Summary
Multiple platforms and tools are available for monitoring email deliverability, sender reputation, and sender score. Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS are frequently recommended for direct insights into Gmail and Outlook/Hotmail deliverability, respectively. For comprehensive inbox placement testing, GlockApps and MailMonitor are popular choices. MXToolbox is essential for monitoring blocklists. Commercial solutions like Validity Everest, Mailgun, Sendinblue, and SenderControl offer extensive features. Maintaining a good sender reputation, ensuring proper authentication, and regular monitoring of key metrics like bounce rates are crucial for improving deliverability. Sender Score is considered less relevant by some experts.
Key findings
- Key tools: Google Postmaster Tools, Microsoft SNDS, GlockApps, MXToolbox, and Validity Everest are among the key tools mentioned for monitoring various aspects of deliverability.
- Free vs. Paid: While Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS are free options, commercial solutions offer more extensive monitoring and reporting capabilities.
- Focus on reputation: Maintaining a good sender reputation is crucial, with monitoring of blocklists and spam complaints as key components.
- Inbox Placement: Inbox placement testing is critical for assessing how emails are being delivered across various email providers. GlockApps and MailMonitor are the popular tools.
- SenderScore Deprecated: SenderScore isn't considered a key metric to monitor anymore for sender reputation.
Key considerations
- Authentication: Ensure proper email authentication practices (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to improve deliverability.
- Proactive Approach: Proactively monitor deliverability metrics, address any issues promptly, and adjust sending practices as needed.
- Holistic Monitoring: Combine free and commercial tools to gain a complete view of deliverability performance across all major email providers.
- Domain Warmup: When launching new domains and IP, make sure to go through a proper domain/IP warmup process to avoid hitting any deliverability issues.
- List Hygiene: Practice good list hygiene by removing unengaged or inactive subscribers to improve engagement rate.
What email marketers say
12 marketer opinions
Various platforms and tools are used to monitor email deliverability, reputation score, and sender score. Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS are commonly recommended for monitoring reputation with Gmail and Outlook/Hotmail, respectively. For inbox placement testing, GlockApps and MailMonitor are popular choices. MXToolbox is frequently cited for blacklist monitoring. Commercial solutions like Validity Everest (formerly ReturnPath) and Sendinblue offer comprehensive deliverability monitoring features. Other recommendations include Kickbox, SendForensic, and reviewing campaign reports in Mailchimp. Sender Score, while historically used, is now considered less relevant by some.
Key opinions
- Google & Microsoft Tools: Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS are essential for monitoring sender reputation with Gmail and Outlook/Hotmail.
- Inbox Placement: GlockApps and MailMonitor are widely used for inbox placement testing across different email providers.
- Blacklist Monitoring: MXToolbox is a frequently recommended tool for monitoring blacklists and identifying if your IP or domain is listed.
- Comprehensive Solutions: Commercial platforms like Validity Everest (ReturnPath), Mailgun, Sendinblue, and SenderControl provide comprehensive deliverability monitoring features.
- Deprecated Metrics: Sender Score is considered less relevant by some experts compared to other metrics.
Key considerations
- Reputation: Maintaining a good sender reputation is crucial for email deliverability, so monitor it regularly using dedicated tools.
- Authentication: Ensure proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to improve deliverability.
- Blacklists: Promptly address any blacklist listings to avoid deliverability issues.
- Engagement: Monitor open rates, click rates, and bounce rates to identify potential deliverability problems.
- Dedicated IP: Consider using a dedicated IP address to build and maintain your sender reputation.
Marketer view
Email marketer from G2 lists several email deliverability software options, including Validity Everest, Mailgun, and Sendinblue. They mention key features such as inbox placement testing, reputation monitoring, and DMARC reporting.
6 Sep 2023 - G2
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that GPT and SNDS are helpful, and Kickbox has an email deliverability suite. They mention that Sender Score isn't really a metric that is used anymore. They also add 250ok if you are trying to track Inbox placement.
11 Jul 2023 - Email Geeks
What the experts say
3 expert opinions
Experts recommend a multi-faceted approach to monitoring email deliverability, reputation, and sender score. Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS are consistently highlighted for monitoring reputation specifically with Gmail and Outlook/Hotmail. Additionally, monitoring blocklists using tools like MXToolbox and MultiRBL is crucial. Commercial options like Return Path (now Validity) and 250ok can provide broader deliverability monitoring.
Key opinions
- Google & Microsoft Focus: Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS provide direct insights into deliverability with major email providers.
- Blocklist Importance: Monitoring blocklists via MXToolbox and MultiRBL is essential for identifying deliverability problems.
- Comprehensive Solutions: Commercial services like Return Path/Validity offer extensive deliverability monitoring and certification.
Key considerations
- Regular Monitoring: Regularly check Google Postmaster Tools to manage sender reputation and improve deliverability.
- Actionable Insights: Use data from monitoring tools to identify and address deliverability issues promptly.
- Holistic Approach: Combine free tools (Google, Microsoft) with commercial options for a complete view of deliverability performance.
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource highlights the importance of monitoring blocklists using tools like MXToolbox and MultiRBL to identify if your IP address or domain has been listed. They also recommend using Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS to monitor your reputation with Gmail and Outlook/Hotmail, respectively.
24 Jul 2021 - Spam Resource
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource recommends regularly checking Google Postmaster Tools as a crucial step to manage your sender reputation and improve email deliverability. They explain that Postmaster Tools provides valuable insights into your email traffic, spam rates, and other key metrics, allowing you to identify and address any issues that may be affecting your deliverability.
11 Aug 2022 - Spam Resource
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
Email deliverability, reputation, and sender score can be monitored through various platforms. Google Postmaster Tools provides insights into metrics for Gmail users, while Microsoft SNDS allows senders to monitor IP health and reputation for Microsoft email services. SparkPost offers deliverability monitoring features, including tracking bounce rates and spam complaints. MXToolbox is useful for monitoring IP addresses and domains against DNS blacklists.
Key findings
- Google Postmaster Tools: Provides data on sending reputation, spam rate, and other metrics for emails sent to Gmail users.
- Microsoft SNDS: Allows senders to monitor the health and reputation of their sending IPs for Microsoft email services.
- SparkPost Deliverability Monitoring: Offers tools for tracking bounce rates, spam complaints, and engagement metrics to identify and resolve deliverability issues.
- MXToolbox Blacklist Check: Monitors IP addresses and domains against multiple DNS blacklists.
Key considerations
- Regular Checks: Regularly monitor each platform to identify and address any deliverability issues.
- Multiple Platforms: Use a combination of these platforms for a comprehensive view of your email deliverability.
- Proactive Approach: Use the insights from these platforms to proactively improve your email practices and maintain a good sender reputation.
Technical article
Documentation from SparkPost outlines their deliverability monitoring features, including tools for tracking bounce rates, spam complaints, and engagement metrics. These tools help senders identify and resolve deliverability issues to improve email performance. They offer comprehensive suite of APIs and webhooks, providing real-time deliverability insights.
4 Sep 2024 - SparkPost
Technical article
Documentation from MXToolbox explains that their blacklist check tool allows you to monitor your IP address and domain against multiple DNS blacklists. This helps you identify if your email server is listed on any blacklists, which can negatively impact deliverability.
20 Jun 2023 - MXToolbox
Besides Spamhaus, what blocklists are important for email marketers to monitor?
How accurate is Microsoft SNDS data for deliverability monitoring?
How accurate is SenderScore's domain association with specific IP addresses?
How can I accurately test and measure email deliverability and sender reputation?
How can I best evaluate my sender score to improve inbox placement?
What resources can I use to troubleshoot Gmail deliverability issues?
