Why is Gmail reputation bad during domain migration with compliant authentication?

Email marketer from Reddit shares that a sudden change in the 'From' address during domain migration can confuse Gmail's filters. They suggest maintaining consistent branding and sender names to avoid being flagged as suspicious. Furthermore, they recommend closely monitoring engagement metrics and adjusting sending strategies accordingly.

Email marketer from Neil Patel Digital explains that sudden changes in sending patterns during domain migration can trigger spam filters, even with proper authentication. It is important to gradually ramp up sending volume from the new domain to establish a positive reputation with Gmail and other ISPs. Also, ensure consistent branding and content quality across both the old and new domains to avoid being flagged for phishing or spam.

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum mentions that migrating to a new domain without properly informing subscribers can lead to higher complaint rates and lower engagement. They recommend proactively notifying subscribers about the domain change and providing clear instructions on how to update their preferences if needed. This can help maintain a positive sender reputation during the transition.

Email marketer from Gmass Blog explains that poor list hygiene practices can negatively impact sender reputation, especially during domain migration. They advise regularly cleaning your email list to remove invalid or inactive addresses and suppressing unengaged subscribers. Maintaining a clean email list can help improve deliverability and ensure that your messages reach your intended recipients.

Marketer from Email Geeks shares an experience where sending the same content from both an old domain and a new subdomain during a ramp-up led to issues with Gmail, possibly due to fingerprinting or perceived affiliate marketing. Sending completely different content from the subdomain resolved the problem.

Email marketer from SendGrid explains that when migrating to a new domain, gradually warming up the new sending domain is vital. This involves starting with small volumes to your most engaged subscribers and gradually increasing the volume over time. This slow and steady approach helps to build trust with mailbox providers like Gmail. They also emphasize the importance of monitoring bounce rates, complaint rates, and engagement metrics during the warm-up process.

Email marketer from Litmus explains that content issues, such as using spam trigger words or poorly formatted HTML, can negatively impact deliverability, even with proper authentication. Reviewing your email content and avoiding spam trigger words is essential for improving sender reputation and ensuring that your messages reach the inbox. Also, ensure that your email templates are properly coded and optimized for different email clients.

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that a poor sender reputation on the old domain can negatively impact the new domain's reputation, especially if Gmail detects similarities in sending patterns, content, or recipient lists. They advise monitoring sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and actively working to improve engagement metrics, such as open rates and click-through rates. It's also critical to suppress unengaged users to improve overall deliverability.

Expert from Word to the Wise, Steve Jones, responds that regardless of domain reputation or authentication, you need to focus on building your reputation with receivers like Gmail. That reputation comes from sending wanted mail to engaged users consistently, so it’s important to focus on a strong user experience, proper list management and segmentation, and a solid sending cadence.

Expert from Spam Resource, John Levine, explains that during a domain migration, even with proper authentication, neglecting to warm up the new IP address properly can lead to deliverability issues. He mentions that Gmail pays attention to the history of the IP address, and if it's suddenly sending large volumes of mail without prior establishment of good sending practices, it can negatively impact the sender's reputation.

Expert from Email Geeks suggests using aboutmy.email to confirm that the email configurations are working as expected.

Expert from Word to the Wise, Laura Atkins, explains about when transitioning from a shared IP to a dedicated IP address; it can be similar to a domain migration, and without a proper warmup, it will cause deliverability issues. Gmail could still consider you a new sender, so it is important to not send emails to recipients that do not engage.

Documentation from Microsoft highlights that incorrect reverse DNS records can negatively impact sender reputation, especially during domain migration. Ensuring that your sending IP address has a valid and properly configured reverse DNS record is crucial for establishing trust with mailbox providers. This helps verify that your sending server is legitimate and authorized to send email on behalf of your domain.

Documentation from M3AAWG (Messaging, Malware and Mobile Anti-Abuse Working Group) explains about gradually increasing sending volume, maintaining consistent branding, and monitoring engagement metrics. Sending inconsistent or irrelevant content during the transition can negatively impact sender reputation. Ensure that your email content is relevant and engaging to your subscribers to maintain a positive sender reputation.

Documentation from Google explains that Gmail's reputation system considers multiple factors, including authentication, sending infrastructure, complaint rates, and spam trap hits. Even with compliant authentication, a sudden shift in sending patterns from a new domain can trigger suspicion. It also stresses the importance of segmenting sending based on user engagement and adhering to Gmail's sender guidelines.

Documentation from DKIM explains that DKIM signatures verify the integrity of email messages and confirm that they haven't been altered in transit. A domain migration with DKIM issues, such as mismatched keys or invalid signatures, can lead to deliverability problems and a poor sender reputation. Ensuring proper DKIM configuration on the new domain is critical for establishing trust with Gmail.

Documentation from RFC explains that while SPF records help authenticate sending sources, they don't guarantee good deliverability. Incorrectly configured or missing SPF records can severely damage sender reputation, especially during domain migration. It's essential to verify that the SPF record for the new domain accurately reflects all authorized sending sources to avoid deliverability issues.