Why are my emails going to spam after migrating to a new domain and ESP, and what steps can I take to improve inbox placement?
Summary
What email marketers say12Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that inbox testing isn't always a monolithic domain wide decision and has a ton of variance, its cool directional data, but dont sweat it too much.
Email marketer from Reddit shares that, when moving to a new ESP, it's essential to warm up your IP address gradually. Start with low volumes and slowly increase over time, monitoring deliverability rates closely. This helps build a positive reputation with ISPs.
Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that because the problem remains after changing to a new domain and platform, the issue likely lies within the content.
Email marketer from Sendinblue shares that maintaining good list hygiene is vital for inbox placement. Remove inactive or unengaged subscribers from your list to improve engagement metrics and sender reputation, particularly after migrating to a new domain and ESP.
Email marketer from Mailjet explains that proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential to prove your legitimacy as a sender. Without proper authentication, ISPs are more likely to flag your emails as spam, especially from a new domain.
Email marketer from Neil Patel's Blog shares that warming up a new domain is crucial to establish a positive sending reputation. Gradually increase sending volume over several weeks to avoid triggering spam filters and establish trust with ISPs.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum shares that Check if your domain or IP address is on any email blocklists. Being listed on a blocklist can significantly impact deliverability. Use tools to monitor your blocklist status and take steps to get delisted if necessary.
Email marketer from Quora shares that ISPs monitor sending patterns. Sudden spikes or drops in email volume can trigger spam filters. Maintain a consistent sending volume and frequency to establish a reliable sending reputation.
Email marketer from Constant Contact explains that setting up feedback loops with ISPs helps monitor spam complaints. Addressing these complaints promptly can improve your sender reputation and prevent future deliverability issues, particularly when starting with a new domain and ESP.
Email marketer from EmailToolTester shares that your dedicated IP address might have a poor reputation if it was previously used by a spammer. Request a new IP address from your ESP if deliverability issues persist after migrating, especially if warming up the IP doesn't help.
Email marketer from StackExchange shares that Poor engagement metrics (low open rates, click-through rates) signal to ISPs that recipients are not interested in your emails, leading to spam folder placement. Improve engagement by sending relevant content, segmenting your audience, and optimizing email design.
Email marketer from Litmus explains that spam filters often scan email content for suspicious keywords, excessive use of images, or poor HTML coding. Review your email content and design to avoid triggering these filters, especially when transitioning to a new domain.
What the experts say4Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks shares that moving infrastructures can result in bulk foldering until the filters catch up and moving to a new domain can also cause delivery problems because the filters simply don't know who you are or if your mail is wanted.
Expert from Spam Resource emphasizes that proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial to pass spam filters. They also mention the importance of avoiding spam trigger words in your content and maintaining a clean mailing list to improve sender reputation.
Expert from Email Geeks shares insight on google postmaster and the importance of warming up new infrastructure and domains to avoid random spam folder placement during the initial phase.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that deliverability issues with new domains are common because ISPs don't know you yet. Warming up the domain gradually, ensuring proper authentication, and monitoring your reputation are essential steps.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from RFC 7208 explains that SPF records are essential for verifying sending servers and preventing spoofing. Incorrect or missing SPF records can lead to deliverability issues, especially when migrating to a new domain or ESP. Ensure your SPF record is correctly configured to include all authorized sending sources.
Documentation from Microsoft 365 documentation explains sender reputation is crucial for inbox placement. New domains have no established reputation, increasing the likelihood of emails being marked as spam. Ensuring proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is vital for building a positive sender reputation.
Documentation from SparkPost shares that DMARC policy helps protect your domain from email spoofing and phishing attacks. Set up a DMARC policy to instruct ISPs on how to handle emails that fail SPF or DKIM checks. A strict DMARC policy (p=reject) can prevent unauthorized use of your domain, improving deliverability.
Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools Help explains that domain reputation is a key factor in inbox placement. A new domain has no reputation, and sending practices directly influence it. Monitor your domain reputation in Postmaster Tools to identify and address issues affecting deliverability.