What steps to take when Gmail and Microsoft block emails after fixing an SPF failure?
Summary
What email marketers say6Marketer opinions
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What the experts say5Expert opinions
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Related resources0Resources
No related resources found.