When experiencing declining click rates despite a healthy domain reputation with Gmail and suspecting shared IP issues, a comprehensive approach is required. Experts and documentation emphasize monitoring sending reputation via Google Postmaster Tools, while acknowledging Gmail's focus on domain reputation (DKIM, SPF). A fair IP reputation might not be problematic if emails still reach the inbox. However, factors beyond deliverability play a crucial role: content relevance, audience segmentation, list hygiene, email design, and sending practices. In shared hosting, IP reputation is often out of direct control, making dedicated IPs or reputable ESPs attractive. Low engagement directly impacts deliverability. Strategies include A/B testing, analyzing cohort data, setting up feedback loops, maintaining consistent sending volumes, and adhering to authentication protocols (DKIM, SPF, DMARC) and DMARC reporting.
10 marketer opinions
When troubleshooting shared IP reputation issues with Gmail despite a healthy domain reputation and declining click rates, several factors beyond basic deliverability come into play. Monitoring domain reputation via Google Postmaster Tools is essential, but a lower shared IP reputation doesn't always indicate a problem if emails are still inboxing. Declining click rates can stem from audience aging, irrelevant content, poor segmentation, inadequate list hygiene, email design issues, lack of A/B testing, sudden increase in sending volume and undetected spam complaints. It's also beneficial to ensure email authentication protocols are properly configured. Actively managing list hygiene, segmenting audiences, ensuring content relevance, and continuously optimizing email design and sending practices is critical for maintaining positive engagement and deliverability.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Quora suggests gradually increasing sending volume to maintain IP reputation. Sudden spikes in email volume can negatively impact IP reputation, even with a healthy domain reputation.
14 Jan 2022 - Quora
Marketer view
Email marketer from Mailchimp answers that declining click rates may be related to poor segmentation. Re-evaluate your audience segmentation strategy to send more targeted and relevant content to specific groups, which can significantly improve engagement.
26 Mar 2022 - Mailchimp
6 expert opinions
When facing shared IP reputation challenges with Gmail, despite a healthy domain reputation but declining click rates, several key insights emerge from experts. Gmail prioritizes domain reputation (DKIM, SPF) over IP reputation, and a 'fair' IP reputation may not be an issue if emails are still inboxing. On shared hosting, IP reputation control is limited, making monitoring and considering a dedicated IP or reputable ESP crucial. Low engagement rates severely impact deliverability, emphasizing the need for relevant content and targeted campaigns. Consistent sending practices, coupled with metric analysis and data cleaning to only email engaged users, is important.
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource explains that on shared hosting environments, IP reputation is often out of your direct control. Monitor your sending practices closely and consider using a dedicated IP or a reputable email service provider to mitigate the impact of other users on the shared IP.
27 Dec 2021 - Spam Resource
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise answers that consistent sending practices, and a solid understanding of your metrics is important. Use your engagement metrics to clean your data and ensure you are only emailing those who want to be emailed.
16 May 2024 - Word to the Wise
5 technical articles
Troubleshooting shared IP reputation issues with Gmail when domain reputation is healthy, but email click rates are declining requires a multi-faceted approach, according to various documentation sources. Google Postmaster Tools is essential for monitoring your sending reputation, with a focus on domain reputation, as Gmail prioritizes it. Shared IP reputation can still impact deliverability if other users engage in poor practices, suggesting a dedicated IP for greater control. Utilizing Microsoft's sender support and raising support tickets is recommended for deliverability issues. Properly configuring DKIM, SPF, and DMARC email authentication protocols is crucial for improving deliverability and trust. Implementing and monitoring DMARC reporting provides insights into authentication failures and potential spoofing attempts, protecting your domain's reputation.
Technical article
Documentation from RFC explains the importance of implementing and monitoring DMARC reporting. Analysing DMARC reports provides valuable insights into authentication failures and potential spoofing attempts, helping to protect your domain's reputation.
15 Nov 2021 - RFC
Technical article
Documentation from Gmail Help explains that monitoring your sending reputation using Google Postmaster Tools is essential. Focus on domain reputation as Gmail prioritizes it over IP reputation. A sudden drop in reputation requires immediate investigation into sending practices.
25 Jun 2023 - Gmail Help
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