Description of Resolution Errors and How to Handle them
If you've run an inbox placement test, and your email landed in spam, running the resolution will tell you what the error is. The Inboxbooster Resolver runs a series of checks when your email lands in spam. Those checks include: RFC Compliance and message size, DNS Checks, Reputation, and Content Analysis. This blog post will describe each of the checks in greater detail and will let you know what your next steps should be.
1. RFC Compliance and Size of Message
If you're receiving an error for "RFC Compliance" or for the size of your message, there are easy fixes.
The problem with very short emails is that spam filters have trouble categorizing them, so they're sent to spam by default. This is something we commonly see with "verification code" emails. All you need to do here is add 2-3 more sentences to your email and you should be landing back in inbox. (Be sure to re-run the test to confirm)
The RFC (Request for Comments) compliance check is assessing if your email script's coding is properly structured. If your coding is not compliant, either the sending or receiving server will reject the mail.
2. DNS Checks
The DNS checks are seeing if you have properly configured your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication mechanisms. These ensure that it is indeed you sending from your domain and that the sending IP has permission to send. Here is a screenshot of an inbox placement test that landed in spam due to the DNS Checks:
We've written blog posts on how to configure SPF and DKIM for Google Workspace: (https://inboxbooster.com/2023/10/13/configuring-dkim-spf-for-google-workspace/) and how to configure DMARC for any email provider: (https://inboxbooster.com/2023/10/19/configuring-dmarc/) Once you properly configure your DNS settings, you will need to wait 48-72 hours for the changes to propagate. (Then re-run the test)
3. Reputation
The reputation check is seeing if your domain or IP reputation has been damaged to the point of landing you in spam/ promotion. This can be due to many things, but the most common cause is that you've been sending emails to people that don't want to receive them. Here is a screenshot of an inbox placement test that landed in spam due to reputation:
Reputation can be frustrating to reverse, but we have successfully helped customers find their way back to inbox many times before. This will, however, require you to change your sending practices. We've written blog posts explaining reputation in further detail: (https://inboxbooster.com/2023/11/04/email-reputation/) as well as fixes for a damaged reputation to get you back into inbox: (https://inboxbooster.com/2023/11/12/fixes-for-email-reputation/).
4. Content Analysis
Content Analysis is checking if certain words, emojis, or a "tone" are sending your emails to spam. Here's a screenshot of an inbox placement test that landed in promotion due to content analysis:
Content fixes are normally a pretty straightforward process. Our resolver will automatically run content analysis for you and let you know the areas of your email that are sending you to spam. We've seen certain words, improperly structured unsubscribe footers, emojis, and even the "tone" of the email land emails in spam. Once the problem portion of the email is fixed, be sure to rerun the test to ensure no other issues are affecting your inbox placement.
In Closing
By and large, issues with your domain or IP reputation will be the hardest to reverse. It requires you to assess either the way you send your emails or how you gather your prospects, and make changes to those processes. As always, we're just a message away if the resolution results are confusing. If you would like further explanation on a resolution or would like recommendations on how best to implement fixes, please schedule a meeting with us HERE! We would be happy to help.