Summary
Comparing the success of different sending domains in Gmail involves a multi-faceted approach that includes leveraging existing reporting tools, A/B testing, and monitoring domain reputation. Key metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, spam complaints, and unsubscribes should be tracked. Google Workspace Admin Help and Google Postmaster Tools can provide insights into domain health and authentication status. Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial, and ensuring comparable sending volume and separating traffic types (transactional vs. marketing) across domains are vital for accurate analysis. Analyzing data in tools like Excel, Google Sheets, and Google Analytics using UTM parameters is also recommended. Finally, considering factors such as domain age and identifying any blacklistings that may affect deliverability is important.
Key findings
- Leverage Reporting: Utilize existing reporting tools or export data to Excel/Google Sheets for side-by-side comparison of metrics.
- A/B Testing: Employ A/B testing to determine which sending domain yields better engagement and deliverability.
- Monitor Reputation: Track sender reputation, identify blacklistings, and use tools like Google Postmaster Tools for insights.
- Ensure Authentication: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to ensure proper email authentication and improve deliverability.
- Analyze in Analytics: Use UTM parameters to track email performance in Google Analytics.
Key considerations
- Comparable Sending: Ensure both domains have similar sending volume and history to Gmail users for a fair comparison.
- Traffic Separation: Separate traffic types (transactional vs. marketing) across domains for more accurate monitoring.
- Domain Age: Consider domain age as it can influence domain reputation and deliverability.
- Blacklist Checks: Regularly check for and address any blacklistings that might affect deliverability.
- Goal Setting: Set clear goals and use tracking metrics (opens, clicks, replies, bounces, spam complaints) to measure the domains performance.
What email marketers say
11 marketer opinions
Comparing the success of different sending domains in Gmail involves tracking various metrics and considering factors such as domain reputation, authentication, and sending volume. Techniques include A/B testing, analyzing campaign reports, monitoring sender reputation, and using UTM parameters to track performance in Google Analytics. Email marketers extract reports into spreadsheets or use reporting tools to track opens, clicks, bounces, spam complaints, and unsubscribes. It's also important to ensure both domains have valid SPF records and implement DKIM for better deliverability. Separating traffic types across domains and monitoring domain age can also provide valuable insights.
Key opinions
- A/B Testing: A/B testing with different sending domains helps identify which domain performs better regarding engagement and deliverability.
- Campaign Reports: Campaign reports can be used to compare the performance of sending domains through metrics like open rates, click rates, and unsubscribes.
- Sender Reputation: Monitoring sender reputation is crucial as it directly impacts deliverability. Tools can track sender scores and identify blacklistings.
- UTM Parameters: Using UTM parameters helps track email performance in Google Analytics by ensuring accurate domain tracking.
- Custom Tracking: Setting up custom tracking parameters for each sending domain allows differentiating traffic in Google Analytics.
Key considerations
- Domain Reputation: Domain reputation significantly influences deliverability and engagement. Monitor sender scores and domain age.
- Authentication: Ensure both domains have valid SPF records and implement DKIM for better deliverability and domain reputation.
- Sending Volume: Ensure both domains have a comparable sending history and volume to Gmail users for a fair comparison.
- Traffic Separation: Separating traffic types (e.g., transactional vs. marketing) across domains allows for more accurate monitoring.
- Blacklistings: Identifying and resolving any blacklistings that might affect deliverability is critical.
Marketer view
Email marketer from SendGrid shares that Domain reputation is crucial for email deliverability. Use tools to track your sender score, identify any blacklistings that might affect deliverability, and monitor engagement rates for each domain.
23 Jan 2025 - SendGrid
Marketer view
Email marketer from Reddit shares their process of tracking email performance through UTM parameters, ensuring the correct domain is in place and analysing the metrics on Google Analytics.
22 Apr 2022 - Reddit
What the experts say
5 expert opinions
Comparing the success of different sending domains in Gmail involves leveraging existing reporting to analyze opens, clicks, bounces, unsubscribes, and spam reports. Experts emphasize the importance of domain reputation, which is influenced by sending volume and consistency. Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial, and a fair comparison requires both domains to have similar authentication setups. Separating traffic types, such as transactional and marketing emails, across domains allows for more meaningful analysis and management.
Key opinions
- Existing Reporting: Use existing reporting tools to chart opens, clicks, bounces, unsubscribes, and spam reports for each domain.
- Domain Reputation: Domain reputation is heavily influenced by sending volume and consistency.
- Authentication: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is fundamental for deliverability.
- Traffic Separation: Separating traffic types across domains allows for accurate monitoring and management.
Key considerations
- Comparable Volume: Ensure both domains have a comparable sending history and volume to Gmail users.
- Authentication Setup: Compare the authentication setups of each sending domain; proper authentication is critical.
- Reporting Tools: Utilize existing reporting tools to track key metrics across each domain.
- Domain monitoring: Consider monitoring the individual domain reputation.
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise, Laura Atkins, responds that proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is fundamental. Compare the authentication setups of each sending domain. If one domain lacks proper authentication, its deliverability will likely suffer, making a direct comparison difficult.
27 Jul 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks mentions to access metrics from whatever you’re currently using to track them.
18 Mar 2022 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
Comparing the success of different sending domains in Gmail involves using Google Workspace Admin Help and Google Postmaster Tools to monitor domain reputation, spam complaints, IP reputation, and authentication status. Adhering to SPF standards and implementing DKIM are crucial for better deliverability and domain health. These tools and standards provide essential insights into identifying and addressing potential deliverability issues.
Key findings
- Workspace Admin Help: Google Workspace Admin Help provides tools to monitor domain reputation and track metrics like spam complaints and authentication status.
- Postmaster Tools: Google Postmaster Tools offers insights into domain health, including spam rate, IP reputation, and authentication compliance.
- SPF Standards: Checking and adhering to SPF standards ensures better deliverability to Gmail users.
- DKIM Implementation: Implementing DKIM for all domains impacts domain reputation and improves delivery rates.
Key considerations
- Domain Reputation: Regularly monitor domain reputation using available tools to identify potential issues.
- Authentication Compliance: Ensure all domains comply with SPF and DKIM standards to improve deliverability.
- Metric Tracking: Track key metrics like spam rate, IP reputation, and authentication compliance to assess performance.
- Deliverability Issues: Use available tools to identify and address potential deliverability issues promptly.
Technical article
Documentation from RFC details about SPF standards, checking that all domains used have valid SPF records to ensure better deliverability to Gmail users.
24 Aug 2024 - RFC
Technical article
Documentation from DKIM.org explains implementing DKIM for all domains used. DKIM impacts your domain reputation and helps improve delivery rates.
26 Jan 2022 - DKIM.org
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