What steps should I take when Gmail blocks my new IP address on SFMC?
Summary
What email marketers say11Marketer opinions
Marketer from Email Geeks advises to send to recently engaged (clickers) and suggests a starting volume of 5,000 per day for Gmail addresses, assuming a sizable amount.
Email marketer from Reddit user says to ensure proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), gradually increase sending volume to engaged subscribers, monitor bounce rates and spam complaints, and ensure content is relevant and not spammy.
Email marketer from Reddit user suggests prioritizing engagement with subscribers by sending relevant, personalized content that encourages opens and clicks. Actively prune inactive subscribers from your list.
Email marketer from EmailOctopus highlights the importance of maintaining a clean email list. They recommend regularly removing unengaged subscribers, suppressing hard bounces, and using double opt-in to ensure that only valid and interested users are added to your list.
Email marketer from DigitalMarketer stresses that clear permission is a key factor. Employ tactics like double opt-in and clear unsubscribe options to build trust and assure engagement and consent from all subscribers.
Email marketer from SendGrid suggests that proper sender authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for establishing trust with ISPs and improving deliverability. They recommend implementing these protocols correctly, monitoring their effectiveness, and regularly reviewing authentication settings.
Email marketer from Litmus suggests implementing a phased IP warming strategy, starting with low volumes to highly engaged segments. They recommend monitoring deliverability metrics closely, adjusting sending volume based on performance, and avoiding sending to inactive or unengaged subscribers during the initial phase.
Email marketer from Gmass advises crafting relevant and engaging email content that provides value to subscribers. They recommend personalizing messages, avoiding spam trigger words, and testing different subject lines to optimize open rates.
Email marketer from HubSpot recommends monitoring your domain reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools. They emphasize the importance of tracking spam rates, user feedback, and authentication status to identify and address potential deliverability issues.
Email marketer from StackOverflow emphasizes the importance of proper bounce handling. They recommend setting up a feedback loop with ISPs, processing bounce messages, and removing invalid or inactive email addresses from your list to improve sender reputation.
Email marketer from Mailjet shares that sender reputation is crucial for deliverability. It recommends consistently authenticating emails, maintaining clean lists, sending relevant content, and engaging with subscribers. They emphasize the importance of avoiding spam traps and monitoring sender scores.
What the experts say4Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks explains that better deliverability with an SAP domain compared to private domains is due to different domain reputations if all domains are configured correctly. If not configured the same, it is likely SPF isn't aligned and still using the SAP domain.
Expert from Email Geeks shares a checklist of steps to address a Gmail block: verifying SAP domain implementation (custom return-path matching from domain), ensuring sending with the SAP domain, confirming DKIM signatures are passing, setting up Google Postmaster Tools to monitor subdomain reputation, reviewing data and sending practices for cleanliness and proper segmentation.
Expert from Spamresource explains that a primary step involves ensuring that your sending infrastructure is properly configured with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. It's critical to monitor feedback loops and address any complaints promptly. Furthermore, they suggest a gradual ramp-up of sending volume to establish a positive reputation.
Expert from Word to the Wise shares that a key strategy is to minimize blocklisting by actively managing subscriber lists. This includes promptly removing invalid addresses and those who haven't engaged, and maintaining a clear and easy unsubscribe process. This aims to enhance overall sender reputation.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help outlines bulk sender guidelines for Gmail, including authenticating email with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC; ensuring consistent sending IP addresses; maintaining low spam rates; and monitoring sender reputation via Postmaster Tools. It emphasizes the importance of user engagement and providing easy unsubscribe options.
Documentation from Salesforce Help details the process of warming up a new IP address in SFMC. It involves gradually increasing sending volume to engaged subscribers, monitoring deliverability metrics, and adjusting the sending schedule based on feedback from ISPs. Key considerations include segmenting by engagement, avoiding sending to unengaged subscribers, and closely monitoring bounce rates and spam complaints.
Documentation from RFC explains the technical details of SPF (Sender Policy Framework) records. It details how SPF records work to authorize sending mail servers, preventing spoofing and improving email deliverability. Proper configuration and validation of SPF records are critical for email authentication.
Documentation from SparkPost explains common deliverability issues, including IP blacklisting and content filtering. They explain the importance of monitoring bounce codes and spam complaints, checking IP and domain reputation, and ensuring proper email authentication. It recommends using tools like MXToolbox and Google Postmaster Tools for diagnostics.
Documentation from Microsoft Docs provides information on how to interpret SMTP bounce codes to diagnose email delivery problems. It explains the different types of bounce codes (e.g., 5xx for permanent failures, 4xx for temporary failures) and their meanings, which can help identify the root cause of delivery issues.