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How does domain reputation affect email deliverability compared to IP reputation?

Summary

Domain reputation is a critical and increasingly important factor in email deliverability, often surpassing IP reputation in significance. While IP reputation facilitates initial email acceptance by the receiving server, domain reputation primarily dictates inbox placement. Experts and email marketers agree that ISPs use domain reputation as a key indicator of a sender's trustworthiness. This reputation is influenced by a range of factors, including sending volume, spam complaints, engagement rates (opens, clicks), authentication practices (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and blacklisting status. Hidden ISP filters often rely on domain reputation for nuanced filtering decisions that are not externally queryable. Documentation from major providers like Google and Microsoft confirms domain reputation's central role in their filtering systems. A positive domain reputation enhances the likelihood of emails reaching the inbox, while a poor reputation can lead to spam filtering or blocking. Therefore, consistently following best practices, maintaining clean email lists, generating engaging content, authenticating your domain, and proactively monitoring your reputation are crucial for success.

Key findings

  • Domain Dominance: Domain reputation has become more important than IP reputation for inbox placement.
  • Reputation Drivers: Key factors influencing domain reputation include sending volume, spam complaints, engagement, authentication, and blacklisting.
  • ISP Reliance: ISPs increasingly rely on domain-based metrics for filtering emails.
  • Google & Microsoft Agreement: Google and Microsoft acknowledge domain reputation as a critical deliverability factor.
  • Authentication Imperative: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for building domain reputation.
  • Hidden ISP Filters: ISPs use hidden filters based on domain reputation for nuanced filtering decisions.

Key considerations

  • Consistent Practices: Maintain consistent and responsible sending practices.
  • List Hygiene: Ensure clean and engaged email lists to minimize spam complaints.
  • Engaging Content: Focus on creating compelling content to improve engagement metrics.
  • Proactive Monitoring: Continuously monitor domain reputation for early detection of issues.
  • Authentication Protocols: Implement and regularly update email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
  • Domain Age: While domain age plays a minor role, focusing on consistently positive sending practices is the priority.

What email marketers say

10 marketer opinions

Domain reputation is increasingly important for email deliverability, often surpassing IP reputation in significance. While IP reputation helps emails get accepted by the receiving server, domain reputation heavily influences inbox placement. ISPs use domain reputation as a key indicator of a sender's trustworthiness, evaluating factors such as sending volume, spam complaints, engagement rates (opens, clicks), authentication practices (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and blacklisting status. A positive domain reputation leads to better inbox placement, whereas a poor one results in spam filtering or blocking. Consistent sending practices, maintaining clean email lists, and creating engaging content are crucial for building and maintaining a strong domain reputation. Proactive monitoring of domain reputation and adherence to email authentication best practices are essential.

Key opinions

  • Domain vs. IP Reputation: Domain reputation is becoming more critical than IP reputation for inbox placement.
  • Key Factors: Domain reputation is determined by sending volume, spam complaints, engagement rates, authentication, and blacklisting status.
  • Impact on Deliverability: A good domain reputation improves inbox placement, while a poor reputation can lead to spam filtering.
  • Importance of Engagement: High engagement rates (opens, clicks) signal positive domain reputation to ISPs.
  • Authentication: Proper domain authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for building domain reputation.

Key considerations

  • Consistent Sending: Maintain consistent sending practices to build a positive domain reputation.
  • List Hygiene: Maintain clean email lists to minimize spam complaints.
  • Engaging Content: Create engaging content to improve engagement rates and domain reputation.
  • Monitoring: Proactively monitor domain reputation to identify and address issues promptly.
  • Authentication: Implement and maintain proper email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
  • Domain Age: While not the most significant factor, domain age can initially influence reputation - consistent positive behaviour matters most

Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailchimp suggests that domain reputation is increasingly important for email deliverability. They recommend senders focus on building a positive domain reputation by authenticating their domain, maintaining clean email lists, and sending engaging content. A strong domain reputation can significantly improve inbox placement rates.

15 Dec 2024 - Mailchimp

Marketer view

Email marketer from ExpertSender shares that engagement metrics are critical. Opens, clicks, and general interaction signal to ISPs that users want to receive email from that domain. Low interaction will affect deliverability negatively.

3 Apr 2025 - ExpertSender

What the experts say

6 expert opinions

Domain reputation is a significant factor affecting email deliverability, often outweighing IP reputation. While IP reputation is essential for initial email acceptance, domain reputation largely dictates inbox placement, with ISPs using it to filter emails. Domain reputation is influenced by sending volume, spam complaints, authentication, engagement rates, and is more critical when emails bypass IP-level blocks but land in spam folders. Hidden ISP filters often use domain reputation for nuanced filtering decisions.

Key opinions

  • Domain Reputation Importance: Domain reputation is now often more important than IP reputation for inbox placement.
  • ISP Filtering: ISPs are increasingly using domain-based metrics to filter emails.
  • Factors Influencing Reputation: Sending volume, spam complaints, authentication, and engagement rates influence domain reputation.
  • Inbox Placement: Domain reputation largely determines whether an email lands in the inbox or spam folder.
  • Hidden ISP Filters: Hidden ISP filters rely on domain reputation for filtering decisions, and are not directly queryable.

Key considerations

  • Monitor Domain Reputation: Regularly monitor your domain reputation to identify and address deliverability issues.
  • Authentication: Implement and maintain proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to improve domain reputation.
  • Engagement: Focus on increasing engagement rates (opens, clicks) to signal positive sender reputation.
  • Complaint Management: Minimize spam complaints by sending relevant and desired content to engaged subscribers.
  • Sending Volume: Avoid sudden spikes in sending volume that may negatively impact domain reputation.

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks states that domain reputation drives inbox delivery, and if emails are landing in the bulk/spam folder, the IP address is likely not the primary cause.

28 Jan 2023 - Email Geeks

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that IP reputation helps get the email accepted by the MX server, but domain reputation largely determines inbox vs. spam folder placement.

9 Jun 2023 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says

4 technical articles

Domain reputation is a critical factor in email deliverability, according to both Google and Microsoft's documentation. A positive domain reputation increases the likelihood of emails reaching the inbox, while a poor one can lead to spam filtering or blocking. Proper domain authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for building a positive domain reputation, as it verifies that the sender is authorized to send emails on behalf of the domain. SPF allows specifying authorized mail servers to fight spammers and improve domain reputation.

Key findings

  • Google's View: Google considers domain reputation a critical factor in email deliverability.
  • Microsoft's View: Microsoft's SmartScreen Filter uses domain reputation to determine inbox placement.
  • Authentication Importance: Proper domain authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for building a positive domain reputation.
  • SPF Role: SPF helps ISPs identify legitimate senders and reject unauthorized sources, aiding in domain reputation.

Key considerations

  • Monitor Domain Reputation: Senders should monitor their domain reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools.
  • Adhere to Best Practices: Adhere to email sending best practices to maintain a positive domain reputation.
  • Implement Authentication: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to authenticate your domain and improve deliverability.
  • Authorized Servers: Use SPF to specify authorized mail servers for your domain to prevent spoofing.

Technical article

Documentation from RFC explains that SPF lets you specify the mail servers that are permitted to send email on behalf of your domain. This verification helps ISPs to fight spammers by rejecting messages from unauthorized sources, which will help with domain reputation.

17 Jun 2022 - RFC

Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft highlights that domain reputation significantly influences email deliverability in Outlook.com. Microsoft's SmartScreen Filter considers the domain reputation when deciding whether to deliver an email to the inbox, junk folder, or block it entirely. Senders should monitor their domain reputation and adhere to best practices to maintain a positive reputation.

22 Jan 2025 - Microsoft

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