Summary
Improving SPF alignment and email deliverability with HubSpot is a multifaceted process involving correct DNS configuration, SPF record management, engaging content, and diligent sender reputation monitoring. While complete alignment with HubSpot may not always be possible due to its infrastructure, ensuring your SPF record includes HubSpot's sending infrastructure via the appropriate 'include:' mechanism is vital. Employing a custom sending domain within HubSpot is key, and if using a dedicated subdomain, ensure it's set up for proper bounce handling without including HubSpot's domain directly in your main SPF record. Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for robust email authentication and configure them to reject or quarantine unauthenticated emails. Focus on sending wanted emails, maintaining a clean and engaged email list, warming up IP addresses gradually, and monitoring sender reputation through bounce rates and engagement metrics. Be wary of using tactics that artificially inflate engagement, as they can breach ISP terms of service. When using shared IPs, understand that your reputation is significantly influenced by other users.
Key findings
- SPF Record Inclusion: Ensure your SPF record includes HubSpot's sending infrastructure using the appropriate 'include:' mechanism.
- Custom Domain Usage: Utilize a custom sending domain within HubSpot for better control and alignment.
- Email Authentication Protocols: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for robust email authentication.
- Content Engagement: Focus on sending wanted emails that recipients have requested to improve deliverability.
- Sender Reputation Monitoring: Actively monitor sender reputation, bounce rates, and spam complaints to maintain a healthy email program.
- List Hygiene: Regularly clean and maintain your email list to remove inactive or unengaged subscribers.
Key considerations
- HubSpot Limitations: Recognize that complete SPF alignment with HubSpot might be challenging due to their infrastructure; manage expectations accordingly.
- Subdomain Configuration: If using a dedicated subdomain for SPF, ensure it's properly configured to handle delayed bounces without direct HubSpot inclusion.
- IP Warmup: Gradually warm up new IP addresses to establish a positive sending reputation.
- DMARC Policy Implementation: Implement DMARC policies effectively, especially those that quarantine or reject unauthenticated emails.
- Avoid Artificial Engagement: Refrain from using tools that artificially inflate engagement metrics as they can lead to penalties and reputational damage.
- Shared IP Impact: Be mindful of the shared IP environment; your sending reputation can be influenced by others on the same IP address.
What email marketers say
10 marketer opinions
Improving SPF alignment and email deliverability with HubSpot involves several key strategies. Primarily, ensure your SPF record includes HubSpot's sending infrastructure and IP addresses to properly authenticate emails. Using a custom sending domain and verifying its configuration within HubSpot is also critical. Content should be relevant and engaging to minimize spam reports, and using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC protocols enhances authentication. Monitoring sender reputation, warming up IP addresses gradually, and maintaining a clean email list are crucial for long-term deliverability.
Key opinions
- SPF Configuration: Ensure HubSpot's sending infrastructure is included in your SPF record to authenticate emails.
- Domain Alignment: Use a custom sending domain within HubSpot and verify its proper configuration to align with SPF records.
- Email Authentication: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC protocols to enhance email authentication and reduce spam flagging.
- Content Engagement: Focus on relevant and engaging content to reduce spam complaints and increase positive interactions.
- List Hygiene: Maintain a clean email list by removing inactive subscribers to improve deliverability.
- IP Warmup: Gradually warm up your IP address by increasing sending volume to build trust with ISPs, especially with dedicated IPs.
Key considerations
- DMARC Reports: Monitor DMARC reports to identify SPF alignment issues and ensure HubSpot is authorized to send emails on your behalf.
- Sender Reputation: Regularly monitor your sender reputation and take corrective actions based on feedback from ISPs to maintain high deliverability.
- Spam Filter Testing: Test email content to ensure it passes spam filter checks and resolve any potential issues before sending.
- Return-Path Configuration: Verify that HubSpot uses your domain as the 'Mail From' address (Return-Path) and that your SPF record authorizes HubSpot's servers.
- Dedicated IPs: Consider using a dedicated IP address for sending emails as it can improve sender reputation, but warm it up appropriately.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Mailjet shares that using a dedicated IP address for sending emails can improve your sender reputation and deliverability, as it allows you to control your sending practices and build a positive reputation with ISPs.
12 Nov 2022 - Mailjet
Marketer view
Email marketer from Reddit explains that when using HubSpot, ensure your SPF record includes HubSpot's sending IP addresses. Neglecting this can cause SPF alignment failures and impact deliverability. Double-check HubSpot's documentation for the correct SPF syntax.
29 Aug 2022 - Reddit
What the experts say
8 expert opinions
Improving SPF alignment and email deliverability with HubSpot requires careful configuration and a focus on sender reputation. While complete alignment within HubSpot may be challenging, proper SPF setup is vital, ensuring your SPF record includes HubSpot's sending infrastructure using the appropriate 'include:' mechanism. Using a dedicated subdomain for SPF can manage delayed bounces, and it's important to avoid including HubSpot's domain directly in your SPF record. Deliverability primarily hinges on sending wanted emails, maintaining a clean email list, and warming up your IP to build trust. Be cautious of using tools that artificially inflate engagement, as this can lead to penalties. If using shared IPs, your reputation is largely influenced by other users on that IP. Regularly monitor sender reputation metrics like bounce rates and engagement.
Key opinions
- SPF Record Configuration: Include HubSpot's sending infrastructure in your SPF record using the correct 'include:' mechanism.
- Content Relevance: Sending wanted emails is the key factor influencing email deliverability.
- IP Reputation Impact: Shared IP reputation is heavily influenced by other users on the same IP address.
- Email list Hygiene: Maintaining a clean email list through regular monitoring and removal of inactive subscribers is crucial for improving email deliverability.
- HubSpot's Alignment Limitations: Complete SPF alignment may not be fully achievable within HubSpot due to its infrastructure.
Key considerations
- Dedicated Subdomain: Consider using a dedicated subdomain for SPF management to handle delayed bounces effectively.
- Warmup: Gradually warm up your IP to build trust with mail filters by introducing yourself to recipients.
- Monitoring Sender Reputation: Regularly monitor bounce rates, spam complaints, and engagement metrics to maintain a clean sender reputation.
- Artificial Engagement: Avoid tools that artificially generate engagement, as these can violate ISP terms of service and result in penalties.
- Shared IP Limitations: Be aware that on shared IPs, your reputation is heavily influenced by the actions of other users, so your individual impact might be limited.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains that if you're on a shared IP, the IP reputation is wholly a factor of who you're sharing it with and if you're only sending 1000 emails a week, you have almost no impact on IP reputation.
12 Mar 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains that you can't have everything aligned on Hubspot and that you don't need to include hubspot in your SPF text record because that's not the domain being used for SPF.
12 Jan 2024 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
5 technical articles
Improving SPF alignment and email deliverability with HubSpot, according to documentation, hinges on properly configuring DNS records and ensuring your SPF record includes all authorized sending sources, including HubSpot. SPF alignment issues frequently arise when the 'Mail From' and 'From' addresses use different domains. The SPF syntax must be correctly formatted to avoid deliverability problems. Implementing DMARC policies, especially those that reject or quarantine unauthenticated emails, can also significantly improve email deliverability by instructing recipient mail servers how to handle such emails.
Key findings
- DNS Configuration: Connecting your email sending domain to HubSpot requires configuring DNS records crucial for SPF alignment.
- SPF Record Inclusions: Properly configure your SPF record to include all authorized sending sources, including HubSpot's servers.
- Domain Alignment: SPF alignment issues often arise when the 'Mail From' and 'From' addresses use different domains.
- DMARC Policies: Implementing DMARC policies with 'reject' or 'quarantine' settings improves email deliverability.
- SPF Syntax: The SPF syntax requires correct formatting and inclusions to avoid deliverability problems.
Key considerations
- Record Review: Review and correct your SPF records to ensure proper alignment between the 'Mail From' and 'From' addresses.
- Sending Sources: Verify that your SPF record includes all necessary sending sources, especially HubSpot's servers.
- DMARC Implementation: Implement DMARC policies to instruct recipient mail servers on how to handle unauthenticated emails from your domain.
- Syntax Validation: Ensure your SPF record is valid and follows correct SPF syntax.
Technical article
Documentation from RFC explains that the SPF syntax requires correct formatting and includes. Ensure your SPF record is valid and includes all necessary sending sources, such as HubSpot's servers. Invalid syntax can lead to deliverability problems.
30 Nov 2024 - RFC
Technical article
Documentation from dmarcian explains that SPF alignment issues often arise when the domain used in the 'Mail From' address (Return-Path) doesn't match the domain in the 'From' address. Review and correct your SPF records to ensure proper alignment.
11 Jun 2022 - dmarcian
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