Using a custom SMTP server offers great flexibility and control over your email communications, but it also requires some setup to ensure your emails don’t end up in spam. Here are essential steps to help boost your email deliverability and reach your customers’ inboxes.
6 Steps to Improve Your Email Deliverability
1. Authenticate Your Domain
Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records on your domain. These records help verify that your emails come from a legitimate source, reducing the chance they’re flagged as spam. Your email provider or domain host should have instructions for setting these up.
2. Use a Recognizable 'Sender Email Address'
Ensure that the email address in the "Sender Email Address" field matches your domain (e.g., yourname@yourdomain.com). Using a free email provider like Gmail or Yahoo can make your emails look less credible to spam filters.
3. Limit Links and Reduce "Spammy" Language
Avoid excessive links, large images, and phrases commonly associated with spam (e.g., “Buy now,” “Free,” “Act now!”). Keeping your email content straightforward and relevant can help.
4. Check Your IP Reputation
If the IP address associated with your SMTP server has a poor reputation, emails are more likely to be flagged as spam. Check the IP reputation using tools like SenderScore or Talos and contact your email provider if the reputation is low.
5. Encourage Recipients to Whitelist Your Email
Encourage users to add your email address to their contacts list, which can help prevent future emails from being marked as spam.
6. Monitor Spam Complaints
Watch for any user complaints about spam or bounced emails, and be proactive about cleaning your email list of inactive addresses to maintain a high sender reputation.