The Complete Guide to Email Deliverability in 2024

Email deliverability is the foundation of successful email communication. In this guide, we'll cover everything from authentication protocols to engagement optimization.

What is Email Deliverability?

Email deliverability refers to the ability of your emails to reach recipients' inboxes. It's not just about whether your email gets sent—it's about whether it gets delivered, seen, and acted upon.

Many factors influence deliverability, including your sender reputation, email authentication, content quality, and recipient engagement. Understanding these factors is crucial for any business that relies on email communication.

Email Authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC

Authentication protocols verify that you are who you say you are. Let's break down the three main protocols:

SPF (Sender Policy Framework)

SPF allows domain owners to specify which mail servers are authorized to send email on their behalf. When receiving servers check SPF, they verify that the email came from an authorized IP address.

v=spf1 include:_spf.mailcraft.dev ~all

DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)

DKIM adds a digital signature to your emails that proves they haven't been tampered with in transit. This signature is verified against a public key published in your DNS records.

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication)

DMARC ties SPF and DKIM together and tells receiving servers what to do if authentication fails. It also provides reporting so you can monitor authentication results.

"With Mailcraft, all authentication is configured automatically. You don't need to be a DNS expert to achieve perfect deliverability."

Best Practices for High Deliverability

1. Warm up your IP address - Gradually increase sending volume when starting with a new IP.
2. Maintain list hygiene - Regularly remove bounced addresses and inactive subscribers.
3. Monitor your sender reputation - Use tools like Google Postmaster to track your domain reputation.
4. Write engaging content - Higher engagement signals to ISPs that your emails are wanted.
5. Provide easy unsubscribe options - Making it easy to unsubscribe reduces spam complaints.

Conclusion

Email deliverability is a complex but manageable challenge. By implementing proper authentication, following best practices, and continuously monitoring your metrics, you can achieve excellent inbox placement rates.

With Mailcraft, most of this complexity is handled for you. Our infrastructure automatically manages authentication, reputation, and optimization—so you can focus on building your product.