Summary
ESPs employ several strategies to collect Yahoo FBL data, primarily leveraging double DKIM signing, which involves both the ESP and client signing emails. Alternatively, independent customer registration is used. Double DKIM's efficacy is debated, with some favoring ESP domain signing and others noting that the client's signature has a greater impact on reputation. Implementing feedback loops (FBLs) is crucial for identifying and removing users who mark emails as spam, thereby enhancing deliverability and sender reputation. FBLs rely heavily on email authentication protocols such as DKIM and SPF. For ESPs using shared IPs, proper configuration of these protocols is essential. Setting up a dedicated mailbox for abuse reports and registering it with Yahoo is a common practice. Additionally, some ESPs use tools like PowerMTA, which require specific configurations for processing FBL reports. Overall, ESPs must consider architectural design, proactively manage domain reputation, and maintain compliance with authentication protocols to effectively collect and utilize Yahoo FBL data.
Key findings
- Double DKIM Signing: ESPs commonly use double DKIM signing, with both their domain and the client's domain, to register and process FBL data.
- FBL Implementation: Implementing feedback loops allows ESPs to receive spam complaints directly from ISPs, improving deliverability and sender reputation.
- Authentication Reliance: Feedback loops rely on email authentication protocols like DKIM and SPF, which help maintain data integrity.
- Spam Identification: Feedback loops enable identification and removal of users marking emails as spam, thus improving deliverability metrics.
- Alternative Approach: Independent customer registration is an alternative approach to double DKIM signing for FBL data collection.
Key considerations
- Architecture Design: ESPs should carefully design their architecture, considering client cohorts and IP grouping for optimal deliverability.
- Domain Reputation: Actively managing domain reputation and addressing FBL reports promptly is crucial for sustaining deliverability.
- Abuse Reporting Setup: Establishing a dedicated mailbox for abuse reports (e.g., abuse@yourdomain.com) and registering it with Yahoo is a prerequisite for receiving FBL data.
- PowerMTA Configuration: ESPs using PowerMTA must configure specific accounts to effectively process and parse FBL reports from Yahoo and other ISPs.
- Compliance with Protocols: ESPs must ensure strict compliance with email authentication protocols (DKIM, SPF, DMARC) to maintain data integrity and ensure messages are delivered.
What email marketers say
12 marketer opinions
ESPs leverage double DKIM signing and feedback loops (FBLs) to effectively gather and process spam complaints from Yahoo. This involves the ESP and the client both signing emails, enabling the ESP to register and manage FBL data. Implementing FBLs allows ESPs to identify users marking emails as spam, enabling them to improve deliverability by removing complainers, addressing deliverability issues, and maintaining a healthy sender reputation. Key to this process is authenticating email using DKIM and SPF, setting up abuse reporting mechanisms, and configuring multiple DKIM keys for various client domains.
Key opinions
- Double DKIM Signing: ESPs often double-sign emails with both their domain and the client's domain to facilitate FBL registration and data processing.
- FBL Implementation: Implementing a feedback loop enables ESPs to receive spam complaints directly from ISPs, allowing for prompt action.
- Deliverability Improvement: FBLs help ESPs improve deliverability by identifying and removing users who mark emails as spam.
- Authentication: Proper email authentication using DKIM and SPF is essential for participating in feedback loops.
- Multiple DKIM Keys: ESPs can configure DKIM for multiple domains to sign emails on behalf of different clients.
Key considerations
- Architecture Design: ESPs should consider client cohorts when designing their architecture, including IP grouping and domain usage for signing.
- Abuse Reporting: Setting up a dedicated mailbox (e.g., abuse@yourdomain.com) and registering it with Yahoo is necessary for receiving FBL reports.
- Sender Reputation: Maintaining a healthy sender reputation requires prompt action on FBL reports, such as unsubscribing users who mark emails as spam.
- Shared IPs: ESPs using shared IPs must ensure correct configuration of DKIM, SPF, and DMARC to maintain deliverability for all clients.
- Domain Key Importance: Using a domain key/DKIM is an authentication method that helps verify the sender and ensures that the message was not altered in transit.
Marketer view
Email marketer from EmailVendorSelection shares that ESP's are able to use shared IPs to send email for multiple clients as they use DKIM, SPF, and DMARC to correctly configure sending and ensure their clients email gets delivered.
17 Oct 2023 - EmailVendorSelection
Marketer view
Email marketer from Stack Overflow explains that you can configure DKIM for multiple domains by setting up multiple DKIM keys and corresponding DNS records. This allows an ESP to sign emails on behalf of different clients.
27 Jun 2022 - Stack Overflow
What the experts say
4 expert opinions
ESPs collect Yahoo FBL data through double DKIM signing and, alternatively, independent customer registration. While double DKIM involves both the ESP and client signing emails, the client's signature is more impactful on reputation. A primary function of feedback loops, which rely on DKIM and SPF authentication, is to enable ESPs to identify and remove users marking emails as spam, thereby improving deliverability. Some experts prefer a standard YFBL registration step due to uncertainties about the priority of domain reputations in double DKIM setups.
Key opinions
- Two Approaches: ESPs use double DKIM signing or independent customer registration to collect Yahoo FBL data.
- Signature Impact: In double DKIM, the client's signature has a greater impact on reputation than the ESP's.
- Authentication Reliance: Feedback loops rely on email authentication protocols like DKIM and SPF.
- Spam Identification: FBLs help ESPs identify and remove users marking emails as spam, enhancing deliverability.
Key considerations
- Domain Reputation: Consider the potential uncertainties in dual DKIM, such as which domain's reputation takes precedence.
- Standard YFBL Setup: Making YFBL registration a standard step can streamline the process and avoid potential issues with double DKIM.
- Proper Implementation: Feedback loops are a method of improving your email delivery by monitoring spam complaints. ISPs provide these loops to senders who authenticate their mail.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks shares that they avoided dual DKIM due to concerns about which domain's reputation takes precedence and whether Yahoo might miss signatures. They preferred making YFBL registration a standard domain setup step.
23 Sep 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource explains that feedback loops rely on authentication such as DKIM and SPF. He also mentions that ESPs use FBLs to identify spammers and those who aren't following the proper protocols.
8 Oct 2023 - Spam Resource
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
ESPs collect Yahoo FBL data by utilizing feedback loops which help identify and remove users marking emails as spam, with DKIM signing and registration being part of the setup. The DKIM standard supports multiple signatures, allowing both the ESP and client to sign emails. PowerMTA configurations facilitate processing FBL reports through dedicated accounts for receiving and parsing data from Yahoo and other ISPs. Understanding the technical aspects of DKIM, including key generation, DNS records, and message signing, is essential for implementing double DKIM signing effectively.
Key findings
- FBL Identification: Feedback Loops enable identification and removal of users marking emails as spam.
- DKIM Standard: The DKIM standard supports multiple signatures, allowing both ESP and client signing.
- PowerMTA Configuration: PowerMTA configurations process FBL reports using dedicated accounts.
- Technical DKIM Aspects: Understanding DKIM's technical aspects is essential for implementing double DKIM signing.
Key considerations
- Setup Process: Implementing FBL involves DKIM signing and registration.
- Multiple Signatures: DKIM allows both ESP and client signatures.
- FBL Report Processing: Setting up accounts in PowerMTA is needed to receive and parse FBL reports.
- DKIM Implementation: Familiarity with key generation and DNS records is critical for DKIM implementation.
Technical article
Documentation from Yahoo Mail Help explains that the Feedback Loop (FBL) allows senders to identify and remove users who are marking their emails as spam. They outline the setup process, including DKIM signing and registration.
31 Mar 2022 - Yahoo Mail Help
Technical article
Documentation from RFC Editor details the DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) standard, explaining how multiple DKIM signatures can be applied to an email. This standard allows both the ESP and the client to sign the message.
16 Dec 2021 - RFC Editor
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