What is the impact of being listed on Spamrl blacklist when using a shared IP pool from MarketingCloud?

Summary

Being listed on the Spamrl blacklist while using a shared IP pool from MarketingCloud significantly jeopardizes email deliverability. While Spamrl may not be the most widely used or trusted blacklist, a listing suggests issues like non-authenticated mail. The use of a shared IP pool means that your sending reputation is intertwined with other users; thus, the actions of others can lead to your emails being marked as spam or blocked entirely, especially by mid-to-low-end European providers. Experts recommend checking email authentication, proactively monitoring sender reputation, engaging MarketingCloud support, and possibly switching to a dedicated IP to mitigate the risks.

Key findings

  • Deliverability Impact: Blacklisting can severely impact email deliverability, resulting in emails being marked as spam or blocked by receiving servers.
  • Shared IP Risks: Shared IP pools mean that your sender reputation is linked to other users, making you vulnerable to their poor sending practices.
  • Reputation Damage: Being blacklisted on Spamrl can damage your sending reputation and affect inbox placement rates.
  • Monitoring is Crucial: Proactive monitoring of IP reputation is essential to identify and address blacklisting issues promptly.

Key considerations

  • Authentication: Ensure emails are properly authenticated to reduce the risk of being flagged as spam.
  • Contact SFMC: Escalate the issue with MarketingCloud support and consider switching to a dedicated IP address if the problem persists.
  • Remediation Actions: Take immediate action to get the IP delisted from Spamrl and other blocklists.
  • Best Practices: Adhere to email best practices and follow guidelines provided by Google and other ESPs.

What email marketers say
9Marketer opinions

Being listed on the Spamrl blacklist while using a shared IP pool with MarketingCloud significantly impacts email deliverability. Since multiple users share the same IP, the actions of one sender can affect everyone else. If another user engages in spammy practices, all senders using that IP can be impacted, leading to drastically reduced inbox placement rates and damaged sender reputation. Because many ISPs and email providers use blacklists to filter out spam.

Key opinions

  • Deliverability Impact: A Spamrl listing on a shared IP results in reduced inbox placement, with emails often being marked as spam or rejected outright by ISPs.
  • Reputation Damage: Blacklisting damages sender reputation, making it more difficult to reach the inbox, even if the sender follows email best practices.
  • Shared Responsibility: Shared IP pools mean senders are vulnerable to the actions of other users, as one bad actor can cause the entire IP to be blacklisted.
  • Monitoring Importance: Regular monitoring of IP reputation is crucial to identify and address blacklisting issues promptly.

Key considerations

  • Escalation: Escalate the issue with MarketingCloud support and consider switching to a dedicated IP address if the problem persists.
  • Remediation: Take immediate action to get the IP delisted from Spamrl and other blocklists.
  • Proactive Prevention: Implement strategies to maintain a good sending reputation, such as following email best practices and using authentication methods.
  • Dedicated IP: Moving to a dedicated IP can give you more control over your sending reputation and reduce the impact of other senders' actions.
Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps shares that if a shared IP used on Marketing Cloud ends up on Spamrl due to another user's bad practices, all senders using that IP are impacted. This can lead to drastically reduced inbox placement rates. Monitoring IP reputation using tools like GlockApps can help identify these issues early.

June 2021 - GlockApps
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus answers that one of the main problems with shared IPs is that your sending reputation is not entirely in your hands. Bad actors sharing your IP can result in blacklisting and other deliverability issues. Proactive monitoring is key to mitigating the damage.

May 2024 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit answers that when using shared IP pools with MarketingCloud, a Spamrl listing for the IP can affect deliverability. This is because many ISPs and email providers use blacklists to filter out spam. It's suggested that if the problem persists, escalating the issue with MarketingCloud support and considering a dedicated IP may be necessary.

January 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange answers that being blacklisted on Spamrl, particularly on a shared IP pool on MarketingCloud, will dramatically lower deliverability rates. Many ISPs will either reject or send emails to the spam folder, impacting overall campaign performance. You need to take immediate action to get the IP delisted and consider moving to a dedicated IP.

October 2024 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Email marketer from MailerQ explains that being on a blocklist has a direct impact on email delivery. Email receivers may mark all messages coming from a listed IP address as suspicious or even reject them automatically. With a shared IP pool, the actions of other users can have a big impact on all mail being sent.

August 2023 - MailerQ
Marketer view

Email marketer from DigitalOcean explains that problems occur when your IP or domain gets added to a blocklist database due to policy violations. Your recipients will not receive your emails. Blocklist providers share their database to email companies, which, in turn, prevents delivery to a high percentage of inboxes.

September 2023 - DigitalOcean
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that being on a blacklist, even Spamrl, while using a shared IP pool can severely impact email deliverability. Because multiple users share the same IP, the actions of one sender can affect everyone else. If one user engages in spammy practices, the IP can be blacklisted, affecting the deliverability of legitimate senders.

December 2022 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid explains that being on a blacklist can damage your sending reputation, making it more difficult to reach the inbox. This is particularly true when using a shared IP, as you are at the mercy of others sharing the IP address. You should monitor your sending reputation regularly and take action if it declines.

August 2022 - Email on Acid
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid explains that using a shared IP pool inherently carries the risk of being affected by other users' sending behavior. If another user on the same Marketing Cloud shared IP is blacklisted by Spamrl, it can negatively impact your deliverability. Regular monitoring and swift action are necessary to mitigate the risks.

August 2021 - SendGrid

What the experts say
6Expert opinions

Being listed on Spamrl, a spamtrap-driven blacklist, while using a shared IP pool in MarketingCloud significantly impacts email deliverability. While Spamrl might not be widely used or trusted, a rejection message indicates a problem with non-authenticated mail volume. The impact may be more pronounced with mid-to-low-end European providers. The shared IP nature of the pool means that your sender reputation is tied to other users, and their poor practices can lead to your emails being blocked. If your client's mail is authenticated and follows best practices, the issue likely stems from other users in the shared pool. There's not much to do except contact recipients through other means or ask Salesforce Marketing Cloud to address the problem.

Key opinions

  • Spamrl Characteristics: Spamrl is a spamtrap-driven blacklist that may not be widely used or trusted compared to other blocklists.
  • Shared IP Vulnerability: Using a shared IP pool means your sending reputation is influenced by the actions of other users, increasing the risk of blacklisting.
  • Regional Impact: The impact of a Spamrl listing and associated services like spamexperts/antispamcloud may be more significant with mid-to-low-end European providers and shared hosts.
  • Salesforce Marketing Cloud issue: Salesforce Marketing Cloud's compliance handling may not be sufficient, leading to legitimate listings that are difficult to remove.

Key considerations

  • Authentication Check: Verify your client's mail is properly authenticated and follows email best practices.
  • Alternative Communication: If deliverability is affected, consider contacting recipients through alternative channels.
  • SFMC Action: Engage Salesforce Marketing Cloud to address the issue and improve compliance handling.
  • Limited Recourse: Understand that if other users in the shared IP pool are engaging in spammy practices, there may be limited options for resolving the issue quickly.
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that one of the main issues with using a shared IP address is that you are sharing your reputation with other senders. If one or more of the other senders on the same IP address engage in behaviors that are not considered email best practices, this can impact your email deliverability. This can result in some of your emails being blocked and can negatively impact your email sender reputation.

January 2025 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that if the client's mail seems to be authenticated and they’re not doing anything obviously ridiculous it'll be other users of the shared pool.

February 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that Spamrl is spamtrap driven and not widely used or trusted. However, the rejection message suggests there's significant non-authenticated mail coming from the IP address.

November 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that if it's a shared pool, there's nothing to be done other than reaching out to recipients another way or asking MarketingClowns to deal with it. Given the traffic from SFMC and their lack of compliance handling it’s likely a righteous listing and so won’t go away.

December 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise, Laura Atkins, answers that being listed on a blocklist like Spamrl while using a shared IP pool on MarketingCloud can severely impact email deliverability. This is because email service providers often use blocklists to filter out spam. The actions of other users on the shared IP pool can influence your sender reputation, increasing the risk of being blacklisted.

April 2021 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks believes it's spamexperts / antispamcloud, in which case the impact may be seen more at mid-low end european providers and shared hosts.

November 2022 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

Documentation from various sources indicates that a Spamrl listing on a shared IP pool within MarketingCloud significantly impacts email deliverability. A poor IP reputation, caused by blacklisting, can lead to emails being marked as spam or blocked entirely. Shared IPs are especially vulnerable because the actions of all users on the IP affect its reputation. Being listed on a blocklist signals to receiving mail servers that the IP is associated with spam activity. Understanding SMTP error codes is important for troubleshooting deliverability issues resulting from blocklisting. Following bulk sender guidelines and checking IP reputation is important to address reputation issues.

Key findings

  • IP Reputation Importance: IP reputation is crucial for email deliverability, and a poor reputation can lead to emails being blocked or marked as spam.
  • Shared IP Vulnerability: Shared IP pools are inherently vulnerable to reputation issues, as the actions of all users affect the reputation of the IP.
  • Blocklist Signaling: An IP address listed on a blocklist signals to receiving mail servers that the IP is associated with spam activity.
  • SMTP Error Codes: SMTP error codes provide important information for troubleshooting deliverability problems, including those caused by blacklisting.

Key considerations

  • Follow Guidelines: Following Google's bulk sender guidelines is essential to maintain a good sender reputation.
  • Reputation Check: Check IP reputation and engage with blocklist administrators to resolve blacklisting issues.
  • Troubleshooting: Understanding SMTP error codes helps in diagnosing and addressing deliverability issues caused by blocklisting.
  • Monitoring: Monitoring IP reputation and adhering to email best practices can help prevent future blacklisting.
Technical article

Documentation from RFC explains that SMTP error codes (like the one received when blacklisted) indicate the reason for email delivery failure. Understanding these codes is important for troubleshooting deliverability problems, including those resulting from being on a blacklist.

September 2024 - RFC-Editor
Technical article

Documentation from Google answers that it's important to follow Google's bulk sender guidelines to maintain a good sender reputation. Sending from an IP address with a history of spam or abuse will lead to delivery problems. Also shared IPs are more likely to experience reputation issues.

November 2023 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from Spamhaus answers that if an IP address is listed on a blocklist like Spamhaus (though not Spamrl, Spamhaus is being used as an example here), it signals to receiving mail servers that the IP is associated with spam activity. This can result in emails being blocked or sent to the spam folder, depending on the receiving server's configuration.

January 2023 - Spamhaus
Technical article

Documentation from Salesforce Marketing Cloud explains that IP reputation is crucial for email deliverability. A poor IP reputation, which can result from being blacklisted on services like Spamrl, can lead to emails being marked as spam or blocked entirely by receiving mail servers. Shared IP pools are particularly vulnerable to reputation issues, as the actions of all users affect the reputation of the IP.

May 2023 - Salesforce Help
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft explains that emails might be blocked when the sending IP is on a blocklist. This results in emails not reaching the recipient’s inbox. They recommend checking the IP’s reputation using tools like Microsoft SNDS and engaging with the relevant blocklist administrators to resolve the issue.

October 2023 - Microsoft

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