Are smaller senders exempt from best practices?

No, smaller senders are not exempt from best practices. While some enforcement thresholds target bulk senders, the underlying principles benefit senders of any size.

Smaller senders may be more vulnerable to reputation damage because they have less data to establish stable reputation. A few complaints from a small list represent higher percentage impact than from a large list.

Best practices are best practices regardless of scale. Authentication, consent, list hygiene, and content quality improve deliverability for everyone. Following them from the start establishes good habits for growth.