Why Emails Go to Spam Even When SPF, DKIM and DMARC Look Correct
One of the most common situations I see is this: a domain has SPF, DKIM and DMARC set up correctly, test tools show “PASS”, and yet emails still land in spam or promotions.
This usually leads people to assume the issue must be “content” or something vague like “Google being strict.” In reality, authentication is only one piece of the puzzle.
Authentication Is the Starting Point, Not the Finish Line
SPF, DKIM and DMARC tell receiving mail servers that you are allowed to send email for a domain. They do not tell those servers whether your email should be trusted.
It’s entirely possible for a domain to be perfectly authenticated and still have poor inbox placement due to reputation, sending behavior or inconsistency.
Common Issues I See in Real Systems
In real client setups, the problems are rarely obvious. Some examples:
• A domain that suddenly starts sending more email than it ever has before
• Transactional and marketing traffic mixed on the same domain
• Old DNS records left behind after a migration
• Inconsistent “From” addresses across systems
None of these break authentication, but all of them affect trust.
Why “It Worked Before” Is a Dangerous Assumption
Email systems are reputation-based. What worked last month may stop working if sending patterns change, traffic increases or infrastructure is modified.
This is why I approach deliverability issues by looking at the entire system not just DNS records and validating behavior under real usage, not isolated tests.
Final Thought
When emails go to spam despite “everything being set up correctly,” it’s usually a sign that the system needs to be looked at holistically, not patched with another record or tool.
Small, careful adjustments often matter more than aggressive changes.