Why are my emails delayed when sent to Gmail and I use a Coherent Path template?

Summary

Gmail delivery delays when using a Coherent Path template are multifaceted, stemming from template content issues flagged by spam filters, problems within the Email Service Provider (ESP), low sender reputation, and various technical factors. These technical factors include routing problems within Google's infrastructure, greylisting, DNS issues, server load, SMTP errors, and incorrect email authentication. Sending speed, IP/domain warmup, and detailed header analysis are also crucial considerations for diagnosing and resolving these delays.

Key findings

  • Template Issues: The Coherent Path template may contain elements that trigger spam filters, causing delays. This could be due to code structure, high image sizes, or specific keywords.
  • ESP Problems: The ESP could be the source of delays, potentially due to internal processing or configuration issues before the message reaches Gmail.
  • Sender Reputation: Low sender reputation (due to spam complaints, blacklisting, or low engagement) can lead to delays or messages being sent to spam.
  • Technical Factors: DNS problems, Google's routing and filtering processes, server load, greylisting, and SMTP errors can all contribute to delivery delays.
  • Authentication: Incorrect or missing email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) can negatively impact deliverability and lead to delays.
  • Sending Volume: Sending emails too quickly, particularly to Gmail, can trigger delays. A gradual IP/domain warmup process is crucial for new senders.

Key considerations

  • Template Testing: Experiment with different templates, including simplified versions, to identify whether the Coherent Path template is the primary cause.
  • ESP Investigation: Work with the ESP to investigate and resolve any internal issues affecting delivery speed.
  • Reputation Management: Actively monitor sender reputation and address any negative impacts promptly.
  • Header Analysis: Examine email headers to pinpoint where delays are occurring (sender, intermediary server, or recipient) to identify specific bottlenecks.
  • DNS Configuration: Ensure proper DNS configuration, including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.
  • Sending Practices: Adjust sending speed, warm up new IPs/domains, and comply with email best practices to optimize deliverability.

What email marketers say
10Marketer opinions

Gmail delivery delays when using a Coherent Path template can stem from a variety of factors. Issues range from sender reputation problems (low reputation, being blacklisted) to content-related triggers (spam filter flags within the template, high image sizes). Technical factors like DNS issues, server load, greylisting, and incorrect email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) also play a role. Finally, sending speed and new IP/domain warmup are important considerations, especially for bulk senders.

Key opinions

  • Sender Reputation: A low sender reputation can cause Gmail to delay or filter emails. Check your IP and domain reputation and ensure you're not blacklisted.
  • Content Issues: Spam filters may flag specific content within the Coherent Path template. Try simplifying the template or A/B testing different versions to isolate problematic elements. High image sizes can also contribute to delays.
  • Authentication: Incorrect or missing SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records can impact deliverability and cause delays. Ensure proper email authentication.
  • Technical Factors: DNS issues, server load (sender or recipient), and greylisting can contribute to delays. Investigate server status, DNS configurations, and potential greylisting issues.
  • Sending Practices: Sending speed and IP/domain warmup can affect Gmail delivery. Throttling sending speed, especially to Gmail, and gradually warming up new IPs/domains are recommended.

Key considerations

  • Template Experimentation: Try sending a test email with a drastically simplified template, or even a plain text email, to see if the template itself is the cause of the delay.
  • Monitor Reputation: Regularly monitor your sender reputation using tools like MXToolbox and take corrective actions if problems are identified.
  • Review Sending Practices: Ensure your sending practices comply with email best practices and anti-spam regulations. Avoid sending to unengaged recipients.
  • Check DNS Configuration: Verify that your DNS records are correctly configured, including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Slow DNS lookups can cause delays.
  • Investigate Server Logs: Examine your mail server logs and Gmail's email headers to identify any specific error messages or bottlenecks causing the delay.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Gmass suggests throttling your sending speed, particularly when sending to Gmail. Gmail may delay messages from senders sending large volumes too quickly.

January 2024 - Gmass
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains that Gmail delivery issues are sometimes related to specific content triggers within your templates. Try A/B testing your email with different content to see if you can isolate what's causing the delay.

November 2022 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow mentions that high image sizes in your emails can cause delays. Optimizing images can help with this. Also, he mentions the importance of checking SPF records.

January 2023 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from SparkPost explains that if you are sending from a new IP address or domain, you must warm it up by gradually increasing the sending volume and engagement over time. Email providers like Gmail monitor your email statistics over time and use this data to make sure that you are a legitimate sender.

January 2025 - SparkPost
Marketer view

Email marketer from Neil Patel's Blog explains that Gmail delivery delays can be caused by a low sender reputation. Focus on improving sender reputation by authenticating your emails (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), maintaining a low bounce rate, and ensuring recipients are engaged with your content. Also, check your IP address against blacklists.

April 2024 - Neil Patel's Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus explains that delays can be related to slow DNS lookups, which can happen especially with new domains or DNS configurations. Ensure your DNS records are properly configured.

May 2023 - Litmus
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests trying a different template to confirm if the issue is related to the new template.

February 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailchimp explains that factors like spam filters, content, sender reputation, and authentication impact email delivery. Specifically regarding delays, they suggest reviewing your sending practices for compliance and best practices and checking your account dashboard for any warnings or issues.

September 2024 - Mailchimp
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid explains that the code within your template may contain elements that are being flagged by Gmail's spam filters, causing delays. Try simplifying the template or removing any suspicious code.

May 2021 - Email on Acid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sender.net explains that delivery delays can originate from server load on either the sender or recipient end, DNS issues, content triggers for spam filters, or greylisting. They recommend checking server status, reviewing email content, and warming up your IP address.

November 2023 - Sender.net

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

Gmail delivery delays when using a Coherent Path template could be due to Google disliking the template's content after inspecting it (failing after DATA), a delay occurring within the Email Service Provider (ESP) before Gmail receives the email, or sender reputation issues. Analyzing message headers is essential for pinpointing the source of the delay.

Key opinions

  • Template Content: Google might delay messages if it doesn't like the content of the Coherent Path template after analyzing it.
  • ESP Delay: The Email Service Provider (ESP) could be the source of the delay before the message reaches Gmail.
  • Sender Reputation: A poor sender reputation can cause Gmail to delay or filter emails. Monitor your reputation and take steps to improve it.
  • Header Analysis: Message headers provide timestamps indicating processing times at each server hop, helping to identify the source of the delay (sender, intermediary, or recipient).

Key considerations

  • Template Review: Carefully review the content of the Coherent Path template for potential issues that might trigger spam filters.
  • ESP Investigation: Investigate the ESP for any internal delays or configuration problems affecting delivery speed.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Continuously monitor sender reputation and address any negative impacts promptly.
  • Header Examination: Use the message header to pinpoint the exact location where the delay is occurring. This helps narrow down the source of the problem.
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource, Laura Atkins, explains that sender reputation significantly impacts delivery speed. If your domain or IP has a poor reputation due to past spam complaints or blacklisting, Gmail might delay your emails or send them to the spam folder. Monitor your reputation and take steps to improve it if necessary.

November 2022 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise suggests using the message header to diagnose delays. The 'Received:' lines in the header provide timestamps that show how long each server took to process the email. This allows pinpointing where the delay occurred (sender, intermediary, or recipient server).

July 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that Google may be delaying the message because it doesn't like the new template, failing after DATA. This means Google gets a view of the full message and delays it after seeing it. Alternatively, the ESP might be causing a 4-hour delay between the MTA getting the message and Google receiving it.

May 2021 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
3Technical articles

Gmail delivery delays can stem from several technical factors. Google identifies routing issues, filtering processes, and transient server problems as potential causes. Greylisting, a technique where unfamiliar senders are temporarily rejected, can also introduce delays. Tools like MXToolbox can help identify SMTP errors or other server configuration problems that might be causing delivery issues.

Key findings

  • Google Infrastructure: Gmail delays can be due to routing issues, filtering, or temporary server problems within Google's infrastructure.
  • Greylisting: Greylisting, where emails from unknown senders are temporarily rejected, can cause delays.
  • SMTP Errors: SMTP errors or other server configuration problems can contribute to email delivery delays.

Key considerations

  • Google Status Dashboard: Check the Google Workspace Status Dashboard for any reported incidents that might be affecting Gmail delivery.
  • Header Analysis: Investigate email headers to trace the path of the email and identify bottlenecks.
  • Server Retries: Understand that legitimate servers will retry sending emails after greylisting delays.
  • MXToolbox Use: Use MXToolbox to check for SMTP errors and server configuration problems that might be causing delays.
Technical article

Documentation from RFC-Editor explains that greylisting is a method of temporarily rejecting an email from an unknown sender. A legitimate server will, according to specification, try again after a delay. A spammer will, usually, give up after the first try, since they will often be sending out many emails and cannot afford to wait. This can cause delays.

April 2021 - RFC-Editor
Technical article

Documentation from MXToolbox explains that using their tools, one can check for SMTP errors or other issues that might indicate problems with the mail server software or configurations. These errors can result in delivery delays.

January 2023 - MXToolbox
Technical article

Documentation from Google explains that Gmail delays can be caused by routing issues, filtering, or temporary server problems. They recommend checking the Google Workspace Status Dashboard for reported incidents. Also, they suggest investigating email headers to trace the path of the email and identify bottlenecks.

December 2023 - Google