Why Is My Email
Going to Spam?
Since February 2024, Google has radically changed how they filter email. If your messages are landing in spam—or vanishing entirely—here's what has changed.
The Short Version
Sender Policy Framework must be configured and aligned with your sending servers.
2048-bit cryptographic signatures are now mandatory for major providers.
A basic domain validation and reporting policy must be published in your DNS.
The "Promotions" Trap
Even if you pass all security checks, Gmail might still hide your email in the Promotions tab if it feels too marketing-focused.
Interactive Email Health Checker
Step 1 of 3: Primary Email Provider
Where is your business email hosted?
9 Reasons Your Emails Are Going to Spam
Google's Stricter Requirements
Gmail now strictly enforces SPF, DKIM (2048-bit keys), and DMARC (minimum p=none) alignment. It also requires valid Reverse DNS (PTR) records. If any of these fail or don't align, Gmail will silently junk or throttle your emails.
Bulk-Sender Rules at Low Volumes
Even sending 1,000+ emails/day (newsletters, invoices, etc.) now triggers mandatory one-click unsubscribe headers and a low spam rate requirement (<0.3%). Daily throttling occurs immediately if your reputation dips.
Reputation Hit Due to Spam Complaints
Gmail is brutal now. A 0.1% complaint rate triggers a warning, and 0.3% causes deliverability to drop. Just 3 complaints per 1,000 emails can get you penalised.
Misconfigured DNS After Hosting Changes
Moved to Vercel, Cloudflare, or a new host? Gmail punishes duplicate SPF records, SPF records that are too long (>10 lookups), DKIM mismatches, or old records left behind after migration.
Sending from a New IP or Provider
Switching to a new CRM (HubSpot, Zoho, Mailchimp) or sending app notifications from a new IP will tank your reputation until the IP is 'warmed up' with consistent volume.
Gmail AI & Engagement Filtering
It's not just about content anymore. Gmail tracks 'User Engagement'. If people delete your emails without opening them, or don't reply, their AI learns to junk you. It also penalises 'over-optimised' wording and mixed content patterns.
Missing or Bad BIMI
While not essential, missing BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) or a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) now affects trust scoring during reputation recalculations.
Shared IP Reputation
If you use a bulk mailer on a shared IP pool, one spammy sender can ruin the reputation for everyone, leading to rate-limiting or junk-folder placement for your legit emails.
Alignment Issues with Forwarding
Sending as @yourdomain.com but routing through Gmail SMTP or unaligned services (Vercel/SendGrid) flags you as an 'unauthenticated sender' and downgrades your trust score.
Don't Let Google Block Your Business
We can audit your entire email infrastructure, configure your DNS records, and warm up your domain reputation to ensure your emails land in the inbox.