In 2024, the email landscape is set for a major overhaul with Google and Yahoo enforcing new requirements for email senders. The requirements are technically for bulk senders (>5000 emails/day) but this is a big deal for anyone who sends email, since it will likely become a requirement for all senders in the future.

Overview of what's coming:

Starting in February 2024, high-volume senders (5k+ messages/day) will need to authenticate messages with SPF and DKIM using your domain and to ensure a DMARC policy.

Lower-volume senders: Authentication is required, though domain alignment is flexible.

Universal must-do’s:

All senders need to set up FCrDNS

Avoid freemail domains for sending

Include ARC headers in forwarded emails

Implement one-click unsubscribe features

Here's our recommendation to get ready:

Understand what domains you use for email sending today (and whether they’re already authenticated)

Authenticate your mail with custom DKIM

Authenticate your mail with custom SPF

Set up DMARC (and monitor who's sending on your domain using tools like DMARC Digests)

Register your domain for Google Postmaster Tools and keep your spam complaint rates under 0.3%