How do I determine the severity and mitigate different email blocklists?

Summary

Determining the severity and mitigating email blocklists requires a multi-faceted approach involving ongoing monitoring, understanding blocklist criteria, and proactive reputation management. The severity of a blocklist is relative, primarily determined by its impact on your mail delivery. Monitoring bounce logs, sender reputation, and deliverability metrics is essential, utilizing tools like MXToolbox, GlockApps, Google Postmaster Tools, and Microsoft SNDS. Mitigation involves ensuring proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), segmenting email lists, warming up IP addresses, and maintaining consistent sending volumes. Engaging with feedback loops and understanding the listing and delisting processes of specific blocklists, such as Spamhaus, are critical. Finally, proactively address identified issues and understand that certain blocklists, like UCE, may not warrant removal efforts.

Key findings

  • Relative Severity: Blocklist severity is primarily determined by its impact on your email delivery.
  • Proactive Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of sender reputation and bounce logs is essential for early detection.
  • Authentication Importance: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) reduces the risk of being flagged as spam.
  • Targeted Mitigation: Implement strategies like list segmentation and IP warming to prevent blocklisting.
  • Blocklist Specifics: Understanding the listing criteria and delisting processes for each blocklist is crucial.
  • Early Warning Signs: Public blacklists can serve as early warning indicators of underlying issues affecting deliverability.

Key considerations

  • UCE Exception: UCEPROTECT is often considered not worth the cost of removal.
  • Commercial Blocklists: Blocklists that charge for removal may not be trusted by serious inbox providers.
  • Actionable Data: Use monitoring data and feedback loops to drive continuous improvement in sending practices.
  • Log Analysis: Regularly analyze email logs to understand the impact of specific blocklists.
  • Strategic Prioritization: Focus on mitigating blocklists that directly affect your target audience and critical communications.
  • Spamhaus Impact: Listing on Spamhaus blocklists (SBL, XBL, PBL) has significant impact and requires immediate action
  • Truncate Blocking: Some specific domains may use truncate - identify which domains you regularly contact for potential block issues.

What email marketers say
18Marketer opinions

Determining the severity and mitigating email blocklists involves several key strategies. Initially, assess the impact of each blocklist by monitoring bounce logs and overall deliverability. Prioritize blocklists that directly affect your mail flow. Utilize tools and services to monitor your sender reputation and proactively identify blocklistings. Mitigation strategies include segmenting email lists, warming up IP addresses, maintaining consistent sending volumes, and ensuring proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). Actively engage with blocklist providers to understand their delisting processes and promptly address any identified issues.

Key opinions

  • Impact Assessment: Blocklist severity is relative; prioritize based on impact on your mail delivery.
  • Monitoring is Crucial: Actively monitor blocklists, sender reputation, and bounce logs to identify issues early.
  • Authentication Matters: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) reduces the risk of being flagged as spam.
  • Proactive Mitigation: Implement strategies like list segmentation and IP warming to prevent blocklisting.
  • Delisting Procedures: Understand and follow specific delisting processes for each blocklist.

Key considerations

  • UCE Blocklist: UCE (UCEPROTECT) is often considered not worth the cost of removal.
  • Blocklist Choice: Blocklists that charge for removal may not be used by serious inbox providers.
  • Log Analysis: Regularly analyze email logs to understand the impact of specific blocklists.
  • Sending Volume: Avoid sudden spikes in email volume to prevent triggering spam filters.
  • Domain Blocking: Some blocklists are used by specific domains for blocking, understanding these domains can help identify targeted blocks.
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that blocklist severity is relative, stating that if a blocklist is mentioned in your bounce logs, it's severe to you, regardless of general perception. They also mention that well-run mail servers usually provide a link to the blocklist's site for remediation.

October 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit emphasizes ensuring proper email authentication using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. This helps verify your identity and reduces the chances of being flagged as spam.

June 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps recommends using blocklist monitoring tools like GlockApps or MultiRBL to proactively check if your IP address or domain is listed on any blocklists. This allows for early detection and faster mitigation.

August 2022 - GlockApps
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks recommends using log analysis to determine the impact of blocklists.

August 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailAcademy shares that one way to mitigate blocklists is by segmenting email lists. Segmenting lists ensures that you are sending emails to engaged users, reducing the chance of being marked as spam, which subsequently mitigates the likelihood of blocklisting.

August 2022 - EmailAcademy
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum explains that actively monitoring your sender reputation, using tools like Sender Score and reputation monitoring services, helps you understand how mailbox providers view your sending practices and identify potential issues before they lead to blocklisting.

June 2021 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks states that the importance of a blocklist depends on its measurable impact on your list/deliverability, allowing senders to prioritize them based on their specific situation.

September 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from SMTP2GO explains that if you find yourself on a blocklist, identify the specific blocklist and follow their delisting process. This usually involves filling out a form or contacting the blocklist provider directly.

January 2024 - SMTP2GO
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum suggests warming up new IP addresses gradually to establish a positive sending reputation. Start with small volumes and gradually increase the sending volume over time, monitoring deliverability closely.

June 2023 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks provides a list of domains that are blocking based on Truncate.

November 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that blocklists that charge for removal are not typically referenced by serious inbox providers.

May 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid suggests that maintaining consistent sending volumes is key. Avoid sudden spikes in email volume, as this can trigger spam filters and lead to blocklisting.

July 2024 - SendGrid
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks identifies UCE as a blocklist that is not worth the cost of getting removed.

June 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that if a blocklist affects your mail, it should be taken seriously. Otherwise, it might not be worth worrying about.

November 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that analyzing bounce messages is key to identifying which blocklists are affecting your email delivery. The bounce message often contains the name of the blocklist and a URL for remediation.

June 2022 - Reddit
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks clarifies that the provided domains are blocking based on Truncate, not domains that trigger Truncate blocklisting.

July 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares an example of SORBS listings, noting minimal bounce issues over four years, suggesting not all listings require immediate action.

May 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that monitoring blocklists is crucial to gauge your sender reputation and identify deliverability issues. Tools like MXToolbox and GlockApps can assist in this monitoring process.

February 2023 - Mailjet

What the experts say
4Expert opinions

Experts emphasize understanding the nuances of email blocklists to determine severity and implement effective mitigation strategies. A key aspect is recognizing that many public blacklists have limited impact on general deliverability but may signal underlying problems. Understanding the listing criteria for each blocklist is crucial, as some target specific issues like spam traps or compromised hosts. Proactive reputation management, including regular monitoring with tools like Google Postmaster Tools and addressing issues promptly, is also vital for preventing and mitigating blocklisting.

Key opinions

  • Limited Impact of Many Public Blacklists: Most public blacklists, with the exception of major ones like Spamhaus, have a minimal effect on overall deliverability.
  • Early Warning Signs: Public blacklists can serve as early warning indicators of underlying issues affecting deliverability.
  • Understand Listing Criteria: Knowing why you are on a blocklist is essential for determining severity and appropriate mitigation steps.
  • Proactive Reputation Management: Regularly monitor sender reputation to identify and address issues before they lead to blocklisting.

Key considerations

  • Spamhaus Exception: Spamhaus is a major blocklist that significantly impacts deliverability and requires immediate attention if listed.
  • Specific Issues: Address the specific issues that led to blocklisting, such as spam traps or compromised hosts.
  • Monitoring Tools: Utilize tools like Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS for continuous reputation monitoring.
  • Prompt Action: Addressing identified deliverability issues promptly is crucial for preventing long-term blocklisting.
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise emphasizes the importance of monitoring for blacklisting, including monitoring deliverability, sender score, and using tools to identify blacklistings as soon as they happen to help determine their severity.

July 2021 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that understanding the listing criteria for each blocklist is crucial. Some blocklists focus on spam traps, while others target open relays or compromised hosts. Knowing the reason for the listing helps determine the severity and mitigation steps.

September 2023 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise emphasizes the importance of proactive reputation management. Regularly monitor your sending reputation with tools such as Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS, implement feedback loops, and address any identified issues promptly to prevent blocklisting.

August 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares that most public blacklists (excluding Spamhaus) have little effect on general deliverability but can serve as an early warning sign of underlying issues.

January 2022 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Determining the severity and mitigating different email blocklists, according to documentation from various sources, involves understanding the specific blocklist criteria (Spamhaus), using feedback mechanisms (Microsoft's JMRP, AWS Feedback Loops) to identify issues, and proactively monitoring domain reputation (Google Postmaster Tools). These tools and processes provide insights into why emails are marked as spam or blocked, enabling targeted mitigation efforts.

Key findings

  • Spamhaus Specificity: Understanding which Spamhaus list (SBL, XBL, PBL) you are on is critical for effective delisting.
  • Feedback Loops: Feedback loops with major ISPs provide valuable information about spam complaints.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Tools like Google Postmaster Tools allow monitoring domain reputation and identifying sending issues.
  • Identifying Spam Sources: Microsoft's JMRP helps identify questionable or unintended sources of spam from your infrastructure.

Key considerations

  • Actionable Insights: Use the information from these tools to take concrete steps to improve sending practices.
  • Prompt Response: Addressing spam complaints and other issues promptly is essential for maintaining a good reputation.
  • Infrastructure Analysis: Investigate your infrastructure to identify and eliminate any sources of spam or abuse.
  • Iterative Improvement: Continuously monitor and refine your email sending practices based on feedback and reputation data.
Technical article

Documentation from AWS explains that setting up feedback loops (FBLs) with major ISPs provides information about when recipients mark your emails as spam. Addressing these complaints promptly helps improve your reputation and prevent future blocklisting.

December 2023 - Amazon Web Services
Technical article

Documentation from Google explains that you should use the Postmaster Tools site to monitor your domain's reputation and other relevant data. This can help diagnose sending issues.

October 2021 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft explains that using the Junk Email Reporting program (JMRP) you can receive reports about messages that their users marked as junk. This feedback can help you identify questionable or unintended sources of spam coming from your infrastructure

December 2022 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from Spamhaus explains that Spamhaus maintains several blocklists, each with different criteria for listing. Understanding which Spamhaus list you're on (e.g., SBL, XBL, PBL) helps determine the severity and the steps needed for delisting.

January 2025 - Spamhaus