • Authentication Protocols Importance: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are essential for authenticating your domain and improving deliverability by verifying sender identity.
  • Sender Reputation Metrics: Sender reputation is calculated based on spam complaints, bounce rates, and engagement metrics.
  • List Hygiene: Avoiding spam traps and implementing double opt-in processes requires regularly cleaning your email lists.
  • Feedback Loops: Feedback loops enable identifying and removing subscribers who mark emails as spam, improving sender reputation.

Key considerations

  • Implement Gradual IP Warming: Slowly increase email volume on new IPs to build a positive sending reputation.
  • Strategic Subdomain Use: Employ subdomains strategically to separate email types and protect transactional email reputation.
  • Ensure Proper Authentication: Correctly configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to authenticate your sending domain.
  • Maintain Clean Email Lists: Regularly clean email lists to remove inactive addresses and avoid spam traps.
  • Actively Monitor Reputation: Consistently monitor sending reputation using tools from mailbox providers and adjust strategies accordingly.
  • Adhere to Best Practices: Follow industry best practices to maintain a healthy sending reputation and ensure optimal deliverability.

What email marketers say
9Marketer opinions

Several resources highlight the importance of managing IP addresses, subdomains, and domains to maintain a healthy sending reputation for improved email deliverability. Strategies include warming up IPs gradually, using subdomains to isolate transactional email reputation, monitoring IP and domain reputation using available tools, implementing authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), avoiding spam traps, cleaning email lists, using double opt-in, and utilizing feedback loops.

Key opinions

  • Domain Reputation: Domain reputation acts as a credit score for email sending, influencing inbox placement.
  • Subdomain Isolation: Using subdomains for transactional emails can protect their reputation from marketing email deliverability issues.
  • IP Monitoring: Regularly monitor IP reputation and check for blacklisting using online tools and services.
  • IP Warming: Gradually increase email volume when using a new IP address to establish a positive reputation.
  • Dedicated IP Control: Dedicated IP addresses offer control over sending reputation but require careful management.
  • Authentication Protocols: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are essential for authenticating your domain and improving deliverability.
  • Reputation Monitoring Tools: Mailbox providers like Google offer tools to monitor sender reputation.
  • Spam Trap Avoidance: Cleaning email lists and using double opt-in processes help avoid spam traps.
  • Feedback Loops: Implement feedback loops to identify and remove subscribers who mark emails as spam.

Key considerations

  • Gradual IP Warming: Ramping up email volume slowly on a new IP is crucial to build a good reputation.
  • Subdomain Strategy: Consider using subdomains strategically to separate email types and protect transactional email reputation.
  • Authentication Implementation: Properly configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to authenticate your sending domain.
  • List Hygiene: Regularly clean your email lists to remove inactive or problematic addresses and avoid spam traps.
  • Monitoring and Adjustment: Consistently monitor your sending reputation and adjust your strategies based on performance and feedback.
Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps answers to monitor your IP reputation, check if your IP is blacklisted using various online tools and services.

June 2024 - GlockApps
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailVendorX Blog answers Regularly monitor your sender reputation using tools provided by mailbox providers like Google Postmaster Tools.

January 2025 - EmailVendorX Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus shares to Avoid spam traps, clean your email list regularly and use a double opt-in process.

June 2023 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares IP warming slowly. Don't send too many emails at once. Increase your volume gradually over several weeks.

February 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendPulse explains that using subdomains for transactional emails helps isolate reputation. If your marketing emails have deliverability issues, it won't affect your transactional emails.

March 2022 - SendPulse
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum explains using a dedicated IP address gives you control over your sending reputation but requires careful management.

January 2022 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet shares that domain reputation is essentially a credit score for email sending. It determines whether mailbox providers trust your emails enough to deliver them to the inbox.

March 2025 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Quora shares Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is crucial for authenticating your domain and improving deliverability.

September 2022 - Quora
Marketer view

Email marketer from ReturnPath shares to Implement feedback loops to identify and remove subscribers who mark your emails as spam.

March 2023 - ReturnPath

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

Resources emphasize understanding the technical aspects of email deliverability, particularly concerning sender reputation. Setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are crucial steps to improve domain reputation and verify sender identity. Sender reputation, calculated based on factors like spam complaints and engagement, significantly impacts inbox placement.

Key opinions

  • Email Deliverability Knowledge: Technical knowledge of email deliverability is important to have.
  • Authentication Protocols: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC enhance domain reputation and verify sender identity.
  • Sender Reputation Calculation: Sender reputation depends on metrics like spam complaints, bounce rates, and engagement.
  • Inbox Placement Impact: Positive sender reputation is critical for inbox placement.

Key considerations

  • Implement Authentication: Ensure proper setup of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.
  • Monitor Sender Reputation: Track metrics that contribute to sender reputation, such as complaint rates and engagement.
  • Improve Engagement: Focus on strategies to improve email engagement and reduce spam complaints.
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise, Laura Betterly, explains that sender reputation is calculated by mailbox providers based on factors like spam complaints, bounce rates, and engagement metrics. Maintaining a positive reputation is crucial for inbox placement.

February 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares notes from a class on the technical bits of email deliverability.

February 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource, John Levine, explains that setting up SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail), and DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) records helps to improve your domain's reputation and prove to email providers that you are who you say you are.

February 2024 - Spam Resource

What the documentation says
8Technical articles

Several resources point to the importance of IP address, domain, and subdomain reputation in email deliverability. Google emphasizes IP reputation for Gmail inbox placement. Microsoft highlights factors like IP, domain reputation, and complaint rates. SparkPost describes IP warming as crucial for establishing a positive reputation. Additionally, implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is essential for authenticating emails and specifying how receiving systems should handle failed authentication checks. M3AAWG's best practices and a deliverability resource directory are also recommended.

Key findings

  • IP Reputation Importance: IP address reputation directly impacts Gmail inbox placement.
  • Comprehensive Reputation Factors: Sender reputation encompasses IP reputation, domain reputation, accuracy of 'From:' address, and complaint rates.
  • IP Warming Necessity: Gradually increasing email volume from a new IP (IP warming) is key for a positive sending reputation.
  • Authentication Protocols Benefit: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are critical for authenticating email and ensuring deliverability.
  • Best Practices Resources: M3AAWG provides sender best practices.
  • Deliverability Resources: A dedicated directory contains links to resources related to deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Monitor IP Reputation: Actively monitor and manage IP address reputation to ensure emails reach the inbox.
  • Implement Authentication: Ensure correct implementation of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for domain authentication.
  • Warm Up New IPs: When introducing new IPs, follow a gradual IP warming process.
  • Follow Best Practices: Adhere to industry best practices, such as those outlined by M3AAWG, to maintain a healthy sending reputation.
  • Monitor Reputation Factors: Closely monitor factors that affect sender reputation, such as spam complaints and bounce rates.
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that your sending IP address's reputation is a key factor in whether Gmail delivers your messages to the inbox, or the spam folder.

November 2022 - Google Workspace Admin Help
Technical article

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

February 2024 - RFC
Technical article

Documentation from DMARC shares that DMARC policy allows domain owners to tell receiving mail systems what to do if an email fails SPF and DKIM checks.

July 2023 - DMARC
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost explains IP warming as the process of gradually increasing the volume of email sent from a new IP address. This process is important for establishing a positive sending reputation with mailbox providers.

April 2022 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft Learn shares that Factors that affect your sender reputation include: IP address reputation, Domain reputation, Accuracy of the 'From:' address, Complaint rate, etc.

August 2022 - Microsoft Learn
Technical article

Expert from Email Geeks shares a directory document with links related to deliverability.

April 2024 - Email Geeks
Technical article

Marketer from Email Geeks shares the M3AAWG's Sender Best Common Practices and other best practices.

July 2024 - Email Geeks
Technical article

Documentation from DKIM shares that DKIM signatures provide a way for email senders to cryptographically sign their messages, allowing recipients to verify the message's authenticity.

May 2022 - DKIM