Sending email from INSERT FROM URL is going to spam folder

[mvoogt]

I have started sending emails using the INSERT FROM URL method shown by soliant here:

https://www.soliantconsulting.com/blog/html-email-filemaker/

Emails are being sent out but many recipients seem to be getting my emails sent to their spam folders. I'm curious if this has anything to do with this method of sending emails.

[Wim Decorte]

Usually this is because of the smtp server used or the content of the subject/message.  You have very little control over the spam filters on the receiving end, but some smtp servers (email providers) are better than others.

[mvoogt]

Thanks Wim,

I'm using smtp.gmail.com. I've edited my dns records and added an SPF txt record as well as a DMARC record so I seem to be 'passing' the spam tests I've been doing.

Is there another smtp server I can easily send mail from instead of smtp.gmail.com? While still using this insert from url sending method?

[comment]

Have you considered using a mailing list service? I know very little about this, but they claim to have the tools and the knowledge to minimize this problem - see, for example:
https://mailchimp.com/resources/avoid-spam-filters/

[Wim Decorte]

I would generally go with a good mailing list provider as well.

As to an SMTP server: any mail provider that supports the SMTP protocol will work with the "insert from URL" mechanism.

[Ocean West]

I also recommend a good transactional email service such as SparkPost you can either use their API or you can send mail by injecting it as SMTP just like your doing now, your just going to use a different set of credentials. 

 

[mvoogt]

Ocean West, so with SparkPost... I could still send using insert from URL in FM? I just need to setup an account at SparkPost and use there SMTP server/credentials? Email will still appear to come from my email address?

[Ocean West]

I believe so or you could just use the standard send email script substituting the SparkPost Injection credentials .

 

Here is the API method i use.

https://www.teamdf.com/blogs/sending-email-from-filemaker-using-sparkpost/

[OlgerDiekstra]

On 12/6/2019 at 6:23 AM, mvoogt said:

I have started sending emails using the INSERT FROM URL method shown by soliant here:

https://www.soliantconsulting.com/blog/html-email-filemaker/

Emails are being sent out but many recipients seem to be getting my emails sent to their spam folders. I'm curious if this has anything to do with this method of sending emails.

Most likely this has to do with the email server you are using not being setup in the SFP record of your email domain. If you are sending emails as [email protected] and sending using gmail's SMTP server, you need to setup the gmail SMTP servers in your SFP record. Other wise, receiving servers will check the SFP record, see that the sending server is not in it, and mark the email as potential spam.

Gmail usually gets around it by setting a flag "sending on behalf of...". But its possible this might not work when using direct SMTP.

The downside of including SMTP servers such as gmail in your SFP record is that anyone can then send emails on your behalf using gmail SMTP servers (if they know you've set that up).