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How to troubleshoot email deliverability issues to specific business domains?

Summary

Troubleshooting email deliverability issues to specific business domains involves a comprehensive approach encompassing technical diagnostics, reputation management, authentication protocols, content optimization, and list hygiene. Begin by examining the MX records and EHLO responses of the recipient domains. Consider the possibility of spamtrap domains and contact postmaster@proofpoint for assistance when those domains utilize Proofpoint. Check response statuses with security vendors. Employ seed lists to track email delivery paths and pinpoint blocking points. Monitor sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools, Cisco SenderBase and MXToolbox. Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for robust email authentication. Analyze bounce codes to understand delivery failures. Test email content for spam triggers using tools like Litmus and Email on Acid. Personalize email content and encourage whitelisting to improve engagement. Utilize deliverability testing tools like GlockApps. Maintain list hygiene through regular removal of inactive addresses. Monitor feedback loops to promptly address recipient complaints and utilize Junk Email Reporting (JER) programs from Microsoft for feedback.

Key findings

  • MX Records & EHLO: Check MX records and EHLO for initial diagnosis.
  • Spam Traps: Consider possibility of recipient domains being spam traps.
  • Vendor Specifics: Security vendors such as Proofpoint may cause deliverability issues; contact them directly.
  • Response Status: Check response status for clues about blocked messages.
  • IP Reputation: IP reputation significantly affects deliverability.
  • Authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are essential for authentication.
  • Sender Reputation Monitoring: Use Google Postmaster Tools, Cisco SenderBase & MXToolbox for monitoring reputation.
  • Bounce Code Analysis: Analyze bounce codes for delivery failure insights.
  • Content Testing: Test content using Litmus or Email on Acid to avoid spam triggers.
  • Personalization & Whitelisting: Personalization and whitelisting improve engagement and deliverability.
  • Deliverability Tools: Use GlockApps for deliverability testing.
  • List Hygiene: List hygiene improves engagement and deliverability.
  • Feedback Loops: Feedback loops help address recipient complaints.
  • Seed Lists: Use seed lists to identify where emails are being blocked.

Key considerations

  • Technical Expertise: Requires technical expertise for MX record analysis and EHLO interpretation.
  • Vendor Configuration: Understand security vendor configurations (e.g., Proofpoint).
  • Tool Investment: Requires investment in tools like Google Postmaster Tools, GlockApps, Litmus, Email on Acid and MXToolbox.
  • Continuous Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of reputation and feedback loops is necessary.
  • Proactive Testing: Proactive deliverability testing is crucial for identifying potential issues.
  • Authentication Protocols: Properly implement and maintain authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
  • List Maintenance: Regular list cleaning is essential for optimal deliverability.

What email marketers say

11 marketer opinions

Troubleshooting email deliverability issues to specific business domains involves checking response statuses, particularly with security vendors like Proofpoint, and verifying potential quarantines. Maintaining a good IP reputation is critical, necessitating monitoring and immediate action to rectify issues. Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential to ensure emails aren't flagged as spam. Regularly check sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools. Identifying and addressing blacklist status is crucial, using tools like MXToolbox. Analyzing bounce codes provides insights into delivery failures, while content testing using platforms like Litmus helps avoid spam triggers and coding issues. Personalizing email content and avoiding generic messages improves engagement, and asking recipients to whitelist the sender's address can further enhance deliverability. Employ deliverability testing tools like GlockApps to identify placement problems across ISPs. Finally, maintaining list hygiene by removing inactive or invalid addresses can improve engagement rates.

Key opinions

  • Response Status: Check response statuses, especially with security vendors, to identify potential quarantines.
  • IP Reputation: Maintaining a good IP reputation is critical for email deliverability.
  • Authentication: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential to avoid spam filters.
  • Sender Reputation: Regularly check sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools.
  • Blacklist Status: Identify and address blacklist status using tools like MXToolbox.
  • Bounce Codes: Analyze bounce codes to understand reasons for delivery failures.
  • Content Testing: Test email content to avoid spam triggers and coding issues.
  • Personalization: Personalize email content to improve engagement and prevent spam flagging.
  • Whitelisting: Encourage recipients to whitelist the sender's address.
  • Deliverability Testing Tools: Utilize deliverability testing tools to identify placement issues across ISPs.
  • List Hygiene: Maintain list hygiene by removing inactive or invalid email addresses.

Key considerations

  • Security Vendors: Be aware that security vendors like Proofpoint may quarantine emails, requiring direct checks.
  • IP Monitoring: Regularly monitor IP reputation and swiftly address any issues.
  • Authentication Protocols: Implement and maintain SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for enhanced security.
  • Tool Utilization: Use tools like Google Postmaster Tools and MXToolbox for comprehensive analysis.
  • Content Optimization: Optimize email content to avoid triggering spam filters.
  • Engagement Improvement: Personalize emails and maintain list hygiene to improve engagement metrics.
  • Proactive Testing: Proactively use deliverability testing tools to detect and resolve potential issues.

Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps shares using deliverability testing tools like GlockApps helps identify placement issues across different ISPs.

25 Jul 2024 - GlockApps

Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that checking if your domain or IP is blacklisted is crucial when troubleshooting deliverability problems, and suggests using tools like MXToolbox.

11 Feb 2025 - Reddit

What the experts say

7 expert opinions

Troubleshooting email deliverability issues to specific business domains involves several diagnostic steps. First, check the MX records of the problematic domains and telnet to port 25 to examine the EHLO response. Consider that the domains may be spamtrap domains. Contacting postmaster@proofpoint is recommended for domains using Proofpoint, as they can provide insights into deliverability issues. Utilizing seed lists to send test emails and track their delivery paths can pinpoint blocking or filtering points. Monitoring sender reputation and identifying dips is critical, as it directly impacts deliverability. Furthermore, consistently removing inactive and invalid email addresses improves engagement metrics and overall deliverability. Finally, establishing and monitoring feedback loops is essential for promptly addressing recipient complaints.

Key opinions

  • MX Record Check: Checking MX records and EHLO response can reveal deliverability issues.
  • Spamtrap Consideration: Domains may be spamtrap domains, causing deliverability problems.
  • Proofpoint Contact: Contacting Proofpoint's postmaster can provide insights for domains using their services.
  • Seed List Testing: Seed lists can identify where emails are being blocked or filtered.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Monitoring sender reputation is crucial for maintaining deliverability.
  • List Hygiene: Removing inactive and invalid addresses improves engagement and deliverability.
  • Feedback Loops: Monitoring feedback loops is essential for addressing recipient complaints.

Key considerations

  • Technical Diagnostics: Perform technical diagnostics like MX record checks and EHLO analysis.
  • Vendor Specific Issues: Be aware of specific security vendor configurations and contact them for assistance.
  • Testing Methods: Use seed lists to proactively test deliverability paths.
  • Proactive Monitoring: Continuously monitor sender reputation and feedback loops.
  • Data Management: Implement regular list cleaning practices for optimal performance.

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests that the domains might be spamtrap domains.

9 Apr 2022 - Email Geeks

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests checking the MX records for the domains experiencing deliverability issues. Further suggests to telnet to port 25 on the MXs and see what the EHLO is.

24 Mar 2022 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says

5 technical articles

Troubleshooting email deliverability issues to specific business domains involves utilizing various monitoring tools and authentication methods. Google Postmaster Tools allows monitoring domain reputation, spam rates, and other key metrics impacting deliverability to Gmail users. Implementing SPF records, as defined by RFC, specifies authorized mail servers for your domain. DMARC policy, detailed by DMARC.org, enables senders to indicate email protection via SPF and/or DKIM and instructs receivers on handling unauthenticated emails. Microsoft's Junk Email Reporting (JER) program provides feedback on emails marked as junk. Cisco's SenderBase offers insights into IP address and domain reputation as seen by IronPort appliances.

Key findings

  • Google Postmaster Tools: Monitor domain reputation, spam rate, and other metrics for Gmail users.
  • SPF Records: SPF records specify authorized mail servers for your domain.
  • DMARC Policy: DMARC indicates email protection status and instructs receivers on unauthenticated emails.
  • Junk Email Reporting: Microsoft's JER program provides feedback on emails marked as junk.
  • Cisco SenderBase: SenderBase offers insight into IP address and domain reputation.

Key considerations

  • Gmail Deliverability: Prioritize monitoring Google Postmaster Tools for Gmail-specific issues.
  • Authentication Standards: Implement and maintain SPF and DMARC records for enhanced authentication.
  • Feedback Analysis: Actively analyze feedback from Microsoft's JER program to address issues.
  • Reputation Tracking: Utilize Cisco's SenderBase to track overall IP and domain reputation.
  • Holistic Approach: Combine insights from multiple tools for a comprehensive understanding of deliverability.

Technical article

Documentation from RFC explains that SPF records can specify which mail servers are authorized to send email on behalf of your domain.

17 Nov 2021 - RFC

Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft explains utilizing the Junk Email Reporting (JER) program provides feedback on messages marked as junk by users.

27 Dec 2023 - Microsoft

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    How to troubleshoot email deliverability issues to specific business domains? - Troubleshooting - Email deliverability - Knowledge base - Suped