Stopping Your Emails from Going to Junk

In this article, we will detail some steps you can take on your domain to stop any emails you send from landing in your recipient’s junk mail with the use of domain authentication.

How Are Emails That You Send Marked as Spam?

Your emails might be marked as spam for a variety of reasons, often triggered by spam filters that look for specific red flags.

Here are the most common causes:

Spammy subject lines or body content

• Phrases like “Free,” “Buy now,” “Click here,” “Risk-free,” and “Act now” are common red flags.

Too many links or shortened URLs

• Excessive linking or using services like bit.ly can raise suspicion.

Excessive use of images or no text

• Emails that are mostly images or contain no plain text are often flagged.

Poor HTML formatting

• Bad code or mismatched HTML tags can get caught by filters.

Missing or incorrect SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records

• These are domain authentication protocols. Without them, your emails are more likely to be flagged.

What is Domain Authentication and How Can It Help?

Domain authentication is crucial for ensuring the security and deliverability of emails, preventing them from being marked as spam or phishing attempts. By implementing authentication protocols like SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail), and DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance), email senders can verify their identity and protect their domain from spoofing or unauthorised use. These protocols work together to confirm that emails sent from a domain are legitimate, reducing the likelihood of them being filtered into junk folders.

SPF

An SPF (Sender Policy Framework) record is a type of DNS record that helps prevent email spoofing, improve email deliverability, and reduces the risk of phishing by specifying which mail servers are authorised to send emails on behalf of a domain.  

Depending on who your email provider is, the record you may need to add may look slightly different, but it will look similar to this:

v=spf1 include:spf.hosts.co.uk ~all

• v=spf1 –  Specifies the SPF version.

• include:spf.hosts.co.uk – Authorises Namesco’s mail servers (in this example) to send emails on behalf of the domain.

• ~all – Soft fail (emails from unauthorised servers may be marked as suspicious).

DKIM

DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) is an email authentication method that helps verify that an email was sent from a legitimate source and was not altered in transit. It works by adding a digital signature to the email’s header, which email providers can check against a public key in the sender’s DNS records. If the signature matches, the email is considered authentic and is more likely to reach the recipient’s inbox instead of being marked as spam. DKIM enhances email security, prevents spoofing, and helps build a positive sender reputation.

DMARC

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) is an email authentication protocol that helps prevent email spoofing and phishing attacks. It builds on SPF and DKIM by allowing domain owners to specify how unauthenticated emails should be handled—whether to reject, quarantine, or allow them. DMARC also provides detailed reports on email activity, helping organisations monitor and improve their email security. By implementing DMARC, users can protect their brand, reduce phishing risks, and improve email deliverability.

If you have any further questions, simply raise a support request from within your Online Control Panel or call us on 0345 363 3634. Our Support team are here to help and ready to assist you with your enquiry.

For assistance raising a support request please follow the following guide.