Best Practices for Email Deliverability

Understanding Email Deliverability

Email deliverability is the ability to deliver emails successfully to recipients' inboxes. Poor deliverability means your important messages end up in spam folders—or worse, get rejected entirely.

The Fundamentals

1. DNS Configuration

Proper DNS setup is the foundation of good deliverability:

MX Records: Point to your mail servers

example.com.  IN  MX  10  mail.example.com.

PTR Records: Reverse DNS should match your sending hostname

A Records: Your mail server needs a valid A record

2. Authentication Protocols

Modern email relies on three key authentication methods:

SPF (Sender Policy Framework)

Specifies which servers can send email for your domain:

v=spf1 include:_spf.calimatic.app ~all

DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)

Adds a digital signature to verify email authenticity

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication)

Tells receiving servers what to do with unauthenticated emails:

v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:[email protected]

Content Best Practices

Avoid Spam Triggers

• Don't use ALL CAPS in subject lines
• Avoid excessive exclamation marks
• Balance image-to-text ratio
• Include a clear unsubscribe link

Maintain List Hygiene

• Remove bounced addresses promptly
• Use double opt-in for new subscribers
• Regularly clean inactive subscribers

Warm Up New Domains

When sending from a new domain:

1. Start with small volumes (50-100 emails/day)
2. Gradually increase over 2-4 weeks
3. Monitor bounce rates and spam complaints

Monitoring Your Reputation

Use these tools to track your sender reputation:

• Google Postmaster Tools
• Microsoft SNDS
• Your ESP's deliverability dashboard

CalimaticMail Advantages

With CalimaticMail, you get:

• Automatic SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration
• Dedicated IP addresses for consistent reputation
• Real-time deliverability monitoring
• Expert support when issues arise

Learn more about our email hosting