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The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossaryEmail & LifecycleSender Reputation

Email & Lifecycle

Sender Reputation

A score mailbox providers assign a sending domain and IP based on complaints, bounces and engagement, affecting inbox placement.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

Sender reputation is a score mailbox providers assign to a sending domain and IP based on complaints, bounces and engagement, affecting inbox placement. Spam trap hits, blocklist listings and authentication also play a role. A strong reputation helps messages reach the inbox, while a weak one leads to spam filtering or rejection.