About the Email Deliverability Checklist
Since 2024, Gmail and Yahoo have required bulk senders to authenticate with SPF and DKIM, publish DMARC, offer one-click unsubscribe and keep spam complaints below 0.3%. Many marketers only find out when campaigns start landing in spam. This email deliverability checklist covers those requirements plus the habits that keep reputation healthy.
Sections run from DNS authentication and infrastructure to list hygiene and content testing. Items link to our SPF, DKIM and DMARC checkers and generators, the subject line tester and the UTM builder. It works with any ESP, whether you send through Mailchimp, Brevo, Zoho, Amazon SES or another platform. Your progress is stored in your browser only.
How to use it
- Check your SPF, DKIM and DMARC records with the combined checker.
- Confirm bulk-sender items such as one-click unsubscribe in a test email.
- Clean your list and set rules for bounces and inactive contacts.
- Test content and placement before your next big campaign.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Gmail and Yahoo bulk sender requirements?
Senders of large volumes to Gmail or Yahoo must authenticate with SPF and DKIM, publish a DMARC record with an aligned From domain, support one-click unsubscribe and honour opt-outs quickly, and keep the spam complaint rate below 0.3%. All senders also need valid forward and reverse DNS and TLS for transmission.
Which DMARC policy should I start with?
Start with p=none and an rua address so you receive aggregate reports without affecting delivery. Use the reports to find every legitimate service sending as your domain and fix its SPF or DKIM alignment. Then move to p=quarantine and eventually p=reject to stop spoofing.
Why do my emails go to spam even with SPF and DKIM?
Authentication is only the entry ticket. Low engagement, high complaint rates, sending to old or purchased lists, sudden volume spikes, misleading subject lines and suspicious links all hurt placement. Check alignment with DMARC, monitor Google Postmaster Tools and clean inactive contacts regularly.