Improve GoDaddy Email Deliverability: Essential Tips for Higher Inbox Rates
Ever sent an important email and wondered why it didn’t land in the recipient’s inbox—only to find it floating in the spam folder?
If you’re using GoDaddy for your business email, this might sound familiar. The truth is, poor email deliverability can harm your reputation, affect customer communication, and—let’s be honest—just be plain frustrating.
The good news? There are simple, effective ways to improve your GoDaddy email deliverability, and this guide is here to walk you through them in plain English.
What Is Email Deliverability—and Why Should You Care?
Before we dive into the how, let’s clarify the what.
Email deliverability refers to whether your email message actually reaches the inbox (and not the spam or promotions folder). It’s more than just hitting “Send”—email providers scan every message using filters and various signals before deciding if it deserves to stand tall in the inbox or get buried in spam.
So, why should you care?
- Better inbox placement means better open and click-through rates.
- More trust with your recipients (no one trusts shady senders).
- No wasted effort: Your messages get where they need to go.
If you’re using GoDaddy as your hosting or email provider, there are a few things to pay special attention to—because default settings aren’t always optimized for maximum inbox reach.
Common Reasons GoDaddy Emails End Up in Spam
Let’s be honest—GoDaddy gives you the tools, but it doesn’t always fine-tune them for you. That means your emails might look suspicious to inbox providers. Here are the most common traps:
- Missing authentication records like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
- Using shared IP addresses with a less-than-stellar reputation.
- Boring or spammy-looking content that triggers filters.
- High bounce rates from sending to outdated or wrong email addresses.
But don’t worry—these issues are totally fixable. You just need the right game plan.
Step-by-Step Guide to Improve GoDaddy Email Deliverability
1. Set Up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC
Think of these as your email’s ID badge. Without them, email providers can’t confirm that you’re legit.
- SPF (Sender Policy Framework): This tells receiving servers which IP addresses are allowed to send emails for your domain.
- DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): This adds a digital signature to your email to verify it’s really from you.
- DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance): This is your protection plan. It tells inbox providers what to do if SPF and DKIM checks fail.
How to Do It on GoDaddy:
Login to your GoDaddy DNS settings and add these three records. If you’re unsure what values to enter, many email tools (like Instantly or Mailchimp) will give you copy-paste details. Or you can reach out to GoDaddy support for guidance—they’re pretty helpful when it comes to DNS changes.
2. Use a Custom Domain Email Address
Still using something like yourbusinessname@gmail.com? It’s time to level up. Sending from your actual domain (like hello@yourbusiness.com) adds credibility.
Why it matters: Many spam filters flag free email addresses, especially when used for marketing or bulk emails.
Using a custom domain not only looks more professional, but it also boosts deliverability—because inboxes know where the message is coming from.
3. Clean Up Your Email List
Think of your email list like a garden: if you don’t prune it, it gets wild and unmanageable.
Old or invalid email addresses increase bounce rates, and high bounce rates are a red flag to email providers.
Tips to keep your list clean:
- Use double opt-ins to confirm users really want to hear from you.
- Regularly remove inactive users who haven’t opened your emails in months.
- Use email verification tools (like NeverBounce or ZeroBounce) before launching major campaigns.
Trust me—cleaning your list may feel like a step back, but it’s actually two steps forward when it comes to hitting the inbox.
4. Avoid Spammy Language and Poor Formatting
Ever gotten an email that screamed “BUY NOW!!” or had more emojis than a teenager’s text thread?
Spam filters hate that. They also don’t like:
- ALL CAPS SUBJECT LINES
- Too many !!!
- Words like “Free,” “Guaranteed,” or “Act Now” (especially repeated often)
Instead, keep your content clear, conversational, and personalized. If it reads like a human wrote it for another human to read, you’re probably on the right track.
5. Warm Up New Domains and IPs
If you’ve just launched your domain or started sending emails through GoDaddy, go slow. Inbox providers are skeptical of a brand-new sender who suddenly blasts out 5,000 emails.
Warm up your email address gradually by steadily increasing the email volume over time. This builds your sender reputation and tells inbox providers, “Hey, I’m a good sender!”
6. Use a Reputable Email Service Provider (ESP)
Here’s a tip: while GoDaddy allows you to send emails, it’s not built for large-scale email marketing.
If you’re planning to send newsletters or sales emails, connect your domain to a tool like:
- Mailchimp
- Instantly
- ConvertKit
- ActiveCampaign
These tools are optimized for bulk sending, offer great reporting, and often manage your SPF/DKIM setup automatically.
Bonus Tip: Monitor Your Email Performance
You wouldn’t drive a car without a dashboard, right? Well, sending emails without tracking open and bounce rates is just as risky.
Keep an eye on metrics like:
- Open rates
- Click-through rates (CTR)
- Bounce and unsubscribe rates
If you notice a sudden dip, it’s a sign that something’s off—and the sooner you catch it, the easier it is to fix.
Final Thoughts
Ensuring GoDaddy email deliverability isn’t rocket science—but it does take some thoughtful setup and ongoing maintenance.
Just like a good first impression in person, your emails need to show up properly to make an impact. So take the time to set up those email records, warm up your sender reputation, clean your list, and use language that connects rather than annoys.
If you’re persistent—and follow these best practices—your emails will land where they should: in front of the people who want to hear from you.
Got Questions?
Still scratching your head over DNS records or trying to figure out how to spot spammy content in your messages? Drop a comment below or reach out—we’re happy to help.
Now go check your inbox—you just might inspire someone else to hit “Reply.”