To ensure that emails you send from your domain are not marked as spam in Gmail, there are several steps you can take. Here is a detailed guide to help you stop emails from going to the junk folder in Gmail.
1. Set up SPF (Sender Policy Framework): SPF is an email authentication method that helps prevent spammers from sending unauthorized messages using your domain. By publishing an SPF record for your domain, you specify which servers are allowed to send emails on your behalf. This helps Gmail verify the authenticity of your emails. To set up SPF:
– Access your domain’s DNS settings.
– Create a TXT record for your domain.
– Add the SPF record with the appropriate syntax, specifying the authorized email servers.
– Save the changes to your DNS settings.
2. Enable DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): DKIM is another email authentication method that adds a digital signature to your emails. This signature is verified by receiving servers, including Gmail, to ensure the email hasn’t been tampered with during transit. To enable DKIM in Gmail:
– Access your domain’s DNS settings.
– Generate the DKIM key pair in Gmail’s settings.
– Add the DKIM record to your DNS settings.
– Verify the DKIM record is correctly set up.
3. Publish a DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) record: DMARC is a policy framework that builds upon SPF and DKIM to further protect your domain from abuse. It allows you to specify how receiving servers should handle emails that fail SPF or DKIM checks. To publish a DMARC record:
– Access your domain’s DNS settings.
– Create a TXT record for your domain.
– Add the DMARC policy with the appropriate syntax, specifying the desired actions for failed SPF or DKIM checks.
– Save the changes to your DNS settings.
4. Maintain a good sender reputation: Apart from authentication methods, your sender reputation plays a crucial role in email deliverability. Here are some best practices to maintain a good reputation:
– Send emails only to recipients who have willingly subscribed or opted-in to receive them.
– Regularly clean your email list to remove inactive or unengaged recipients.
– Avoid using spam trigger words or phrases in your subject line and content.
– Ensure your emails have a clear unsubscribe option and honor all unsubscribe requests promptly.
– Monitor your email sending behavior and avoid sudden spikes or changes in volume.
– Engage with your recipients and encourage them to add you to their contacts or whitelist your email address.
By implementing these steps, you increase the likelihood that your emails will land in the primary inbox of Gmail users rather than the junk or spam folder. Remember that it may take some time for these changes to propagate and for your sender reputation to improve. Regularly monitor your email deliverability and make adjustments as needed.