Why Are Emails Landing in Spam?

This guide addresses common reasons emails end up in spam and provides troubleshooting steps.

Main Causes

There are four primary reasons for spam filtering:

1. DNS and Authentication Issues — SPF or DMARC/DKIM records haven't propagated or authentication fails
2. Alias Configuration Problems — Incorrect setup in mail clients
3. Email Content — Message characteristics trigger recipient filtering
4. Blocklist Listings — Domain or sending IP appears on block lists

Troubleshooting Steps

DNS Records and Authentication

• Use verification tools like check.mx and mxtoolbox.com to confirm DNS record propagation
• Wait up to 48 hours for propagation; contact your DNS provider if delays persist
• Review DKIM and SPF authentication by checking email headers or aggregate reports
• Consult the DKIM and DMARC configuration guide for setup assistance

Alias Configuration

• Verify correct alias setup in your ImprovMX dashboard
• Consider recreating the alias, particularly for Gmail

Content Assessment

• Examine subject lines and message body for spam-triggering elements (HTML formatting, links, attachments, image-only content)
• Test emails outside ImprovMX to isolate the cause
• Use SpamAssassin scoring tools like Postmark's spam checker

Blocklist Verification

• Check domain and origin IP against services like Spamhaus

When Additional Help Is Needed

For persistent issues, contact support with:

• SMTP source (Gmail or ImprovMX)
• Filtering location details
• Recipient patterns affected
• Email headers from spam-flagged messages
• Any other relevant information