How do I use SPFBL feedback loop for email?

Summary

Using SPFBL (Sender Policy Framework Blacklist) as a feedback loop for email involves several key steps. First, you need to register your IP ranges with SPFBL, typically by contacting them directly via email or WhatsApp; this might involve a fee if you don't own your Autonomous System (AS). SPFBL then sends Abuse Reporting Format (ARF) reports, which contain data about users who have marked your emails as spam. These reports include information like the original message and the reporting IP addresses. Analyzing these ARF reports helps identify compromised accounts, malicious activity, and deliverability issues. A crucial aspect is maintaining good list hygiene by promptly removing complaining recipients from your mailing list to avoid future deliverability issues and potential blacklisting. Note that SPFBL lowercases the SMTP From address in ARF reports, which may be problematic if your local part is case-sensitive. Monitoring and proactively handling abuse reports through the SPFBL feedback loop are essential for maintaining a clean sending reputation, improving email filtering, and ultimately enhancing email deliverability.

Key findings

  • Registration: Register your IP ranges with SPFBL, potentially via WhatsApp.
  • Cost Structure: Free if owning your AS; fees apply otherwise.
  • ARF Reports Content: SPFBL sends ARF reports with spam complaint data and message details.
  • Lowercase Issue: SMTP From address is lowercased in SPFBL's ARF reports.
  • List Hygiene Importance: Key to deliverability is removing complaining recipients.

Key considerations

  • Proactive Analysis: Actively analyze ARF reports for deliverability problems.
  • Contacting SPFBL: Reach out to SPFBL for IP registration; they are responsive.
  • Security: Use SPFBL to identify compromised accounts or malicious activity.
  • ARF Integration: Implement system to receive and react to ARF reports automatically.
  • Comprehensive Approach: Combine SPFBL with other authentication for better deliverability.

What email marketers say
14Marketer opinions

Using SPFBL feedback loops involves registering your IP ranges with SPFBL, typically by contacting them directly or via WhatsApp. If you own your Autonomous System (AS), registration is free; otherwise, a fee might be involved. SPFBL sends Abuse Reporting Format (ARF) reports, which identify users marking your emails as spam. Monitoring these reports helps identify deliverability issues, compromised accounts, and malicious activity. The ARF reports contain data about spam complaints, including message headers and reporting IP addresses. Proactively handling these reports and promptly removing complaining recipients from your list is crucial for maintaining a clean sending reputation and preventing blacklisting. Note that SPFBL lowercases the SMTP From address in ARF reports, which may affect case-sensitive local parts.

Key opinions

  • Registration: Register IP ranges with SPFBL by contacting them directly (possibly via WhatsApp).
  • Cost: Free if you own your AS; paid otherwise.
  • ARF Reports: SPFBL sends ARF reports containing spam complaint data.
  • Lowercase Issue: SMTP From address is lowercased in reports, impacting case-sensitive local parts.
  • Increased Use: Increased adoption of SPFBL by Brazilian ISPs.

Key considerations

  • Monitoring: Actively monitor feedback loops for deliverability issues.
  • List Hygiene: Promptly remove complaining recipients to avoid blacklisting.
  • Security: SPFBL helps identify compromised accounts and malicious activity.
  • ARF Analysis: Analyze ARF reports to improve email filtering and sender reputation.
  • Proactive Handling: Proactively address abuse reports to maintain a clean sending reputation.
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares they are sending ARF reports for mail sent to recipients who complained previously that the sender is contacting again. These reports are in response to mail that was rejected at RCPT TO and state that the recipient doesn’t want to receive messages from the same sender, so this sender must be forced to stop it.

April 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Gmass.co explains that using feedback loops, including SPFBL, in conjunction with other authentication methods improves deliverability and prevents email from landing in spam folders.

June 2021 - Gmass.co
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid suggests that best practices for feedback loops include promptly removing complaining recipients from your mailing list to avoid future deliverability issues.

October 2024 - SendGrid.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum responds that proactively handling abuse reports received through SPFBL helps maintain a clean sending reputation and prevents blacklisting.

December 2022 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow suggests contacting SPFBL directly to declare your IP ranges and set up a recipient address for ARF reports. They are responsive.

January 2024 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that SPFBL helps you identify compromised accounts or malicious activity that might be leading to spam complaints, enhancing overall security.

March 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks notes seeing a real increase in the amount of reports coming from that FBL on the last few months, so probably more brazilian ISPs are implementing it.

December 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks clarifies that it depends if you own your AS; it’s free to declare IPs of your own AS, but if you’re just a end user, only having one or few IPs, then you’ll need to pay.

May 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps shares setting up a feedback loop like SPFBL involves configuring a dedicated email address to receive ARF reports, then analyzing the data to identify and remove problem subscribers.

October 2024 - GlockApps.com
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that on SPFBL ARF reports, they are lowercasing all the SMTP From address, so if case is important for you on the local part, the report become unusable.

November 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that you can contact them to declare your IPs and define a recipient address for the ARFs and that they are super reactive on Whatsapp. Expert from Email Geeks adds you can email or WhatsApp them for addition. Also check <https://spfbl.net/en/contact/>.

June 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that it sounds like it’s a paid feed, referencing their budget inclusion for each IP range in their DNSAL: <https://spfbl.net/en/contact/>

June 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailhardener.com shares that monitoring feedback loops allows for proactive identification of deliverability issues and spam complaints before they significantly impact sending reputation.

December 2022 - Mailhardener.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailVendorSelection.com answers that using feedback loops, including SPFBL, allows senders to identify and remove subscribers who mark emails as spam, improving sender reputation.

June 2023 - EmailVendorSelection.com

What the experts say
2Expert opinions

SPFBL feedback loops provide senders with complaint data, enabling them to identify and remove recipients who mark their emails as spam. Maintaining good list hygiene by promptly removing these addresses is essential for ongoing deliverability.

Key opinions

  • Complaint Data: Feedback loops provide data about users who mark emails as spam.
  • List Hygiene: Removing complaining recipients is critical for deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Proactive Removal: Actively identify and remove complaining recipients from your mailing list.
  • Deliverability Impact: Failing to maintain list hygiene can negatively impact deliverability.
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise shares that one of the keys to ongoing deliverability, is list hygiene. Making sure you remove email addresses of users who are marking your email as spam/junk.

July 2024 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from SpamResource.com explains that Feedback Loops are a system where complaint data is sent back to the sender so that they can stop sending to people who don't want their mail.

October 2021 - SpamResource.com

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

SPFBL (Sender Policy Framework Blacklist) provides ARF (Abuse Reporting Format) reports to help ISPs and ESPs identify and stop spammers. ARF is a standard format that allows for automated processing of abuse reports. Understanding and utilizing feedback loops like SPFBL involves setting up a system to receive and analyze ARF reports, which contain data about spam complaints, including the original message and reporting IP addresses. This information can be used to improve filtering and sender reputation.

Key findings

  • ARF Reports: SPFBL provides ARF reports to identify spammers.
  • ARF Format: ARF is a standard format for email feedback reports.
  • Data Included: ARF reports contain spam complaints, original messages, and reporting IP addresses.

Key considerations

  • System Setup: Set up a system to receive and analyze ARF reports.
  • Data Analysis: Analyze ARF data to identify spam complaints.
  • Reputation Improvement: Use ARF data to improve filtering and sender reputation.
Technical article

Documentation from Spamhaus answers that SPFBL ARF reports contain data about spam complaints, including the original message and reporting IP addresses, which can be used to improve filtering.

April 2022 - Spamhaus.org
Technical article

Documentation from RFC specifies how ARF reports can be used within email infrastructure, providing guidelines for processing and reacting to feedback loop data.

January 2023 - rfc-editor.org
Technical article

Documentation from Port25 answers that understanding feedback loops, like SPFBL, involves setting up a system to receive and analyze ARF reports to identify spam complaints and improve sender reputation.

May 2022 - Port25.com
Technical article

Documentation from SPFBL.net explains SPFBL provides ARF (Abuse Reporting Format) reports to help identify and stop spammers. It is a feedback loop designed for ISPs and ESPs.

August 2024 - SPFBL.net
Technical article

Documentation from IETF explains that ARF (Abuse Reporting Format) is a standard format for email feedback reports, enabling automated processing of abuse reports.

June 2024 - ietf.org