Editing Tools for monitoring deliverability (section)

== Tools for Monitoring Deliverability ==

ActiveCampaign provides a suite of tools designed to help you monitor your email deliverability. Understanding these tools is critical for optimizing your email campaigns and ensuring that your messages reach your intended audience. This article will explore the tools available for monitoring deliverability, their access and usage, and best practices for maximizing your email performance.

=== Introduction ===
Monitoring your email '''deliverability''' is essential in maintaining a healthy email marketing strategy. Effective deliverability ensures that your emails successfully reach recipient inboxes rather than being diverted to spam folders. Utilizing the proper tools can provide valuable insights into the performance of your campaigns, revealing vital metrics about your sender reputation and email behavior across different mailbox providers.

ActiveCampaign partners with various third-party services that specialize in deliverability to give you a comprehensive view of your email performance. These tools allow you to benchmark your email reputation, analyze potential deliverability issues, and understand how your emails are perceived across different platforms.

=== How to Access This Feature ===
To access the tools for monitoring deliverability, you will need to sign in to your ActiveCampaign account and navigate to the respective external platforms as listed in this guide. It is important to note that many of these tools are hosted outside of ActiveCampaign, requiring separate sign-ins and accounts for their use.

=== Step-by-Step Instructions ===

==== Mailbox Provider Tools ====
1. **Google Postmaster Tools (GPT)**
   - Go to the [Google Postmaster Tools](https://help.activecampaign.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002134140) website.
   - Sign in with your Google account associated with your sender domain.
   - Link your domain and access metrics such as IP and Domain reputation, authentication results, and more.

2. **Microsoft SNDS (Smart Network Data Services)**
   - Visit the [Microsoft SNDS](https://sendersupport.olc.protection.outlook.com/snds/) portal.
   - Sign in using your Microsoft account with the relevant IP address.
   - Check your IP’s reputation status represented as a Green/Yellow/Red indicator.

3. **Yandex and Mail.ru**
   - For users sending emails to Russian addresses, visit [Yandex Postmaster](http://postmaster.yandex.ru/) and [Mail.ru Postmaster](https://postmaster.mail.ru/) to obtain deliverability metrics specific to these domains.

==== Seed Testing ====
1. **GlockApps**
   - Register for an account on [GlockApps](https://glockapps.com/).
   - Send a campaign to a provided list of seed addresses.
   - Analyze the results to determine whether emails reached the inbox or spam folder.

2. **SendForensics**
   - Create an account at [SendForensics](http://sendforensics.com/).
   - Use their service to test your emails against seed addresses and receive detailed reports.

==== IP & Domain Reputation ====
1. **Sender Score**
   - Go to [SenderScore.org](https://www.senderscore.org/).
   - Input your sending IP address to check its reputation based on aggregated data from various providers.

2. **Talos Intelligence**
   - Visit [Talos Intelligence](https://talosintelligence.com/reputation_center).
   - Enter your domain name to explore its reputation status, focusing on potential negative indicators.

==== Content Scanning ====
1. **Mail-tester.com**
   - Navigate to [Mail-tester.com](https://www.mail-tester.com/).
   - Send a test email using the instructions provided, and receive a report on deliverability, authentication, and spam scoring.

2. **Litmus**
   - Create an account at [Litmus](http://litmus.com/).
   - Send a test email to their service to assess potential issues that could affect deliverability.

==== Blocklist Checks ====
1. **Mxtoolbox**
   - Go to [Mxtoolbox](http://mxtoolbox.com/).
   - Enter your domain or IP address to check if you are blocklisted. You can set up alerts to monitor your status continuously.

=== Configuration Options and Settings ===
While utilizing these tools does not require complex configurations, certain configurations within your email setup may improve deliverability:

- Ensure proper '''DNS configuration''' including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
- Monitor '''feedback loops''' to manage complaints effectively.
- Utilize '''dedicated IP addresses''' where beneficial for increased reputation control.

=== Best Practices and Tips ===
- Regularly check your sender reputation using multiple tools to obtain a comprehensive overview.
- Leverage '''Google Postmaster Tools''' as your primary resource for assessing domain health.
- Supplement your monitoring efforts with seed testing to maintain a clear picture of inbox placement.
- Keep your contact lists clean and regularly remove unengaged users to improve sending reputation.

=== Common Use Cases with Examples ===
1. **Improving Inbox Placement**
   - After noticing low inbox rates via seed testing, a marketer may segment recent engagees and send targeted re-engagement campaigns.

2. **Identifying Issues with Microsoft Deliverability**
   - A company sees consistently poor performance in Microsoft inboxes through SNDS and subsequently adjusts their sending domain settings, leading to improved reputation over time.

3. **Using Mail-tester for Campaign Optimization**
   - Before finalizing an email campaign, sending a message to Mail-tester allows a marketer to adjust content based on identified flaws.

=== Troubleshooting Section ===
- **Emails consistently landing in spam:** Review your authentication settings and ensure you are not on any blocklists.
- **Poor performance in specific providers:** Utilize targeted tools for those providers, such as Microsoft SNDS, and make adjustments based on their feedback.
- **Seed testing shows adverse results:** Compare results with real recipient engagement metrics to get a fuller understanding of your deliverability.

=== Related Features ===
- [[Deliverability Consultations]] to gain expert insights into improving deliverability.
- Tools for [[Content Analysis]] to check for common red flags in email formatting.

=== FAQ ===
*'''What is email deliverability?'''
Email deliverability refers to the ability of an email message to reach a recipient's inbox successfully.

*'''Why should I use Google Postmaster Tools?'''
Google Postmaster Tools provides detailed insights into your domain's reputation based on actual data from Gmail, helping you understand how your emails are received.

*'''How often should I check my sender reputation?'''
Regular checks are recommended, especially after significant changes in email content, audience segments, or sending patterns.

*'''Can seed testing guarantee inbox placement?'''
No, while seed testing is a useful tool for benchmarking, actual inbox placement can differ based on engagement and user behaviors.

*'''What do I do if I’m blocked?'''
Investigate using tools like Mxtoolbox, correct any identified issues, and reach out to the blocklist owner for resolution.

*'''Is content scanning necessary for all emails?'''
While not required, regular content scanning can prevent issues before they occur and enhance overall deliverability.

*'''Are there costs associated with seed testing services?'''
Yes, many seed testing services charge a fee per test, though they often provide meaningful insights that can help improve deliverability.
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