What is a smart host and why would I need one?
A smart host like the SMTP Smart Host can be defined as an intermediary SMTP relay server between a sender’s email server and the recipient’s email server. Most often a smart host server or service is used to either overcome a limitation by the sending email server or provide enhanced email delivery services that the sending email server lacks. These limitations most typically occur between person-to-person email servers like Microsoft Exchange, but can also exist with hosted email services offered by Google, Rackspace or many other ISPs.
Below are some of the more common reasons why companies consider using a smart host:
- Overcoming a port 25 block by your ISP.
- Overcoming a bad reputation on the outbound IP address of the sending SMTP server causing deliverability problems.
- Overcoming outbound SMTP hourly or daily thresholds for outbound SMTP traffic put in place by the sender’s ISP.
- Email volume or bulk email sending requires a smarter email delivery platform in order insure email delivery and avoid blacklisting problems.
If your business depends on the effective delivery of email (and, let’s face it, whose doesn’t these days?) it may be time to deploy a smart host solution if you are experiencing any of the problems mentioned above.
Not all smart host services are created equal. It is important that any smart host solution you leverage provide the following:
- The ability to intelligently deliver email to specific ISP domains like Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL and others in order to stay off of blacklists.
- Signing your messages with DKIM and DNS SPF record support for authentication.
- Accredited IP addresses.
- Message tracking of successful, bounced/failed, complaints and opens and link click activity.
- A knowledgable support staff that can help identify problems and manage your message delivery on your behalf.
To signup for a Free account to trial our smart host SMTP relay service click here.
