Summary
When using Mautic with SMTP.com, achieving optimal email deliverability can present unique challenges, especially when multiple domains are involved for sending and tracking. Even with strong authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC in place, emails can still land in spam folders. This is often due to a combination of factors including sender reputation, content, and the intricate filtering mechanisms of various Internet Service Providers (ISPs), particularly Microsoft (Hotmail) and Yahoo.
Key findings
- Domain reputation: Your domain’s reputation with ISPs is critical, even if technical authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is perfect. Google Postmaster Tools provides insights into this, and it needs active monitoring.
- Tracking links and images: If Mautic is hosted on a different domain than your sending domain, and image/tracking links default to the Mautic hosting domain, this can negatively impact deliverability.
- ISP variations: Deliverability issues often manifest differently across ISPs. Hotmail and Yahoo frequently have stricter filtering and may classify emails as spam even when Gmail, iCloud, and Zoho do not.
- Content impact: The email content itself, including text and image balance, can trigger spam filters, irrespective of authentication or blocklist status.
- No spam complaints: Receiving a 'Why is this message in spam?' notification without corresponding spam complaints in Google Postmaster Tools indicates that the issue may not be user-driven complaints but rather automated filtering.
Key considerations
- Monitor domain reputation: Regularly check your domain reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools. For more detailed insights into understanding and using these tools, explore our guide on the ultimate guide to Google Postmaster Tools V2.
- Align tracking domains: Configure Mautic to use your sending domain (e.g., Earthledger.one) for all image and tracking links, rather than a separate Mautic hosting domain (e.g., outbound.smartmind.one). This alignment is a fundamental aspect of DNS lookups, SPF records, and subdomain usage.
- Test content variations: Experiment with sending plain text emails, or emails with minimal images and no tracking links, to isolate whether content or linking is the root cause. This forms part of email deliverability best practices.
- Address ISP-specific issues: Pay close attention to Hotmail (Microsoft) and Yahoo postmaster pages, as they often provide specific guidance or tools for senders experiencing issues with their platforms.
- Leverage SMTP.com support: As your email service provider, SMTP.com's support team can offer insights into their network's reputation and provide specific advice tailored to your sending patterns.
What email marketers say
Email marketers often face challenges with deliverability, even with authenticated setups. When using Mautic and SMTP.com, discussions frequently revolve around the impact of email content, particularly images and tracking links, as well as the importance of understanding domain reputation beyond basic technical compliance. They also highlight the varied responses of different email providers (ISPs) to email campaigns, necessitating targeted troubleshooting for services like Hotmail and Yahoo.
Key opinions
- Text-based emails: Many marketers suggest trying plain text emails as a first step to diagnose if content or formatting is the issue.
- Domain reputation checks: It's commonly advised to check the domain reputation within Google Postmaster Tools, as this provides a clearer picture of how Google perceives your sending domain.
- Content and links: There's a strong belief that the actual content, including links and images, can significantly influence inbox placement, even if DMARC is fully compliant.
- ISP differences: Marketers often report that deliverability problems are specific to certain ISPs, such as Hotmail and Yahoo, while other services like Gmail might show good inboxing rates.
- Custom tracking domains: Using your own domain for link tracking within Mautic is widely considered a best practice to improve deliverability.
Key considerations
- Isolate content issues: Before making large changes, test by sending emails with no images or links to see if deliverability improves. This is a common method for identifying content-related deliverability problems.
- Prioritize domain reputation: Focus on improving your domain reputation, as it is a complex factor Google considers, encompassing various elements beyond just authentication. Learn more about improving email deliverability through domain warm-up.
- Monitor blocklists (blacklists): Even if you believe you're not on any blocklists, consistent monitoring is essential, as inclusion on a blacklist, even a smaller one, can significantly impact deliverability and necessitate steps to get removed from blacklists.
- Engage SMTP.com support: Utilize your SMTP provider's support channels, as they have insights into their network and can offer specific advice.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests that marketers consider sending text-based emails, as it can help diagnose if content or formatting is causing deliverability issues.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Geeks advises checking the authentication domain and its Google Postmaster Tools reputation, as this provides crucial insights into how ISPs view your sending practices.
What the experts say
Email deliverability experts highlight that while technical authentication is crucial, it doesn't guarantee inbox placement. They point to the nuanced and complex filtering systems used by major ISPs, which scrutinize elements like domain reputation, content quality, and user engagement signals. For platforms like Mautic, specific configuration for tracking domains is emphasized, along with targeted troubleshooting for difficult ISPs such as Microsoft and Yahoo.
Key opinions
- Complex filters: Google's (and other ISPs') filters are highly complex, assessing many factors including links, domain reputation, content, and audience engagement, not just authentication status.
- Testing approach: A practical first step is to send emails with no links or images to see if they reach the inbox, helping isolate the root cause of deliverability issues.
- Hotmail/Yahoo challenges: Deliverability to Hotmail and Yahoo is often more challenging than to Gmail, and senders should use their respective postmaster pages for specific guidance.
- Custom Mautic tracking: It's strongly advised to configure Mautic to use your own domain for link tracking to maintain a consistent sending identity and improve trust signals.
- SMTP provider support: Engaging with the SMTP provider's support team is a valuable step, as they can provide network-specific insights and assistance.
Key considerations
- Deep dive into domain reputation: Understand that domain reputation goes beyond simple authentication. Refer to our guide on Google Postmaster Tools Domain Reputation for a comprehensive understanding.
- Iterative content testing: Implement a systematic testing process, starting with minimal content, to identify specific elements (text, images, links) that might be triggering spam filters. This aligns with best practices for improving deliverability to Microsoft.
- Utilize ISP postmaster tools: Actively use postmaster pages provided by Hotmail (Outlook.com) and Yahoo to gain specific insights into their filtering decisions.
- Configure Mautic link tracking: Ensure Mautic is set up to use a dedicated sub-domain for tracking links that aligns with your sending domain to avoid reputation issues associated with default Mautic hosting domains.
Expert view
Email deliverability expert from Email Geeks explains that domain reputation is a key metric found in Google Postmaster Tools, which provides a comprehensive overview of how a domain is perceived by Google's filters.
Expert view
Email deliverability expert from Email Geeks emphasizes that Google's filters are complex and consider numerous factors, including links, domain reputation, content, and the target audience, not just basic authentication.
What the documentation says
Official documentation and authoritative guides consistently emphasize several foundational principles for email deliverability. These include the indispensable role of robust email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), the critical need for vigilant list hygiene, and the understanding that sender reputation is a dynamic factor influenced by various engagement metrics. They also provide technical advice on structuring emails and managing sending infrastructure to avoid common pitfalls that lead to messages being flagged as spam.
Key findings
- Comprehensive authentication: All three authentication protocols – SPF, DKIM, and DMARC – are essential for establishing sender authenticity and building a strong sender reputation.
- List hygiene importance: Regular monitoring of email list health, including bounce rates, complaint rates, and delivery rates, is crucial. Inactive or invalid email addresses should be promptly removed.
- Sender reputation management: Consistent monitoring and active management of sender reputation are key to long-term inbox placement.
- Infrastructure configuration: Proper configuration of email sending infrastructure, including dedicated IP addresses and using API over traditional SMTP where possible, can significantly improve deliverability.
Key considerations
- Implement full authentication: Ensure your domain is fully authenticated with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Our simple guide to DMARC, SPF, and DKIM can walk you through the basics.
- Maintain list quality: Regularly clean your email lists to remove invalid or unengaged subscribers. This directly impacts your complaint and bounce rates, which are crucial for maintaining a good sender reputation.
- Optimize content: Design emails for engagement and avoid triggers for spam filters, such as excessive images, short URLs, or suspicious phrasing. Review our guide on avoiding spam filters.
- Dedicated tracking domains: For platforms like Mautic, always use a dedicated sub-domain for tracking links that is aligned with your primary sending domain to prevent reputation transfer from generic domains.
Technical article
Mailgun documentation states that for strong authentication and a good sender reputation, it is essential to use all three protocols: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
Technical article
EmailTooltester.com documentation advises monitoring email list health by keeping an eye on bounce rate, complaint rate, and email delivery rate, and by removing inactive or invalid email addresses.
Related resources
5 resources
Related pages
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What steps can I take to resolve email deliverability issues and improve my sender reputation?
How can I improve my email reputation and deliverability?
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