Welcome! If you’re a site owner (WordPress, Shopify, Wix, etc.) and your emails seem to vanish into the void — you’re not alone.
Maybe your contact form submissions never reach you.
Maybe customers aren’t getting order confirmations.
Maybe your newsletter ends up in spam.
It’s frustrating — and surprisingly common. In most cases, the root cause is one thing: email deliverability.
This post breaks down why it happens and how to fix it in plain language — no jargon, no guesswork.
If your site also powers a web app or product that sends email (like signups, alerts, or onboarding flows), you might also enjoy my previous post:
👉 Why Your App’s Emails Go to Spam (and How to Fix It)
Let’s walk through why emails don’t show up, what you can do about it, and how to make sure your website’s messages actually land where they belong — in the inbox.
Why Does This Happen?
When your website tries to send an email — whether it's from a contact form, a notification, or even a plugin — email providers like Gmail or Outlook try to verify:
- “Did this message really come from your domain?”
- “Can I trust this sender?”
If the answer is “not sure” or “no”, your email may:
- Go to the recipient’s spam folder
- Get flagged as suspicious
- Or get blocked entirely
The Most Common Reasons Website Emails Get Marked as Spam:
1. Missing SPF, DKIM, or DMARC Records
These are simple security settings (added to your domain's DNS) that tell the world:
“Hey, I authorize this server to send emails on my behalf.”
If even one of these is missing or incorrect, email providers may distrust your domain.
2. Using a Free Email (like Gmail or Yahoo) as the From Address
Sending “from” your Gmail (e.g., yourname@gmail.com) through your website is a red flag for most providers.
Best practice: Use a custom email address from your own domain (e.g., hello@yourdomain.com).
3. Your Domain Is on a Blacklist
If your domain was previously used for spam (especially if it’s an old or expired domain), it may still be listed on email blocklists.
4. Your Web Host Is Sending from a Shared Server
Many low-cost hosting providers (like shared WordPress hosts) send all websites’ emails from the same server IP. If one bad neighbor sends spam, your messages can get penalized too.
5. Email Content Looks Spammy
If your message has:
- ALL CAPS
- Too many links
- No unsubscribe link (in newsletters)
- Misleading subject lines
…it might get caught in spam filters regardless of your domain’s setup.
How to Fix It
Here are the 4 steps to improve your website’s email deliverability:
🛠️ 1. Add SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Records
These records live in your domain's DNS settings. Most email providers (like Google Workspace, Zoho, Outlook, Mailgun) give you the exact values to copy-paste.
If you’re using a website builder or host like:
- WordPress → you may need to add records via your domain registrar (like GoDaddy or Cloudflare)
- Shopify → some DNS settings are managed directly by Shopify
- Squarespace or Wix → check their help docs on email authentication
2. Test Your Domain’s Email Health
Not sure if your DNS is set up right? Want to know if your domain is blacklisted?
That’s exactly why I built MXAuditor.com — a free tool that quickly checks:
- ✅ Do your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records exist and validate correctly?
- 🚫 Are you on any major blacklists?
- 🚨 Are there DNS misconfigurations that could break email delivery?
No signup. No fluff. Just clear results in a few seconds.
I made it for creators like you — who just want to know if your domain is healthy enough to send email.
3. Send Emails Through a Trusted Provider
Don’t rely on your website alone to send email (especially from WordPress or contact forms). Instead, use an email service like:
- Google Workspace (Gmail for business)
- Mailgun
- Postmark
- Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)
- Resend
These services handle the technical parts for you — and make sure your emails arrive.
4. Use a Plugin or App That Handles Deliverability Well
For WordPress users:
Use plugins like WP Mail SMTP or FluentSMTP to properly connect your email service to your website.
For Shopify/Squarespace:
Make sure you're using the platform’s built-in email system (or an integrated provider), and that your DNS records are set up if you use a custom domain.
Not Sure Where to Start?
If this all sounds too technical — that’s okay.
You can simply run your domain through MXAuditor, and it’ll guide you through what’s missing (and how to fix it).
In Summary
Your website might look amazing.
Your store might be open for business.
But if your emails don’t make it to your users — you’re losing trust, leads, and sales.
Take 5 minutes to test your domain, and fix the basics — so you don’t lose business to a spam folder.
Want help or feedback?
I’m always happy to chat about email issues — drop a message or reply in the comments 👇
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