What are the potential reasons for recurring Proofpoint listings and how can they be resolved?

Summary

Recurring Proofpoint listings arise from a combination of factors, including: poor sender reputation (due to high complaint rates, sending to invalid addresses, and inconsistent volume), lack of recipient engagement, hitting spam traps, sending emails with attachments, absence of proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), high bounce rates, problematic content, IP reputation issues, non-compliance with SMTP standards, and exceeding email sending limits. Resolving these issues requires a multifaceted approach encompassing monitoring and improving sender/IP reputation, meticulous list hygiene and validation, robust email authentication, content optimization, email segmentation, adherence to sending limits and SMTP standards, considering Proofpoint's complex filtering criteria, and potentially suppressing Proofpoint-hosted domains.

Key findings

  • Sender Reputation: Poor sender reputation is a leading cause, influenced by complaints, invalid addresses, and sending volumes.
  • Recipient Engagement: Lack of engagement, such as ignored or deleted emails, degrades deliverability.
  • Spam Traps: Hitting spam traps can lead to immediate listing.
  • Email Authentication: Absence of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC makes emails appear less trustworthy.
  • Content Filters: Proofpoint actively uses content filters to block spam.
  • IP Reputation: Poor IP reputation triggers filtering and blocking.
  • SMTP Compliance: Violations of SMTP standards lead to deliverability issues.
  • Email Limits: Exceeding sending limits causes emails to be marked as spam or blocked.
  • Attachments: Proofpoint can block emails with attachments.
  • Direct complaints: High levels of complaints directly to proofpoint effect listings.

Key considerations

  • Monitor Sender Reputation: Use tools like Google Postmaster Tools to track and improve sender reputation.
  • Clean and Validate Lists: Implement double opt-in and regularly remove inactive and invalid addresses.
  • Implement Authentication: Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to verify email authenticity.
  • Optimize Content: Avoid spam trigger words and ensure relevant, engaging content.
  • Segment Email Lists: Send targeted content based on user preferences and behavior.
  • Adhere to Standards: Comply with all relevant SMTP standards.
  • Respect Limits: Understand and adhere to sending and recipient limits.
  • Contact Proofpoint Postmaster: Contact postmaster@proofpoint for specific guidance.
  • Monitor IP Reputation: Check IP reputation on reputable blacklists.
  • Preview Emails: Preview and test emails across clients to catch potential issues.
  • Consider suppression: Consider supressing Proofpoint domains.

What email marketers say
11Marketer opinions

Recurring Proofpoint listings can stem from various issues, primarily related to sender reputation and engagement. Common causes include poor sender reputation due to high complaint rates, sending to invalid email addresses, and inconsistent sending volumes. Lack of recipient engagement, hitting spam traps, using non-authenticated emails, high bounce rates, and problematic content can also contribute. Suppression of Proofpoint hosted domains has also been used as a strategy. Resolving these listings requires a multi-faceted approach, including sender reputation monitoring, email list cleaning and validation, implementing email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), content optimization, email segmentation, and adhering to SMTP standards.

Key opinions

  • Sender Reputation: Poor sender reputation, influenced by complaints, invalid addresses, and inconsistent volumes, is a primary driver of Proofpoint listings.
  • Recipient Engagement: Low recipient engagement, such as ignoring or deleting emails, can negatively impact deliverability with Proofpoint.
  • Spam Traps: Hitting spam traps, particularly pristine traps, results in Proofpoint blocking emails.
  • Email Authentication: Lack of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication leads to emails being flagged as potentially fraudulent.
  • Email Content: Using spam trigger words or irrelevant content causes Proofpoint to identify and block emails.
  • Engagement Data: Lack of engagement could result in proofpoint listings
  • Attachments: Proofpoint can block for attachments.

Key considerations

  • Monitor Sender Reputation: Regularly monitor sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and address any identified issues promptly.
  • Clean and Validate Email Lists: Implement double opt-in for new subscribers and regularly clean your email list to remove inactive or invalid addresses to reduce bounce rates and spam complaints.
  • Implement Email Authentication: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to verify the authenticity of your emails.
  • Optimize Content: Ensure email content is relevant, engaging, and avoids spam trigger words. Regularly review and update email templates to optimize content for deliverability.
  • Segment Email Lists: Segment email lists based on user preferences and behaviors to send targeted, personalized content and improve engagement.
  • Adhere to SMTP Standards: Ensure email sending practices comply with all relevant SMTP standards, including proper header formatting and authentication.
  • Preview Emails: Always preview your emails across different email clients and devices to ensure they render correctly and avoid issues that might trigger spam filters.
  • Suppression: Consider supressing Proofpoint hosted domains.
Marketer view

Email marketer from ZeroBounce shares that regularly validating your email list is an important step in improving deliverability. They explain that email validation helps identify and remove invalid, risky, and inactive email addresses, reducing the risk of bounces and spam complaints.

November 2022 - ZeroBounce
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum explains that hitting spam traps can definitely cause recurring Proofpoint listings. He suggests that you make sure you implement double opt-in for new subscribers and regularly clean your email list to remove inactive or invalid addresses.

July 2024 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailVendorSelection shares that Implementing email authentication methods like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is crucial for establishing trust and improving email deliverability. She goes on to explain that these methods help verify that emails are actually sent from the domain they claim to be from, reducing the likelihood of being flagged as spam.

February 2024 - EmailVendorSelection
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow explains that recurring Proofpoint listings can often be attributed to a poor sender reputation. They shares that factors contributing to this can include high complaint rates, sending to invalid email addresses, and inconsistent sending volumes. They recommend consistently monitoring sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and addressing any identified issues promptly.

June 2021 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet suggests that a high bounce rate can negatively impact sender reputation and lead to Proofpoint listings. He explains that it's important to regularly clean your email list to remove invalid or inactive addresses and ensure that you're only sending to engaged recipients.

July 2023 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus recommends previewing emails before sending them to ensure they render correctly across different email clients and devices. This can help avoid issues that might trigger spam filters or lead to poor engagement.

April 2024 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that one potential cause of Proofpoint listings is a lack of engagement from recipients. They explain that if Proofpoint users consistently ignore or delete emails from a particular sender, Proofpoint may start filtering those emails. They advise implementing strategies to improve engagement, such as sending more relevant content and segmenting email lists based on user preferences.

August 2022 - Reddit
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains a strategy used with a B2B mailer who experienced similar Proofpoint listings. They identified all the Proofpoint hosted domains and suppressed them, then slowly added them back in to find the culprit.

May 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot says segmenting your email list and sending targeted, personalized content can greatly improve engagement and deliverability. When you send relevant emails to the right people, you reduce the likelihood of spam complaints and improve your sender reputation.

March 2024 - HubSpot
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid explains that Proofpoint uses content filters to identify and block spam. He goes on to say that ensure email content is relevant, engaging, and avoids spam trigger words. Regularly review and update email templates to optimize content for deliverability.

March 2021 - SendGrid
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that she has seen Proofpoint block emails for attachments.

January 2024 - Email Geeks

What the experts say
4Expert opinions

Recurring Proofpoint listings are influenced by direct recipient complaints, complex Proofpoint reputation systems, and overall domain health. High complaint rates, even seemingly small percentages, are significant. Proofpoint's filtering considers factors beyond just IP, requiring tailored sending practices. Maintaining a good domain reputation, including avoiding blocklists and proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), is crucial. Monitoring tools like Google Postmaster Tools can help.

Key opinions

  • Direct Complaints: Recipients reporting emails directly to Proofpoint because they don't want the mail significantly impacts listings.
  • Complaint Threshold: Even seemingly low complaint rates (e.g., 0.03%) can be considered very high and trigger issues.
  • Complex Filtering: Proofpoint's filtering considers numerous factors beyond IP address, requiring a holistic approach to deliverability.
  • Domain Reputation: Domain reputation, including blocklist status and authentication configuration, is a key factor in Proofpoint listings.

Key considerations

  • Contact Proofpoint Postmaster: Contact postmaster@proofpoint for assistance in troubleshooting and understanding specific listing reasons.
  • Tailor Sending Practices: Adapt sending frequency, content, and recipient engagement based on Proofpoint's specific filtering criteria.
  • Monitor Domain Health: Ensure your domain is not on any major blocklists and is correctly configured with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
  • Use Monitoring Tools: Utilize Google Postmaster Tools or similar platforms to monitor domain and sender reputation.
Expert view

Expert from Spamresource.com suggests ensuring your domain reputation is good to avoid Proofpoint listings. Spamresource.com recommends ensuring your domain is not on any major blocklists, your domain is correctly configured with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, and you monitor your domain reputation through tools like Google Postmaster Tools to maintain a good reputation.

September 2024 - Spamresource.com
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that any complaints are going to be from people who bother to send you a complaint manually and that 0.03% is incredibly high.

April 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that Proofpoint utilizes a complex system of reputation and filtering, considering factors beyond just IP address. They emphasize the importance of understanding Proofpoint's specific filtering criteria and tailoring email sending practices accordingly, including content, sending frequency, and recipient engagement.

August 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares that recipients might be reporting the emails directly to Proofpoint because they don’t want the mail and that postmaster@proofpoint can be helpful.

August 2024 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

Recurring Proofpoint listings are related to IP and sender reputation, adherence to email standards, list hygiene, and adherence to email limits. Proofpoint uses IP reputation as a filtering factor. Strict compliance with SMTP standards is critical. Sender reputation, particularly with Gmail, influences deliverability. Maintaining a clean email list, preventing blocklisting, and respecting email limits are essential for avoiding filtering and blocks.

Key findings

  • IP Reputation: Proofpoint utilizes IP reputation as a key factor in determining email filtering.
  • SMTP Compliance: Adherence to SMTP standards is crucial for avoiding spam flags and blocks.
  • Sender Reputation (Gmail): Sender reputation, particularly with Gmail users, is an important indicator of overall deliverability performance.
  • List Hygiene: Maintaining a clean email list by removing invalid addresses and unsubscribing inactive users prevents blocklisting.
  • Email Limits: Exceeding email sending and recipient limits can lead to emails being blocked or flagged as spam.

Key considerations

  • Monitor IP Reputation: Regularly monitor IP reputation using reputable blacklists and take steps to improve it if found to be poor.
  • Review SMTP Compliance: Ensure email sending practices comply with all relevant SMTP standards, including proper header formatting and authentication.
  • Monitor Sender Reputation (GPT): Use Google Postmaster Tools to monitor sender reputation metrics and identify any potential issues impacting deliverability, which has indicators to improve Proofpoint deliveries
  • Implement List Hygiene: Implement double opt-in for new subscribers and regularly clean email lists to remove invalid and inactive addresses.
  • Respect Email Limits: Understand and adhere to sending and recipient limits to prevent emails from being blocked or flagged as spam.
Technical article

Documentation from Spamhaus explains the importance of maintaining a clean email list to avoid being listed on their blocklists, which can affect deliverability with Proofpoint. The documentation recommends removing invalid email addresses, unsubscribing inactive users, and implementing a double opt-in process for new subscribers.

April 2021 - Spamhaus
Technical article

Documentation from Proofpoint Knowledge Base states that Proofpoint utilizes IP reputation as one factor in determining email filtering. They explains that if an IP address is associated with spam or malicious activity, Proofpoint may block or filter emails from that IP address. To resolve this, they suggest monitoring IP reputation using reputable blacklists and taking steps to improve it if it's found to be poor.

February 2022 - Proofpoint
Technical article

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools explains that sender reputation is a critical factor in determining email deliverability to Gmail users, which can provide information to improve Proofpoint delivery. They suggests using Google Postmaster Tools to monitor sender reputation metrics and identify any potential issues that may be impacting deliverability.

March 2021 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from RFC Editor states that strict adherence to SMTP standards is crucial for email deliverability. Violations of these standards can lead to emails being flagged as spam or being blocked. They advise reviewing email sending practices and ensuring they comply with all relevant SMTP standards, including proper header formatting and authentication.

January 2022 - RFC Editor
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft explains that email limits, such as sending limits and recipient limits, are in place to prevent spam and abuse. Exceeding these limits can result in emails being blocked or flagged as spam. Understanding and adhering to these limits is essential for maintaining deliverability.

October 2023 - Microsoft