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Summary

Recovering from a bad domain reputation with Gmail involves a comprehensive strategy. Key elements include pausing sending, then gradually resuming with engaged recipients and low volumes, using Google Postmaster Tools to monitor reputation, and implementing email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to prevent spoofing. Engagement is crucial; segmenting lists and providing valuable content improves recipient interaction. Regular list hygiene, including removing inactive subscribers and avoiding spam traps, is essential. Employ feedback loops to address spam complaints. Maintain a consistent sending volume and avoid spam trigger words. Finally, consider sunset policies and re-engagement campaigns to manage inactive subscribers.

Key findings

  • Gradual Ramp-up: Recover by pausing sends, then resuming slowly with engaged users and low volume to rebuild trust.
  • Engagement Focus: Gmail heavily weighs engagement; target content and segment lists to improve interaction.
  • List Hygiene Matters: Regularly clean lists to remove inactive users, bounce addresses and spam traps for improved deliverability.
  • Authenticate Emails: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to verify identity and prevent spoofing, boosting deliverability.
  • Monitor Reputation: Use Google Postmaster Tools for insights on your domain's sending reputation and deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Consistent Volume: Maintain a predictable send pattern to avoid triggering spam filters.
  • Feedback Loops: Actively manage and respond to feedback loops to identify and remove complainers from your list.
  • Content Quality: Focus on providing relevant, valuable content to engage users and reduce complaints.
  • Sunset Policies: Consider implementing sunset policies and re-engagement campaigns for inactive subscribers to maintain list health.
  • Avoid Spam Triggers: Review and remove any spam trigger words from email content before sending.

What email marketers say

10 marketer opinions

Recovering from a bad domain reputation with Gmail involves a multi-faceted approach centered on improving email engagement, cleaning your email list, and ensuring proper authentication. Engagement is crucial, as Gmail considers how recipients interact with your emails. Segmenting your list and tailoring content to specific groups helps boost engagement. Cleaning your list by removing inactive subscribers, spam traps, and invalid addresses improves deliverability. Monitoring bounce rates and complaints helps identify and address issues. Providing valuable and relevant content encourages engagement and reduces the likelihood of spam complaints. Implementing sunset policies and re-engagement campaigns allows you to manage inactive subscribers effectively. Reviewing content for spam trigger words is also recommended.

Key opinions

  • Engagement is Key: Gmail prioritizes engagement, so focus on increasing opens, clicks, and positive interactions.
  • List Hygiene: Regularly clean your email list to remove inactive subscribers, spam traps, and invalid addresses.
  • Segmentation: Segment your list to send targeted and relevant content to specific groups, improving engagement.
  • Content Relevance: Provide valuable and relevant content that subscribers want to receive.
  • Complaint Reduction: Minimize spam complaints by ensuring an easy unsubscribe process and providing valuable content.
  • Google Postmaster Tools: Use Google Postmaster Tools to monitor your domain reputation and diagnose issues.

Key considerations

  • Sunset Policies: Implement a sunset policy to automatically remove inactive subscribers after a certain period.
  • Re-engagement: Run a re-engagement campaign to attempt to re-engage inactive subscribers before removing them.
  • Spam Trigger Words: Review your email content to avoid spam trigger words and phrases.
  • Bounce Rates: Monitor bounce rates and remove invalid addresses to improve deliverability.
  • Authentication: Implement email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to verify your identity.

Marketer view

Email marketer from DigitalMarketer advises implementing a sunset policy to automatically remove inactive subscribers from your list after a certain period of time, preventing them from dragging down your engagement metrics.

3 Sep 2023 - DigitalMarketer

Marketer view

Email marketer from Neil Patel emphasizes focusing on improving email engagement by segmenting your list and sending targeted content to different groups of subscribers. This improves sender reputation.

25 Mar 2024 - Neil Patel

What the experts say

5 expert opinions

Recovering from a poor domain reputation with Gmail requires a strategic approach. It's crucial to temporarily halt sending, then gradually resume with small volumes to engaged recipients. Maintaining a consistent sending pattern is vital to avoid triggering spam filters. Identifying and removing subscribers who mark emails as spam through feedback loops prevents future complaints. Avoiding spam traps is paramount, necessitating meticulous list hygiene and permission-based marketing practices.

Key opinions

  • Start Slow: Begin sending again with a very small volume to your most engaged recipients after a pause.
  • Consistent Volume: Maintain a consistent sending volume and frequency to avoid triggering spam filters.
  • Feedback Loops: Utilize feedback loops to identify and remove subscribers who mark emails as spam.
  • Avoid Spam Traps: Hitting spam traps damages reputation; prioritize list hygiene and permission.

Key considerations

  • Ramp-Up: Gradually increase sending volume over time.
  • List Hygiene: Regularly clean your list to remove inactive or problematic addresses.
  • Engagement: Focus on sending to engaged recipients to improve your sender reputation.

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares advice to stop sending for a few days, then start slowly with the best recipients and gradually increase volume over time.

3 Jun 2022 - Email Geeks

Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains the importance of utilizing feedback loops to identify and remove subscribers who mark emails as spam. This prevents future complaints and improves reputation.

10 Oct 2021 - Spam Resource

What the documentation says

5 technical articles

Recovering from a bad domain reputation with Gmail requires leveraging tools for monitoring and authentication. Google Postmaster Tools provides insights into your sending reputation and deliverability issues. Warming up your IP address by gradually increasing email volume helps build trust with ISPs. Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authenticates your emails, preventing spoofing and phishing. Understanding RFC records aids in preventing email abuses. DMARC.org offers resources for implementing and monitoring a DMARC policy.

Key findings

  • Postmaster Tools: Google Postmaster Tools is crucial for diagnosing reputation issues.
  • IP Warmup: Gradual IP warming builds trust with ISPs.
  • Authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC prevent spoofing and improve deliverability.
  • DMARC Policy: Implementing and monitoring a DMARC policy is essential.

Key considerations

  • Gradual Increase: Increase sending volume slowly when warming up an IP.
  • Authentication Setup: Properly configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.
  • Regular Monitoring: Continuously monitor Postmaster Tools and DMARC reports.

Technical article

Documentation from Google explains that Google Postmaster Tools provides data about your sending reputation with Gmail, allowing you to diagnose and address issues.

6 Nov 2024 - Google

Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost recommends implementing email authentication protocols such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to verify your identity as a legitimate sender and prevent spoofing.

9 Sep 2022 - SparkPost

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