What steps to take when Gmail and Microsoft block emails after fixing an SPF failure?

Summary

After fixing an SPF failure and facing continued blocks from Gmail and Microsoft, the recommended steps involve a multi-faceted approach. Initially, analyze bounce messages and logs to identify the root cause, such as policy violations or reputation issues. Check domain and IP reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools, Microsoft SNDS/JMRP, MXToolbox, and Blacklistalert. Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly configured and validated. Contact Gmail and Microsoft postmaster support directly. Gradually warm up your IP address with low volumes of emails to engaged subscribers, maintain a consistent sending volume, and segment your email lists. Regularly clean your email list to remove inactive addresses and keep spam rates low, ideally below 0.10%. Also, be aware that the block might stem from issues with your upstream provider's IP.

Key findings

  • Analyze Bounce Messages: Check bounce messages and logs to understand the specific reasons for blocks.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Monitor domain and IP reputation using Google Postmaster Tools, Microsoft SNDS/JMRP, MXToolbox, and Blacklistalert.
  • Authentication Records: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are configured correctly and validated.
  • Contact Postmaster: Contact Gmail and Microsoft postmaster support directly for assistance.
  • IP Warm-up: Gradually warm up IP address by sending low volumes to engaged subscribers.
  • Consistent Sending: Maintain a consistent sending volume and schedule.
  • List Segmentation: Segment email lists, focusing on engaged subscribers.
  • List Cleaning: Regularly clean email lists to remove inactive addresses.
  • Spam Rate: Keep spam rates low, ideally below 0.10%.
  • Upstream IP: The block could be related to your upstream provider's IP address.

Key considerations

  • Root Cause: Identifying the specific reason for the blocks is crucial for tailoring the remediation strategy.
  • Engagement: Prioritize sending to engaged subscribers to improve sender reputation.
  • Delisting Procedures: Familiarize yourself with delisting procedures for various blocklists.
  • Documentation: Prepare detailed logs and documentation for postmaster support.
  • Persistent Issues: If problems persist, utilize troubleshooting tools and seek expert advice.

What email marketers say
6Marketer opinions

After fixing SPF failures and experiencing email blocks from Gmail and Microsoft, several steps are crucial to restore deliverability. Experts recommend gradually warming up your IP by sending low volumes of emails to engaged subscribers. It's also important to actively check and address any blocklist listings and work on improving your IP and domain reputation. Monitoring your sender score and overall sending reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS is essential. Segmenting email lists to focus on engaged subscribers, using feedback loops to remove problematic addresses, and contacting Gmail and Microsoft postmaster support directly for assistance are also recommended.

Key opinions

  • IP Warm-up: Gradually warm up your IP address by sending low volumes of emails to engaged recipients.
  • Check Blocklists: Actively monitor and address any blocklist listings using tools like MXToolbox or Blacklistalert.
  • Sender Reputation: Improve IP and domain reputation, focusing on your sender score.
  • Monitoring Tools: Use Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS to monitor sending reputation and authentication.
  • List Segmentation: Segment email lists to focus on highly engaged subscribers.
  • Feedback Loops: Use feedback loops to identify and remove problematic addresses.
  • Direct Contact: Contact Gmail and Microsoft postmaster support for assistance with delisting.

Key considerations

  • Engagement: Prioritize sending to engaged subscribers to improve sender reputation.
  • Data Validity: Ensure the validity of your email list to reduce bounce rates and improve deliverability.
  • Documentation: Prepare logs and documentation of the steps taken to resolve the SPF failure for postmaster support.
  • Proactive Monitoring: Implement proactive monitoring to identify and address deliverability issues before they escalate.
  • Delisting Procedures: Familiarize yourself with the delisting procedures for various blocklists.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stackoverflow recommends segmenting your email lists and focusing on sending to highly engaged subscribers. This can help improve your sender reputation and reduce the likelihood of being blocked. Also, they suggest using feedback loops to identify and remove problematic addresses.

November 2024 - Stackoverflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Validity states that one of the first things to do is check your sender score. A poor sender score is the first point to address, while also looking at the validity of the data you are using to send too. A good sending reputation is critical.

May 2024 - Validity
Marketer view

Email marketer from Quora advises actively monitoring blacklists using tools like MXToolbox or Blacklistalert. If your IP is listed, follow the delisting procedures for each specific blacklist. Proactive monitoring can help you identify and address issues before they severely impact your deliverability.

May 2024 - Quora
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid advises checking blocklists and working on IP/domain reputation to improve deliverability. Address issues found on any blocklists. Once this is completed use monitoring tools like Google Postmaster tools and Microsoft SNDS to ensure all authentication records are in place.

August 2022 - SendGrid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet recommends warming up your IP address gradually after fixing SPF failures. Start with low volumes of emails to engaged recipients and gradually increase the volume over time. Monitor your sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS.

January 2024 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit suggests contacting Gmail and Microsoft postmaster support directly. Provide details of the issue, the steps taken to resolve the SPF failure, and request assistance with delisting. Include logs and any relevant documentation.

November 2021 - Reddit

What the experts say
5Expert opinions

When Gmail and Microsoft block emails after fixing an SPF failure, the initial steps involve contacting the postmaster through official channels with Google and Microsoft and analyzing bounce messages to understand the specific reasons for the blocks, such as policy violations or reputation issues. Maintaining a consistent sending volume and cleaning email lists to remove inactive addresses also help rebuild sender reputation and demonstrate trustworthy sending patterns to mailbox providers. A specific error message might indicate issues with your upstream provider's IP, not necessarily your domain.

Key opinions

  • Contact Postmaster: Go through official channels (postmaster) with Google and Microsoft.
  • Analyze Bounce Messages: Check bounce messages and logs to identify the root cause of the blocks.
  • Consistent Sending: Maintain a consistent sending volume and schedule.
  • List Cleaning: Regularly clean your email list to remove inactive addresses.
  • IP vs. Domain Issues: An error message might indicate that the issue lies with the upstream provider's IP address.

Key considerations

  • Root Cause Identification: Understanding the specific reason for the blocks helps tailor the remediation strategy.
  • Reputation Building: Demonstrating trustworthy sending patterns improves sender reputation.
  • Upstream Provider: If the issue is with the upstream provider, contact them to resolve the problem.
  • SPF Failure: Failing SPF might not cause a block if DKIM signed - so investigate other causes
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise states that regularly cleaning your email list by removing inactive or invalid addresses reduces bounce rates and improves engagement metrics. This demonstrates to mailbox providers that you are sending to real, engaged users, which helps improve your sender reputation.

February 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks identifies that the block message `550 5.7.1 {hash}, messages from [a.b.c.d] weren't sent. Please contact your Internet service provider since part of their network is on our block lis` indicates the issue is with the upstream provider's IP address, rather than a domain-based problem.

September 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise shares that maintaining a consistent sending volume and schedule is crucial for rebuilding sender reputation. Avoid sudden spikes in email volume and gradually increase your sending rate over time to demonstrate a trustworthy sending pattern to mailbox providers.

January 2025 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests first going through the front door (postmaster) with Google and Microsoft using their respective forms after issues are mitigated. They also mention that failing SPF might not necessarily cause a block if the mail is DKIM signed and authenticated. It could be worthwhile to look deeper before requesting delisting.

August 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that the first step after fixing SPF is to analyze bounce messages and logs to understand the specific reason for the blocks. Look for error codes that indicate the issue, such as policy violations, spam content, or reputation problems. Identifying the root cause helps in tailoring the remediation strategy.

May 2021 - Spam Resource

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

When Gmail and Microsoft block emails after an SPF failure is fixed, documentation emphasizes checking domain and IP reputation via Google Postmaster Tools, Microsoft SNDS/JMRP, and ensuring correct SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configurations. Maintaining low spam rates is vital for inbox placement. Regularly validating DMARC records helps identify sending issues. Correct SPF configuration is important to avoid blocklisting. Troubleshooting tools should be used for persistent problems.

Key findings

  • Reputation Monitoring: Check domain and IP reputation using Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS/JMRP.
  • Authentication Records: Verify that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly configured.
  • Low Spam Rates: Maintain low spam rates, ideally below 0.10%.
  • DMARC Validation: Validate DMARC records to ensure they are working correctly.
  • SPF Configuration: Ensure SPF records are correctly configured according to RFC guidelines.

Key considerations

  • Persistent Issues: If problems persist, use troubleshooting tools provided by Google and Microsoft.
  • Microsoft Guidelines: Align sending practices with Microsoft's guidelines for email senders.
  • Proactive Validation: Regularly validate email authentication setups to prevent issues.
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft 365 documentation suggests verifying your domain’s reputation through Microsoft SNDS and JMRP. Address any listed complaints and ensure your sending practices align with Microsoft’s guidelines. Check that the IP isn't on a block list and all authentication records are in place.

July 2022 - Microsoft 365 documentation
Technical article

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that to fix email delivery issues, you should check your domain's reputation using Google Postmaster Tools, ensure your sending IP address isn't blacklisted, and verify that your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly configured. If issues persist, use the Troubleshooter to identify the cause.

January 2022 - Google Workspace Admin Help
Technical article

Documentation from RFC explains how the SPF records should be configured and validated to ensure you are following guidelines. It also explains steps on checking that they are correct. This is an important step in avoiding blocklisting.

April 2024 - RFC
Technical article

Documentation from DMARC.org explains how to check that you have a correct DMARC record in place, and how to validate it is working. This improves reputation and identifies any potential issues around sending reputation.

September 2024 - DMARC.org
Technical article

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools shares that it is important to ensure you keep your spam rates low, as they explain a low spam rate helps keep your emails out of the spam folder. They recommend keeping the average spam rate reported in Postmaster Tools below 0.10% and avoid ever reaching a spam rate of 0.30% or higher.

November 2021 - Google Postmaster Tools

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