Summary
A user suspension on a domain negatively impacts email deliverability, primarily by damaging the sender's reputation, and potentially leading to emails being marked as spam or directed to the junk folder. The core remediation strategies involve understanding and addressing the root cause of the suspension (e.g., spamming, compromised accounts), implementing immediate action to halt offending activities, cleaning email lists (removing spam traps, inactive addresses, and hard bounces), gradually warming up the IP address, and implementing proper email authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Ongoing DMARC monitoring, consistent sending practices, and engaging content also support improved deliverability and reputation.
Key findings
- Reputation Damage: User suspensions significantly harm a domain's sending reputation, leading to increased spam filtering.
- Immediate Action Required: A suspension signifies a serious issue necessitating immediate steps to halt the cause.
- List Hygiene is Critical: Cleaning email lists by removing spam traps, inactive subscribers, and hard bounces is essential for improving deliverability.
- Authentication Matters: Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is vital for authenticating emails and demonstrating legitimacy.
- IP Warming Essential: Gradually warming up the IP address helps re-establish a positive sending reputation with mailbox providers.
- Google ML Filters Impact: A Google suspension can cause corporate mail to go to bulk. If the spamming behaviour stops Google ML filters will treat it as a blip
Key considerations
- Root Cause Analysis: Thoroughly investigate the cause of the suspension to implement targeted remediation steps.
- Gradual Rollout of Sending: Avoid sending large volumes of emails immediately post-remediation; gradually increase volume to monitor deliverability.
- Monitor Engagement Metrics: Closely monitor engagement metrics (open rates, click-through rates) to identify and target highly engaged subscribers.
- Implement DMARC Monitoring: Regularly monitor DMARC reports to identify authentication issues and potential spoofing attempts.
- Comprehensive Approach: Implement both technical (e.g., authentication) and procedural (e.g., training, monitoring) changes for long-term recovery.
- Avoid Corporate Domain Abuse: Do not use your corporate domain for bulk sending or spam.
What email marketers say
9 marketer opinions
A user suspension on a domain negatively impacts email deliverability by damaging the sender's reputation, potentially leading to emails being marked as spam. Remediation strategies focus on identifying the cause of suspension, cleaning email lists (removing spam traps, inactive addresses, and hard bounces), warming up the IP address by gradually increasing sending volume to engaged subscribers, and implementing proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). Consistent sending practices, engaging content, and DMARC monitoring also contribute to improved deliverability.
Key opinions
- Reputation Damage: User suspensions significantly harm a domain's sending reputation, increasing the likelihood of emails landing in spam folders.
- List Hygiene: Cleaning email lists by removing spam traps, inactive subscribers, and hard bounces is crucial for improving deliverability.
- Authentication: Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is essential for authenticating emails and proving legitimacy, helping to rebuild trust with mailbox providers.
- IP Warming: Gradually warming up the IP address by sending small volumes of emails to engaged subscribers helps re-establish a positive sending reputation.
- Content Review: Suspension can be triggered by the email content. Check your content to see if it could trigger spam filters.
Key considerations
- Cause Identification: Identifying the root cause of the suspension (e.g., spam complaints, high bounce rates, compromised account) is necessary to implement effective remediation strategies.
- Gradual Rollout: Avoid sending large volumes of emails immediately after remediation. Gradually increase sending volume to monitor deliverability and prevent further damage.
- Engagement Monitoring: Closely monitor engagement metrics (open rates, click-through rates) to identify and segment highly engaged subscribers for initial warm-up campaigns.
- DMARC Monitoring: Regularly monitor DMARC reports to identify authentication issues and potential spoofing attempts.
- Avoid Spam Triggers: Avoid the use of spam trigger words in email content
Marketer view
Email marketer from Neil Patel's Blog explains that a domain's reputation is crucial for deliverability. A suspension can severely damage this reputation, leading to emails being marked as spam. Remediation includes identifying the cause of suspension, cleaning email lists to remove spam traps and inactive addresses, warming up the IP address, and authenticating emails using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
26 Mar 2022 - Neil Patel's Blog
Marketer view
Email marketer from SparkPost shares that avoiding spam filters involves several steps. After a suspension, they recommend cleaning email lists, segmenting based on engagement, avoiding spam trigger words, and ensuring emails are properly formatted. To remediate, they advise to run your emails through a spam filter checker before sending.
31 Dec 2022 - SparkPost
What the experts say
4 expert opinions
A user suspension on a domain due to spamming or other policy violations significantly harms email deliverability by damaging the sender's reputation. Remediation requires immediate action, including stopping the spamming behavior, identifying the cause of the suspension, and implementing both technical changes (e.g., authentication) and procedural changes (e.g., training and monitoring). Avoiding bulk marketing from corporate domains and removing hard bounces from email lists are also crucial for maintaining a good sending reputation and preventing future suspensions.
Key opinions
- Severe Impact: Google suspensions significantly harm deliverability, potentially causing emails to land in the bulk/spam folder.
- Immediate Action: A suspension indicates a serious problem requiring immediate action.
- Bulk Marketing Risk: Using a corporate domain for bulk marketing, particularly spam, is a risky practice that can lead to deliverability issues.
- Bounce Impact: Hard bounces negatively impact sender reputation and deliverability.
Key considerations
- Stop Spamming: Immediately cease any spamming activity to prevent further damage to reputation.
- Cause Analysis: Understand the *reason* behind the suspension to effectively address the underlying issue.
- Technical & Procedural Changes: Implement both technical (e.g., authentication) and procedural (e.g., training, monitoring) changes for long-term recovery.
- Corporate Domain Usage: Re-evaluate the use of corporate domains for marketing activities, especially bulk sending.
- Bounce Management: Proactively manage hard bounces to maintain a healthy email list and sender reputation.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains that a Google suspension for spamming significantly impacts deliverability, potentially causing corporate mail to go to bulk. Stopping the spamming behavior immediately is crucial to prevent long-term damage to the sender's reputation. If the behavior stops Google ML filters will treat it as a blip.
22 Nov 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource explains bounce processing, particularly handling hard bounces. Removing bad addresses improves sender reputation and deliverability, helping prevent future suspensions. The summary is that bounces contribute to a poor sender reputation. You should try and resolve issues causing hard bounces as well as removing the email.
28 Jul 2022 - Spam Resource
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
While suspending a user account primarily restricts access to services, the underlying causes leading to the suspension (such as spamming or account compromise) have a significant impact on domain email deliverability. Remediation involves investigating the cause, educating users on acceptable practices, securing compromised accounts by resetting passwords and reviewing activity, and implementing technical measures like SPF and DMARC to prevent spoofing and authenticate legitimate emails. Proper authentication is crucial for improving deliverability after a suspension.
Key findings
- Indirect Impact: Account suspension itself doesn't directly affect deliverability, but the *reason* for suspension does.
- Compromised Accounts: Compromised accounts severely impact deliverability due to potential spam activity.
- SPF Prevents Spoofing: SPF allows domain owners to authorize mail servers, preventing spoofing that can lead to suspension.
- DMARC Handles Unauthenticated Emails: DMARC instructs receivers on handling unauthenticated emails, improving deliverability and preventing spoofing.
Key considerations
- Investigate the Cause: Determine the reason for the suspension (e.g., spam, compromise) for effective remediation.
- User Education: Educate users on acceptable email practices to prevent future issues.
- Secure Compromised Accounts: Reset passwords, review activity, and remove unauthorized apps to secure compromised accounts.
- Implement Authentication: Implement SPF and DMARC to authenticate legitimate emails and prevent spoofing.
- Monitor Outbound Email: Monitor outbound email for suspicious activity to detect and prevent future issues.
Technical article
Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that suspending a user account will prevent access to Google Workspace services. While suspension itself doesn't directly impact domain deliverability, the actions that led to the suspension (e.g., spamming) certainly do. Remediation involves investigating the cause of the suspension, educating the user on acceptable email practices, and monitoring outbound email for suspicious activity.
5 Nov 2022 - Google Workspace Admin Help
Technical article
Documentation from RFC-Editor explains that Sender Policy Framework (SPF) allows domain owners to specify which mail servers are authorized to send email on behalf of their domain. This helps prevent spoofing, which can lead to suspension if malicious actors abuse the domain. It explains that implementing SPF records correctly improves deliverability by authenticating legitimate emails.
11 Mar 2023 - RFC-Editor
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