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How can I ensure that my valid email address does not make it onto an ISP's spam list?

There are three technical steps on the server side that one can take to keep one's domain off of an ISP's spam list.

  1. Create a Sender Policy Framework (SPF) record for your domain.
  2. Create a valid rDNS lookup record.
  3. Establish a DomainKeys authentication protocol for your domain.

What is Reverse Domain Name System (rDNS)?
The Domain Name System (DNS) is the system that relates an Internet Protocol (IP) address to a recognizable domain name like ebwebwork.com. Reverse DNS is DNS in reverse. Reverse DNS relates a domain name to an IP address. Reverse DNS is a useful antispam method because it confirms that a domain name is associated with its correct IP address.

When I set up your email accounts I make sure to implement for your domain a valid rDNS record. This helps to keep your domain off spam blacklists.

What is SPF?
SPF is a security measure that detects email spoofing. Wikipedia has a useful article on SPF:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sender_Policy_Framework

What is DomainKeys?
DomainKeys is an email authentication protocol.

The DomainKeys (one word) authentication protocol was developed by Yahoo and Cisco. Its function is to authenticate every valid email message that is sent from your domain. Valid messages are affixed with an encrypted security code. A matching security code is placed in the domain's DNS (domain name system) record. Messages that contain the correct security code are valid. Messages that do not contain the correct security code are not valid.

You said you set up DomainKeys for my email account. What if I want to test DomainKeys?
Glad you asked. It is a good idea to make sure that your DomainKeys authentication is valid. Take these steps:

  1. Go to http://www.mailradar.com/domainkeys/.
  2. You will see a page containing instructions and information, which you can read if you like.
  3. Look for the randomly generated email address toward the bottom of the page.
  4. It will look something like: DXVJRKLTENZPGDFGLQNU@dk.mailradar.com.
  5. Open your email program and send a blank message to this randomly generated email address.
  6. Do not close the page http://www.mailradar.com/domainkeys/! Keep it open. Wait five minutes.
  7. On page http://www.mailradar.com/domainkeys/ click the View Results button. You will see the results of your DomainKeys test.

More resources regarding DomainKeys and DKIM:

I will make sure to create a Sender Policy Framework (SPF) record and an rDNS record, and implement the DomainKeys authentication protocol, for your domain. This will ensure delivery of all of your email.

To send mail, you must also enable SMTP authentication in your email client (MS Outlook, Thunderbird, Eudora, etc.). This is an antispam measure. I can help you to enable SMTP authentication if you are not sure that you have it enabled.