Maintaining a high domain and IP reputation with Google is paramount for hoteliers as it directly influences the deliverability of their email campaigns. A positive reputation ensures that their communications consistently land in the recipients' primary inbox rather than being flagged as spam, fostering better engagement with potential guests and preserving the hotel's online credibility.

Google recently published a new set of sender requirements, enforceable as of Feb 1, 2024. Failure to meet these requirements could potentially land a hotel's email into the Gmail spam folder or be bounced. For dedicated domain senders, it is highly recommended to use Google's free feedback loop, Google Postmaster, to monitor Google Reputation and Spam Complaint Rate.

The intricate Google algorithm for evaluating sender domain reputation plays a pivotal role in determining the fate of emails sent by hotels to Google recipients. This algorithm considers various factors such as engagement rates, user interactions, and content quality, significantly influencing the deliverability of hotel marketing emails to Gmail users. Understanding and optimizing for these algorithmic nuances is crucial for maintaining a positive sender reputation and ensuring consistent inbox placement. Email sender guidelines - Google Workspace Admin Help

Basic Troubleshooting Steps

Navigating Gmail's spam folder filtering requires a systematic approach. First, ensure the campaign is indeed ending up in Gmail's Spam Folder, and then delve into potential technical issues by analyzing the Gmail Header using tools like Google Admin Header Analyzer.

Review the header to make sure there are no authentication issues (SPF, DKIM or DMARC). If there are authentication issues, reach out to the Cendyn Email Deliverability Team via a Global Support Ticket.

Steps to minimizing Spam Filtering at Gmail

If your campaigns are consistently landing in Gmail's spam folder, it signals negative behavior that needs attention. Google Postmaster provides insights into the depth of the issue, and correcting course with Gmail requires time and strategic adjustments. The crucial shift involves adapting your email campaign audience by targeting the most engaged Gmail subscribers initially. Your campaign audience should segment Gmail emails that have clicked on a campaign in the last 30-days. Under eInsight Audience Criteria, use the Campaign Summary > Campaign Clicked Link Date filter.

As your Google Reputation and Spam Complaint Rate improve, gradually expand your audience window (90-day Click-Engaged, 120-days, etc.), rebuilding trust and enhancing inbox and engagement rates. Remember, meticulous adherence to standard campaign best practices, including monitoring image and message size, is imperative, with Gmail clipping messages over 104KB. Upholding these practices ensures sustained positive outcomes for your email campaigns.