Summary
Email deliverability monitoring encompasses a multi-faceted approach involving a variety of tools, platforms, and strategies. Solutions range from comprehensive suites like GlockApps, Litmus, Validity's Everest, and SparkPost offering real-time analytics, reputation monitoring, and deliverability testing, to specialized services such as Mail-Tester for email quality checks and ZeroBounce for list validation. Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS provide data on spam rates and sender reputation. Technical measures like implementing SPF and DKIM records are crucial for email authentication. Additionally, monitoring blocklists with tools like MXToolbox and managing feedback loops are vital. Secure email services such as Mailfence and monitoring reputation using Talos Intelligence also contribute. Creating custom dashboards from ESP data is another valid approach.
Key findings
- Comprehensive Suites: Platforms like GlockApps, Litmus, Validity's Everest, and SparkPost offer a wide range of deliverability monitoring and testing features.
- Email Authentication: Implementing SPF and DKIM records is essential for verifying sender identity and improving deliverability.
- Reputation Monitoring Tools: Google Postmaster Tools, Microsoft SNDS, and Talos Intelligence are valuable for monitoring sender reputation and identifying issues.
- Blocklist Monitoring: Tools like MXToolbox and HetrixTools can identify if your sending IPs or domains are on blocklists.
- List Validation: Using services like ZeroBounce is vital for maintaining a clean email list and improving deliverability.
- Feedback Loops (FBLs): Establishing and actively managing feedback loops is essential to remove subscribers who mark your emails as spam.
- Email Quality Testing: Mail-Tester provides a report on various aspects of the email to check quality and reduce spam scores.
Key considerations
- Budget: Evaluate the cost and features of each tool and platform to find the best fit for your budget.
- Ease of Use: Choose tools that are easy to use and navigate, especially for beginners.
- Integration: Ensure that the selected tools integrate well with your current email marketing setup.
- Proactive Monitoring: Implement a proactive monitoring strategy that includes regular checks for blocklists, sender reputation, and feedback loops.
- Data Analysis: Take time to analyze the data provided by these tools and platforms to identify and address deliverability issues.
- Authentication Setup: Ensure proper setup of SPF and DKIM records for your domain.
- List Hygiene: Maintain a clean and engaged email list through regular validation and removal of inactive subscribers.
What email marketers say
17 marketer opinions
Email deliverability monitoring involves utilizing a variety of tools and platforms to ensure emails reach the intended recipients' inboxes. These tools offer diverse functionalities, from basic analytics dashboards using exported ESP data in tools like Excel and PowerBI, to comprehensive deliverability suites such as GlockApps, Litmus, Validity's Everest, and SparkPost. These suites provide features like real-time analytics, sender reputation monitoring, feedback loop analysis, and deliverability testing across different ISPs and spam filters. Additionally, services like Mail-Tester help assess email quality, while ZeroBounce focuses on email list validation to improve sender reputation. Monitoring tools like MXToolbox help in diagnosing email issues, and companies like Talos Intelligence and ReturnPath are used to monitor sender reputation. Finally, adopting encrypted email services, such as Mailfence, improves sender reputation positively impacting deliverability.
Key opinions
- Deliverability Suites: Comprehensive platforms like GlockApps, Litmus, Validity's Everest, and SparkPost offer a wide range of features including real-time analytics, reputation monitoring, and deliverability testing.
- DIY Dashboards: Creating custom analytics dashboards using exported ESP data and tools like Excel or PowerBI provides a flexible approach to monitoring key performance indicators.
- Email Validation Services: Services like ZeroBounce help maintain clean and engaged email lists, reducing bounce rates and improving sender reputation.
- Reputation Monitoring: Tools like Talos Intelligence and ReturnPath enable senders to monitor their sending reputation and identify potential deliverability issues.
- Email Quality Testing: Services such as Mail-Tester provide detailed reports on email quality, including spam scores and authentication issues.
- Diagnostic Tools: MXToolbox allows diagnosing email issues, including DNS problems, blacklisting, and mail server configurations.
- Encrypted Email Services: Using encrypted email services like Mailfence improves sender reputation.
Key considerations
- Integration: Consider how well the chosen tool integrates with your existing email service provider (ESP) and other marketing platforms.
- Budget: Evaluate the pricing structure of different platforms and choose a solution that fits your budget and provides the necessary features.
- Ease of Use: Select a platform that is user-friendly and easy to navigate, especially for beginners in email deliverability monitoring.
- Data Accessibility: Ensure that the chosen tool provides access to the necessary data points for analysis and troubleshooting.
- Actionable Insights: Prioritize tools that provide actionable insights and recommendations for improving email deliverability.
- Customization: Assess the level of customization offered by different platforms to tailor the monitoring process to your specific needs.
- Feedback Loops: Check if the monitoring tool provides integration with Feedback Loops to track spam complaints.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says Glockapps is a useful tool for deliverability.
24 May 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks suggests considering 250ok, eDatasource, or Glockapps to see if their offerings align with the user's needs for deliverability monitoring.
26 Nov 2023 - Email Geeks
What the experts say
3 expert opinions
Monitoring email deliverability involves proactive strategies such as blocklist monitoring, managing feedback loops (FBLs), and tracking sender reputation. Monitoring blocklists helps promptly identify if sending IPs or domains are listed, enabling quick action to mitigate deliverability issues. Utilizing FBLs allows senders to identify and remove subscribers marking emails as spam, maintaining a cleaner list. Additionally, monitoring sender reputation with tools like Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS helps detect deliverability problems early, facilitating corrective actions for better inbox placement.
Key opinions
- Blocklist Monitoring: Proactive blocklist monitoring using tools like MXToolbox and HetrixTools helps identify listing issues promptly.
- Feedback Loops: Establishing and managing feedback loops (FBLs) helps in removing subscribers marking emails as spam, improving list hygiene.
- Sender Reputation: Monitoring sender reputation with tools like Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS allows for early detection of deliverability issues.
Key considerations
- Proactive Monitoring: Adopt a proactive approach to regularly monitor blocklists, feedback loops, and sender reputation to detect and address issues promptly.
- ISP Relationships: Work with major ISPs to establish feedback loops (FBLs) for identifying and removing spam complainants.
- Data Analysis: Regularly analyze the data from sender reputation tools and FBLs to understand deliverability performance and identify areas for improvement.
- Corrective Actions: Take corrective actions based on the insights gained from monitoring to improve inbox placement and overall deliverability.
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise recommends monitoring sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS. They explain that analyzing these metrics allows senders to detect deliverability issues and take corrective actions to improve inbox placement.
30 Jul 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view
Expert from Spamresource explains the importance of feedback loops (FBLs) for identifying and removing subscribers who mark your emails as spam. They suggest working with major ISPs to establish FBLs and maintaining a clean list helps with deliverability.
23 Feb 2024 - Spamresource
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
Email deliverability monitoring is supported by technical measures and monitoring tools. Google Postmaster Tools helps monitor spam rates, domain reputation, FBL integration, and authentication issues, specifically for Gmail users. Microsoft SNDS allows monitoring IP health using spam complaints and traffic data. Implementing SPF records authenticates sending mail servers, and DKIM signatures verify sender identity and message integrity. All contribute to improved email deliverability.
Key findings
- Google Postmaster Tools: Provides data on spam rates, domain reputation, FBL integration, and authentication issues for Gmail.
- Microsoft SNDS: Allows monitoring the health and reputation of sending IPs based on spam complaints and traffic volume.
- SPF Records: Implementing SPF records authenticates mail servers authorized to send email on behalf of your domain.
- DKIM Signatures: Implementing DKIM signatures verifies sender identity and message integrity.
Key considerations
- Authentication: Implement both SPF and DKIM for strong email authentication.
- Regular Monitoring: Regularly monitor data from Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS to identify and address deliverability issues.
- Gmail Focus: Google Postmaster Tools is specific to Gmail users; consider other tools for broader monitoring.
- Proactive Approach: Take proactive steps to improve authentication and reduce spam complaints.
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft SNDS (Smart Network Data Services) explains that SNDS allows senders to monitor the health and reputation of their sending IPs by providing data about spam complaints, traffic volume, and other metrics relevant to Microsoft email services.
25 Oct 2021 - Microsoft SNDS
Technical article
Documentation from RFC explains that implementing DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) signatures helps to authenticate email by providing a cryptographic signature that verifies the sender's identity and message integrity, which can improve deliverability.
28 Aug 2021 - RFC
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