Summary
The question explores alternatives to Validity for Microsoft deliverability certification. The consensus is that while no direct certification guarantees inbox placement with Microsoft, several strategies and services can improve deliverability. The Certified Senders Alliance (CSA) is mentioned as a whitelist that can improve deliverability if its standards are met. ISIPP SuretyMail's 'Good Senders' list is used by some Microsoft filters. Actively using Microsoft's SNDS tool to monitor reputation, directly contacting Microsoft support, and implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for email authentication are highlighted. Maintaining good sender reputation, warming up IPs, monitoring metrics, and avoiding blacklists are also crucial. It's important to understand that Microsoft uses a variety of signals for determining deliverability, not just certifications.
Key findings
- No Guarantee: No certification guarantees deliverability to Microsoft; Microsoft uses various signals.
- Certified Senders Alliance: CSA offers a whitelist that improves deliverability if their standards are met.
- ISIPP SuretyMail: SuretyMail's 'Good Senders' list is used by some Microsoft filter providers.
- Microsoft SNDS: Microsoft's SNDS provides reputation data for troubleshooting delivery issues.
- Direct Support: Directly contacting Microsoft support can sometimes resolve issues.
- Email Authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are critical for email authentication.
- Reputation and Monitoring: Maintaining good sender reputation and monitoring deliverability metrics are vital.
Key considerations
- Holistic Approach: Deliverability requires a holistic approach including authentication, reputation, engagement, and monitoring.
- Ongoing Maintenance: Deliverability is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix.
- Standards Compliance: Adhering to standards and best practices is essential.
- Reputation Signals: Microsoft uses multiple signals beyond certifications to assess reputation.
What email marketers say
10 marketer opinions
The question asks about companies offering Microsoft deliverability certification besides Validity. The responses indicate that while there aren't direct alternatives that guarantee deliverability, several options can improve it. The Certified Senders Alliance (CSA) offers a whitelist that can help, and SuretyMail's 'Good Senders' list is used by some Microsoft filter providers. Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication, warming up IP addresses, maintaining a good sender reputation, monitoring metrics, and avoiding blacklists are also crucial for Microsoft deliverability.
Key opinions
- CSA as alternative: The Certified Senders Alliance (CSA) is a whitelist that can improve deliverability to various ISPs, including Microsoft.
- SuretyMail: SuretyMail's 'Good Senders' list is used by some filter providers that Microsoft employs.
- Authentication is key: Implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is crucial for authenticating emails and improving deliverability.
- Reputation matters: Maintaining a good sender reputation and warming up IP addresses are essential for reaching the inbox.
- Monitoring and avoidance: Monitoring bounce rates, engagement metrics, and avoiding blacklists contribute to better deliverability.
Key considerations
- No guaranteed pass: No certification guarantees deliverability to Microsoft; they use various signals for reputation.
- CSA requirements: Joining the CSA requires adhering to specific quality standards.
- Holistic approach: Deliverability improvements require a holistic approach, including authentication, reputation management, and engagement.
- Ongoing maintenance: Deliverability is an ongoing process that requires continuous monitoring and optimization.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Stack Overflow suggests using Sender Policy Framework (SPF), DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) and Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC) to authenticate email and improve deliverability to Outlook.
31 Jul 2021 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view
Email marketer from EmailVendorSelection mentions the Certified Senders Alliance (CSA) as an email whitelist that can help with deliverability to various ISPs, including Microsoft. Joining CSA requires adhering to certain quality standards.
21 Oct 2021 - EmailVendorSelection
What the experts say
4 expert opinions
The question asks about companies offering Microsoft deliverability certification besides Validity. The answers suggest that no direct certification guarantees inbox placement. One approach involves contacting Microsoft support directly, describing your company and email program. The Microsoft SNDS tool is useful for monitoring your reputation and addressing deliverability issues. It's important to note that Microsoft uses various signals to determine reputation, and while some services can help improve practices, they don't guarantee delivery.
Key opinions
- No Guarantee: No existing certification guarantees deliverability into Microsoft inboxes.
- Direct Support: Contacting Microsoft support directly with detailed information about your email program can resolve issues, although this isn't a permanent fix.
- SNDS Tool: The Microsoft SNDS tool provides data on spam complaints and reputation metrics for troubleshooting delivery issues.
Key considerations
- Multiple Signals: Microsoft uses a variety of signals to determine reputation and deliverability, not just certifications.
- Proactive Approach: A proactive approach to monitoring and improving sending practices is necessary for sustained deliverability improvements.
- No quick fix: Relying solely on a single fix is not sufficient; consistent best practices must be followed.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks shares a support request form for Microsoft that can be used to request assistance regarding deliverability issues.
31 Dec 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that there aren't really any 'certifications' that guarantee deliverability to Microsoft. Microsoft uses a variety of signals to determine reputation and deliverability, and while some organizations like Validity offer services that can improve your sending practices, they don't provide a guaranteed pass to the inbox.
4 May 2022 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
5 technical articles
The question is regarding alternative companies to Validity that offer Microsoft deliverability certification. The provided documentation highlights that while no direct certifications exist, several tools and protocols are crucial for achieving good deliverability. Microsoft's SNDS program allows senders to monitor their IP reputation. The Certified Senders Alliance (CSA) provides a certification program that can improve deliverability to participating ISPs, including Microsoft, upon meeting technical and legal requirements. Following Microsoft's guidelines and implementing SPF and DMARC are also vital for authentication and deliverability.
Key findings
- No Direct Certification: Microsoft does not offer a direct deliverability certification program.
- Microsoft SNDS: Microsoft's SNDS program allows senders to monitor their sending IP addresses and reputation.
- Certified Senders Alliance (CSA): The CSA offers a certification program that can improve deliverability to participating ISPs, including Microsoft, but requires adherence to strict standards.
- Authentication Protocols: SPF and DMARC are crucial for email authentication and improving deliverability.
Key considerations
- Holistic Approach: Achieving good deliverability requires a comprehensive approach that includes monitoring reputation, meeting industry standards, and implementing authentication protocols.
- Ongoing Monitoring: Deliverability is not a one-time fix but an ongoing process that requires continuous monitoring and adjustments.
- Adherence to Standards: Meeting the technical and legal requirements of organizations like the CSA is essential for improved deliverability.
Technical article
Documentation from Certified Senders Alliance describes the requirements for becoming a certified sender, which includes technical and legal requirements. Acceptance into the CSA program can improve deliverability to participating ISPs, including Microsoft.
23 Dec 2022 - Certified Senders Alliance
Technical article
Documentation from RFC defines the standards for SPF records, describing how they should be formatted and used by receiving mail servers to verify the authenticity of sending domains.
6 Dec 2023 - RFC
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