What does it mean when a soft bounce reason is 'blocked using Spamhaus' and the IP isn't listed?

Email marketer from the forum explains that the recipient's server may be using outdated DNS records. The DNS record of the sender's IP could have been updated, but the recipient's server may still be using an old, outdated record. This can cause the server to incorrectly identify the sender's IP as being blacklisted.

Email marketer from Senderok explains that using multiple tools to check blocklists is important because data can vary and take time to update across networks.

Email marketer from Stackoverflow notes that the information propagation across different DNS servers and email systems isn't instant, a delay may exist between the IP's actual listing status on Spamhaus and its reflection in the bounce message.

Email marketer from Reddit suggests that if you're on a shared IP, the block could be due to another sender's activities affecting the shared IP's reputation, even if your individual sending practices are clean. They advise contacting your ESP to investigate and potentially request a dedicated IP.

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that the soft bounce reason likely means the receiving mail server has cached or outdated Spamhaus data.

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum explains that when you use a new IP you need to warm it up correctly - by increasing the send volume slowly. This will help reduce the chance of spam listings.

Email marketer from Mailjet Support shares that a soft bounce indicating 'blocked using Spamhaus' when the IP isn't immediately listed could mean a temporary listing or a delay in the update of Spamhaus data across different systems. They suggest checking again later and ensuring the sending practices are compliant with Spamhaus' policies.

Email marketer from Quora user answers that it's important to always check your sender score as this will give insight on why you are blocked by Spamhaus.

Email marketer from Reddit suggests checking for spam traps on your sending list. Even though they may have opted in, they may still be an old or invalid addresses that will automatically flag your account.

Expert from Spam Resource explains that the bounce message might be a false positive. The recipient's server may be misinterpreting the Spamhaus data, or there could be a configuration issue on their end that's causing the incorrect block. They suggest contacting the recipient to investigate the issue on their side.

Expert from Email Geeks explains that it's possible the IPs were listed and then removed before the record was checked. Also, if it's a shared IP, it could be completely unrelated to the sender's message and that 99.99% of the time IP based blocking is completely out of their control. If it *is* in the senders control, the result is often removal from the shared IP pool or ESP.

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that DNSBL propagation delays can cause discrepancies between the actual listing status and what's reported in bounce messages. DNS changes take time to propagate across the internet, so the recipient's server might not have the latest information from Spamhaus.

Documentation from Spamhaus explains that while an IP might not appear on the Spamhaus Block List (SBL) when queried, it may still be contributing to a block. This could be due to factors like recent listing and delisting, or the use of composite blocking where the overall network reputation is considered.

Documentation from Postmark Support explains that a soft bounce related to Spamhaus might occur if the recipient's server is using outdated DNSBL (DNS Block List) information. They suggest that the issue may resolve itself as the recipient's server updates its DNSBL information.

Documentation from SparkPost Support shares that it could be due to a temporary listing and delisting, or the use of composite blocking where the overall network reputation is considered.

Documentation from AWS explains that you need to build and maintain your IP reputation by following these tips such as only sending emails to people who have requested to receive them and making sure your content is high quality.

Documentation from Microsoft Support explains that the error message could indicate a temporary block due to Spamhaus. Microsoft suggests visiting the Spamhaus website to understand the reason for the block and to request delisting, if applicable. It also advises reviewing sending practices to align with best practices and avoid future blocks.