--- title: "Guidelines to follow to send emails to Gmail recipients | Phish Protection" description: "Guidelines to follow to send emails to Gmail recipients: Google has always prioritized protecting its users and preventing phishing attempts . To achieve." image: "https://phishprotection.com/og/blog/guidelines-to-follow-to-send-emails-to-gmail-recipients.png" canonical: "https://phishprotection.com/blog/guidelines-to-follow-to-send-emails-to-gmail-recipients/" --- Share [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fphishprotection.com%2Fblog%2Fguidelines-to-follow-to-send-emails-to-gmail-recipients%2F "Share on LinkedIn") [ ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Guidelines%20to%20follow%20to%20send%20emails%20to%20Gmail%20recipients&url=https%3A%2F%2Fphishprotection.com%2Fblog%2Fguidelines-to-follow-to-send-emails-to-gmail-recipients%2F "Share on X/Twitter") [ ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fphishprotection.com%2Fblog%2Fguidelines-to-follow-to-send-emails-to-gmail-recipients%2F "Share on Facebook") [ ](https://reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fphishprotection.com%2Fblog%2Fguidelines-to-follow-to-send-emails-to-gmail-recipients%2F&title=Guidelines%20to%20follow%20to%20send%20emails%20to%20Gmail%20recipients "Share on Reddit") [ ](mailto:?subject=Guidelines%20to%20follow%20to%20send%20emails%20to%20Gmail%20recipients&body=Check out this article: https%3A%2F%2Fphishprotection.com%2Fblog%2Fguidelines-to-follow-to-send-emails-to-gmail-recipients%2F "Share via Email") ![Phish Protection blog post image](https://media.mailhop.org/phishprotection/images/2024/12/phishing-attack-prevention-9907.jpg) Google has always prioritized protecting its users and preventing[phishing attempts](https://www.ibm.com/topics/phishing). To achieve this, it has established strict guidelines for sending emails to Gmail users . Violating these guidelines can result in your emails being marked as spam or bouncing back, instead of successfully reaching the inboxes of your**intended recipients**. These measures are part of Google’s[phishing protection](/)efforts to ensure a secure and reliable**email environment**. Gmail also has a system for scoring your[domain reputation](https://www.spamhaus.org/domain-reputation/). The lower your domain’s reputation score, the fewer chances your messages will be opened and engaged with . If your domain is used for sending too many marketing and**PR emails**, it gets all the more important for you to abide by these guidelines to get the desired outcome of your campaigns. ### **Email authentication requirements** Gmail requires all senders to have SPF and DKIM deployed for their domains. For bulk senders, DMARC is also required. These[email authentication](https://www.validity.com/email-authentication/)protocols help verify if an unauthorized entity sent an email on your behalf. If you use an email service provider , check and ensure they authenticate your domain’s email with**SPF and DKIM**. ![Phishing attack prevention](https://media.mailhop.org/phishprotection/images/2024/12/phishing-attack-prevention-9907.jpg) ### **Infrastructure configuration requirements** The public[IP address](/content/spoofing-prevention/how-to-detect-ip-spoofing)of an SMTP server sending emails must be associated with a PTR record that resolves to a hostname, a process known as reverse DNS lookup. Moreover, the hostname should have an A record (for IPv4) or an**AAAA record**(for IPv6) that directs to the same public IP address as the sending server, which is referred to as a forward DNS lookup. If you are using shared IP addresses, ensure they are not listed on any blocklists; by running an [IP blacklist check](https://dnschecker.org/ip-blacklist-checker.php) otherwise, Gmail may flag emails sent from them as spam . ### **Subscription requirements** If you manage mailing lists, Gmail recommends that you send emails to only those recipients who explicitly opted to receive them . This helps recipients have**non-spammy**and decluttered inboxes while you, as a sender, benefit from an improved[engagement rate](https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/valuation/engagement-rate/). Here‘s what you are suggested to do- Ensure recipients have opted in to receive emails . Verify email addresses before adding them to your list. Periodically confirm recipients still want to stay subscribed. Remove**inactive recipients**who don’t engage with your emails. Also, make subscribing and unsubscribing easy by: ![Email delivery info](https://media.mailhop.org/phishprotection/images/2024/12/email-delivery-info.jpg) Providing a simple, one-click unsubscribe option. Letting recipients manage their subscriptions across different[mailing lists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mailing%5Flist). Automatically unsubscribing recipients with repeated email bounces. ### **Formatting requirements** Follow these guidelines to ensure smooth delivery of your emails to Gmail recipients: Keep headers concise and within Gmail’s limits. Format messages according to[RFC 5322 standards](https://www.tutorialspoint.com/rfc-5322-internet-message-format). Include a valid**Message-ID**in each email. Use headers like From, To, Subject, and Date only once per message. - \_ Ensure the Subject, From, and To fields accurately reflect the sender and message content. Use standard HTML if your email includes HTML. The From field should contain a single email address (e.g., [notifications@domain.com](mailto:notifications@domain.com)). Only use Re: or Fwd: for genuine replies or forwards. Avoid misleading emojis or non-standard characters. Don’t hide content using**HTML or CSS**, as it may trigger spam filters. Format[internationalized domain names](/phishing/revival-of-idn-phishing-attacks-with-microsoft-outlook)(IDNs) per Unicode Standard #39, including for authentication and sender details. Use clear and understandable web links. Make sender details visible and transparent. ### **Sending practices** Google actively promotes the following best practices for sending emails- Use the same IP address for all emails. If using**multiple IPs**, assign each to a specific email type (e.g., order confirmations, newsletters). Avoid spoofing by not impersonating other domains or senders. Never mark your own[emails as spam](/content/protection-from-phishing/how-to-stop-getting-phishing-emails); it harms your domain’s reputation. - \_ Gradually increase email volume and monitor delivery with Google Postmaster Tools . \_\_ Maintain a steady sending pace to**prevent sudden spikes**. Start with a small, active user base and increase gradually. ## Topics [ Phishing ](/tags/phishing/) ![Brad Slavin](https://media.mailhop.org/phishprotection/images/authors/brad-slavin.jpg) [ Brad Slavin ](/authors/brad-slavin/) General Manager Founder and General Manager of DuoCircle. Product strategy and commercial lead across DuoCircle's 2,000+ customer base. [LinkedIn Profile →](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradslavin) ## Protect your inbox from phishing attacks Real-time email security with 60-day free trial. No credit card required. [Start Free Trial](https://portal.duocircle.com/cart.php?a=add&pid=101&brand=phishprotection) [View Pricing](/pricing/) ## Related Articles [ Foundational 5m 0ktapus, Okta Breach Helps Attackers Launch Sophisticated Supply Chain Attacks Sep 5, 2022 ](/blog/0ktapus-okta-breach-helps-attackers-launch-sophisticated-supply-chain-attacks/)[ Foundational 4m 13 Spear Phishing Attacks Examples To Justify Investment For Phishing Prevention Solutions In Your Organization Aug 1, 2019 ](/blog/13-spear-phishing-attacks-examples-to-justify-investment-for-phishing-prevention-solutions-in-your-organization/)[ Foundational 4m All 14 centers of Kettering Health were affected by a massive ransomware attack, Major outage in the Ohio medical center May 23, 2025 ](/blog/14-centers-of-kettering-health-were-affected-by-massive-ransomware-attack-in-ohio-medical-center/)[ Foundational 4m 2021 Phishing Trends You Need To Be Wary Of Aug 2, 2021 ](/blog/2021-phishing-trends-to-be-wary-of/) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","name":"Phish Protection","url":"https://phishprotection.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://phishprotection.com/images/phishprotection-logo.png"},"description":"Advanced phishing protection and email security for businesses. Real-time threat defense, time-of-click protection, and seamless Office 365 integration.","parentOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138883901","name":"DuoCircle LLC","url":"https://www.duocircle.com","sameAs":["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138883901","https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/duocircle-llc","https://www.linkedin.com/company/duocircle","https://github.com/duocircle"],"subOrganization":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138898167","name":"DMARC Report","url":"https://dmarcreport.com"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897474","name":"AutoSPF","url":"https://autospf.com"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897912","name":"Phish Protection","url":"https://www.phishprotection.com"}]},"sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/company/duocircle","https://x.com/duocirclellc","https://www.facebook.com/duocirclellc","https://github.com/duocircle"],"contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"customer support","url":"https://phishprotection.com/contact/"},"knowsAbout":["Phishing Protection","Email Security","Anti-Phishing","Business Email Compromise","Ransomware Protection","Time of Click Protection","Office 365 Email Security","Advanced Threat Defense"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebSite","name":"Phish Protection","url":"https://phishprotection.com","description":"Advanced phishing protection and email security for businesses. Real-time threat defense, time-of-click protection, and seamless Office 365 integration.","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Phish Protection","url":"https://phishprotection.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://phishprotection.com/images/phishprotection-logo.png"},"description":"Advanced phishing protection and email security for businesses. Real-time threat defense, time-of-click protection, and seamless Office 365 integration.","parentOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138883901","name":"DuoCircle LLC","url":"https://www.duocircle.com","sameAs":["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138883901","https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/duocircle-llc","https://www.linkedin.com/company/duocircle","https://github.com/duocircle"],"subOrganization":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138898167","name":"DMARC Report","url":"https://dmarcreport.com"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897474","name":"AutoSPF","url":"https://autospf.com"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897912","name":"Phish Protection","url":"https://www.phishprotection.com"}]}}} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BlogPosting","headline":"Guidelines to follow to send emails to Gmail recipients","description":"Guidelines to follow to send emails to Gmail recipients: Google has always prioritized protecting its users and preventing phishing attempts . To achieve.","url":"https://phishprotection.com/blog/guidelines-to-follow-to-send-emails-to-gmail-recipients/","datePublished":"2024-12-11T11:43:55.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-17T15:43:10.000Z","dateCreated":"2024-12-11T11:43:55.000Z","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://phishprotection.com/authors/brad-slavin/#person","name":"Brad Slavin","url":"https://phishprotection.com/authors/brad-slavin/","jobTitle":"General Manager","description":"Brad Slavin is the founder and General Manager of DuoCircle, the company behind DMARC Report, AutoSPF, Phish Protection, and Mailhop. He founded DuoCircle in 2014 and has led the company's growth to 2,000+ customers across its email security product family. Brad's focus is product strategy, customer relationships, and the commercial and compliance side of email authentication (DPAs, SLAs, enterprise procurement).","image":"https://media.mailhop.org/phishprotection/images/authors/brad-slavin.jpg","knowsAbout":["Email Security Strategy","SaaS Product Management","Enterprise Compliance","Customer Success","Email Deliverability Business"],"worksFor":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Phish Protection","url":"https://phishprotection.com"},"sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradslavin"]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Phish Protection","url":"https://phishprotection.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://phishprotection.com/images/phishprotection-logo.png"},"description":"Advanced phishing protection and email security for businesses. Real-time threat defense, time-of-click protection, and seamless Office 365 integration.","parentOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138883901","name":"DuoCircle LLC","url":"https://www.duocircle.com","sameAs":["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138883901","https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/duocircle-llc","https://www.linkedin.com/company/duocircle","https://github.com/duocircle"],"subOrganization":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138898167","name":"DMARC Report","url":"https://dmarcreport.com"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897474","name":"AutoSPF","url":"https://autospf.com"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897912","name":"Phish Protection","url":"https://www.phishprotection.com"}]},"sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/company/duocircle","https://x.com/duocirclellc","https://www.facebook.com/duocirclellc","https://github.com/duocircle"],"contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"customer support","url":"https://phishprotection.com/contact/"},"knowsAbout":["Phishing Protection","Email Security","Anti-Phishing","Business Email Compromise","Ransomware Protection","Time of Click Protection","Office 365 Email Security","Advanced Threat Defense"]},"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://phishprotection.com/blog/guidelines-to-follow-to-send-emails-to-gmail-recipients/"},"articleSection":"foundational","keywords":"Phishing","wordCount":767,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://media.mailhop.org/phishprotection/images/2024/12/phishing-attack-prevention-9907.jpg","caption":"Phish Protection blog post image","width":1200,"height":630}} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://phishprotection.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blog","item":"https://phishprotection.com/blog/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Foundational","item":"https://phishprotection.com/foundational/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Guidelines to follow to send emails to Gmail recipients","item":"https://phishprotection.com/blog/guidelines-to-follow-to-send-emails-to-gmail-recipients/"}]} ```