What is email deliverability and how to fix it
The Direct Answer
Email deliverability is the ability to land in the inbox instead of the spam folder. Fix it by configuring SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.
What is email deliverability and how to fix it?
Email deliverability is the measure of how successfully your emails reach your recipients' primary inboxes rather than being diverted to the spam or junk folders. To fix poor deliverability, you must focus on three core technical pillars: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
The 3 Pillars of Deliverability
If your emails are bouncing or disappearing, it is usually because recipient mail servers (like Gmail or Outlook) cannot verify that you are who you say you are.
1. SPF (Sender Policy Framework)
A TXT record that lists the IP addresses authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain. If you send from an IP not on this list, you'll likely fail the first layer of security.
2. DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)
A digital signature added to your email headers. It proves that the email was actually sent by your domain and hasn't been tampered with in transit.
3. DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication)
A policy that tells mail servers what to do if an email fails SPF or DKIM checks. A strong DMARC policy (p=reject) is the ultimate signal of a high-authority sender.
Deliverability Checklist
| Step | Action | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | Check your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC status | Critical |
| Step 2 | Fix any missing or misconfigured DNS records | Critical |
| Step 3 | Warm up your email accounts gradually | High |
| Step 4 | Clean your lead lists to remove invalid emails | High |
How to fix your deliverability today
The fastest way to fix your deliverability is to perform a technical audit of your domain. You can use our Free Deliverability Checker to identify missing records in seconds.
Once your DNS is configured correctly, your "sender reputation" will begin to recover, and your open rates will naturally increase as more emails land in the primary inbox.
FAQ
How can I check my domain's deliverability?
You can use our free Deliverability Checker to scan your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records in real-time.
Does my email content affect deliverability?
Yes, but technical DNS setup is the foundation. Without SPF/DKIM, even perfect content will often be marked as spam.