If Google is blocking your emails due to a poor domain reputation, a multifaceted approach is necessary. Initially, cease sending emails to Google for a cool-down period. Immediately stop all prospecting or cold email activities, as these are likely contributing significantly to the problem. Ensure proper email authentication using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, which verifies your identity to ISPs. Gradually increase sending volume to warm up your IP address. Consistently clean your email list by removing inactive subscribers and use email verification services. Maintain a consistent sending volume to build trust with ISPs and avoid triggering spam filters. Focus on creating engaging, relevant content to improve engagement rates and reduce spam complaints. Proactively monitor your domain reputation with Google Postmaster Tools and feedback loops to identify and address issues. Check and address any blacklist listings. Ensure a valid reverse DNS (rDNS) record for your sending IP address. Adhere to Google's specific guidelines for senders. Continually adjust sending practices based on feedback and monitoring. Recognize that if your business relies on sending unsolicited email, you may need to re-evaluate your business model.
10 marketer opinions
If Google is blocking your emails due to poor domain reputation, several key steps can be taken to rectify the situation. Immediately cease any prospecting or cold email activities, as these are likely contributing to the problem. Ensure that your emails are properly authenticated using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Gradually increase your sending volume to warm up your IP address and establish a positive reputation. Regularly clean your email list by removing inactive subscribers and using email verification services to eliminate invalid addresses. Maintain a consistent sending volume to build trust with ISPs. Focus on creating engaging content to improve open and click rates. Monitor feedback loops to identify and address spam complaints. Check if your domain is on any email blacklists and take steps to get removed if necessary. Finally, ensure your sending IP address has a valid reverse DNS (rDNS) record.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Geeks advises to stop the prospecting. There is nothing that will ever make prospecting/cold email *not* spam, so not only is Gmail handling the spam that your customers are sending properly, but frankly if it's not happening at other inbox providers, you're on a limited hail Mary pass.
11 Apr 2025 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Email marketer from GMass advises to use an email verification service to remove invalid or risky email addresses from your list. This helps reduce bounce rates and protect your sender reputation. Services like NeverBounce or ZeroBounce can assist with this.
29 May 2024 - GMass
9 expert opinions
If Google is blocking your emails due to a poor domain reputation, experts recommend several courses of action. First, cease all email activity to Google for a few weeks to allow the system to 'cool down' and then gradually resume sending, testing the waters slowly. It is crucial to halt prospecting emails, as Google may be identifying your mail as primarily spam. Adjust your sending practices to avoid repeating the issue. Maintaining consistent sending habits, monitoring your reputation proactively using tools like Google Postmaster Tools, and using seedlists and blocklists to identify issues are essential. Assess your business needs and recognize that 'fixing' the issue may not be possible if your business model relies on sending spam. Knowing and actively managing your reputation is crucial for inbox placement.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks shares if the business needs are "we need to send spam" than don't bother trying to "fix" it as the spam filters are working exactly as designed.
15 May 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks shares the best option is to stop all email to Google for a couple of weeks to allow things to cool off, and then send very slowly, testing the waters.
30 Mar 2024 - Email Geeks
5 technical articles
If Google is blocking your emails due to a poor domain reputation, documentation suggests several technical measures. Utilizing Google Postmaster Tools to gain insights into your domain's reputation and address specific issues such as spam complaints is crucial. Implementing SPF records helps to specify authorized mail servers and prevent spoofing. DKIM adds a digital signature to verify email integrity. DMARC builds upon SPF and DKIM, providing instructions to ISPs on how to handle emails failing authentication. Following Google's guidelines for preventing emails from being blocked, including proper authentication, consistent IP address usage, and low spam complaint rates, is essential for maintaining deliverability to Gmail accounts.
Technical article
Documentation from Google outlines guidelines to prevent emails sent to Gmail accounts from being blocked or marked as spam. Adhering to these guidelines, which include authenticating your email, sending from a consistent IP address, and maintaining low spam complaint rates, is critical for ensuring deliverability.
24 Aug 2023 - Google Workspace
Technical article
Documentation from DMARC.org explains Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC) builds upon SPF and DKIM by allowing you to specify how ISPs should handle emails that fail authentication checks. Implement DMARC to protect your domain from spoofing and phishing attacks.
24 Dec 2021 - DMARC.org
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