Sendpath

Deliverability audit checklist

Amara Okonkwo

Audit DNS, streams, list quality, and complaint handling. Fix authentication and hygiene before you chase exotic infrastructure changes.

Audience: Deliverability owners and founding engineers

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DNS and auth

  • Inventory every sending service still in SPF
  • Confirm DKIM selectors for each active ESP
  • Read DMARC aggregate reports for unknown senders
  • BIMI only considered after strong DMARC enforcement

Stream separation

  • Transactional and marketing identities are separated
  • Lifecycle mail is not piggybacking on password-reset domains
  • Volume spikes are scheduled with the ESP where required

List and engagement

  • Stale never-engaged cohorts are sunset on a documented cadence
  • Complaint rate reviewed weekly for marketing streams
  • Acquisition sources that generate spam traps are cut

Incident readiness

  • Pause authority is assigned
  • Seed and panel tests available for diagnosis
  • Blocklist response playbook written

Related lessons: authentication spf dkim dmarc, inbox placement and reputation

Courses: deliverability

Machine-readable site index: https://emailmarketing.sh/api/site.json