The 8 Hidden Infrastructure Issues Tanking Your Deliverability Right Now - with LB

In this episode, Chris Miquel sits down with LoriBeth “LB” Blair, a full-stack email solutions architect and one of the most respected deliverability experts in the industry.

LB has helped top newsletter operators, e-commerce brands, and major ESPs fix the toughest inboxing and deliverability challenges — saving clients millions in the process.

Together, we break down the real reasons your emails aren’t inboxing and what you can do today to fix them.

🔥 Topics Covered:

• Why your content is getting filtered (and it’s not “spam words”)
• Image compression, code bloat & secure links
• DMARC, SPF, DKIM, and BIMI explained in plain English
• How hackers use “list bombing” & how to protect your forms
• Dedicated vs Shared IPs — which one’s right for you
• When your deliverability crashes overnight (what to check first)
• Google’s One-Click Unsubscribe enforcement
• How LB saves brands millions on email infrastructure
• What to audit before selling your media or newsletter business
• Where to find LB & final thoughts

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Bloated HTML and uncompressed images are killing your inbox placement.
• DMARC is no longer optional. Start at p=none, collect data, then move to reject.
• Shared IPs are fine for low senders, but serious senders need dedicated infrastructure.
• Google now enforces one-click unsubscribes. Non-compliance = lower reputation.
• Your deliverability = your revenue. Stop guessing, start measuring.

🔗 Connect with LB Blair:

• LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/lbblair
• Send Edge Consulting → https://www.sendedge.com

🔗 Learn more about Audience Bridge:

• Website → https://www.audiencebridge.io
• Newsletter → https://www.audiencebridge.io/subscribe

🔗 Inside this Episode:

• Image Compression → https://tinypng.com/
• Spamhaus Reputation → https://www.spamhaus.org/domain-reputation/
• Gmail Enforcement → https://support.google.com/a/answer/14229414

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro: “Big Money, No Whammies” — Chris welcomes deliverability expert LB Blair
• 0:58 What a Full-Stack Email Architect Actually Does
• 2:45 Why Emails Get Filtered: Content, Code & Links
• 4:00 Image Optimization & Load Speed for Better Inboxing
• 7:30 Simple Tools to Fix Image & Code Bloat (TinyPNG, etc.)
• 10:00 Spam Filters, Security & Protecting Signup Forms
• 14:00 The Gmail & Yahoo Deliverability Requirements Explained
• 16:00 DMARC, SPF & DKIM — How to Authenticate the Right Way
• 19:00 Deploying DMARC Safely & Common Mistakes to Avoid
• 22:00 BIMI Logos & Verified Senders — Worth It or Hype?
• 26:00 Shared vs. Dedicated IPs — When to Make the Switch
• 31:00 Google’s One-Click Unsubscribe Enforcement
• 34:00 Diagnosing a Deliverability Crash Overnight
• 39:00 Cutting Email Infrastructure Costs & Negotiating Smarter
• 44:00 Avoiding Contract Overcommitments & Overages
• 47:00 Preparing for Sale or Acquisition — Auditing Your Email Health
• 51:00 Lead Quality, List Hygiene & “Trust But Verify”
• 52:30 Where to Find LB Blair & Final Thoughts