Can ESP clients sign up for Validity FBL and how do they validate their IPs/domains?

Summary

ESP clients can generally sign up for Validity FBL and other Feedback Loops (FBLs) to monitor their sender reputation and manage deliverability. The standard process involves validating IPs and domains, often through DNS records, SPF, and DKIM. While some ESPs handle this validation, others may require clients to manage it directly or offer DKIM as an alternative. FBLs provide crucial insights into spam complaints, allowing senders to address issues, improve authentication, and refine list management practices for better deliverability.

Key findings

  • FBL Access: ESP clients can typically access Feedback Loops (FBLs).
  • Validation Requirement: IP and domain validation is a common requirement.
  • Validation Methods: Validation methods include DNS records, SPF, DKIM, and proving IP/domain ownership.
  • ESP Support Varies: ESP support for FBL setup and validation varies.
  • DKIM Alternative: DKIM may be an alternative validation method, but not always available.
  • Improved Deliverability: FBLs provide data to improve deliverability by addressing spam complaints.

Key considerations

  • Validation Procedures: Understand the specific validation procedures required by each FBL provider.
  • ESP Capabilities: Determine if your ESP handles FBL setup and validation or if you need to manage it directly.
  • Authentication Setup: Ensure proper SPF, DKIM, and other authentication methods are in place.
  • List Management: Implement robust list management practices to minimize spam complaints.
  • Actionable Data: Have a plan for actively monitoring and acting on the FBL data to improve deliverability.

What email marketers say
13Marketer opinions

ESP clients can generally sign up for Validity FBL and other feedback loops (FBLs) to monitor their sender reputation and address deliverability issues. The sign-up process typically involves validating their IPs and domains, either directly or through their ESP. Alternative validation methods, like DKIM, may also be available. Utilizing FBL data helps senders identify and resolve issues causing spam complaints, improving overall email deliverability. Some ESPs handle the technical setup and validation, allowing clients to focus on content and list management.

Key opinions

  • FBL Access: Senders, including ESP clients, can generally sign up for FBLs.
  • Validation Required: IP and domain validation are typically required for FBL sign-up.
  • DKIM Alternative: DKIM can be used as an alternative validation method in some cases.
  • ESP Assistance: Some ESPs handle FBL setup and validation for their clients.
  • Reputation Monitoring: FBLs help monitor sender reputation and address spam complaints.

Key considerations

  • Validation Method: Determine the specific validation methods required by each FBL provider (IP, domain, DKIM).
  • ESP Support: Check if your ESP provides assistance with FBL setup and validation.
  • FBL Coverage: Consider that DKIM-based signup might not be available for all FBL partners.
  • Data Utilization: Establish a process for actively monitoring and acting on FBL data to improve deliverability.
  • Authentication: Ensure proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM) is in place to support FBL participation.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet.com explains that Mailjet clients can leverage feedback loops (FBLs) through Mailjet's platform, which handles the technical setup and validation, allowing senders to focus on managing their email content and list hygiene.

June 2024 - Mailjet.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus.com discusses the value of feedback loops (FBLs) for senders in monitoring spam complaints and maintaining a healthy sender reputation, emphasizing the need for proper authentication and list management practices.

January 2024 - Litmus.com
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that anyone can sign up for Validity FBL, but they do run IP/domain validation, so you need to be able to do that or work with your ESP for them to do it on your behalf.

February 2025 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks states that senders can sign up for Validity FBL.

August 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailToolTester.com outlines the process for senders to implement feedback loops (FBLs), highlighting the importance of signing up with individual ISPs and validating sending domains to receive spam complaint data directly.

June 2023 - EmailToolTester.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from Senderscore.org (Return Path) explains that senders can utilize feedback loops (FBLs) to monitor and manage their email reputation by validating their sending IPs and domains with participating ISPs.

September 2024 - Senderscore.org
Marketer view

Email marketer from SocketLabs.com shares that using feedback loops (FBLs) allows senders to track spam complaints and improve email deliverability by validating sending domains and IPs with participating ISPs, enabling proactive reputation management.

May 2024 - SocketLabs.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from PostmarkApp.com mentions that managing feedback loops (FBLs) involves setting up authentication (SPF, DKIM) and validating sending domains with ISPs to ensure accurate spam complaint reporting, helping maintain a positive sender reputation.

January 2025 - PostmarkApp.com
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks suggests signing up for Validity FBL based on DKIM as an alternative.

May 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps.com explains that feedback loops (FBLs) help senders identify and address issues causing spam complaints by providing direct data from ISPs, which requires validating sending IPs and domains.

November 2021 - GlockApps.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from Validity.com confirms that senders can access FBL data through Validity Everest, providing insights into spam complaints, even without direct FBL access.

July 2024 - Validity.com
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks says that if you reach a dead end with the ESP and still need Comcast FBLs, DKIM signup for the domains is another option, but the DKIM option is not available for all their FBL partners.

March 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from MailerLite.com mentions that monitoring sender reputation involves using feedback loops (FBLs) to track spam complaints and maintaining proper authentication records (SPF, DKIM) to validate sending domains and IPs.

May 2024 - MailerLite.com

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

Experts suggest that ESP clients can typically sign up for Validity FBL and other Feedback Loops (FBLs). Gaining access often requires validating ownership and control of the sending IPs and domains. FBLs are valuable tools, providing insights into spam complaints, which then allows senders to address deliverability issues through proper authentication and subscriber list management.

Key opinions

  • FBL Access: ESP clients can generally access Feedback Loops (FBLs).
  • Ownership Validation: Validating ownership and control of IPs/domains is crucial for FBL access.
  • Spam Complaint Insights: FBLs offer valuable insights into spam complaints.
  • Authentication Importance: Proper email authentication is key to resolving deliverability issues.

Key considerations

  • Validation Process: Understand the specific requirements to prove ownership for each FBL provider.
  • Subscriber List Management: Good management of subscriber lists is essential for minimizing spam complaints.
  • Cost Implications: Be prepared for potential costs associated with FBL access, if any.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks guesses that anyone can sign up to Validity FBL if they are willing to pay and can validate that the IP/domains are under their control.

October 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Wordtothewise.com explains that Feedback Loops (FBLs) provide valuable insights into spam complaints, enabling senders to identify and address deliverability issues by properly authenticating sending sources and managing subscriber lists.

November 2023 - Wordtothewise.com
Expert view

Expert from Spamresource.com explains that senders, including ESP clients, can access Feedback Loops (FBLs) to manage their sender reputation. The validation process involves proving ownership of the sending IP addresses and domains.

October 2022 - Spamresource.com

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Email providers like Comcast, SparkPost, Google, and Microsoft offer feedback loops (FBLs) that allow senders to monitor their email reputation and manage spam complaints. A common requirement for setting up these FBLs is domain and IP address validation. This validation process often involves using DNS records, DKIM, and SPF to verify the sender's identity and ensure accurate spam complaint reporting. These mechanisms enable senders to proactively address deliverability issues and maintain a healthy sending reputation.

Key findings

  • FBL Availability: Major email providers offer feedback loops (FBLs).
  • Validation Requirement: Domain and IP address validation is a standard requirement for FBL setup.
  • DNS Records: DNS records are commonly used for domain verification.
  • Authentication Protocols: DKIM and SPF are important for verifying sender identity.
  • Spam Complaint Reporting: FBLs provide spam complaint data for improving deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Provider-Specific Setup: Each email provider has its own specific FBL setup process and requirements.
  • Technical Expertise: Setting up FBLs may require technical expertise in DNS, DKIM, and SPF.
  • Active Monitoring: FBL data should be actively monitored and acted upon to improve email deliverability.
  • Ongoing Maintenance: Regular maintenance and updates of DNS records and authentication protocols are necessary.
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost.com outlines domain validation procedures for setting up feedback loops (FBLs), highlighting the importance of DKIM and SPF records for verifying sender identity and ensuring accurate spam complaint reporting.

October 2024 - SparkPost.com
Technical article

Documentation from Comcast.net details the process of setting up a feedback loop (FBL) with Comcast, emphasizing the need for domain and IP address validation to ensure proper reporting of spam complaints.

July 2023 - Comcast.net
Technical article

Documentation from Google.com (Gmail Postmaster Tools) details the process for senders to set up a feedback loop (FBL) with Google, requiring domain verification through DNS records to ensure legitimate spam complaint reporting.

April 2021 - Google.com
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft.com explains the Sender Network Data Services (SNDS) and Junk Mail Reporting Program (JMRP), which allow senders to monitor their IP reputation and receive spam complaint data from Microsoft users by validating their IP addresses.

August 2024 - Microsoft.com