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Does the location of my email server affect deliverability to different countries?

Summary

The geographical location of your email server is a topic that occasionally sparks debate within the email deliverability community. While it might seem intuitive that sending emails from a server closer to your recipients would improve deliverability, the reality for most senders is far more nuanced. For major global mailbox providers like Gmail, Microsoft, and Yahoo, the physical location of your IP address generally has little to no direct impact on whether your emails reach the inbox. These providers prioritize factors such as sender reputation, email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), content quality, and recipient engagement over geographical proximity.

What email marketers say

Email marketers often face pressure to find quick fixes for deliverability issues, sometimes leading to investigations into less impactful factors like server location. While some initially entertain the idea that geographical proximity could play a role, many ultimately pivot back to fundamental email marketing principles. The consensus among practitioners tends to be that genuine deliverability improvements stem from careful list management, content optimization, and demonstrating tangible business value, rather than chasing geographical server alignment.

Marketer view

An email marketer from Email Geeks questioned whether sending emails from an EU server to US recipients could impact deliverability. They noted a manager's concern about this, despite a lack of concrete sources supporting the idea. The marketer admitted feeling that such concerns distract from more fundamental deliverability issues, such as high sending volume impacting domain reputation.

15 Jan 2020 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

An email marketer from Email Geeks suggested that list pruning is a crucial strategy for improving deliverability. They highlighted the constant battle to maintain email health when dealing with high sending volumes. The marketer advised looking for segments of the list that are not engaging, as removing these unengaged recipients can significantly improve overall inbox placement.

16 Jan 2020 - Email Geeks

What the experts say

Email deliverability experts generally agree that the geographical location of your email server is a less significant factor compared to a sender's overall reputation and adherence to email best practices. While some very specific, often smaller, providers might have geo-fencing policies or exhibit throttling behaviors, these are typically exceptions. The overwhelming consensus emphasizes that factors like IP history, domain reputation, and effective authentication are paramount for global inbox placement.

Expert view

An expert from SpamResource (SpamResource.com) states that while some smaller, regional mailbox providers might have specific geographic preferences or even block non-local IPs, major providers like Gmail, Microsoft, and Verizon Media Group generally do not factor server location into their deliverability algorithms. Their primary concern remains the sender's reputation and adherence to email standards.

15 Mar 2024 - SpamResource.com

Expert view

An expert from Word to the Wise (WordtotheWise.com) emphasizes that a sender's IP reputation is paramount, regardless of its geographical location. They suggest that being on an IP range known for abuse (a 'cesspit' IP) will indeed affect delivery, but this is a reputation issue, not a geographical one. Domain reputation, they add, is also entirely separate from IP origin, tied instead to how recipients interact with mail associated with that domain.

20 Feb 2024 - WordtotheWise.com

What the documentation says

Official documentation and comprehensive guides from leading email platforms and industry bodies rarely, if ever, highlight the physical location of an email server as a primary factor for deliverability. Instead, these resources consistently emphasize the importance of robust sender authentication, adherence to anti-spam policies, content quality, and maintaining a positive sender reputation through user engagement. The focus is overwhelmingly on digital trust signals rather than geographic proximity.

Technical article

Salesforce documentation on email deliverability highlights that proper sender setup, including email authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, is crucial for inbox placement. It emphasizes that these technical configurations assure mailbox providers of the sender's legitimacy. The physical location of the email server is not listed as a primary factor influencing these security checks or overall deliverability.

01 Nov 2023 - Salesforce

Technical article

SiteGround's academy documentation for email deliverability stresses the importance of list quality and engagement. It explains that sending to a clean, active list reduces bounce rates and spam complaints, which are key indicators of a healthy sender reputation. The documentation implies that these practices are universal best practices, transcending geographical considerations for server placement.

05 Feb 2024 - SiteGround

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