If you’re reading this, I’m guessing you already know that email is an effective way of reaching out to prospects. It’s estimated that there are over 4.2 billion email users, meaning it can be used to reach more than half of the world’s population.
Of course, emails can only get results if they actually reach your prospect’s inbox. No matter how good your message is, it’s not going to convert if it’s not delivered. In turn, poor email deliverability can start a vicious cycle, damaging your sender reputation and resulting in even more of your emails going to spam.
This post will cover all the different types of email deliverability tools (there isn’t any ultimate email checker for now) you need and every step of the email deliverability check process, so you can ensure your next email campaign reaches as many people as possible. Let’s strart from how to build the actual toolset for the highest level of email deliverability.
How to build your own email deliverability toolkit, step-by-step
So, you want to level up your email game and make sure your messages actually land in your prospects’ inboxes?
Let’s walk through how you can assemble a killer toolkit to help boost your email deliverability. This guide will break down each essential step, with some handy tools along the way.
Step 1: Get your technical setup right
Before you hit send, your email setup needs to be airtight.
Think of it like building a house—you’ve got to start with a solid foundation. This means making sure your domain and email settings are on point, and that things like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are properly configured.
You don’t want to be flagged as spam before you even get started.
What to use: Use tools like MxToolbox or Mail-tester to scan your domain for potential red flags. These tools will tell you if your authentication settings are correct, and if not, give you a detailed plan to fix it.
Step 2: Monitor your sender reputation
Even if your technical setup is flawless, if your domain has a bad reputation, your emails are headed straight to the spam folder. So, what can you do?
Start small—send just a few emails to warm up your domain, then monitor your sender score regularly.
What to use: Sender Score is a solid option to check how ISPs view your domain. A score above 80? You’re golden. Anything less? Time to make improvements. Monitoring this regularly can help prevent any surprises.
Step 3: Clean up your email list
Once your domain is looking good (and your domain deliverability check is over), it’s time to focus on who you’re sending emails to.
Using a clean and verified list is non-negotiable. If your list is full of fake or outdated email addresses, you’re setting yourself up for failure with higher bounce rates and a tanking sender reputation.
What to use: Email deliverability software like NeverBounce or ZeroBounce help ensure you’re emailing valid addresses. Both of these will remove invalid emails, spam traps, or temporary addresses that could hurt your deliverability.
Step 4: Optimize your content
Next up—crafting your email. Even if you’ve nailed everything so far, the content of your email still plays a huge role in whether it gets delivered.
Spam filters love to analyze your subject lines, links, and HTML.
The key here is balance—don’t overload on images or spammy words like “free” or “urgent.”
What to use: Try Email Subject Line Tester to make sure your subject lines are on point and don’t scream “spam.” You can also use Spam Analyzer by SendForensics to scan your entire email and avoid triggering filters.
Step 5: Test before you send
Don’t just cross your fingers and hope your email makes it to the inbox. Before sending out a big campaign, test email deliverability to see how your email performs with different providers (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc.).
Think of it as a dress rehearsal before the big show.
What to use: Mailtrap and GlockApps offer easy ways to test your emails across multiple platforms. They’ll show you exactly where your emails end up—whether that’s the inbox, promotions, or worse, spam.
Step 6: Keep an eye on feedback
After your email campaign goes out, don’t just walk away. Keep tabs on feedback, such as which emails bounced, who reported your message as spam, and which addresses were invalid.
This will help you refine your next campaign and keep improving over time.
What to use: Tools like Litmus or Email on Acid offer advanced analytics to track what happens after you hit send. These platforms will show you detailed performance metrics, helping you pinpoint what went right—and what needs tweaking.