Summary
Resolving common email deliverability issues, from Mailgun domain setup to IP blacklisting, fundamentally relies on meticulous DNS record management, adherence to authentication standards, and proactive reputation monitoring. For Mailgun, ensuring all required DNS records (SPF, DKIM, tracking CNAME) are correctly added and allowing for propagation time is crucial. DMARC, DKIM, and SPF issues often stem from misconfigurations or misalignments in DNS records; a phased approach starting with monitoring (p=none) is recommended for DMARC before enforcing stricter policies. BIMI display depends on having DMARC fully enforced, a valid Verified Mark Certificate (VMC), and a correctly formatted SVG logo. Addressing IP blacklist issues involves promptly identifying and stopping the root cause of the listing, then following the specific delisting procedures for each blacklist, complemented by consistent adherence to best sending practices to prevent future problems.
Key findings
- Mailgun DNS Crucial: Mailgun domain setup hinges on correctly adding all DNS records-TXT for verification and SPF, CNAME for tracking, and TXT for DKIM-with common issues being incorrect values or propagation delays.
- DMARC Phased Enforcement: DMARC resolution often requires a phased approach, starting with a 'p=none' policy for monitoring to identify legitimate email streams before gradually moving to 'quarantine' or 'reject' policies.
- Authentication Alignment Key: DMARC failures, and general SPF/DKIM issues, frequently result from misalignment between the 'From' domain and the authentication domains in SPF (Return-Path) or DKIM (d= tag), or from incorrect DNS record syntax.
- BIMI Requires DMARC & VMC: Successful BIMI display is contingent on DMARC being fully enforced (p=quarantine or p=reject), possessing a valid Verified Mark Certificate (VMC), and using a properly formatted SVG logo.
- IP Blacklist Root Cause: Resolving IP blacklist issues necessitates immediately identifying and stopping the underlying malicious or problematic sending activity before requesting delisting through the specific blacklist's removal process.
- UCEProtect Impact Limited: Some blacklists, like UCEProtect, may have minimal real-world impact and can often be safely ignored if no bounce issues are observed.
Key considerations
- Verify DNS Records Thoroughly: Always meticulously verify all DNS record types, values, and hostnames for SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and Mailgun-specific entries, using online DNS lookup and validation tools to confirm correct publication and avoid common typos or syntax errors.
- Allow for DNS Propagation: Understand that DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate globally; patience and repeated checks with DNS tools are essential before concluding there's an error.
- Monitor DMARC Reports: Regularly use DMARC report analyzers to gain insights into email authentication results and quickly identify any DMARC failures or misconfigurations across your sending streams.
- Maintain Sending Reputation: Proactively prevent IP blacklisting by maintaining a high-quality, engaged email list, implementing double opt-in, avoiding sudden volume spikes, and consistently adhering to email sending best practices.
- Align Authentication Across Platforms: Ensure all third-party sending services are correctly signing emails with DKIM and that their sending IPs are authorized in your SPF record, as misalignment is a primary cause of authentication failures.
- Secure and Document Remediation: When delisting from an IP blacklist, be prepared to demonstrate that the root cause of the listing has been identified, addressed, and secured to prevent recurrence.
What email marketers say
11 marketer opinions
Addressing intricate email deliverability challenges, spanning Mailgun domain configurations, DMARC, DKIM, BIMI, and IP blacklist issues, demands a precise and strategic approach. For Mailgun, leveraging integrated DMARC services through partnerships like Red Sift and undergoing a comprehensive deliverability assessment can provide crucial insights. Core authentication problems with DMARC and DKIM frequently stem from incorrect DNS record syntax, missing entries, or critical alignment failures between the sending domain and authentication domains. DMARC, in particular, requires careful syntax for reporting addresses and a phased implementation, gradually moving from monitoring to full enforcement, to prevent legitimate emails from being blocked. BIMI display is directly contingent on robust DMARC enforcement, a valid Verified Mark Certificate, and an accurately formatted SVG logo. Resolving IP blacklist issues necessitates immediate cessation of problematic sending, precise identification of the blacklists, and diligent adherence to their specific delisting procedures, supplemented by a steadfast commitment to IP warm-up and high-quality sending practices to avert future recurrences. Ultimately, meticulous DNS record management and proactive reputation monitoring form the bedrock of consistent email deliverability.
Key opinions
- Mailgun DMARC Integration: Mailgun utilizes partnerships, such as with Red Sift, to provide DMARC backend services, highlighting an integrated approach to authentication.
- DMARC Reporting Syntax: DMARC reports often fail to reach recipients if the 'mailto:' prefix is missing for RUF addresses in the DMARC record, a common syntax error.
- DKIM Configuration Pitfalls: Frequent DKIM authentication failures result from an incorrect public key in DNS, a misconfigured DKIM selector, or the sending server improperly signing outgoing emails.
- BIMI Requirements: Successful BIMI display is dependent on having a valid Verified Mark Certificate (VMC), a correctly formatted SVG logo, and DMARC fully enforced with a policy of 'p=quarantine' or 'p=reject'.
- IP Blacklist Remediation: Resolving IP blacklist issues requires immediately stopping all problematic email sending and then following each blacklist's specific delisting procedure after identification.
- Authentication Alignment: DMARC failures frequently occur due to misalignment of SPF, where the Return-Path domain doesn't align with the From domain, or DKIM, where the 'd=' tag in the signature doesn't match the From domain.
- Core DNS Errors: Common issues across DMARC, DKIM, and SPF setups often stem from incorrect DNS record syntax, missing required records, or publishing records to the wrong subdomain.
Key considerations
- Comprehensive Deliverability Audit: Obtain a comprehensive deliverability assessment, leveraging industry expertise, to pinpoint and resolve various email sending challenges effectively.
- Phased DMARC Rollout: Implement DMARC using a phased approach, starting with 'p=none' for monitoring, gradually transitioning to 'p=quarantine', and only applying 'p=reject' once confidence in legitimate mail authentication is established.
- Meticulous DNS Verification: Consistently verify all DNS records for SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and Mailgun-specific entries, ensuring correct types, values, and hostnames using online lookup and validation tools.
- Account for DNS Propagation: Understand that DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate globally; patiently allow time for propagation before concluding an error exists.
- Proactive Reputation Management: Prevent future IP blacklist issues by maintaining a high-quality email list, implementing double opt-in, avoiding sudden volume spikes, and continuously monitoring sending reputation.
- Root Cause Resolution for Delisting: When seeking IP delisting, be prepared to demonstrate that the root cause of the listing has been identified, thoroughly addressed, and secured to prevent recurrence.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks offers to help with Mailgun domain setup issues, specifically mentioning Red Sift's partnership with Mailgun for DMARC backend services.
20 Mar 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks offers to provide a comprehensive deliverability assessment, highlighting 19 years of industry experience.
19 Sep 2024 - Email Geeks
What the experts say
5 expert opinions
Addressing various email deliverability challenges, including Mailgun domain configurations, DMARC, DKIM, BIMI, and IP blacklist issues, requires precise, targeted interventions. Resolving DMARC failures is contingent on verifying proper SPF and DKIM alignment, ensuring all legitimate sending IPs are authorized, and that email streams are correctly signed. DKIM success similarly hinges on all sending platforms using a valid key and publishing the corresponding public key in DNS. For BIMI, a strong DMARC policy, a Verified Mark Certificate, and a correctly formatted SVG logo are prerequisites for brand logo display. IP blacklist remediation necessitates identifying the cause, halting problematic sending, cleaning recipient lists, and diligently following the specific delisting procedures. It is worth noting that some blacklists, like UCEProtect, may have negligible impact and can often be safely overlooked if no bounces occur, while expert configuration reviews can provide valuable assistance for complex domain setups.
Key opinions
- DMARC Alignment Vital: DMARC authentication failures are primarily resolved by ensuring accurate SPF and DKIM alignment across all legitimate sending IPs and signed email streams, particularly concerning the 'From' domain.
- DKIM Setup Accuracy: Proper DKIM setup involves verifying that all email sending platforms, including third-party services, correctly sign messages with a valid DKIM key, with its public part precisely published as a DNS TXT record.
- BIMI Requires DMARC Enforcement: Successful BIMI implementation is conditional on achieving a DMARC policy of 'p=quarantine' or 'p=reject', along with publishing a BIMI DNS record and obtaining a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC).
- IP Blacklist Remediation Steps: Resolving IP blacklist issues requires identifying the specific blacklist, immediately stopping offending sending, cleaning mailing lists, and following the blacklist operator's delisting process.
- UCEProtect Impact Minimal: UCEProtect blacklisting generally has very little impact and can often be safely ignored if no bounce notifications are observed.
- Domain Setup Expert Review: Common domain setup and deliverability issues can be addressed through expert configuration reviews, a service offered by specialized consultancies.
Key considerations
- Verify SPF and DKIM Alignment: Meticulously verify that all legitimate sending IPs are included in SPF records and that all email streams are correctly signed with DKIM to ensure proper DMARC alignment.
- Accurate DKIM DNS Publication: Ensure the public part of your DKIM key is accurately published as a TXT record in your domain's DNS, matching the private key used for signing and the correct DKIM selector.
- Achieve Strong DMARC Policy: Implement a DMARC policy of 'p=quarantine' or 'p=reject' as a fundamental step towards displaying a BIMI logo.
- Obtain Verified Mark Certificate: Acquire a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) from an authorized certificate authority to enable BIMI logo display on stricter email clients such as Gmail.
- Systematic IP Blacklist Resolution: When facing IP blacklist issues, identify the precise blacklist, stop all problematic sending, clean your mailing lists, and strictly follow the delisting procedures, demonstrating a commitment to good practices.
- Professional Configuration Review: Consider seeking a professional configuration review for Mailgun or general domain setup challenges, as this can efficiently resolve complex issues.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains that UCEProtect blacklisting has very little impact and can safely be ignored if no bounces are observed, and also offers to provide a configuration review for domain setup issues, stating this is a common service at Email Industries.
8 Nov 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that to resolve DMARC authentication failures, one must ensure proper SPF and DKIM alignment. This involves verifying that all legitimate sending IPs are included in SPF records and that all email streams are correctly signed with DKIM. Mismatches in the 'From' domain are common causes, requiring careful attention to ensure the DMARC policy aligns with authenticated domains.
23 Mar 2024 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
7 technical articles
Successfully addressing email deliverability issues, from Mailgun domain setup to resolving DMARC, DKIM, BIMI, and IP blacklist challenges, relies on meticulous DNS record management, adherence to authentication protocols, and proactive problem resolution. For Mailgun, precise configuration of SPF, DKIM, and tracking CNAME records is essential, coupled with patience for DNS propagation. DMARC requires careful verification of SPF and DKIM alignment, starting with a monitoring policy before moving to stricter enforcement, leveraging report analyzers for insights. DKIM validation with Mailgun specifically involves exact matching of DNS records. BIMI display depends heavily on a strong DMARC policy, a valid Verified Mark Certificate, and proper SVG logo formatting. Lastly, tackling IP blacklist issues involves promptly identifying and rectifying the root cause of the listing, followed by a detailed delisting request to the relevant blocklist operator, emphasizing systemic security and adherence to email best practices.
Key findings
- Mailgun DNS Completeness: Resolving Mailgun domain setup issues involves accurately adding all required DNS records, including TXT for verification and SPF, a CNAME for tracking, and a TXT record for DKIM, as incorrect values or propagation delays are common obstacles.
- DMARC Phased Implementation: DMARC resolution mandates verifying SPF and DKIM alignment, with a recommended strategy of starting with a 'p=none' policy for monitoring and report analysis, gradually progressing to 'quarantine' or 'reject'.
- DKIM Precision for Mailgun: Mailgun DKIM validation often requires ensuring the DKIM TXT record in DNS exactly matches the value provided by Mailgun, paying close attention to avoiding transcription errors and utilizing Mailgun's verification tools.
- BIMI Logo and VMC: Successful BIMI logo display necessitates strict adherence to SVG Tiny 1.2 logo format, secure HTTPS hosting, public accessibility, and crucially, obtaining a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC).
- IP Blacklist Root Cause: Addressing IP blacklist issues begins with identifying and immediately stopping the malicious activity, such as spamming, that led to the listing, followed by securing the system before requesting delisting.
- Tracking CNAME Crucial: Mailgun email tracking failures (opens/clicks) are typically due to an incorrectly configured CNAME record for tracking, which must point to 'mailgun.org' with sufficient time allowed for DNS propagation.
Key considerations
- Meticulous DNS Record Verification: Consistently verify all DNS records for Mailgun setup, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and tracking, ensuring correct types, values, and hostnames, and utilizing online lookup tools to confirm global visibility.
- Allow for DNS Propagation Delays: Be mindful that DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate globally; patience is key, and repeated checks using DNS tools are advised before assuming an error.
- Phased DMARC Policy Adoption: Implement DMARC policies in stages, beginning with monitoring ('p=none') to understand email flows and identify legitimate traffic, before transitioning to stricter enforcement.
- Utilize DMARC Report Analyzers: Actively use DMARC report analyzers to gain insights into authentication results, quickly pinpointing any DMARC failures or misconfigurations across your email streams.
- Document IP Blacklist Remediation: When requesting delisting from an IP blacklist, provide specific details about the remediation steps taken to identify, stop, and secure the system against the original cause of the listing.
- Ensure BIMI Logo Compliance: Prioritize meeting all BIMI logo specifications, including SVG Tiny 1.2 format, secure hosting, and public accessibility, in addition to acquiring a Verified Mark Certificate.
Technical article
Documentation from Mailgun explains that resolving Mailgun domain setup issues primarily involves correctly adding all required DNS records, including TXT records for domain verification and SPF, a CNAME for tracking, and a TXT record for DKIM. Common problems are incorrect record types or values and DNS propagation delays.
3 Oct 2022 - Mailgun
Technical article
Documentation from DMARC.org explains that resolving DMARC issues requires verifying the proper alignment and authentication of both SPF and DKIM records. It advises starting with a DMARC policy of "p=none" to monitor email streams and gather reports, gradually moving to "quarantine" or "reject" after ensuring all legitimate mail passes DMARC checks. Using DMARC report analyzers is crucial for identifying problems.
30 Oct 2024 - DMARC.org
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