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How do I troubleshoot low email open rates, check DKIM configuration, and warm up a new subdomain in Salesforce Marketing Cloud?

Summary

Troubleshooting low email open rates, checking DKIM configuration, and warming up a new subdomain in Salesforce Marketing Cloud (SFMC) requires a multi-faceted approach combining technical setup, strategic campaign execution, and continuous monitoring. Key steps include testing your email configuration with tools like aboutmy.email, ensuring proper DKIM configuration in SFMC (particularly for bulk mail), utilizing a functioning reply-to mailbox, and selecting the correct SFMC sender profile (likely profile 2). To improve open rates, focus on optimizing subject lines, segmenting your audience, cleaning email lists, and sending at optimal times. Proper email authentication with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is crucial for deliverability. For new subdomains/IPs, warm-up gradually by sending to engaged subscribers and monitoring sender reputation. DKIM configuration involves generating a key, adding it to your DNS, and validating with tools like MXToolbox. Start DMARC implementation with a 'p=none' policy to monitor email flows before tightening restrictions. Factors impacting open rates significantly include list quality, sender reputation, content relevance, and authentication.

Key findings

  • Email Configuration Testing: Using tools like aboutmy.email is crucial to identify authentication issues.
  • SFMC DKIM Configuration: Ensure correct DKIM configuration for all SFMC sender profiles and bulk mail.
  • Sender Profile and Mailbox: Select the appropriate SFMC sender profile and use a functional reply-to mailbox.
  • Open Rate Optimization: Optimizing subject lines, segmenting lists, and cleaning lists improve open rates.
  • Email Authentication: Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is essential for deliverability.
  • Subdomain/IP Warm-up: Warming up a new subdomain/IP should be gradual and monitored for engagement.
  • DKIM DNS Setup: Valid DKIM DNS records and setup is essential and can be checked with tools like MXToolbox.
  • DMARC Monitoring: Start with DMARC policy 'p=none' to monitor traffic before restricting mail.

Key considerations

  • SFMC Tools: Utilize SFMC's built-in deliverability tools and features.
  • List Hygiene: Regularly clean email lists to maintain high-quality engagement.
  • Content Relevance: Ensure content is relevant and targeted to your audience.
  • Sender Reputation: Maintain a positive sender reputation by adhering to best practices.
  • Feedback Loops: Monitor bounce rates, spam complaints, and ISP feedback for issues.
  • Gradual Implementation: Implement changes like new subdomains or stricter DMARC policies gradually.
  • Monitor Results: Continuously monitor deliverability and adjust strategies based on performance.

What email marketers say

9 marketer opinions

Troubleshooting low email open rates, verifying DKIM configuration, and warming up a new subdomain in Salesforce Marketing Cloud involves several key strategies. To improve open rates, focus on optimizing subject lines, segmenting your audience, cleaning email lists, and sending emails at optimal times. Ensuring proper email authentication with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is crucial for deliverability and avoiding spam filters. For DKIM configuration, add the DKIM record provided by your ESP to your DNS settings and use tools like MXToolbox to verify the configuration. When warming up a new subdomain or IP, gradually increase sending volume to engaged users and monitor your sender reputation. A gradual email warming strategy is essential and should start several weeks before your campaign.

Key opinions

  • Open Rate Optimization: Optimizing subject lines, segmenting audiences, cleaning lists, and strategic send timing are crucial for improving open rates.
  • Email Authentication: Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is essential for proving email legitimacy and avoiding spam folders.
  • DKIM Configuration: Proper DKIM configuration involves adding ESP-provided records to DNS settings and using tools like MXToolbox for verification.
  • IP Warming Strategy: A gradual IP warming strategy, starting with engaged users and increasing volume over time, is vital for building sender reputation.

Key considerations

  • Content Relevance: Ensure email content is relevant and personalized to improve engagement and deliverability.
  • Sender Reputation: Monitor sender reputation and address issues promptly to maintain deliverability.
  • List Hygiene: Regularly clean email lists to remove inactive or invalid addresses, improving engagement metrics.
  • Gradual Warm-up: Start warming up well in advance of campaigns, gradually increasing the email volume to avoid deliverability issues.

Marketer view

Email marketer from SparkPost shares that a good IP warming strategy involves starting with a small volume of emails to your most engaged users and gradually increasing the volume over time. Monitor your sender reputation and adjust the sending schedule as needed.

9 Apr 2025 - SparkPost

Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange forum says, you can use online tools like MXToolbox or DKIM Record Lookup to verify your DKIM record is correctly configured in your DNS settings. These tools will confirm if the record is valid and properly set up.

18 Oct 2023 - StackExchange

What the experts say

9 expert opinions

Troubleshooting low email open rates, checking DKIM configuration, and warming up a new subdomain in Salesforce Marketing Cloud involves several expert recommendations. Start by testing your email configuration using tools like aboutmy.email to identify authentication and setup issues. Ensure that your SFMC profiles are correctly configured for DKIM signing, especially for bulk mail sent to Gmail and Yahoo. Use a real mailbox for sending emails. Choose sender profile 2 within SFMC, which is likely configured with your SAP domain, and consider using RMM for reply management. Changing to a new subdomain requires a proper warm-up. Key factors influencing open rates include list quality, sender reputation, content relevance, and proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). Warm up new IP addresses with small volumes to engaged subscribers, increasing volume gradually based on positive engagement and ISP feedback. Start DMARC implementation with a 'p=none' policy to monitor impact and then adjust to stricter policies.

Key opinions

  • Email Configuration Testing: Use tools like aboutmy.email to check email authentication and configuration.
  • SFMC DKIM Setup: Verify and fix DKIM configuration for all sender profiles in Salesforce Marketing Cloud, particularly for bulk mail.
  • Sender Profile Selection: Use the correct sender profile (likely profile 2, configured with the SAP domain) and a functional reply-to mailbox.
  • IP Warm-up Strategy: Warm up new IP addresses or subdomains gradually, monitoring engagement and ISP feedback.
  • DMARC Implementation: Implement DMARC gradually, starting with 'p=none' and monitoring reports before tightening policies.
  • Open Rate Factors: List quality, sender reputation, content relevance, and email authentication influence open rates significantly.

Key considerations

  • Engagement Monitoring: Closely monitor engagement metrics (open rates, click-through rates) and adjust strategies accordingly.
  • ISP Feedback: Pay attention to feedback from ISPs, including bounce rates and spam complaints, to identify deliverability issues.
  • Profile Management: Properly manage sender profiles in Salesforce Marketing Cloud to ensure correct DKIM signing and sender identity.
  • DMARC Reporting: Analyze DMARC reports regularly to identify and address authentication issues.

Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise shares that when implementing DMARC, start with a policy of 'p=none' to monitor email flows without affecting deliverability. Analyze DMARC reports to identify authentication issues and gradually transition to stricter policies like 'p=quarantine' or 'p=reject' as confidence in authentication increases.

26 Apr 2025 - Word to the Wise

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks says if you change to the subdomain yes, if you only change the alias it should be fine.

18 Nov 2024 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says

5 technical articles

Troubleshooting low email open rates, checking DKIM configuration, and warming up a new subdomain in Salesforce Marketing Cloud requires adherence to email deliverability best practices. Improving open rates involves authentication, list hygiene, and engagement strategies, which can be managed using Salesforce Marketing Cloud tools. Configuring DKIM in Marketing Cloud entails generating a DKIM key, adding the DKIM record to your DNS, and configuring the key within Marketing Cloud Setup. Warming up a new subdomain or IP address requires a gradual increase in sending volume over weeks to establish a positive reputation with ISPs, starting with engaged subscribers and close monitoring of deliverability metrics. General DKIM setup includes generating a key and adding it to DNS records to authenticate messages, while broader email deliverability improvements involve configuring SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to avoid spam filters.

Key findings

  • Email Deliverability Best Practices: Following best practices, including authentication, list hygiene, and engagement strategies, is essential for open rates.
  • DKIM Configuration Steps: Configuring DKIM involves generating a key, adding a DNS record, and setting it up in Marketing Cloud.
  • Subdomain Warming: Warming up a subdomain/IP requires a gradual volume increase over time, starting with engaged subscribers.
  • DKIM Authentication: Adding a DKIM key to DNS helps authenticate messages.
  • Authentication Records: Configuring SPF, DKIM, and DMARC prevents emails from being marked as spam.

Key considerations

  • SFMC Tools: Utilize Salesforce Marketing Cloud's tools to manage deliverability.
  • DNS Management: Properly manage DNS records for DKIM.
  • Positive Reputation: Building a positive reputation with ISPs is critical for deliverability.
  • Subscriber Engagement: Focus on engaging subscribers during the warm-up process.
  • Monitor Deliverability: Monitor metrics closely during warm-up and authentication setup.

Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft Learn mentions to improve email deliverability, configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to authenticate your email. This ensures your email isn't marked as spam by recipient servers.

27 Sep 2022 - Microsoft Learn

Technical article

Documentation from Salesforce Help states the process for warming up a new subdomain or IP address involves gradually increasing sending volume over several weeks to build a positive reputation with ISPs. Start with your most engaged subscribers and monitor deliverability metrics closely.

12 Dec 2021 - Salesforce Help

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