Summary
Recovering from stolen SES credentials requires a comprehensive strategy involving communication, authentication, monitoring, list management, and engagement. Informing subscribers through alternative channels and asking them to mark emails as 'not spam' can provide immediate positive feedback. Ensuring proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for rebuilding trust with email providers. Actively monitoring domain reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS helps identify and address issues promptly. Maintaining list hygiene by removing unengaged subscribers and validating email addresses improves deliverability. Gradually increasing sending volume, focusing on highly-engaged subscribers, segmenting lists, and implementing a double opt-in process are essential for rebuilding reputation. Building relationships with subscribers and leveraging feedback loops further contribute to a successful recovery.
Key findings
- Communicate with Subscribers: Use alternative channels (social media, website) to inform subscribers about the situation and ask them to mark your emails as 'not spam'.
- Implement Authentication: Ensure proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is in place to prevent spoofing and improve deliverability.
- Monitor Reputation: Actively monitor domain reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS to identify and address issues.
- Maintain List Hygiene: Regularly remove unengaged subscribers and validate email addresses to maintain a clean list.
- Warm-Up Sending: Gradually increase sending volume, starting with highly-engaged subscribers.
- Focus on Engagement: Segment your list and create targeted campaigns that resonate with specific audiences.
- Implement Double Opt-In: Use a double opt-in process to ensure only legitimate subscribers are added to your list.
- Leverage Feedback Loops: Monitor feedback loops and address complaints promptly.
Key considerations
- Patience is Key: Recovering domain reputation is a gradual process that requires patience and consistent effort.
- Proactive Action: Promptly address any issues identified through monitoring and feedback loops.
- Subscriber Relationships: Focus on building relationships with subscribers through engagement and feedback.
- Multi-Channel Strategy: Utilize multiple channels (email, social media, website) to communicate with subscribers.
- Long-Term Approach: List hygiene, authentication, and engagement should be ongoing practices to maintain a healthy sender reputation.
- Infrastructure Changes: Consider using multiple IP addresses to distribute sending volume and reduce the risk of blacklisting (advanced).
What email marketers say
10 marketer opinions
Recovering from stolen SES credentials requires a multi-faceted approach. It involves alerting subscribers via other channels, consistently sending engaging content, implementing proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), gradually increasing sending volume, and actively monitoring feedback loops for complaints. Focusing on highly-engaged subscribers, segmenting lists, and employing a double opt-in process are crucial. Maintaining list hygiene by removing invalid addresses and considering multiple IP addresses for distribution can also help rebuild domain reputation. Building relationships with subscribers through engagement and feedback is beneficial.
Key opinions
- Communicate Incident: Inform subscribers about the security breach through alternative channels like social media, asking them to mark your emails as 'not spam'.
- Authentication is Key: Ensure proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is in place to regain trust with email providers.
- Gradual Warm-up: Slowly increase sending volume, starting with the most engaged subscribers to avoid triggering spam filters.
- Feedback Monitoring: Actively monitor feedback loops and address complaints promptly to demonstrate responsible sending practices.
- Engagement Matters: Focus on sending engaging content to segmented lists to improve open and click-through rates.
- List Hygiene: Regularly remove invalid or inactive email addresses from your list to maintain a clean sender reputation.
Key considerations
- Patience Required: Recovering domain reputation is a gradual process that requires patience and consistent effort.
- Alternative Channels: Leverage alternative channels (social media, website) to communicate with subscribers during the recovery period.
- Segmentation: Segment your email list to target specific audiences with relevant content.
- Double Opt-in: Implement a double opt-in process to ensure that only legitimate users are added to your list in the future.
- IP Infrastructure: Consider using multiple IP addresses to distribute sending volume and reduce the risk of blacklisting (advanced).
- Subscriber Relationships: Prioritize building relationships with subscribers through engagement and feedback.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks suggests if they have another channel (e.g., social media) they can send up a flag explaining what happened and asking readers to mark them as not spam.
8 Nov 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Email marketer from Neil Patel explains that consistent sending volume, engaging content, and proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are crucial for rebuilding domain reputation.
7 Jun 2024 - Neil Patel
What the experts say
3 expert opinions
Recovering domain reputation after compromised SES credentials involves proactive monitoring, addressing identified issues, maintaining list hygiene, and implementing a double opt-in process. Encouraging subscribers to mark emails as 'not spam' via alternative channels can also provide a positive action during the recovery period.
Key opinions
- Active Monitoring: Actively monitor domain reputation using Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS to identify issues like spam complaints and authentication failures.
- List Hygiene: Maintain a clean email list by regularly removing unengaged subscribers and validating email addresses.
- Double Opt-In: Implement a double opt-in process to ensure only legitimate users are added to the list.
- Alternative Channels: Use other communication channels to encourage subscribers to mark emails as 'not spam'.
Key considerations
- Proactive Resolution: Promptly address any issues identified through monitoring, such as high spam complaint rates or authentication problems.
- Practical Actions: Focus on actions that subscribers can take immediately, such as marking emails as 'not spam,' to support the recovery process.
- Ongoing Maintenance: List hygiene and double opt-in should be ongoing practices to maintain a healthy sender reputation.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks suggests that Ken's suggestion is the way to go - not least because it’ll give them something to do that’s not trying to be clever with the email stream itself.
18 Mar 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from SpamResource emphasizes the importance of actively monitoring your domain's reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS. They advise promptly addressing any issues identified, such as high spam complaint rates or authentication failures, and proactively reaching out to ISPs to resolve blacklistings.
5 Jun 2025 - SpamResource
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
Recovering from stolen SES credentials involves actively monitoring domain reputation through Google Postmaster Tools, configuring SPF records to authorize sending sources, implementing a DMARC policy to prevent spoofing, and ensuring opt-in consent for recipients as per Microsoft's guidelines.
Key findings
- Reputation Monitoring: Utilize Google Postmaster Tools to monitor spam rates, feedback loop complaints, and authentication status.
- SPF Configuration: Configure SPF records to authorize sending sources for your domain, preventing unauthorized use and improving deliverability.
- DMARC Implementation: Implement a DMARC policy to protect your domain from spoofing and phishing attacks, setting the policy to quarantine or reject unauthorized emails.
- Opt-In Compliance: Ensure compliance with Microsoft's guidelines by only sending emails to recipients who have explicitly opted-in to receive them.
Key considerations
- Proactive Monitoring: Regularly monitor domain reputation metrics to identify and address any potential issues promptly.
- Authentication Standards: Adhere to industry-standard authentication protocols (SPF, DMARC) to improve email deliverability and protect your domain.
- Consent Management: Implement a robust opt-in process to ensure that all recipients have given their explicit consent to receive emails from your domain.
- Security: These actions, while aimed at deliverability, are security best practices and should be implemented regardless.
Technical article
Documentation from DMARC.org explains that implementing a DMARC policy helps protect your domain from spoofing and phishing attacks, improving trust with email providers and recipients. Set your DMARC policy to quarantine or reject to prevent unauthorized use.
1 Jun 2022 - DMARC.org
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft shares to ensure you are not sending unsolicited email and that your recipients have opted-in to receive your messages.
26 Jan 2025 - Microsoft
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