Summary
The relationship between DMARC rejections and IP/domain reputation at Gmail and Yahoo is complex. While many sources suggest DMARC itself doesn't directly impact sender reputation, especially when functioning as intended to block spoofed emails, frequent rejections can signal underlying issues that do affect reputation. These include poor sending practices, compromised domains, spamming, or sending from unauthorized IPs. DMARC's primary function is to protect domains from unauthorized use, spoofing, and phishing. By ensuring that only authenticated emails are delivered, DMARC indirectly supports a positive reputation and improved deliverability. Monitoring DMARC reports and promptly addressing underlying issues causing failures are crucial for maintaining a healthy sender reputation.
Key findings
- DMARC's Core Function: DMARC primarily protects against domain spoofing and phishing.
- Indirect Reputation Impact: DMARC indirectly supports a good reputation by ensuring email authenticity.
- Underlying Issues Matter: Frequent DMARC failures indicate underlying problems (e.g., spam, compromised domain) that negatively impact reputation.
- No Direct Correlation: Some sources argue that DMARC rejections, in themselves, do not negatively affect your sender reputation.
- DMARC for Low Rep Domains: DMARC helps low-rep domains by protecting from being impersonated by spammers.
Key considerations
- Sending Practices: Adhere to best practices to minimize DMARC failures and maximize email deliverability.
- Monitoring is Key: Regularly monitor DMARC reports to identify and address any authentication issues.
- Authentication Methods: Use DMARC in conjunction with SPF and DKIM for comprehensive email authentication.
- Address Root Causes: Focus on resolving the underlying causes of DMARC failures to maintain a positive sender reputation.
- Customer Action: Take customer action if they're violating terms to get email delivered.
What email marketers say
7 marketer opinions
The impact of DMARC rejections on IP and domain reputation at Gmail and Yahoo is a nuanced issue. While some suggest that DMARC rejections do not directly impact reputation, others argue that frequent rejections can be viewed as a negative signal by mailbox providers. This is because high rejection rates can indicate poor sending practices or a compromised domain. It's generally agreed that DMARC primarily serves as an authentication protocol to protect domains from spoofing and phishing. Consistent DMARC failures may point to underlying problems that *can* affect reputation, such as spamming or sending from unauthorized IPs. Monitoring DMARC reports and promptly addressing issues is crucial to maintaining a positive sender reputation.
Key opinions
- Direct Impact: Some sources indicate DMARC rejections don't directly harm IP/domain reputation.
- Indirect Impact: Frequent DMARC failures can signal underlying issues affecting reputation.
- Authentication Focus: DMARC's primary role is domain authentication and protection from spoofing.
- Monitoring Importance: Actively monitoring DMARC reports is vital for identifying and resolving issues.
Key considerations
- Frequency of Rejections: Isolated DMARC failures may not be critical, but persistent high rates should be addressed.
- Sending Practices: Ensure proper sending practices to minimize DMARC failures and maintain a healthy reputation.
- Underlying Issues: Investigate the root cause of DMARC failures, such as unauthorized sending or domain spoofing.
- Proactive Approach: Implement and monitor DMARC to proactively protect your domain and sender reputation.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Stackoverflow responds to the question saying that DMARC itself is a validation/security protocol and not designed to directly affect your reputation, and if your reputation is low, DMARC will help protect you from spammers that may send mail claiming to be you.
11 Sep 2023 - Stackoverflow
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks shares their understanding and observation that DMARC-related rejections do not impact reputation with normal mailbox providers, including Gmail.
9 Aug 2022 - Email Geeks
What the experts say
6 expert opinions
Experts suggest that DMARC's primary role is to protect domain reputation by preventing forged mail from affecting it. While domain reputation is the main focus, an IP address sending a high volume of forged mail could reasonably develop a poor reputation. Although IP reputation might not be a primary metric at Google, persistent DMARC rejections can still affect it, highlighting the importance of preventing mail that is known to fail DMARC. It's crucial to address the underlying causes of DMARC failures and adhere to proper sending practices to safeguard sender reputation and ensure emails are authenticated.
Key opinions
- DMARC's Purpose: DMARC prevents forged mail from harming domain reputation.
- IP Reputation Risk: Sending lots of forged mail can negatively affect IP reputation.
- Google's IP Metric: IP reputation may not be a primary metric at Google, but egregious behavior can lead to IP rejection.
- Importance of Prevention: Preventing mail that fails DMARC is crucial.
Key considerations
- Address Root Causes: Identify and fix the underlying reasons for DMARC failures.
- Proper Sending: Ensure proper sending practices to avoid DMARC rejections.
- Proactive Protection: Use DMARC with SPF and DKIM to validate email authenticity and safeguard sender reputation.
- Customer Behavior: Ensure customers are not sending mail known to fail DMARC.
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that DMARC helps to protect your reputation as a sender, which is very important. DMARC uses SPF and DKIM to validate that emails are genuinely from you and can help to tell other ISPs to reject all emails that are spoofed, thus protecting reputation.
29 Jun 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks states that it wouldn’t be unreasonable for an IP address that sends a lot of “forged” mail to get a poor reputation.
8 Nov 2022 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
3 technical articles
Official documentation consistently states that DMARC itself does not directly impact sender reputation. However, DMARC's protection against unauthorized email use, spoofing, and phishing indirectly supports a positive reputation. Furthermore, persistent DMARC failures are a symptom of underlying issues like spamming, sending from unauthorized IPs, or domain spoofing, all of which *can* harm sender reputation and deliverability. Proper implementation and monitoring of DMARC, along with SPF and DKIM, are crucial for ensuring email authentication and maintaining domain integrity.
Key findings
- No Direct Impact: DMARC doesn't directly influence sender reputation.
- Indirect Support: DMARC protects against spoofing and phishing, indirectly boosting reputation.
- Symptom of Problems: Consistent DMARC failures signal underlying issues affecting reputation.
- Authentication Key: DMARC, SPF, and DKIM work together for email authentication.
Key considerations
- Address Underlying Issues: Investigate and resolve issues causing DMARC failures (e.g., spam, unauthorized IPs).
- Implement and Monitor: Properly implement and monitor DMARC to maintain domain integrity.
- Leverage SPF and DKIM: Use SPF and DKIM alongside DMARC for robust email authentication.
- Deliverability Impact: Recognize that unresolved DMARC failures can negatively impact deliverability.
Technical article
Documentation from DMARC.org states that DMARC primarily protects domains from unauthorized use in email, preventing spoofing and phishing attacks. While it doesn't explicitly address IP or domain reputation, implementing and monitoring DMARC helps maintain the integrity of a domain, which indirectly supports a positive reputation.
31 Jul 2023 - DMARC.org
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft explains that DMARC works with SPF and DKIM to ensure emails are properly authenticated. While DMARC itself doesn't directly influence reputation, consistently failing DMARC can indicate underlying issues like domain spoofing, which can harm your sender reputation and deliverability to Outlook.com or Hotmail addresses.
22 May 2022 - Microsoft
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