What should I do when my IP gets blocklisted during IP warmup?

Email marketer from EmailOnAcid recommends checking your email content for spam triggers before sending. Avoid using excessive capitalization, spammy words, or broken links. Use a tool like EmailOnAcid’s content checker to identify and fix any potential spam triggers that could negatively impact your deliverability.

Email marketer from EmailGeeks forum shares that if initial efforts to resolve the blocklisting are unsuccessful, consider escalating the issue with your email service provider. They may have established relationships with blocklist providers and can assist in expediting the removal process. Provide them with all the necessary information and documentation.

Email marketer from Sender.net shares that being added to a blocklist during IP warming up often points to issues like high spam complaint rates, sending to invalid email addresses, or failing to authenticate your email. They recommend checking your sender reputation using tools like Sender Score and ensuring proper SPF, DKIM, and DMARC setup.

Email marketer from Reddit user shares the step-by-step process to remove your IP from a blocklist. First, identify the blocklist by analyzing bounce messages. Next, fix the underlying problems (spam complaints or invalid emails). Finally, reach out to the blocklist administrator with clear documentation of the steps taken to fix the issues and comply with their policies.

Email marketer from EmailForum.org mentions that immediately identifying the reason for being blacklisted, such as a sudden spike in volume, is crucial. He suggests checking logs for any unusual activity that might indicate a compromise or misconfiguration. Address the immediate cause to prevent further damage to your sending reputation.

Marketer from Email Geeks clarifies that Comcast does not directly send blocklist information to Microsoft. He notes it's possible Microsoft is using an external source of information. alex_brotman looked into the issue and found the IP was added to an internal blocklist after enough spammy volume. He indicates the blocklist is easy to cleanup if the URL in the MTA response is followed and that Ran should be good to go.

Email marketer from Email Vendor Selection recommends focusing on building and maintaining a clean email list through double opt-in processes and regular list hygiene. A clean list reduces the likelihood of sending to spam traps or invalid addresses, which contributes to lower bounce rates and fewer spam complaints, thereby improving your sender reputation.

Email marketer from SuperOffice stresses the importance of obtaining explicit permission from recipients before sending them emails. Implementing a double opt-in process ensures that subscribers actively confirm their interest in receiving your communications. This reduces the risk of spam complaints and improves your sender reputation.

Email marketer from GMass shares that to avoid blacklists during IP warmup, segment your lists based on engagement. Start by sending to your most engaged subscribers (those who have recently opened or clicked on your emails) and gradually expand to less engaged segments. This helps establish a positive sending reputation with ISPs.

Email marketer from Mailjet explains if you find yourself on a blocklist during IP warm-up, the first step is to identify the blocklist. Use tools such as MXToolbox or WhatIsMyIPAddress to check your IP’s status. Once identified, understand the reason for listing by reviewing the blocklist's policies. Then, take corrective actions such as fixing data quality or improving sending practices, before contacting the blocklist to request removal.

Expert from Spam Resource emphasizes understanding the root cause of the blocklisting. He explains that it's crucial to diagnose whether the issue stems from compromised accounts, list hygiene problems, or content issues. Addressing the underlying problem is critical for successful removal and preventing future occurrences.

Expert from Word to the Wise suggests implementing strict list hygiene practices and monitoring engagement metrics. She also explains if an IP gets blocklisted, identify which blocklist it is on and address the reason for the listing. Engage in a dialogue with the blocklist operator to demonstrate corrective actions and prevent recurrences.

Expert from Email Geeks suggests the blocklisting might be due to data quality issues, such as spam traps or incorrect email addresses. She explains that even purchased lists can contain spam traps and if you're recycling sends, the problem may be that the recipients are complaining about the mail, deleting it without reading or otherwise interacting in ways that tells MS the mail isn’t wanted. She recommends reviewing the overall communication strategy to ensure recipients want the emails.

Expert from Email Geeks advises Ran to contact Microsoft for pre-emptive mitigation and to request the IP to be unblocked. She also mentions that SFMC should be handling this.

Documentation from Microsoft details best practices for sending email to Outlook.com users, emphasizing the importance of authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), maintaining low complaint rates, and providing easy unsubscribe options. Abiding by these guidelines will minimize the chances of being blocklisted and improve deliverability to Outlook.com inboxes.

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools explains the importance of proactively monitoring your IP and domain reputation using Google Postmaster Tools. It shares to track metrics such as spam rate, IP reputation, and domain reputation to identify and address issues before they impact deliverability. Spike in spam rate indicates a need to review sending practices.

Documentation from DigitalOcean defines IP reputation as a measure of the trustworthiness of an IP address. A low reputation can result in emails being flagged as spam or blocked entirely. Factors that influence IP reputation include email sending volume, bounce rates, spam complaints, and blocklist listings. Regularly check and maintain a good reputation for consistent deliverability.

Documentation from SparkPost recommends gradually increasing sending volume during IP warm-up. If blocklisted, immediately pause sending, investigate the cause (e.g., high bounce rates, spam complaints), resolve the issues, and then contact the blocklist provider to request removal. Also, monitor reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools.

Documentation from RFC details standards for SMTP, including proper formatting of email headers, handling of bounce messages, and requirements for email authentication. Compliance with these standards helps ensure proper communication with mail servers and reduces the likelihood of deliverability issues.