Deliverability best practices

DearReach handles the technical side of deliverability for you, but a few habits on your end make a big difference. Here’s what actually moves the needle.

Get the foundations right

• Verify your domain with DKIM, SPF, and DMARC. This is non-negotiable. See Verify your domain.
• Use a real From name and address on your own domain. Never send “from” a free Gmail/Outlook address.
• Include your postal address (DearReach requires it). Its absence is a spam signal.

Protect your reputation

• Only email people who expect to hear from you. Permission is the whole game.
• Warm up gradually. If your domain is new to sending, start with smaller, engaged sends and build volume over a few weeks rather than blasting your whole list on day one.
• Watch bounces and complaints. DearReach suppresses and pauses automatically, but consistently high rates mean your list or content needs attention.

Write like a human

• Personal beats promotional. Plain, conversational emails that read like a one-to-one note land in the Primary inbox far more often than image-heavy marketing blasts, which get sorted into Promotions.
• Fewer links and images in a given email reduces “bulk mail” signals. Save the heavy branding for when it genuinely fits.
• A relevant subject line that isn’t clickbait keeps you out of spam filters and earns opens.

About Outlook and Gmail tabs

• Outlook desktop breaks most email designs. DearReach renders constrained HTML specifically so yours holds together there, but always send yourself a test in the clients your audience uses.
• Gmail tabs (Primary vs Promotions) are chosen by Gmail from content signals. A branded broadcast may land in Promotions; a plain personal note is more likely to reach Primary. Both are normal. Match the style to the goal.

Consistency over time is what builds a strong sender reputation. There are no shortcuts, but DearReach removes most of the ways to get it wrong.