How ESP Matching Improves Email Deliverability

Here’s the deal: Choosing the right Email Service Provider (ESP) can make or break your email campaigns. It’s not just about sending emails - it’s about deliverability, reputation, and ensuring your messages actually get read.

Key Takeaways:

• Email deliverability averages just 83.1% across ESPs - nearly 1 in 5 emails never reach inboxes.
• Authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are critical for proving you’re a legitimate sender.
• Using shared vs. dedicated IPs impacts your sender reputation.
• Shopify sellers who optimized ESPs saw 17% higher conversions and 40% fewer bounces.
• Platforms like Primeforge simplify cold email setups with automated DNS configurations and US-based IPs.

Quick Comparison of ESPs:

Feature	Primeforge	Google Workspace	Microsoft 365
Price (per mailbox)	$3.50–$4.50	$6/month	$5/month
Daily Sending Limit	Varies	2,000 emails	1,500 emails
Setup Time	30 minutes	24+ hours	24+ hours
Cold Email Features	Yes	No	No

Why It Matters:

If your emails don’t land in the inbox, your campaigns fail. A well-matched ESP ensures better deliverability, protects your reputation, and maximizes ROI. Start by using an ESP that aligns with your goals and supports essential tools like IP reputation management and email authentication.

How ESPs Impact Email Deliverability

Your Email Service Provider (ESP) is the backbone of your email operations, handling everything from server management to spam filtering. ESPs don’t just send emails - they provide the infrastructure and tools needed to manage your entire email strategy, from delivery to engagement tracking. The quality of your ESP’s infrastructure plays a major role in determining whether your emails land in inboxes or get flagged as spam.

The difference between a basic email service and a more advanced ESP becomes clear when you look at deliverability rates. Businesses that use well-configured ESPs with solid infrastructure often see better results compared to those relying on simpler services. ESPs manage key elements that mailbox providers evaluate when deciding if your emails deserve a spot in the inbox. Let’s break down the factors that impact deliverability.

Key Factors That Affect Deliverability

ESPs oversee several key components that influence your sender reputation and build trust with mail servers.

• IP reputation: This is a major factor in deliverability. Your ESP assigns you either a shared or dedicated IP address. Shared IPs can be a double-edged sword - while you benefit from the collective reputation of all users, poor practices by others can harm the IP’s standing. Dedicated IPs, on the other hand, give you full control but require consistent, high email volumes and careful management to maintain a strong reputation.
• Authentication protocols: Modern ESPs support tools like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to verify you as a legitimate sender. Properly implemented protocols reduce the risk of your emails being marked as spam. However, the quality of implementation varies widely between providers, so it’s crucial to choose an ESP that gets this right.
• Bounce handling: Managing undeliverable emails is another critical task. High-quality ESPs handle hard bounces (permanent failures) and soft bounces (temporary issues) effectively, protecting your sender reputation. Poor bounce management can lead to spam filters flagging your emails.
• Compliance monitoring: Good ESPs track important metrics like complaint rates, unsubscribe rates, and engagement levels. They often provide tools for list hygiene, helping you remove inactive subscribers who could hurt your reputation. By flagging potential problems early, these systems help maintain a strong deliverability rate.

How ESPs Control Inbox Placement and Spam Filtering

When you hit “send,” your email embarks on a journey filled with checkpoints - and your ESP plays a role at each one. Mailbox providers evaluate factors like sender reputation, content quality, and engagement levels, all of which are influenced by your ESP.

• Sending infrastructure quality: ESPs with optimized servers and routing configurations tend to have stronger relationships with major mailbox providers, increasing the chances of your emails landing in inboxes.
• Shared IP management: Shared IPs can be both an advantage and a risk. While the collective reputation of all users can boost deliverability, poor practices by others can drag it down. High-quality ESPs actively monitor shared IP performance and take steps to safeguard deliverability. For example, Primeforge uses advanced infrastructure to optimize email delivery, offering Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 mailboxes with automated DNS setup and US-based IPs designed to improve deliverability for cold email campaigns.
• Content filtering assistance: Some ESPs provide tools to test your email content, subject lines, and formatting before sending. These tools help identify elements that might trigger spam filters, giving you the chance to fix issues before your emails go out.
• Feedback loop management: When recipients mark your emails as spam, feedback loops notify your ESP. High-quality providers process these complaints by suppressing future emails to those recipients, protecting your sender reputation. They also offer detailed reports to help you identify and address problem areas.

Here’s a striking statistic: 70% of emails contain at least one issue that could trigger spam filters and prevent inbox placement. An ESP that proactively addresses these problems can make a huge difference in your campaign’s success - and in protecting your reputation.

To put things in perspective, a strong deliverability rate is at least 85%, with the ideal being 98–99%. However, the average deliverability rate across tested ESPs is just 83.1%, meaning nearly 17% of emails fail to reach their intended recipients. This highlights how crucial it is to choose an ESP that prioritizes deliverability and sender reputation.

Email Authentication Protocols for Better Deliverability

Email authentication protocols act like your digital passport, proving to mailbox providers that you're a trustworthy sender. Without them, your emails are more likely to be flagged as spam. Protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC work together to establish trust and improve the chances of your emails landing in recipients' inboxes.

The stakes are high when it comes to unauthenticated emails. In 2022, phishing accounted for 85% of cyberattacks, and 60% of emails employees received globally aimed to steal credentials. The FBI has also reported that Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams have resulted in losses of $50 billion. This surge in malicious emails has made mailbox providers increasingly cautious about messages without proper authentication.

Here’s how SPF, DKIM, and DMARC work to protect your emails and boost deliverability.

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Protocols Explained

These three protocols form the backbone of email authentication, each playing a distinct role in securing your email traffic.

SPF (Sender Policy Framework): This protocol lets you define which IP addresses are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain. When a mail server receives an email claiming to be from your domain, it checks your SPF record to verify if the sending server is on your approved list. If it’s not, the email is flagged as suspicious.

DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): DKIM ensures that your email hasn’t been altered during transit by adding a cryptographic signature to the email header. Receiving servers use your published public key to verify the signature, confirming the email's integrity.

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance): DMARC ties SPF and DKIM together by providing a policy for handling emails that fail authentication checks. It allows you to specify whether those emails should be delivered, quarantined, or rejected. Additionally, DMARC sends reports that help you monitor your domain’s email activity and detect potential abuse.

"All of these requirements have been well-documented best practices for years. A lot of senders have already implemented them. Authenticating your email traffic should be something that you're already doing if you care about the health of your email traffic as well as your infrastructure." - Marcel Becker, Senior Director of Product at Yahoo

Now that you know what these protocols do, let’s look at how to set them up effectively.

How to Set Up Authentication Protocols

Setting up email authentication is crucial for any sender aiming to maximize deliverability. The process involves creating DNS TXT records for your domain.

Start by auditing your current setup. Use tools like MXToolbox to check for existing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configurations and verify their accuracy. If any records are missing or outdated, consult your IT team or email service provider to make the necessary updates.

• SPF: Create a TXT record listing all authorized sending sources.
• DKIM: Generate a public-private key pair and publish the public key in your DNS.
• DMARC: Add a policy record that specifies how to handle emails failing authentication.

Make sure the domains in your SPF, DKIM, and "From" address align correctly. Misalignment is a common issue that can hurt your deliverability.

To ease into DMARC implementation, start with a "none" policy to monitor email performance. Once you’re confident in your setup, switch to stricter policies like "quarantine" or "reject". This phased approach allows you to gather insights without risking email delivery during the initial setup.

Watch out for common pitfalls. For instance, SPF records shouldn’t exceed 10 DNS lookups. Syntax errors in SPF or DKIM records are another frequent cause of failures. Additionally, DNS changes can take time to propagate, so temporary issues may arise after updates.

For a hands-off approach, services like Primeforge can automate DNS configurations for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC when setting up platforms like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. This automation minimizes technical challenges and ensures proper authentication from day one of your email campaigns.

Finally, maintaining authentication is an ongoing process. Regularly review and update your DNS records to ensure they remain accurate. A fully implemented DMARC setup not only protects your domain from spoofing but can also improve your email deliverability by over 10% with major providers like Gmail. This safeguards your reputation while ensuring your emails reach their intended audience.

Matching ESP Features to Your Cold Email Needs

Choosing the right Email Service Provider (ESP) can make or break your cold email campaigns. A mismatch between your outreach goals and the ESP’s capabilities could lead to poor deliverability, wasted effort, and missed opportunities. By aligning your ESP choice with your email volume, content type, and campaign requirements, you can maximize performance and ensure your messages hit the mark. Let’s explore how email volume and content types influence the ESP features you’ll need for success.

Choosing ESPs by Email Volume

Your daily email volume is a key factor in determining the ESP features you need. It also shapes the strategies required to maintain high deliverability rates.

• Low Volume (Under 100 emails per day):
  If you’re sending fewer than 100 emails daily, standard business email providers like Google Workspace ($6–$18 per user/month) or Microsoft 365 ($5–$20 per user/month) are sufficient. These platforms come with built-in reputations and established sending patterns, making them ideal for small-scale outreach.
• Medium Volume (100–1,000 emails per day):
  For mid-sized campaigns, you’ll need more advanced infrastructure. Providers like Primeforge offer optimized Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 mailboxes at $3.50–$4.50 per mailbox/month, complete with automated DNS setup and U.S.-based IP addresses to ensure consistent deliverability.
• High Volume (1,000+ emails per day):
  Large-scale operations require dedicated setups with multiple domains and IP addresses. Plans from specialized providers range from $79 to $249 per month, with additional inboxes available for $1/month. These setups distribute the sending load effectively, helping maintain sender reputation.

Regardless of volume, it’s crucial to limit new lead outreach to no more than 100 emails per day per inbox. This approach helps protect your sender reputation and reduces the risk of being flagged by spam filters. Once your volume needs are addressed, it’s time to consider how ESPs handle different email content and spam filter challenges.

How ESPs Handle Different Content Types and Spam Filters

The type of content you send plays a big role in whether your emails land in inboxes or spam folders. With nearly half of all emails (45.6% in 2023) ending up in spam, understanding how ESPs manage content is critical.

• Sales Outreach Emails:
  These emails often include business-specific language, company names, and call-to-action phrases that can trigger spam filters. ESPs with strong authentication protocols and a solid sender reputation are better equipped to handle these challenges. However, even with top-tier ESPs, the average deliverability rate for sales emails was just 83.1% in 2024.
• Educational Content:
  Emails designed to share knowledge, like industry insights or welcome messages, tend to perform better. For example, welcome emails have an impressive open rate of 86.03% because they’re expected and relevant. ESPs that offer content optimization tools and A/B testing can help you refine your approach for maximum engagement.
• Follow-up Sequences:
  Automated follow-up emails face unique hurdles, as their repetitive nature can appear suspicious to spam filters. Advanced ESPs with scheduling features and sending pattern management can help distribute these emails more naturally, reducing the risk of being flagged.

For instance, Shopify ecommerce sellers who used email deliverability services saw a 17% increase in conversion rates and a 40% drop in bounce rates compared to those who didn’t.

Important ESP Features for Cold Email Campaigns

Certain ESP features are essential for cold email success. These tools and capabilities directly impact your ability to reach inboxes and generate meaningful responses.

• Authentication Protocol Support:
  Proper setup of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is a must. Services like Primeforge automate these configurations, ensuring your emails are authenticated right from the start.
• IP Reputation Management:
  Shared IPs can help smooth out fluctuations in send volume, while dedicated IPs give you greater control over your sender reputation. Dedicated IPs are particularly useful for high-volume campaigns.
• Sending Pattern Controls:
  Advanced ESPs allow you to vary sending times, spread emails across multiple accounts, and gradually scale up your sending volume. These features help establish natural patterns that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) trust.
• Seamless Integrations and Real-Time Dashboards:
  Connecting your ESP with CRMs, analytics tools, and customer support software provides valuable insights. Real-time dashboards let you monitor deliverability metrics - like spam complaints and inbox placement - so you can quickly address any issues.

"Everyone's goal is obviously 100%. What we focus on is our inbox placement. We want 100% of our emails getting to the inbox, and if it drops below 90%, we're going to immediately investigate what's going on. Deliverability is a measure of the health of your email marketing program, so it's important to do regular check-ups on your domain, IP, and authentication in particular to make sure you're up-to-date, just like how we all go to the doctor each year."
– Carin Slater, Manager of Lifecycle Email Marketing at Litmus

• List Management and Segmentation:
  Real-time segmentation keeps your targeting relevant by factoring in engagement levels, demographics, and behavior. This improves relevance and reduces spam complaints.
• Compliance Support:
  Your ESP should help you stay compliant with regulations like GDPR and CCPA. This includes transparent data handling, easy unsubscribe options, and proper consent management.

Cold email success isn’t just about the tools you use - it’s about how you use them. Respect your audience’s inbox by delivering value and aligning your outreach with their preferences. That’s the key to building trust and achieving long-term results.

ESP Comparison for Cold Email Outreach

Selecting the right email service provider (ESP) is essential for effective cold email outreach. Your choice should align with your goals, budget, and focus on deliverability. While popular platforms like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 dominate the business email space, specialized tools like Primeforge cater specifically to cold email needs. Let’s break down how these options stack up.

Google Workspace vs. Microsoft 365 for Cold Email

When it comes to business email, Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 are industry leaders, holding market shares of roughly 56.97% and 42.63%, respectively. Both platforms are reliable choices for cold email campaigns, but their differences could influence your results.

Deliverability and Sending Limits

Google Workspace allows up to 2,000 emails per day per user, while Microsoft 365 caps this at 1,500 emails per day per user - though limits may vary depending on your plan. Google Workspace often delivers higher inbox placement, thanks to its strong reputation with ISPs and advanced security features. Microsoft 365 is also effective but may impose stricter spam filters on new domains.

Pricing and User Experience

Microsoft 365 starts at $5 per user per month, slightly undercutting Google Workspace’s $6 per user per month. Google Workspace is praised for its intuitive interface and seamless integration with Gmail, Drive, and other Google services. In contrast, Microsoft 365 offers robust customization but can feel more complex, particularly for users less familiar with its ecosystem.

Setup and Configuration

Both platforms require manual configuration for optimal cold email performance, including DNS setup for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, which can take over 24 hours and demands technical expertise. If you’re looking for a simpler solution tailored to cold outreach, Primeforge might be worth considering.

Primeforge: Cold Email Infrastructure Solution

Primeforge stands out by enhancing Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 mailboxes specifically for cold email campaigns. Instead of competing with these platforms, it simplifies the process and adds features that improve deliverability and efficiency.

Automated Setup and Optimization

Primeforge streamlines the technical setup, automating DNS configuration (SPF, DKIM, and DMARC) in just 30 minutes.

US-Based IPs and ESP Matching

To boost inbox placement, Primeforge uses US-based IP addresses and matches the ESP of recipients, ensuring emails originate from the same provider as the target mailbox.

"Running cold outreach with Google Workspace and MS365 mailboxes helps you protect your deliverability and reach your prospects more reliably." – Primeforge

Cost Savings and Scalability

Primeforge is priced at $3.50–$4.50 per mailbox per month, offering savings of up to 46% compared to Google Workspace and 25% compared to Microsoft 365. For high-volume campaigns, these savings can add up quickly - approximately $1,800 per year versus Google Workspace and $1,200 per year versus Microsoft 365.

Rahul Lakhaney, Former VP at Gartner and current CEO of Enrich.so, shared his experience:

"I've been using a couple of other email infra forges for over a year and have been pretty impressed with deliverability... Stellar deliverability on Salesforge and spam tests always come back green! Excited to spin up some Outlook accounts soon also."

Integration and Flexibility

Unlike Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, which work best within their ecosystems, Primeforge integrates seamlessly with any cold email software. This flexibility allows you to use your preferred tools while benefiting from an optimized email infrastructure.

ESP Feature Comparison Chart

Here’s how these platforms compare on key features:

Feature	Primeforge	Google Workspace	Microsoft 365
Pricing	$3.50–$4.50/mailbox/month	$6/user/month	$5/user/month
Daily Sending Limit	Varies	Up to 2,000 emails/day/user	Up to 1,500 emails/day/user
Deliverability	Enhanced by ESP Matching	High	Good
Setup Time	30 minutes	24+ hours	24+ hours
Automated DNS Setup	Yes	No	No
US-based IPs	Yes	No guarantee	No guarantee
Optimized for cold email	Yes	No	No
Integration	Any sending software	Google services	Microsoft Office apps
User Experience	Easy to use	Easy to use	Powerful but complex
Market Share	Specialized platform	56.97%	42.63%

For small-scale campaigns or if you’re already using Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, sticking with these platforms can make sense. However, for dedicated cold email efforts, Primeforge offers a more streamlined and cost-effective solution with features tailored to maximize deliverability and minimize setup headaches.

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How to Maintain Good ESP Reputation

Your ESP reputation directly impacts whether your emails land in the inbox or get sent to the spam folder. Poor sender practices can hurt your deliverability, so maintaining a strong reputation is essential. This builds on the ESP features and strategies discussed earlier.

Keeping Your Email Lists Clean

Maintaining a clean email list is the cornerstone of a solid ESP reputation. Sending emails to inactive or invalid addresses increases bounce rates, signaling poor list management. Regularly remove invalid and unengaged contacts to avoid these issues.

Managing Bounces and Invalid Addresses

Bounces happen when emails fail to reach their destination. Hard bounces are caused by invalid addresses, while soft bounces result from temporary issues like a full inbox. To stay in your ESP's good graces, aim for a bounce rate below 0.5%. Remove hard bounces immediately, and treat repeated soft bounces as hard bounces to keep your list healthy.

Controlling Spam Complaints

Spam complaints can quickly damage your sender reputation. Gmail and Yahoo, for example, flag senders when spam complaints exceed 0.1%. To minimize complaints, use double opt-ins when building your list. While this may initially reduce your subscriber count, it ensures that your list is made up of engaged recipients, improving overall performance.

Removing Unengaged Subscribers

Subscribers who haven't interacted with your emails in months can drag down your metrics. Regularly remove these unengaged users, along with role-based accounts like support@company.com or info@business.com, which typically show low engagement. This practice ensures you're targeting an audience that values your content.

Beyond list management, the quality of your email content plays a critical role in maintaining your sender reputation.

Writing Better Email Content

Engaging, well-crafted content reduces spam complaints and keeps your audience interested.

• Research shows that 78% of people mark emails as spam if they "look like spam", and 54% do so when they didn’t give permission to be contacted.
• Avoid spammy practices like using trigger words ("discount", "limited time", etc.), excessive punctuation, or all-caps subject lines. Keep a balanced text-to-image ratio and use descriptive anchor text for links instead of full URLs or link shorteners.

Creating Value-Driven Content

Your audience spends only a few seconds on an email, so make it count. Personalize your content beyond just adding the recipient's name - reference their industry, challenges, or specific needs. As Carin Slater, Manager of Lifecycle Email Marketing at Litmus, puts it:

"There's so much more that goes into it than just the words you use... It's important not to overuse spammy words, of course, but what really matters is that your subscribers want to receive the emails you're sending. That they're actively engaging with your content."

Focus on offering solutions or insights rather than hard-selling products. Keep your message clear and include a single, compelling call-to-action.

To maintain a strong reputation, it's also crucial to monitor your email performance regularly.

Tracking and Improving Your Email Performance

Keeping an eye on your email metrics helps you spot potential issues early and fine-tune your campaigns. On average, 19% of emails are either undelivered or caught by spam filters, with deliverability rates hovering around 81%.

Essential Metrics to Monitor

• Bounce Rate: Keep it under 1%. Rates between 1% and 2% suggest room for improvement, while rates above 2% need immediate attention.
• Unsubscribe Rate: Aim for less than 0.3%. Rates over 1% may indicate problems with content or targeting.
• Spam Complaint Rate: Should stay below 0.01%. Rates above 0.05% can harm your sender reputation.

Metric	Healthy	Room for Improvement	Needs Attention
Bounce rate	< 1.0%	1%-2%	> 2%
Unsubscribe rate	< 0.3%	0.3%-1%	> 1%
Spam complaint rate	< 0.01%	0.01%-0.05%	> 0.05%

Implementing Improvement Strategies

A/B testing is a powerful tool for refining your emails. Test different subject lines, send times, and content formats with a small portion of your list, then roll out the best-performing version to the rest. Use tools to monitor your sender reputation across major email providers, focusing on both IP and domain reputation.

"Deliverability is more of an art than a science - the landscape is constantly changing." - Nonso Maduka, Director of Product Management at Glassdoor

Apply a sunset policy to remove subscribers who have been inactive for 6–12 months. Regularly analyze your performance data to determine what type of content drives the most engagement and when your audience is most likely to open your emails. Considering that email marketing can generate up to $42 for every $1 spent, these efforts are well worth the investment.

Conclusion: Key Points for Better Email Deliverability

Getting your emails delivered successfully comes down to three main factors: picking the right ESP, setting up proper authentication, and maintaining a strong sender reputation. Together, these ensure your cold emails actually land where they’re supposed to.

When it comes to choosing an ESP, it’s not just about their deliverability promises. Instead, look for providers that align with your outreach needs and offer tools and guidance to support your deliverability efforts. Some ESPs go beyond the basics, equipping you with the resources to improve your email strategy rather than simply relying on their claims.

Authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC act as your email's security system, verifying your identity and blocking spoofing attempts. Implementing DMARC effectively can even improve your deliverability rates by up to 10%. Start with a monitoring policy and, as you grow more confident in your setup, move from "none" to "quarantine" and finally to "reject" for maximum protection.

Your sender reputation is another critical piece of the puzzle. It’s influenced by how recipients interact with your emails and how well you follow best practices. For instance, Gmail and Yahoo expect a spam complaint rate of no more than 0.3% - that’s fewer than three complaints per 1,000 emails sent. As email expert Al Iverson explains:

"Sender reputation isn’t just a simple score. It’s the email-specific reflection of what people genuinely think about your brand."

For those looking for a streamlined solution, Primeforge offers an optimized email infrastructure tailored for cold outreach. With automated DNS setup, US-based IP addresses, and compatibility with any sending software, it simplifies the technical side of things. Pricing ranges from $3.50 to $4.50 per mailbox per month, making it an accessible option for businesses.

Ultimately, success with email deliverability isn’t a one-and-done task. It’s an ongoing process that involves regular monitoring, consistent sending habits, and adapting based on performance data. By treating deliverability as a continuous effort, you’ll keep your emails landing in inboxes and driving real results for your business. And remember, aligning with the right ESP is at the heart of this process.

FAQs

How does selecting the right Email Service Provider (ESP) improve email deliverability and campaign success?

Choosing the Right Email Service Provider (ESP)

Picking the right Email Service Provider (ESP) is a game-changer for making sure your emails land in the right inbox and perform as expected. The best ESPs offer essential tools like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication protocols. These tools help verify your emails and prevent them from being flagged as spam, which can significantly improve deliverability. And better deliverability means higher open rates and click-through rates.

Your ESP's reputation also plays a big role. If the platform allows spammy behavior from its users, it can drag down the sender reputation for everyone using that ESP. This can hurt your deliverability rates across the board. Opting for an ESP with strong anti-spam policies and solid relationships with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) helps safeguard your sender reputation.

By choosing an ESP that aligns with your outreach goals and prioritizes email deliverability, you’re setting your campaigns up for better engagement and stronger marketing results.

What’s the difference between shared and dedicated IPs, and how do they impact email deliverability?

Shared IPs are shared among multiple senders, which means your email deliverability can be affected by the actions of others using the same IP. If some users engage in bad practices, like sending spam, it can damage the IP’s reputation and reduce inbox placement rates for everyone relying on it.

On the flip side, dedicated IPs are exclusively assigned to a single sender. This gives you complete control over your email reputation, making it easier to manage and troubleshoot any issues. However, dedicated IPs come with a catch - they require a warm-up period to build trust with email providers, unlike shared IPs, which are ready to go.

For businesses or individuals sending a high volume of emails, dedicated IPs are usually the better option because they allow for more consistent and reliable deliverability. Shared IPs, however, can be a good fit for smaller senders or those with lower email volumes, as the reputation is maintained collectively.

What are SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, and how do they improve email deliverability?

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are essential tools for email authentication, helping your messages land in inboxes instead of being flagged as spam. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• SPF (Sender Policy Framework) ensures only approved servers can send emails on behalf of your domain.
• DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) attaches a digital signature to your emails, confirming they haven’t been tampered with during delivery.
• DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) works as a bridge between SPF and DKIM, telling email providers what to do with messages that fail authentication.

To get started, you’ll need to set up each protocol step by step:

1. SPF: Add an SPF record to your domain’s DNS, listing the IPs allowed to send emails for your domain.
2. DKIM: Generate a public/private key pair and publish the public key in your DNS to enable email signing.
3. DMARC: Create a DMARC record to define how unauthenticated emails should be handled and enable reporting for better oversight.

By layering these protocols, you not only boost your email deliverability but also shield your domain from phishing and spoofing attacks.

Related posts

• Why Cold Emails Land in Spam: Common Problems
• Shared vs Private Email Infrastructure: Analysis
• How to Configure Mailboxes for Cold Email Success
• Why Should You Diversify Your Cold Email Infrastructure