# What Can We Learn from Travis Hazlewood About Email Deliverability?

> Travis leads email deliverability at Ortto, bringing five years of cross-platform experience to keep both platform and customer emails landing in inboxes.

## Quick Takeaways

- Deliverability success starts with proper [email authentication](/learning/what-is-email-authentication-and-why-does-it-matter) (DMARC, DKIM, SPF).
- Human-centered communication improves engagement and reduces spam complaints.
- Use a systematic hiring process to build a reliable deliverability team.
- Celebrate specific wins publicly to boost morale.
- Maintain a clean list by regularly removing unengaged contacts.

## Who is Travis Hazlewood?

Travis leads [email deliverability](/resources-post/email-deliverability-is-not-set-and-forget) at Ortto, bringing five years of cross-platform experience to keep both platform and customer emails landing in inboxes.


## How does he stay motivated when tackling tough problems?

He leverages his ADHD-driven hyper-focus, treating each challenge like a puzzle that needs that final piece to click into place.

## What major obstacle did he overcome recently?

He built a new deliverability and compliance team while simultaneously hiring a replacement and planning his wedding.

## What’s his favorite way to recognize good work?

He gives concrete, public praise that links the action to a positive outcome, ensuring the impact is visible to the whole team.

## What’s a funny mistake he’s made?

He once fell through a ceiling joist while exploring his sister’s attic, turning an embarrassing moment into a memorable story.

## What’s a non-negotiable principle for him?

The Oxford comma – he believes clear punctuation prevents miscommunication.

## What single tip does he give for better deliverability?

Authenticate every email, secure sign-up forms, send relevant content, audit engagement, clean inactive lists, and avoid over-mailing.

## How would he explain DMARC to a non-technical person?

He compares DMARC to a credit-card fraud filter that protects a brand’s reputation by blocking suspicious email traffic 👉 [LINK](https://www.palisade.email/tools/email-security-score).

## Where can you learn more about email authentication?

Check out Palisade’s guide on [Email Authentication Best Practices](/learning/what-is-email-authentication-and-why-does-it-matter) for detailed steps.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the best way to start improving email deliverability?

Begin with proper authentication (DMARC, DKIM, SPF) and clean your list of inactive recipients.

### How often should I audit my email engagement metrics?

Monthly reviews help spot trends early and keep your sender reputation healthy.

### Can I automate list cleaning without losing valuable contacts?

Yes, use engagement-based thresholds (e.g., no opens in 90 days) and segment before removal.

### What role does human-centered content play in deliverability?

Personalized, timely content reduces spam complaints and boosts open rates, directly improving inbox placement.

### How does DMARC enforcement affect my brand’s email reputation?

DMARC signals to ISPs that you’re protecting your domain, leading to higher trust and better deliverability.