Why is Gmail flagging messages as suspicious due to low sender reputation?
Summary
What email marketers say8Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Reddit shares that Gmail often flags emails as suspicious if your domain is new and lacks history. Build a consistent sending pattern with valuable content to improve your reputation over time.
Email marketer from SendPulse shares that Gmail flags messages as suspicious due to a low sender reputation when the sender's email practices don't meet Gmail's standards. This includes issues such as sending unsolicited emails, having a high spam complaint rate, or lacking proper authentication.
Email marketer from Mailjet explains that Gmail flags messages due to low sender reputation when the sending IP address or domain has a history of sending spam or unwanted emails. Gmail uses these reputation signals to protect its users from potentially harmful or unwanted messages.
Email marketer from MailerLite answers that Gmail may flag messages as suspicious due to low sender reputation if the sender's domain or IP address is relatively new or hasn't built a positive track record. Consistent, legitimate email sending practices help build a positive reputation over time.
Email marketer from ZeroBounce states that if a high percentage of your emails are marked as spam by recipients, Gmail will negatively impact your sender reputation. Encourage recipients to mark your emails as 'not spam' if they accidentally end up in the spam folder.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum mentions that a high bounce rate can negatively impact sender reputation and lead to Gmail flagging messages. Ensure your email list is clean and up-to-date.
Email marketer from StackExchange explains that Gmail's algorithms consider user engagement metrics like opens, clicks, and replies. Low engagement can signal that your emails are unwanted, leading to a lower sender reputation.
Email marketer from GlockApps shares that one of the reasons Google might flag emails as suspicious due to a poor sending reputation is due to inconsistent sending volumes or sudden spikes. Always ramp up your email volume slowly and steadily.
What the experts say3Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks responds to a question about Gmail flagging messages as suspicious due to low sender reputation. Laura suggests that the issue might be related to broader reputations, especially considering recent events. She believes the senders' behavior is likely the cause, especially after certain bans.
Expert from Word to the Wise shares that a low sender reputation can result in Gmail flagging messages due to factors such as poor list hygiene practices, high spam complaint rates, and a lack of engagement from recipients. Improving these areas is key to better deliverability.
Expert from Spam Resource explains that Gmail's spam filters are heavily influenced by sender reputation, which is based on factors like complaint rates, engagement metrics, and authentication practices. Poor performance in these areas can lead to messages being flagged as suspicious.
What the documentation says3Technical articles
Documentation from Microsoft responds that IP address reputation is determined by the sending habits of the IP address over time, including email volume, spam complaints, and engagement metrics. IP address reputation is a critical factor in Gmail's filtering process.
Documentation from Google Support explains that sender reputation is a key factor in Gmail's filtering process. Senders with a low reputation are more likely to have their messages filtered to spam or blocked entirely, while senders with a good reputation are more likely to reach the inbox.
Documentation from RFC Editor shares that domain reputation is determined by the behavior of the sending domain over time, based on factors such as email volume, spam complaints, and engagement metrics. Domain reputation can significantly affect email deliverability to Gmail.