Email domain reputation lookup is a score that determines how likely your email is to reach the inbox. It’s determined by a combination of factors, including previous sending patterns, authentication methods and domain name. Receivers (such as Gmail, Microsoft, and Yahoo) keep track of these things to assess your trustworthiness. Unlike credit scores, which are calculated by one central database, your email domain reputation is unique to each receiver, based on their proprietary scoring processes. Using tools like Validity’s Sender Score or Google Postmaster Tools can help you understand how your domain is perceived by each receiver.

How to Check Your Domain Reputation: A Step-by-Step Guide

A bad domain reputation can have serious consequences for your email deliverability, affecting the percentage of emails you can send that actually end up in the inbox. In addition, if you’re listed on a blacklist—such as Backscatterer, Spamhaus ZEN or Spamrbl IMP-SPAM—it can be difficult to get off the list until your reputation has improved.

There are a number of free and paid tools you can use to check your domain reputation, each with different features and pros and cons. Some tools focus on MX records, while others offer more comprehensive deliverability profiles. The best tool for you will depend on your specific needs and budget.

A good MX lookup online tool will confirm whether your MX records are set up correctly and check your domain for inclusion on spam lists or other blocking tools. Other tools, such as Barracuda’s reputation system or McAfee’s tool, provide a more detailed domain and IP address assessment, including a review of your email reputation across multiple blacklists.