When Gmail flags your emails with the message “Lots of messages from DOMAIN were identified as spam in the past,” it can be frustrating, especially if you’re trying to maintain a positive reputation with your recipients. This message typically indicates underlying issues with your email configuration or domain reputation. We understand how important it is for your emails to reach their intended recipients, and this guide is here to help you resolve these issues and improve your email deliverability through DomainsFoundry.
By following the steps in this guide, you’ll be able to enhance your email setup, restore trust with Gmail, and ensure that your messages make it to inboxes, not the spam folder. Let’s get started on fixing the problem together.
1. Verify Your Domain with Google Postmaster Tools
Verifying your domain helps build credibility with Gmail and can improve your email deliverability.
- Visit Google Postmaster Tools.
- Add your domain and follow the steps for TXT record verification.
- Update your domain’s DNS settings with the provided TXT record.
2. Check and Resolve Issues Using cPanel’s Email Deliverability Tool
The Email Deliverability tool in cPanel identifies and helps resolve common configuration issues.
- Log into your cPanel account.
- Go to Email > Email Deliverability.
- Find your domain, check for any errors (like missing SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records), and follow the suggestions to fix them.
3. Configure and Validate SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Records
Proper authentication protocols are key to ensuring Gmail trusts your emails.
- SPF: Validates that only authorised servers can send emails from your domain.
- DKIM: Adds a cryptographic signature to prove your emails are genuine.
- DMARC: Helps prevent email spoofing by aligning SPF and DKIM.
You can generate and apply these records using the cPanel tool, then add them to your DNS zone.
4. Monitor Your Domain’s Reputation
Use Google Postmaster Tools to keep track of your domain’s reputation and email performance.
- Check your domain’s reputation regularly and review any flagged issues that may affect deliverability.
5. Ensure Correct SMTP Usage
Make sure you are sending emails through the DomainsFoundry SMTP server.
- Gmail performs stringent authenticity checks, and using a mismatched SMTP server can cause emails to fail verification and get flagged.
6. Optimise Your Email Content and Practices
Poorly designed or irrelevant content can lead to spam filters flagging your emails.
- Avoid using spammy language, misleading subject lines, or too many links.
- Ensure a good text-to-image ratio and use a professional design.
- Always target engaged recipients and clean up your email list by removing inactive contacts.
Tip: Gently remind your contacts to add your sender address to their address book or safe sender list for better inbox placement.
7. Request a Gmail Review
Once you’ve made the necessary improvements, request Gmail to review your domain’s status.
- Go to the Gmail Bulk Sender Contact Form.
- Provide accurate details about your domain, configuration, and the changes made.
8. Prevent Future Issues
To maintain your domain’s good standing, regularly monitor your email authentication and reputation:
- Test your email content before sending to avoid issues with spam scores.
- Keep your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records updated to ensure ongoing authentication.
