We have some news for you which could be thought of as both bad and good depending on which camp you are in. Good News if you are a Gmail user as this means less spam, Bad new if you send bulk mail to Gmail accounts, you will need to update your newsletter/ promotional mails to conform to their new rules
Starting in 2024, Gmail and Yahoo will require bulk senders to authenticate their emails - see https://blog.google/products/gmail/gmail-security-authentication-spam-protection/.
As your Email provider we are getting in touch to let you know in order to minimize any disruption to your mail sending services.
To improve email deliverability to Gmail servers, especially considering their new security updates, you can follow these best practices:
- Authenticate your domain: Implement DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) and Sender Policy Framework (SPF) authentication for your domain. This helps Gmail verify that your emails are coming from a trusted source.
- Maintain a good sending reputation: Monitor your email sending practices and maintain a good sender reputation. Avoid sending spam or engaging in any practices that may trigger spam filters. Regularly check your email deliverability metrics and take corrective actions if needed.
- Optimize email content: Create engaging and relevant email content that encourages recipients to interact with your emails. Avoid using excessive promotional language, misleading subject lines, or attachments that may trigger spam filters.
- Manage subscriber engagement: Regularly clean your email list by removing inactive or unengaged subscribers. Gmail considers engagement metrics, such as open rates and click-through rates, when determining email deliverability.
- Provide an easy unsubscribe option: Gmail's stricter spam policy will also require senders to provide an easy and user-friendly method for recipients to unsubscribe from their emails. Including an unsubscribe link in your emails allows recipients to easily opt-out of receiving future communications.
- Monitor feedback loops: Set up feedback loops with ISPs, including Gmail, to receive notifications when recipients mark your emails as spam. Use this feedback to identify and address any issues that may be affecting your deliverability.
- Monitor blacklists: Regularly check if your domain or IP address is listed on any email blacklists. If you find your domain or IP address on a blacklist, take immediate action to resolve the issue and request removal from the blacklist.
- Follow email sending limits: Gmail has specific sending limits to prevent abuse. Make sure you are aware of these limits and stay within them to avoid triggering any delivery issues.
- Test and monitor deliverability: Regularly test your email deliverability to Gmail by sending test emails to different Gmail accounts. Monitor the delivery rates and analyse any issues that arise to make necessary adjustments.
By following these best practices, you can improve your email deliverability to Gmail servers and ensure that your emails reach the intended recipients' inboxes.
If you need assistance ensuring your domain and email are set-up correctly, please do get in touch.