How to resolve email delivery issues caused by a potentially defunct RBL?
Summary
What email marketers say9Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Reddit shares the experience of cleaning up their email practices (removing old lists, implementing double opt-in) and then contacting the RBLs with evidence of the changes. For defunct RBLs, they contacted the major ISPs directly.
Email marketer from EmailDrip.com details that you should determine the specific RBL causing the issue. Investigate the reason for the listing by checking logs and feedback loops. Correct the problem by improving email practices and security. If the RBL is no longer maintained, contact the recipient's email provider directly.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum suggests identifying the RBL, validating its operational status. If defunct, gather evidence (e.g., DNS lookup failures) and contact recipient mail server administrators to explain the situation and request whitelisting.
Email marketer from GlockApps provides advice on monitoring your IP and domain reputation regularly using deliverability tools. Address issues promptly. If listed on a defunct RBL, focus on direct communication with ISPs and recipient domains.
Email marketer from SparkPost Blog shares to confirm the listing with the RBL directly. Look up your IP address or sending domain on the RBL's website. Investigate the reason for the listing. Common causes include spam complaints, sending to spam traps, or compromised accounts. Address the root cause of the listing before requesting delisting.
Marketer from Email Geeks suggests that the user might get a different experience if accessing the RBL from within Japan due to potential geo-blocking.
Email marketer from Stack Overflow explains that after fixing your email sending practices, contact the RBL for delisting, providing evidence of the changes you've made. If the RBL is unmaintained, attempt to contact the mail server administrators of the recipients who are blocking your emails.
Email marketer from Mailjet Blog explains that if listed on an outdated RBL, investigate. Determine if the RBL is actively maintained. If defunct, contact the recipient's mail server administrator and provide evidence of the RBL's inactivity. Request whitelisting based on the RBL's questionable status.
Email marketer from SendPulse highlights maintaining clean email lists, avoiding spam traps, using double opt-in, authenticating email with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, and monitoring sender reputation. If on an outdated RBL, contact ISPs directly with proof it's defunct.
What the experts say6Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks confirms the nameservers for the RBL are dead based on checks from their endpoints. Suggests further investigation from a .jp location if financially justified, otherwise, treat as a misconfiguration.
Expert from Email Geeks suggests querying the blocklist manually to check if 127.0.0.1 is listed, which could indicate a wildcard blocklisting.
Expert from Word to the Wise shares checking which RBLs are causing the most deliverability problems. Understanding where you're listed helps prioritize remediation efforts. If a problematic RBL is no longer maintained, gather evidence and approach mailbox providers directly to seek whitelisting or mitigation.
Expert from Spam Resource discusses monitoring your sending reputation and promptly addressing any listing issues to maintain deliverability. If an RBL is defunct, focusing on direct relationships with mailbox providers is crucial.
Expert from Spam Resource emphasizes understanding the specific policies and procedures of each RBL. Contact the RBL, if functional, and present evidence of your efforts to remediate the issues that led to the listing. For defunct RBLs, communicate directly with ISPs.
Expert from Email Geeks states that the RBL in question appears dead based on the nameservers not responding and suggests that the issue might be due to a misconfigured recipient mail server.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from Microsoft details that senders should ensure their sending IPs/domains aren't on reputable RBLs, implement authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), maintain low complaint rates, and provide easy unsubscribe options. Contact Microsoft support if deliverability issues persist after addressing these areas.
Documentation from DigitalOcean explains identifying the RBL, investigating why you were listed, fixing the problem, and then contacting the RBL (if active) to request removal. If the RBL is defunct, contacting the recipient mail server administrators directly may be necessary.
Documentation from Spamhaus explains that you should first determine if you're actually listed. If listed, identify the reason. Correct the issue (e.g., malware, spamming scripts). Then, follow the specific delisting procedure for that RBL, which may involve a delisting request or automatic removal after a period of clean behavior.
Documentation from Postfix explains that administrators should implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Regularly monitor sending reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools. Follow best practices to avoid being listed on RBLs in the first place. Implement feedback loops.