Summary
Troubleshooting spam placement issues with SendGrid or any third-party vendor requires a multifaceted approach. Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is paramount, focusing on the return path domain, setting up a branded mail from, and analyzing authentication results headers. Monitoring and managing sender reputation through tools like Google Postmaster Tools is crucial. IP warming, particularly for dedicated IPs, gradually establishes a positive reputation. Clean and segmented email lists enhance engagement and reduce bounce rates. Content should be optimized to avoid spam triggers, with careful review of HTML and image-to-text ratios. A thorough investigation of the vendor's infrastructure, analyzing bounce codes, and monitoring feedback loops aid in identifying root causes such as reputation problems, content issues, or misconfigurations. Implementing a DMARC policy provides control over email handling and protects against spoofing. Analyzing registration data for unsolicited email is also a key consideration.
Key findings
- Authentication Fundamentals: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are essential for establishing trust with mailbox providers and need careful configuration.
- Sender Reputation Monitoring: Actively monitoring sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools helps identify and address deliverability issues.
- IP Warming: Gradually warming up dedicated IP addresses helps to build a positive sending reputation.
- List Hygiene: Maintaining a clean and segmented email list is crucial for optimizing engagement and reducing bounce rates.
- Content Optimization: Optimizing email content to avoid spam trigger words and technical issues is critical for inbox placement.
- Vendor Due Diligence: Careful investigation of the third-party vendor's infrastructure and practices is vital for identifying root causes of spam placement.
- DMARC Implementation: Implementing and properly configuring DMARC policies helps protect against email spoofing and phishing.
- Header Analysis: Analyzing email headers helps to diagnose the cause of spam placement and identify authentication issues.
Key considerations
- Return Path Configuration: Ensure the return path domain is correctly configured in SPF records for the sending subdomain.
- Dedicated IP Consideration: Assess the suitability of a dedicated IP address versus a shared IP for better control over sender reputation.
- Vendor Authentication Practices: Thoroughly vet the vendor's authentication practices and infrastructure for potential vulnerabilities.
- Spam Trigger Audit: Regularly audit email content for spam trigger words and technical issues to ensure compliance with best practices.
- Feedback Loop Monitoring: Implement and monitor feedback loops to promptly address any complaints or issues.
- DMARC Policy Implementation: Implement and enforce DMARC policies to dictate how email receivers should handle unauthenticated email.
- Registration Process Security: Closely monitor and secure the registration process to prevent unsolicited emails and potential reputation damage.
- Branded Mail From: Set up a branded mail from to establish trust and enhance recognition with email recipients.
What email marketers say
11 marketer opinions
Troubleshooting spam placement issues with a third-party vendor like SendGrid involves several key steps. First, ensure proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is in place, paying close attention to the return path and subdomain configurations. Monitoring sender reputation is critical, using tools like Google Postmaster Tools. IP warming, especially with dedicated IPs, helps build a positive reputation. Regularly cleaning and segmenting email lists improves engagement and deliverability. Reviewing email content for spam triggers and technical issues is also essential. If problems persist, consider the vendor's IP reputation and explore alternative ESPs.
Key opinions
- Authentication: Proper SPF, DKIM, and DMARC setup is critical, with attention to the return path domain when using SendGrid.
- Sender Reputation: Monitoring sender reputation via tools like Google Postmaster Tools is vital for identifying issues.
- IP Warming: Gradually warming up a dedicated IP address improves deliverability.
- List Management: Cleaning and segmenting email lists enhances engagement and reduces bounce rates.
- Content Analysis: Reviewing email content for spam trigger words and technical issues (HTML, links) is essential.
- Vendor Reputation: If the third-party vendor is SendGrid, the IP reputation should be investigated and considered as potentially problematic.
Key considerations
- Return Path Configuration: Verify the return path domain is correctly configured in SPF records for the sending subdomain.
- Dedicated IP vs. Shared IP: Consider using a dedicated IP address to avoid reputation issues associated with shared IPs.
- Engagement Metrics: Monitor bounce rates, spam complaints, and unsubscribe rates to identify deliverability problems.
- Content Optimization: Optimize email content by avoiding spam trigger words, improving HTML, and testing across different clients.
- Vendor Choice: If deliverability issues persist, explore alternative ESPs with better reputations.
- Email Headers: Check email headers to diagnose SPF, DKIM, and DMARC validation results and identify the source of issues.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests that if deliverability is a concern, instead of using "include:sendgrid.net", consider using "include:almost-any-other-esp-out-there". If Sendgrid must be used, authentication should be tightened up to minimize deliverability issues.
22 Mar 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Email marketer from SparkPost.com explains segmenting your email list allows you to send targeted messages to different groups of subscribers. Segmenting based on demographics, purchase history, or engagement levels can improve your open rates and click-through rates, and maintain a positive sender reputation.
16 May 2025 - SparkPost.com
What the experts say
4 expert opinions
Troubleshooting spam placement issues with a third-party vendor like SendGrid involves several expert-recommended steps. Setting up a branded mail from (Envelope) and checking authentication results headers helps validate email authenticity. A crucial aspect involves closely examining the vendor's setup, authentication practices, and overall sender reputation, including monitoring registration data for potential unsolicited email issues. Investigating the email's delivery chain, analyzing bounce codes and feedback loops, and scrutinizing the vendor's infrastructure are also important for diagnosing root causes like reputation problems, content issues, or misconfigurations.
Key opinions
- Branded Mail From: Setting up a branded mail from (Envelope) is essential for establishing email authenticity.
- Authentication Headers: Authentication-results headers provide valuable insights into domain validation processes.
- Registration Data Analysis: Analyzing registration data helps identify potential sources of unsolicited email and reputation damage.
- Vendor Infrastructure: Third-party ESP infrastructure can have underlying deliverability problems.
- Delivery Chain Investigation: Checking the delivery chain, bounce codes, and feedback loops is crucial for diagnosing problems.
- DMARC Checks: DMARC checks the 5322.from domain, impacting deliverability.
Key considerations
- Authentication Implementation: Implement and verify SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication to establish trust with mailbox providers.
- Vendor Setup Audit: Regularly audit the third-party vendor's setup and authentication practices.
- Reputation Monitoring: Monitor sender reputation and identify any potential issues stemming from vendor infrastructure.
- Root Cause Analysis: Conduct thorough root cause analysis to identify the underlying factors contributing to spam placement.
- Feedback Loop Monitoring: Implement and monitor feedback loops to identify and address potential spam complaints.
- Domain Ownership: Ensure that your DKIM signature is something you own the DNS for.
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that third-party ESPs can have problems with their infrastructure, leading to deliverability issues. It's crucial to look closely at the vendor's setup, authentication, and sender reputation. Also, closely watch the registration process, as unsolicited emails and reputation issues can be caused from here.
28 Nov 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks suggests setting up a branded mail from (Envelope). In the Authentication-results header, the domains used to validate the emails can be identified.
4 Oct 2024 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
5 technical articles
Troubleshooting spam placement with SendGrid or any third-party vendor heavily relies on proper email authentication, as emphasized by various documentation sources. Setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is vital for establishing trust and preventing spoofing. Tools like Google Postmaster Tools provide insights into your sending domain's reputation and deliverability issues, while analyzing anti-spam message headers, as explained by Microsoft, helps diagnose problems. Implementing DMARC allows specifying how receivers should handle emails failing authentication checks, offering an added layer of security and control.
Key findings
- Domain Authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are essential for establishing trust with mailbox providers.
- SPF Records: SPF records authorize specific mail servers to send emails, preventing address forging.
- DMARC Policy: DMARC policies allow specifying how receivers handle emails failing authentication.
- Google Postmaster Tools: Google Postmaster Tools provides insights into sender reputation and deliverability.
- Message Header Analysis: Analyzing anti-spam message headers helps diagnose deliverability problems.
Key considerations
- Authentication Setup: Carefully configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC settings within the SendGrid platform or other vendors.
- Policy Implementation: Start with a monitoring DMARC policy (p=none) and gradually move to stricter policies.
- Reputation Monitoring: Regularly check Google Postmaster Tools to identify deliverability issues.
- Header Analysis: Learn how to interpret anti-spam message headers to diagnose email authentication problems.
- Email Spoofing Protection: Implement DMARC to protect your domain from email spoofing and phishing attacks.
Technical article
Documentation from RFC-Editor.org outlines the technical specifications of SPF DNS records. The documentation explains that SPF records authorize specific mail servers to send emails on behalf of a domain. SPF records help to prevent spammers from forging the sender's address, reducing the chances of your emails being marked as spam.
30 Dec 2022 - RFC-Editor.org
Technical article
Documentation from SendGrid.com states that setting up domain authentication (SPF, DKIM) is vital for establishing trust with mailbox providers. It confirms that you are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain. The documentation provides step-by-step instructions on how to configure these settings within the SendGrid platform.
16 Dec 2023 - SendGrid.com
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