Why did my email open rates drop after domain authentication and how to fix it?

Email marketer from EmailOnAcid shares that after domain authentication, poor list hygiene can become more apparent, leading to lower open rates. They explain that removing inactive subscribers and ensuring your list contains engaged users will improve deliverability and open rates.

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that after domain authentication, if your domain reputation is poor, it can lead to deliverability issues and decreased open rates. They share that maintaining a good sending reputation is crucial after authentication, recommending consistent sending volume, monitoring bounce rates, and engaging with subscribers.

Email marketer from Litmus explains that changes in email content that trigger spam filters post-authentication can cause a decrease in open rates. They suggest reviewing content for spam triggers, such as excessive use of certain words or poor formatting.

Email marketer from Reddit user u/EmailExpert shares that incorrect IP warming after authentication or significant changes can negatively impact open rates. They recommend gradually increasing sending volume and monitoring engagement metrics to ensure a smooth transition.

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that they've noticed some clients hitting a deliverability wall at Google around the 20K send mark after authenticating, even with previously excellent delivery. They suggest that after a couple hour delay in sending, they don't have any further problems, and that the issue will fall down to your domain reputation and to check GPMT.

Email marketer from Campaign Monitor explains that using A/B testing to optimize email subject lines and content can prevent drops in open rates. They recommend testing different elements to determine what resonates best with your audience, especially after making changes like domain authentication.

Email marketer from Gmass explains that monitoring engagement metrics, like open rates, click-through rates, and bounce rates, is crucial after domain authentication. They share that a sudden drop in open rates could indicate deliverability issues, spam filters, or recipient disinterest, and advise adjusting your strategy based on these metrics.

Email marketer from StackOverflow answers that changing domain keys without warming up your new keys will reduce your reputation impacting on open rates. Suggests a slow warm up process.

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that if you weren't sending with your own DKIM domain before and now you are, you didn't have "a high reputation sender" before as you had no reputation for your own DKIM domain and were piggy-backing off the domain reputation of your ESP. Offers the advice to have as many of your contacts whitelist your From address as possible, either manually or by replying.

Email marketer from Webmaster World forums shares that new domains and sender IP addresses are more likely to experience deliverability issues due to a lack of established sender reputation. Davem recommends gradually warming up your IP and domain with consistent email sends to build a positive reputation.

Email marketer from Sender shares that implementing and correctly configuring sender authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) will improve email deliverability. It is important to make sure everything is configured correctly. Incorrect configuration can lead to issues.

Expert from Spam Resource, Laura Atkins, explains that one potential cause for decreased open rates after authentication (like moving to new IPs) is a period of adjustment while systems relearn prefetching behaviors. She says this can create a temporary panic, but warns that blocks are a different issue potentially caused by warming up too fast or to the wrong audience.

Expert from Email Geeks explains that moving things around (new IPs) can take a while for image prefetching to kick in, which can cause panic due to open rate drops. Also that Blocks are a little different, however, and if you’re being blocked you’re warming up to fast and possibly with the wrong audience.

Expert from Word to the Wise Staff, explains that authentication, while essential, doesn't guarantee inbox placement and can sometimes reveal underlying deliverability problems leading to reduced open rates. They say that a problematic sender can be revealed from authentication and that deliverability needs constant monitoring and adjustment.

Documentation from Gmail Postmaster Tools explains that using Google Postmaster Tools is crucial to monitor domain reputation. They share that monitoring spam rate, domain reputation, and feedback loops can help identify issues causing open rate drops after authentication. It further details how to interpret these metrics to improve deliverability.

Documentation from DMARC.org explains that an incorrect DMARC policy configuration after authentication can result in emails being rejected or sent to spam, lowering open rates. They advise careful monitoring and gradual implementation of DMARC policies.

Documentation from Sparkpost explains that maintaining a high deliverability rate involves various best practices, including proper list segmentation, personalized content, and consistent sending schedules. They share that these practices can prevent a decline in open rates after domain authentication.

Documentation from RFC explains that incorrect SPF record syntax post-authentication can cause deliverability problems. It details the correct syntax and usage of SPF records to ensure emails are properly authenticated, preventing them from being marked as spam.

Documentation from Microsoft explains that it might take time to rebuild your sender reputation after enabling authentication, especially if you're sending a large volume of emails. This documentation recommends carefully monitoring your sending reputation and adjusting your sending practices accordingly.