What is aboutmy.email?

Aboutmy.email is a free, open-source tool that analyzes the technical aspects of your emails, including authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), headers, and content, to help identify potential deliverability issues. It provides a detailed report on the compliance of your email with best practices.

Have there been any recent fixes or updates to aboutmy.email?

Yes, a significant recent fix addressed issues with RFC 8058 (List-Unsubscribe headers using the mailto: scheme), which previously caused 4xx-ish errors. Additionally, a changelog has been introduced to provide transparent updates on fixes and new features.

Are there commercial versions or options for aboutmy.email?

While aboutmy.email is currently a free, alpha-release tool, there have been discussions about potential commercial options, such as a SaaS model or an API for automated testing. No official commercial versions are available yet, but the possibility exists for future development.

How does the RFC 8058 fix affect email deliverability?

The RFC 8058 fix improves the accuracy of testing one-click unsubscribe functionality, which is crucial for complying with Google and Yahoo's new bulk sender requirements . This helps senders avoid blacklisting (or blocklisting) and improve inbox placement .

What are the recent fixes and updates to aboutmy.email and are there commercial options? - Tools - Email deliverability - Knowledge base

Navigating the complexities of email deliverability can be challenging, especially with major internet service providers (ISPs) like Google and Yahoo Mail constantly updating their sending requirements. Tools that offer quick, insightful analysis are essential for maintaining a strong sender reputation and ensuring messages reach the inbox. It's not just about sending emails, but about sending them correctly.

One such tool that has gained traction is aboutmy.email, an open-source project designed to provide technical insights into email deliverability. It helps identify potential issues that could lead to emails landing in the spam folder or being rejected outright. Understanding its capabilities and recent developments is crucial for anyone serious about email marketing and infrastructure management.

I've been keeping a close eye on aboutmy.email, especially with the industry's shift towards stricter authentication and compliance standards. This article will delve into what aboutmy.email offers, recent fixes and updates that have improved its functionality, and explore the ongoing discussions around potential commercial options that could make this valuable tool even more accessible and robust for businesses.

The purpose of aboutmy.email

Aboutmy.email is a straightforward yet powerful utility designed to test the technical health of your outgoing emails. You send an email to a unique address provided by the service, and in return, you receive a detailed report outlining various technical aspects. This includes checks on email authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, as well as an analysis of email headers, content, and structure.

The importance of such a tool has grown exponentially, particularly since Google and Yahoo implemented stricter requirements for bulk senders in early 2024. These changes mandate proper email authentication, easy unsubscription mechanisms, and a low spam complaint rate. Tools like aboutmy.email provide a quick way to verify that your email configuration aligns with these evolving standards, helping you avoid deliverability issues.

It serves as a diagnostic utility, giving you actionable insights into areas where your email setup might be falling short. Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, ensuring your emails are technically sound is the first step toward achieving good email deliverability.

Ensuring email authentication

With the recent changes from major mailbox providers, strong email authentication is no longer optional. Implementing DMARC, DKIM, and SPF is critical for establishing trust and ensuring your emails are delivered to the inbox.

Recent fixes and updates

Maintaining any online tool involves continuous updates and fixes, and aboutmy.email is no exception. A notable recent fix addresses issues related to RFC 8058, also known as List-Unsubscribe headers using the mailto: scheme. Previously, some users encountered 4xx-ish errors when testing their one-click unsubscribe functionality via the tool. This particular bug has since been resolved, providing more accurate feedback for senders trying to comply with Google and Yahoo's unsubscribe requirements.

This fix is especially relevant given the emphasis on easy unsubscription methods from major ISPs. Outlook, for example, has also recently updated its requirements, including mandatory SPF, DKIM, and DMARC settings. Having a reliable tool like aboutmy.email that accurately assesses these crucial elements helps senders stay compliant and avoid being blocked or blocklisted (or blacklisted).

To keep users informed about these ongoing improvements, aboutmy.email has also introduced a changelog. This is a welcome addition, as transparency regarding updates allows users to track fixes, new features, and understand how the tool evolves to meet the dynamic needs of email deliverability. Staying current with these changes is vital for anyone managing email infrastructure or campaigns, as minor technical errors can significantly impact email performance across different providers.

These updates underline the responsive nature of the tool's maintainers, which is a significant advantage for users relying on it for critical deliverability insights. It ensures that the feedback users receive is as accurate and timely as possible, reflecting the latest industry standards and helping them proactively address any potential issues. If you’re regularly sending emails, having a tool that keeps pace with an ever-changing landscape is incredibly valuable.

Update	Description	Impact on deliverability
	Fix for RFC 8058 Unsub failures	Resolved errors when testing one-click unsubscribe functionality via aboutmy.email.
	Introduction of a changelog	Provides transparent updates on new features and fixes. You can view the aboutmy.email changelog.

Commercial options and future possibilities

Given the utility of aboutmy.email, a common question arises: are there commercial options available, such as self-hosting or a SaaS version? Currently, aboutmy.email operates as a free, alpha-release tool. However, the idea of commercial offerings has been discussed within the community.

For organizations that manage high volumes of email or require integrating email testing into their automated workflows, a commercial version could be highly beneficial. Imagine being able to run automated smoke tests on every email campaign or transactional email type before sending. This would ensure consistent compliance and help prevent costly deliverability issues. The maintainers have indicated that a SaaS-like model, perhaps with an API for submitting messages and retrieving JSON or HTML reports, is not out of the question, which is exciting for businesses looking for more integrated solutions.

The prospect of an API-driven commercial version opens up possibilities for sophisticated testing environments, continuous integration, and real-time monitoring of email health. This could significantly streamline operations for email service providers, marketing platforms, and any large-scale sender. While no concrete plans are announced, the interest from the community and the acknowledgment from the developers suggest that commercial options could be a future development for aboutmy.email.

Self-hosted solution

Control: Full control over data, infrastructure, and customization.
Integration: Easier to integrate with existing internal systems.
Security: Enhanced security for sensitive email data within your environment.

SaaS (API-driven) solution

Maintenance: No infrastructure to manage, handled by the provider.
Scalability: Easily scales with your sending volume.
Updates: Automatic updates and new features without manual intervention.

Views from the trenches

Best practices

Always include a

List-Unsubscribe header to comply with ISP guidelines and reduce spam complaints.

Regularly check your email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) for proper configuration.

Monitor your domain and IP reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools.

Implement a feedback loop to quickly identify and address user complaints.

Common pitfalls

Neglecting to test email deliverability after making changes to your sending infrastructure.

Failing to add or correctly format RFC 8058 headers, leading to unsubscribe issues.

Ignoring DMARC reports, missing critical insights into email authentication failures.

Not monitoring for blocklist (or blacklist) listings that can severely impact deliverability.

Sending emails to unengaged recipients, which can increase spam complaint rates.

Expert tips

Utilize tools that provide API access for automated email testing within your CI/CD pipeline.

Consider investing in a dedicated email deliverability platform for comprehensive monitoring.

Prioritize email list hygiene by regularly cleaning inactive or invalid email addresses.

Segment your audience and personalize content to improve engagement and reduce complaints.

Stay informed about new ISP requirements and proactively adapt your sending practices.

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks says that the RFC 8058 unsubscribe failure, which caused 4xx-ish errors when testing with aboutmy.email, has been fixed.

July 7, 2024 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks says that having a tool like aboutmy.email with a responsive maintainer is greatly appreciated.

July 8, 2024 - Email Geeks

Summary of updates and future outlook

Aboutmy.email remains a valuable, free resource for email senders, offering critical insights into the technical compliance of their emails. The recent fixes, particularly the resolution of the RFC 8058 unsubscribe testing issues, demonstrate a commitment to accuracy and responsiveness that benefits the entire email community. The introduction of a changelog further enhances transparency, allowing users to keep track of the tool's evolution.

As email deliverability becomes increasingly complex with ever-evolving ISP requirements, tools that simplify technical checks are indispensable. Whether it's ensuring proper SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configurations or verifying unsubscribe mechanisms, aboutmy.email provides a quick diagnostic check to help maintain good sending practices. For more comprehensive deliverability monitoring and advanced analytics, specialized platforms often offer a broader suite of features tailored for high-volume senders.

While there's no official commercial version of aboutmy.email currently available, the discussions around potential SaaS or API-driven offerings highlight a clear demand for more integrated and automated testing solutions within the industry. Such developments could significantly enhance the capabilities for businesses that require rigorous and automated email quality assurance processes, reinforcing the importance of tools like aboutmy.email in the broader deliverability landscape.