Why are emails to icloud.com and me.com being blocked after setting up DMARC, SPF, and DKIM?
Summary
What email marketers say10Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Mailjet suggests that blocks may occur due to a poor IP reputation, even with proper authentication. They recommend monitoring IP reputation using tools and ensuring the sending IP is not blacklisted.
Email marketer from GlockApps recommends using a dedicated IP address, as shared IPs can suffer from deliverability issues due to the actions of other senders. They advise warming up the dedicated IP gradually to establish a positive reputation.
Email marketer from SparkPost suggests closely monitoring bounce messages from iCloud. The bounce messages often contain specific reasons for the block, such as authentication failures or content issues.
Email marketer from Reddit highlights that even with a properly configured main domain, the reputation of the specific sending subdomain can impact deliverability to iCloud. They advise warming up the subdomain and monitoring its reputation.
Marketer from Email Geeks confirms the issue was due to needing to set up email authentication twice in Sendgrid, with the old subdomain briefly in use. Purging the old subdomain resolved the problem.
Email marketer from Postmark recommends setting up feedback loops (FBLs) with major ISPs like Apple. FBLs provide information on spam complaints, allowing senders to remove complaining users from their lists and improve deliverability.
Email marketer from Litmus emphasizes that content quality and relevance play a crucial role in deliverability. They suggest avoiding spam trigger words, ensuring a proper text-to-image ratio, and personalizing emails to increase engagement and avoid blocks.
Email marketer from an email marketing forum suggests verifying that reverse DNS (PTR record) is properly configured for the sending IP. Mismatched or missing PTR records can negatively impact deliverability.
Marketer from Email Geeks suggests that the issue might stem from a previous, incomplete setup or another Sendgrid account sending emails. Recommends contacting Sendgrid for assistance.
Email marketer from SendGrid advises double-checking the email authentication setup within SendGrid's platform. Even if DNS records are correct, the authentication process inside the platform might not be fully complete, causing deliverability issues.
What the experts say4Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks identifies that the subdomain `em8318.motiveunknown.com` does not resolve (NXDOMAIN), indicating a DNS problem.
Expert from Spam Resource highlights that drastic changes in sending volume can trigger filtering mechanisms, including those used by iCloud. They recommend maintaining a consistent sending volume and gradually increasing it when necessary.
Expert from Email Geeks explains that fixing the DNS issue will resolve the problem and won't cause lingering deliverability problems.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that Apple heavily relies on engagement data. If recipients aren't opening or interacting with your emails, iCloud might start blocking them, even if authentication is properly configured. They recommend focusing on list hygiene and sending relevant content.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from Apple Support explains that iCloud Mail employs strict security measures, including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, to protect users from spam and phishing. Incorrect or incomplete setup of these authentication methods can lead to blocked emails.
Documentation from Google encourages using Postmaster Tools, which is a dashboard that reveals key details about your email practices. While it won't directly troubleshoot Apple, it can help you discover general problems that might also affect deliverability to Apple's domains.
Documentation from DMARC.org explains that even with SPF and DKIM set up, DMARC can fail if the 'From:' domain in the email does not align with the SPF or DKIM results. This misalignment can cause Apple to reject emails.
Documentation from RFC Editor outlines SMTP error codes, including transient (4xx) and permanent (5xx) failures. These codes provided by iCloud can offer insights into why emails are blocked. A 550 error, for example, typically indicates a permanent rejection due to policy reasons.
Documentation from Microsoft explains that while not directly DMARC, ensuring Sender ID is correctly setup to match SPF records can help with deliverability and avoid blocks from domains using Microsoft filtering technology. Ensuring alignment here can reduce the risk of being treated as spoofed emails.