Summary
MX records are DNS records that tell sending mail servers where to deliver emails for a specific domain. Improperly configured, missing, or incorrect MX records lead to email bounces and delivery failures, which negatively impact sender reputation. A high volume of bounces can cause ISPs to view a sender as untrustworthy, potentially leading to blacklisting and emails being marked as spam. Maintaining correct MX record setups, managing bounces, and ensuring a working return path are crucial for ensuring email deliverability and protecting sender reputation. Delegate MX control to ESPs, and always use high-quality email lists.
Key findings
- MX Record Purpose: MX records direct email flow to the appropriate mail servers for a domain.
- Bounce Impact: Misconfigured MX records cause email bounces and delivery failures.
- Reputation Damage: High bounce rates due to MX issues negatively affect sender reputation, potentially leading to blacklisting.
- List Quality: High bounce volumes indicate poor list quality and mailing practices.
- Return Path: A working return path is essential for handling bounces and maintaining sender reputation.
Key considerations
- Correct Configuration: Ensure MX records are correctly configured to avoid delivery issues and reputation damage.
- Bounce Management: Manage bounces from domain configuration problems to maintain a positive sender reputation.
- Delegate Control: Consider delegating subdomain management to ESPs for optimal MX record handling.
- List Hygiene: Maintain high-quality email lists to minimize hard bounces and protect sender reputation.
- Monitor Deliverability: Regularly monitor email deliverability and bounce rates to identify and address any MX record-related issues.
What email marketers say
11 marketer opinions
MX records play a vital role in email deliverability and sender reputation. They direct email flow, and misconfigured or missing records lead to bounces, which ISPs interpret as signs of an unreliable sender. High bounce rates negatively impact sender reputation, potentially causing emails to be marked as spam or blocked. Properly configuring MX records is crucial for ensuring emails reach their intended destination and maintaining a positive sender reputation. Managing bounces resulting from MX record issues is also essential to prevent deliverability problems.
Key opinions
- MX Record Function: MX records instruct sending servers where to deliver emails for a specific domain.
- Bounce Impact: Incorrect MX records cause email bounces, leading ISPs to view senders as untrustworthy.
- Reputation Damage: High bounce rates due to MX issues negatively affect sender reputation, resulting in emails being marked as spam or blocked.
- Domain Setup: MX misconfiguration suggests a domain is improperly set up, impacting email deliverability.
- Blocklisting Risk: MX-related bounces can lead to domains or IPs being blocklisted, harming deliverability.
Key considerations
- Correct Configuration: Ensure MX records are correctly configured to avoid deliverability issues.
- Bounce Management: Manage bounces from domain configuration problems to maintain a positive sender reputation.
- ESP Delegation: Consider delegating subdomain management to ESPs for optimal MX record handling.
- Return Path Setup: Ensure a working return path is set up; improperly handled bounces negatively influence your sender reputation.
- Domain Legitimacy: Ensure MX records are precise so ISPs recognise the sender as legitimate, avoiding being labelled as spam.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that MX records tell a sending server where to send emails for a specific domain, which is used when bounce emails are generated. Bounces can occur during the SMTP dialog or later, and the MX record is consulted when generating a bounce email.
2 Aug 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Email marketer from Mailjet states that MX record issues can lead to higher bounce rates, causing a negative impact on sender reputation. Mailjet highlights the necessity of precise MX record configuration to ensure ISPs recognize the sender as legitimate, thus avoiding being labeled as spam.
17 May 2024 - Mailjet
What the experts say
2 expert opinions
Incorrect MX records prevent emails from reaching their destination, resulting in hard bounces. A high volume of hard bounces signals poor list quality and mailing practices. Furthermore, the failure to properly handle bounces from invalid addresses due to incorrect MX records can negatively impact sender reputation with ISPs. Therefore, ensuring correct MX record configuration and bounce handling is essential for maintaining deliverability and a positive sender reputation.
Key opinions
- MX Record Errors: Incorrect MX records cause permanent email delivery failures (hard bounces).
- Bounce Volume: High hard bounce volumes indicate poor list quality and mailing practices.
- Reputation Impact: Improperly handled bounces due to incorrect MX records negatively impact sender reputation.
- Importance of Return Path: You must have a working return path set up.
Key considerations
- MX Record Accuracy: Ensure MX records are accurate to prevent hard bounces and delivery failures.
- List Quality: Maintain high-quality email lists to minimize hard bounces.
- Bounce Handling: Implement proper bounce handling mechanisms to prevent sender reputation damage.
Expert view
Expert from Spamresource.com explains that if the MX record is wrong it stops mail from reaching the intended destination. This is a permanent failure, or hard bounce. The volume of hard bounces can be a very strong indication of the quality of your list and mailing practices.
10 Sep 2022 - Spamresource.com
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise Laura Atkins explains that you must have a working return path set up. If bounces from invalid email addresses are not properly handled because of incorrect MX records, ISPs will negatively view your sender reputation.
21 Jan 2022 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
MX records are crucial DNS records that direct email flow to the appropriate mail servers for a domain. Incorrect, missing, or misconfigured MX records cause email delivery failures and bounces, which negatively impact sender reputation. High bounce rates signal to ISPs that a sender is unreliable or has a problematic domain, potentially leading to blacklisting. Correct MX record setup is essential for proper email system function and maintaining a positive sender reputation.
Key findings
- Email Routing: MX records direct email flow to responsible mail servers.
- Delivery Failure: Incorrect MX records cause email delivery failures and bounces.
- Reputation Impact: Bounces due to MX errors negatively impact sender reputation.
- Blacklisting: High bounce rates can lead to domain blacklisting.
- SMTP Reliance: SMTP relies on MX records (DNS) for routing emails.
Key considerations
- Correct Setup: Ensure MX records are correctly set up for proper email function.
- Avoid Misconfiguration: Prevent missing or misconfigured MX records to avoid delivery issues.
- Monitor Bounces: Monitor bounce rates to identify and address MX record problems.
- Domain Validation: Verify domain MX records to ensure emails can be delivered correctly.
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft explains that DNS records, including MX records, must be set up correctly for email systems to function. If email intended for your domain is bouncing, it can lead to the blacklisting of your domain. Your sender reputation suffers as other mail servers perceive your domain as problematic.
4 Sep 2023 - Microsoft
Technical article
Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that MX records specifically direct email flow for your domain. These records tell the internet which mail servers are responsible for accepting emails on behalf of your domain. Incorrect MX records can prevent emails from being delivered, leading to bounces and negatively impacting sender reputation as senders might be seen as unreliable.
13 May 2024 - Google Workspace Admin Help
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