How to Improve Email Deliverability in 2026
A comprehensive guide on setting up SPF, DMARC, and cleaning your email lists to ensure your messages hit the inbox.
How to Improve Email Deliverability in 2026
Email deliverability is more than just having a valid email address. In 2026, mailbox providers like Gmail and Outlook use sophisticated signals to determine if your message belongs in the Inbox or the Spam folder.
1. Technical Foundations
The first step to good deliverability is ensuring your domain is correctly configured. This includes:
- SPF (Sender Policy Framework): Tells the world which servers are allowed to send email on your behalf.
- DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): Adds a digital signature to your emails.
- DMARC: A policy that tells receivers what to do if SPF or DKIM fails.
2. List Hygiene
Sending emails to non-existent addresses or "spam traps" is the fastest way to ruin your reputation. This is where SendGate comes in. By analyzing your list before sending, you can:
- Remove disposable emails.
- Detect domain typos (like gnail.com).
- Identify high-risk catch-all domains.
3. Warm-up Your Domain
If you are sending from a new domain, don't blast 10,000 emails on day one. Use a warm-up plan:
- Day 1: 50 emails
- Day 2: 100 emails
- Day 3: 200 emails ... and so on.
Stay tuned for more guides on SendGate Resources!