Email Deliverability Audit: Crucial 10 Points [Step-by-Step Guide]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome to the world of email marketing, where hitting the inbox is more of an art than just a send button! Today, we’re diving deep into the realm of email deliverability audits.
Let’s face it, your carefully crafted emails mean nothing if they end up in the spam folder. Email deliverability isn’t just a fancy term; it’s the lifeline of your email campaigns. It’s about making sure your message lands right where it should – the inbox! This isn’t just about avoiding spam traps; it’s about building a reputation, a good one, in the digital world.
We’ve lined up a treasure trove of information for you. From why you absolutely need to conduct an email deliverability audit to a step-by-step guide on how to ace it. And the best part? We’ll show you how to wield Warmy tools like a pro for this purpose. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into the world of email deliverability audits.
Ever wondered why some of your meticulously crafted emails end up as digital castaways in the spam folder? Enter the email deliverability audit – your roadmap to mastering the inbox game.
An email deliverability audit isn’t just a fancy term to throw around in marketing meetings. It’s your secret weapon in understanding why your emails are hitting or missing the mark. This audit is all about dissecting your email strategies, peeking under the hood to check if everything’s running smoothly. Are your emails SPF, DKIM, and DMARC compliant? Sounds techy, right? But these are the unsung heroes ensuring your emails don’t take an unintended detour to Spamville.
So, why bother with this audit? Because in the world of email marketing, being good isn’t good enough. You’ve got to be great to stand out.
Now, you might be wondering, “Is this email deliverability audit thingy for me?” Well, if you’re someone who relies on emails to get the job done – sales gurus, marketing wizards, recruitment ninjas – you’re in the right spot. Basically, if your day involves sending emails and eagerly waiting for responses, this is your jam!
Let’s break it down. For the salespeople out there, imagine this: your pitch-perfect email lands in the spam folder of a hot lead. Ouch, right? Marketers, think about your dazzling newsletter getting lost in the digital void. And recruiters, picture your dream candidate never knowing you reached out. Scenarios like these aren’t just bad luck; they’re wake-up calls for an email deliverability audit.
So, where does Warmy fit into all this? It’s like having a backstage pass to the world of email deliverability. Whether you’re crafting cold emails that need to hit the mark or sending out bulk newsletters, Warmy gives you the insights and tools to make sure your emails get the spotlight they deserve. In short, if your professional life revolves around emails, an email deliverability audit isn’t just helpful; it’s essential. And with Warmy, you’re not just shooting emails into the void; you’re making every send count!
So, you’ve heard about email deliverability audits, but what’s in it for you? Let’s unwrap the goodies that come with getting your emails audited. Trust me, it’s like finding treasure in the vast ocean of email marketing!
Picture this – your emails are not just sent; they’re actually read and interacted with! An audit can take those open rates from meh to wow. It’s all about making sure your emails aren’t just a drop in the digital ocean but a wave that catches attention.
There’s a place where emails go to die – the spam folder. And let’s not forget the limbo of promotion tabs. An email deliverability audit is your map to navigate away from these dreaded destinations. It’s about ensuring your emails are seen as trustworthy and not just unsolicited digital flyers.
Think of an audit as an investment in your email’s future. It’s not just about the immediate wins; it’s about setting up a strategy that continues to deliver results. You’re building a foundation that will keep your email game strong, season after season.
In essence, an email deliverability audit isn’t just a one-time fix; it’s a step towards transforming your entire email approach.
Ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into your email deliverability audit? Great! With Warmy’s free email deliverability test, it’s like having a GPS for your email journey. Let’s break it down into manageable steps, so you can steer clear of the spam folder and cruise straight into the inbox.
Launching a free email deliverability test using Warmy is a straightforward process that can provide valuable insights into where your emails are landing – inbox, spam, or otherwise. Here’s how you can get started:
Launching a free email deliverability test using Warmy is a straightforward process that can provide valuable insights into where your emails are landing – inbox, spam, or otherwise. Here’s how you can get started:
Next, paste these email addresses into the ‘To:’ section of your email client. Type in any message you’d like to test – this could be a typical outreach email or newsletter. Once you’re ready, hit the ‘Send’ button.
We send to:
- Gmail
- G Suite
- Outlook
- MS 365
- Yahoo
- iCloud
- Zoho
- Zoho PRO
- SMTP
Here you will be able to see your results of the last completed deliverability test:
With a click of a button, we send on your behalf a personalized message to 43 different mailboxes that are not part of the warm-up network.
In the test results, you will see the percentage of emails that ended up in the inbox and the percentage that ended up in spam, as well as those that were unreceived. Additionally, the results will include rates for all the most important email providers.
It’s like checking your email’s credit score. This score tells you how likely your emails are to land in the inbox. The higher the score, the more of your emails will be delivered to inbox.
Check if your IP or domain is on any blacklists. Being blacklisted is like having a “Do Not Enter” sign for inboxes.
You can find out if the IP from which you send emails is on blacklists.
If you use shared servers, such as Gmail or Outlook, do not be frightened if you see yourself on any blacklists. These servers may be used by hundreds of other users and some of them may have ruined the reputation of this server. In this case, you should not do anything, usually, it does not affect the deliverability much.
Also, you can observe whether your domain is on any of the blacklists.
Do not panic if you see any of the marked blacklists, maybe you just use a shared server (Gmail or Outlook for example), or your domain is very young. In this case, you may be Listed for a while.
In Warmy’s blog, you will find information on how to remove your IP from almost all known blacklists.
Setting up Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is a crucial step in enhancing your email deliverability. SPF is an email authentication method that specifies which mail servers are permitted to send emails on behalf of your domain. Essentially, it’s like giving a list of approved senders to email providers, helping them to identify which emails are legitimately coming from you.
Using the Warmy test, you will immediately see if there are any problems with the SPF settings.
Now, you can also use our new SPF Generator tool at Warmy SPF Generator for a hassle-free generation of SPF record in four simple steps:
- Enter your domain.
- Choose your Email Service Provider (ESP).
- Provide your email address.
- Generate your SPF record.
Setup guide: The Definitive Guide to SPF in Email
DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) is a technology used for email validation, allowing your domain to apply digital signatures to outgoing messages. This signature acts as a unique marker, enabling email providers to confirm that the message originated from a source authorized by your domain. DKIM plays a crucial role in preventing phishing and spoofing by verifying the legitimacy of your emails. This not only protects your brand’s reputation but also ensures the security of your recipients against harmful activities.
A DKIM signature is a TXT record that is added to the site’s DNS zone settings. The entry itself looks like this:
us._domainkey TXT v=DKIM1; k=rsa; p=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX,
where v — DKIM version, always takes the value v=DKIM1;
k — key type, always k=rsa;
p — unique code that can be generated in the mailing service.
The Warmy test will indicate whether your DKIM entry is correctly set up and functioning as intended.
Setup guide: What is DKIM? How to set it?
DMARC (domain-based message authentication reporting and conformance) is an email authentication protocol that helps protect users from spam and phishing emails. It works by telling email servers what to do with emails that fail authentication checks.
Сheck the DMARC settings in your test results
Warmy has stepped up the game with their latest offering – a free DMARC Generator! Secure your email domain with ease. Check it out here: Free DMARC Record Generator
Just like you wouldn’t run a marathon without warming up, don’t blast a bunch of emails without warming up your account first.
Email warm-up is a technique used to gradually increase the volume of emails sent from a new or underused email account. This practice helps build a positive sending reputation with email service providers, ensuring your emails are more likely to be delivered to your recipients’ inboxes rather than being marked as spam.
Warming up emails automatically with Warmy.io is an efficient and effective way to prepare your email account for successful campaigns.
Interested in details? Check out our article – Automate your Email Warm Up with Warmy.io
Your email templates wield significant influence in your email marketing strategy. They can either charm your subscribers or doom your emails to obscurity.
These templates are the face of your brand in your subscribers’ inboxes, and they can either leave a positive impression or consign your emails to the spam folder.
It starts with the crucial first impression – a well-designed template exudes professionalism and captures attention, while a cluttered one can lead to instant deletion. Furthermore, your templates impact deliverability; poorly designed emails with spammy content can trigger spam filters, ensuring your message remains unseen.
Legal compliance is not to be overlooked. Failing to include necessary elements like unsubscribe links or physical mailing addresses can lead to legal trouble.
To ensure your emails are a “visual delight” rather than a “cluttered mess,” adhere to best practices. Invest in clean, responsive templates, use visuals judiciously to enhance your message, craft concise and relevant content, segment your email list for targeted communication, leverage A/B testing for optimization, and regularly update your templates to stay fresh and aligned with your evolving brand identity.
Expanding your business often means more outreach efforts, including cold emailing. However, this expansion comes with a risk: damaging your primary domain’s reputation. This raises a crucial question:
Why is it important?
Managing a clean outreach process can be challenging, especially when multiple people are involved. With numerous emails to send and your main domain handling transactional emails, it’s easy to see why you might want to consider a second domain.
Just make sure it doesn’t look scammy
While using a different domain is a smart move, it’s essential to maintain credibility. Ensure that your secondary domain doesn’t raise suspicions or appear untrustworthy. It’s a bit like having a second phone line for business – practical, as long as it doesn’t sound shady.
Using a separate domain for cold emailing can help protect your primary domain’s reputation.
Having addressed technical aspects, maintained a stellar reputation, and ensured the successful delivery of your emails through Warmy.io, what’s the next step? Embrace email reputation management and continue monitoring the health of your email campaigns with Warmy.io.
One essential step is performing regular email deliverability tests. This will help you stay on top of your email deliverability situation and identify problems in a timely manner.
In essence, maintaining your email reputation with Warmy.io is about ensuring that everything remains in optimal condition, much like scheduling routine check-ups to safeguard the well-being of your email campaigns.
In conclusion, conducting an Email Deliverability Audit is a critical process that every email marketer should undertake. This step-by-step guide has walked you through the essential points to consider in this comprehensive audit.
By addressing key factors such as sender reputation, list hygiene, authentication protocols, content quality, and subscriber engagement, you not only improve your email deliverability but also enhance the overall effectiveness of your email marketing campaigns.
Remember that email deliverability is not a one-time task but an ongoing effort. Regularly monitoring and optimizing your email practices is essential to maintain a healthy sender reputation and ensure that your messages reach the intended inboxes.
Why is an Email Deliverability Audit important?
An Email Deliverability Audit is crucial because it helps maintain a positive sender reputation, improves email open and click-through rates, and ensures that your email marketing efforts are effective and reach your intended audience.
What are the key points covered in the step-by-step guide mentioned in the article?
The step-by-step guide in the article covers crucial points such as sender reputation, list hygiene, authentication protocols, content quality, and subscriber engagement. It offers a comprehensive approach to improving email deliverability.
How often should I conduct an Email Deliverability Audit?
It is recommended to conduct an Email Deliverability Audit at least once a quarter or whenever there are significant changes in your email marketing practices, such as a new email service provider or a change in email content.
Can a poor sender reputation be repaired?
Yes, a poor sender reputation can be repaired through consistent adherence to email best practices, such as sending relevant content, maintaining list hygiene, and actively monitoring your email performance.
Are there any tools or services that can assist with Email Deliverability Audits?
Yes, just use free Email deliverability test from Warmy.io