Why are my standard emails still going to spam after fixing my IP address?
Summary
What email marketers say10Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Sendgrid shares that utilizing feedback loops (FBLs) allows you to receive notifications when recipients mark your emails as spam. This enables you to identify and address issues that are contributing to spam complaints.
Email marketer from Reddit explains that certain words, phrases, and formatting choices can trigger spam filters. Reviewing email content for potential spam triggers is crucial, even if the IP issue is resolved.
Marketer from Email Geeks suggests checking email authentication, specifically DMARC and SPF, as an initial step in troubleshooting email deliverability issues.
Email marketer from an Email Deliverability Forum mentions that if you are on a shared IP address, the actions of other senders on that IP can impact your deliverability. Even if you fixed your sending practices, others' bad behaviour could still lead to spam placement.
Email marketer from Campaign Monitor explains that monitoring engagement metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and spam complaints is crucial for understanding how recipients are interacting with your emails and identifying potential issues affecting deliverability.
Email marketer from an Email Marketing Forum, notes that even after fixing the immediate IP issue, your IP or domain might still be listed on various blacklists. Checking and removing your IP/domain from these lists is essential.
Email marketer from Email on Acid emphasizes the importance of list hygiene. Sending emails to inactive or invalid addresses increases bounce rates and harms sender reputation, which can lead to emails landing in spam folders.
Email marketer from Litmus recommends testing emails across different email clients and devices to identify potential rendering issues or spam triggers that may be contributing to deliverability problems.
Email marketer from Gmass shares that warming up an IP address involves gradually increasing the volume of emails sent over time. This helps establish a positive sending reputation with ISPs and mailbox providers.
Email marketer from Mailjet shares that sender reputation is a key factor in email deliverability. Even after fixing technical issues like IP reputation, it takes time and consistent positive engagement (opens, clicks, etc.) to rebuild a damaged reputation.
What the experts say5Expert opinions
Expert from Word to the Wise, Dennis Dayman, explains that transactional emails may land in spam due to a lack of dedicated IPs, high complaint rates, or content issues. The IP and domain reputation is crucial for all types of email.
Expert and Marketer from Email Geeks discuss the impact of SPF and DKIM on email deliverability, with Ken suggesting that missing or broken SPF, without DKIM signing, could cause issues with Gmail, while Laura notes Gmail's 'best guess SPF' which mitigates broken SPF records. Ken then agreed that it could be multiple factors, and authentication tips it over the edge.
Expert from Word to the Wise, Steve Jones, responds that even with perfect technical setup (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), emails can still land in spam due to factors like content, list hygiene, and recipient engagement. He emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to deliverability.
Expert from Email Geeks suggests investigating other suspicious activities that might be affecting email deliverability, such as using G-Suite for outreach-style emails and potentially harming the sender's reputation.
Expert from Spam Resource, Laura Atkins, explains that content choices and overall sender reputation play significant roles in deliverability, even after addressing IP issues. Consistent monitoring of engagement metrics is essential.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from Microsoft Support details that Outlook's spam filter evaluates various factors, including the sender's authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), the content of the email, and the recipient's past interactions with the sender. Insufficient or incorrect authentication can lead to emails being marked as spam.
Documentation from DKIM.org emphasises that DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) provides a method for verifying the authenticity of email messages. Improper DKIM signing can cause emails to fail authentication checks and be marked as spam.
Documentation from RFC explains that correct configuration of Sender Policy Framework (SPF) records is essential. Even after fixing an IP address issue, a misconfigured SPF record can still cause email deliverability problems.
Documentation from DMARC.org clarifies that Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC) provides instructions to receiving mail servers on how to handle messages that fail SPF and DKIM checks. Proper DMARC implementation is crucial for protecting against email spoofing and improving deliverability.
Documentation from Google Support explains that Gmail uses a complex algorithm to identify spam, considering factors like user reports, sender reputation, and email content. Even with a clean IP, past negative engagement can still impact deliverability.