Symptoms#
- Messages landing in spam despite previously good placement
- Bounces mentioning policy, authentication, or reputation
- Provider dashboards showing a drop in reputation or authentication pass rate
Diagnosis steps#
- Confirm the configuration is live: query DNS from an external resolver and check the sending platform's settings page.
- Send to a seed mailbox and read the full headers, especially Authentication-Results.
- Compare the domains in From, Return-Path, and DKIM d= for alignment.
- Check provider dashboards (Google Postmaster Tools, Microsoft SNDS) for reputation and error rates.
- Review recent changes: new vendors, DNS edits, list imports, volume spikes.
Likely causes#
- Letting an agent A/B test compliance-sensitive copy without review.
- No audit log for regulators or customers who ask why they received a message.
Fix and re-verify#
- Start with agent-assisted, not agent-autonomous: the agent proposes, a human approves.
- Give agents structured tools (send, schedule, tag) rather than free-form access.
- Define hard limits: daily send caps, forbidden claims, protected segments.
- Measure agent decisions against a control group before expanding autonomy.
Frequently asked questions#
Can AI replace marketing automation platforms?
Not yet. Agents work best as a decision layer over a reliable delivery and consent platform.