How relevant is the SpamRats blacklist for email deliverability and what should I do if my IP or domain is listed?
Summary
What email marketers say8Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Gmass explains that while SpamRats might not be the most influential blacklist, it can still impact deliverability, especially if you're targeting smaller organizations or using less common email providers. It's part of a broader picture of your sending reputation.
Email marketer from EmailDeliverabilityForum mentions that a SpamRats listing isn't a 'death sentence,' but it's a warning sign. Investigate your sending practices and server security immediately.
Email marketer from Mailjet notes that while not as prominent as some other lists, a listing on SpamRats *can* negatively impact deliverability, particularly with smaller ISPs or organizations that aggressively filter mail. It's crucial to monitor your sending reputation and address any listings promptly.
Email marketer from EmailProviderReview shares that after cleaning up the reason for being listed on SpamRats (e.g., securing your server), you should submit a delisting request through their website, providing evidence that the issue is resolved.
Email marketer from Reddit suggests that SpamRats is a 'lesser known' blocklist, but inclusion still isn't good. They say you should check your mail server logs for suspicious activity and contact SpamRats to ask for removal.
Email marketer from Mail-tester explains that their testing tool will highlight whether you are listed on a variety of blocklists, including SpamRats.
Email marketer from Stackoverflow points out that the process for delisting from SpamRats is usually outlined on their website. Usually, you'll need to fix the source of the spam (if any), and then request delisting.
Email marketer from Sendgrid explains that it is important to check blocklists like SpamRats regularly, and to keep tabs on your sending reputation.
What the experts say5Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks explains that SpamRats has been around for a long time but is not particularly relevant.
Expert from Word to the Wise underscores the need for continuous reputation monitoring, which includes checking blocklists, to identify potential deliverability problems early on. They also suggest implementing feedback loops and engaging with mailbox providers to improve your sending reputation.
Expert from SpamResource emphasizes the importance of proactively monitoring blocklists like SpamRats to identify and address any issues affecting email deliverability. They recommend implementing robust monitoring tools and procedures.
Expert from Email Geeks clarifies that if the listed IP address is from a consumer ISP pool or NAT emitting SMTP traffic, it likely indicates malware. However, if it's a smarthost, it suggests issues with reverse DNS or SpamRats heuristics.
Expert from Email Geeks suggests that if the IP address is statically assigned and has decent reverse DNS, it's probably safe to ignore the SpamRats listing.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from Spamhaus explains that while they don't specifically comment on SpamRats, maintaining a clean IP reputation across reputable blocklists is vital for email deliverability. If listed, investigate the cause and take steps to remediate any spam or malware issues originating from your network.
Documentation from SpamRats details that they list IPs that show characteristics of sending spam, including dynamic IPs and compromised systems. If an IP exhibits these behaviors, it will be added to their blocklist.
Documentation from DigitalOcean explains that regularly checking common email blacklists like SpamRats is good practice to make sure you are not listed, and to take preventative measures to stop it from impacting your email sending reputation.
Documentation from Microsoft explains that SpamRats will cause issues with deliverability to their users. The best practice for keeping your reputation clean across these blocklists is to be aware of your sending volumes.
Documentation from MXToolbox explains that SpamRats identifies IP addresses associated with spam activity, including compromised machines. Being listed suggests potential spam originating from your IP range. They recommend investigating for malware, securing your systems, and contacting SpamRats for delisting once the issue is resolved.