Why does Gmail mark emails from new domains as spam?
Summary
What email marketers say15Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests the domain might have been previously used by a spammer, which could explain the spam classification.
Email marketer from GlockApps explains that setting up feedback loops can help monitor and improve sender reputation with Gmail. Feedback loops provide data about spam complaints, enabling you to address issues proactively.
Email marketer from StackExchange notes that the content of the email itself can trigger spam filters. Avoid using spam trigger words and ensure clean HTML coding.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum explains that inconsistent sending patterns from a new domain can raise red flags with Gmail. Establishing a regular sending schedule helps build trust.
Email marketer from Sender states the importance of setting up proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) for new domains. This helps verify the sender's legitimacy and improves deliverability to Gmail inboxes.
Email marketer from Neil Patel Digital explains that domain age affects email deliverability. Newer domains often lack a reputation, making them more likely to be flagged as spam by Gmail and other email providers.
Email marketer from Litmus discusses the importance of previewing emails across different email clients. Faulty coding or elements not displaying correctly can trigger spam filters, which causes emails from a new domain to have more problems.
Email marketer from Email Geeks shares an experience where a newly registered domain's first email to Gmail was marked as spam with the message "you've previously marked emails from [insert domain here] as spam", highlighting the flawed logic of the message.
Email marketer from Email Geeks recommends waiting at least 30 days before sending emails from freshly registered domains.
Email marketer from Mailjet emphasizes the importance of warming up a new IP address and domain. Gradual sending volume increases establish trust with ISPs like Gmail, reducing the likelihood of emails landing in spam.
Email marketer from Woodpecker shares that the personalization of email copy matters a lot. Gmail will easily recognize if you're using spammy email sending techniques such as using the same email copy and sending to large lists of unknown people.
Email marketer from Reddit shares that the IP address associated with the new domain may have a poor reputation due to previous spammers, leading Gmail to flag emails as spam.
Email marketer from EmailOctopus advises maintaining good list hygiene. Sending to unengaged or invalid email addresses can damage sender reputation and lead to spam classification by Gmail.
Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests that the reason for the spam classification was probably correct, but the UI string followed a flawed logic. Marcel also highlights that the email can be signed with any DKIM signature regardless of origin.
Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests it could be an "explainability" bug where Gmail attempts to describe a black-box neural network's decision with a simpler, more transparent, but less accurate model.
What the experts say4Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks suggests the issue might be related to the sending infrastructure, such as a shared IP, or use of a cold-calling email tool.
Expert from Email Geeks highlights the humour in Gmail's wildly wrong error message.
Expert from Word to the Wise, Laura Atkins, responds that a new sending domain has no reputation, which causes the filtering algorithms to have no basis to determine email acceptance, and that is why it can cause email to get caught in spam filters.
Expert from Spam Resource, John Levine, explains that Gmail, like other email providers, uses domain reputation as a significant factor in filtering spam. New domains lack a reputation, making them suspect and likely to be filtered aggressively.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from DMARC.org details the importance of DMARC implementation to monitor and control email authentication, preventing malicious use of a new domain. It advises ensuring alignment and reports are monitored.
Documentation from Google Support explains that Gmail's spam filters consider various factors, including sender reputation, authentication, and user engagement, to determine whether an email is spam. New domains lack established reputation, increasing the risk of filtering.
Documentation from Microsoft answers about Domain Reputation, which is similar to IP reputation where senders with low reputation may have trouble delivering email to Microsoft email platforms. Domain reputation with Gmail also has an effect.
Documentation from RFC explains the technical specifications for SPF records, which are crucial for authenticating emails and preventing spoofing. Implementing SPF helps new domains establish legitimacy with Gmail.