What to do if listed in Spamhaus and other blacklists?

Summary

If your IP or domain ends up on a blacklist, the first action is to verify the listing and understand the specific blacklist's impact, as not all blacklists are equally important. Major blacklists like Spamhaus require immediate attention. Next, identify the reason for the listing (e.g., compromised server, spamming activity) by analyzing bounce messages and utilizing tools like MXToolbox and Spamhaus's Data Query Tool. Then, implement the blacklist's specific delisting procedure, keeping in mind that delisting isn't guaranteed. Prevent future occurrences by maintaining strong email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), keeping software updated, employing a dedicated IP with proper warm-up, and diligently cleaning email lists to avoid spam traps. Continuous monitoring of your sending reputation and fostering authentic engagement from recipients are also crucial for long-term deliverability.

Key findings

  • Verify and Understand: Verify the blacklist listing and understand its impact on deliverability.
  • Identify the Cause: Pinpoint the reason for blacklisting by analyzing bounce messages and using diagnostic tools.
  • Follow Delisting Process: Adhere to each blacklist's unique delisting procedure.
  • Implement Preventive Measures: Maintain strong email authentication, keep software updated, and clean email lists.
  • Monitor Sending Reputation: Continuously monitor your sending reputation and foster authentic engagement.

Key considerations

  • Email Authentication: Implement and maintain SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for your domain.
  • IP Warm-up: Gradually warm up new IP addresses to establish a positive sending reputation.
  • Spam Trap Avoidance: Use double opt-in and regularly clean your email list to avoid spam traps.
  • Dedicated IP: Consider using a dedicated IP address to isolate your sending reputation.
  • Monitoring Tools: Utilize blacklist monitoring services to proactively track your IP and domain health.
  • Know black list types: Know that there are different types of blacklists, such as reputation-based, complaint-based, and honeypot-based, with different impacts.

What email marketers say
9Marketer opinions

If listed on Spamhaus or other blacklists, a multi-faceted approach is required. First, monitor your IP and domain reputation using dedicated tools. Understand the specific blacklist you're listed on, as each has its own removal process. Focus on major blacklists like Spamhaus, as they have the most significant impact on deliverability. Employ strategies like using a dedicated IP address, warming up new IPs gradually, and avoiding spam traps through double opt-in and list cleaning. Analyze bouncebacks to identify blacklist issues, and actively work to improve your sender reputation. Smaller blacklists may be less impactful, so prioritize accordingly.

Key opinions

  • Monitoring is Key: Proactive monitoring of IP and domain reputation is crucial for early detection of blacklisting.
  • Each Blacklist Differs: Each blacklist has its own removal process, requiring tailored action.
  • Impact Varies: The impact of blacklisting depends on the specific blacklist; focus on major lists.
  • Prevention is Important: Dedicated IPs, IP warm-up, and avoiding spam traps reduce the risk of future blacklistings.
  • Sender Reputation Matters: Your sender reputation affects whether you get blacklisted. Good engagement from your recipients is key.

Key considerations

  • List Cleaning: Regularly clean your email lists to remove inactive or problematic addresses to avoid spam traps.
  • IP Strategy: Consider using a dedicated IP address and follow a gradual warm-up process for new IPs.
  • Bounce Analysis: Carefully analyze bounceback messages to identify the causes of delivery failures, including blacklisting.
  • Reputation Building: Focus on building and maintaining a positive sender reputation by adhering to email marketing best practices.
  • Removal Process: Be prepared to follow each blacklist's specific removal process, which may involve verification and demonstrating issue resolution.
Marketer view

Email marketer from an Email Deliverability Blog advises gradually warming up new IP addresses by slowly increasing sending volume. This helps establish a positive sending reputation with ISPs and reduces the likelihood of being flagged as a spammer and added to blacklists.

August 2024 - Email Deliverability Blog
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet recommends using monitoring tools to proactively track your IP and domain reputation, enabling you to identify and address blacklisting issues before they significantly impact deliverability. They also emphasize the importance of maintaining clean email lists and adhering to email marketing best practices.

September 2023 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that Spamhaus bounces will resolve themselves and suggests looking into other blacklists.

November 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps advocates for using blacklist monitoring services to proactively track your IP and domain health. These services alert you to blacklistings as they occur, allowing you to take immediate action to mitigate the impact on deliverability.

October 2021 - GlockApps
Marketer view

Email marketer from an Email Marketing Forum suggests using a dedicated IP address to build and maintain a positive sending reputation. This allows you to isolate your sending practices from those of shared IP users, reducing the risk of being blacklisted due to their activities.

April 2023 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sendinblue shares that each blacklist has its own removal process. They recommend identifying the specific blacklist, understanding their criteria for listing, and following their removal instructions, which may involve filling out a form, verifying your identity, or demonstrating that you've resolved the issue.

December 2024 - Sendinblue
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus explains that avoiding spam traps is crucial. They recommend using double opt-in, regularly cleaning your email list, and ensuring that your signup forms are not attracting bots or fake email addresses.

August 2024 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains that the impact varies based on the blacklist. Listing on major lists like Spamhaus can cause significant deliverability issues, while smaller lists might have negligible impact. They recommend focusing on the major lists and understanding why you were listed in the first place.

July 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Talos Intelligence shares that it is important to check your sender reputation, and fix any that are causing blacklisting.

July 2021 - Talos Intelligence

What the experts say
7Expert opinions

When addressing blacklisting, begin by verifying the listing's accuracy using tools like multirbl.valli.org/lookup/. Understand that not all blacklists are equal; some have minimal impact, while others significantly affect deliverability. Prioritize major lists and those causing bounces. Focus on improving your sending reputation by ensuring consistent sending volume and authentic engagement. Analyze bounceback messages to pinpoint specific blacklisting issues and their causes. Use reputation monitoring tools to proactively identify and address negative indicators. Understand the different types of blacklists to tailor your response effectively. Remember that regional lists typically only affect deliverability in specific geographic areas.

Key opinions

  • Verify Listing: Always verify if you are actually listed on the reported blacklist using reliable tools.
  • Blacklist Impact Varies: The impact of a blacklist listing depends on its usage and relevance; focus on the most impactful ones.
  • Sending Reputation: Consistent volume and genuine engagement build and maintain a good sending reputation.
  • Bounceback Analysis: Analyzing bounceback messages can reveal specific blacklisting issues and the involved blacklists.
  • Proactive Monitoring: Continuously monitor your sending reputation to identify and address negative indicators promptly.

Key considerations

  • Blacklist Types: Understand the different types of blacklists (reputation-based, complaint-based, honeypot-based) to tailor your remediation strategy.
  • Bounce Rate: Pay attention to your bounce rate, as this is an important metric for determining if a blacklist listing is affecting you.
  • Regional Lists: Be aware that regional blacklists mainly affect deliverability within specific geographic areas.
  • Tool Selection: Use reliable tools to check your blacklist status and monitor your sending reputation.
  • Engagement Matters: Encourage authentic engagement from recipients to improve your sending reputation and reduce the risk of blacklisting.
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource advocates for continuous monitoring of your sending reputation using tools and services that track IP and domain health. They recommend proactively addressing any negative indicators and implementing best practices to improve your reputation over time.

September 2024 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise shares that analyzing bounceback messages is crucial for identifying blacklist issues. The bounce messages often contain specific information about which blacklist is causing the delivery failure, enabling targeted remediation efforts.

February 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that consistent sending volume, and authentic engagement from your recipients helps show good sending reputation which helps you avoid blacklists in the first place.

January 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares that most blacklists aren't used widely, but some correlate with actual issues. Marketer Vytis Marciulionis only suggests inspecting Surgate, and recommends using Glock Apps to find out about blacklists accuracy.

June 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that the metric for whether a list matters is if getting bounces from it. Outside of mail being affected, there are maybe 6 lists that matter and anything with a non .com/.net/.org TLD is regional, also visiting the website tells you a lot about the list.

July 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares to check if actually listed on Spamhaus using multirbl.valli.org/lookup/ while they clean up data.

May 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains the importance of understanding the different types of blacklists (e.g., reputation-based, complaint-based, honeypot-based) and their respective impact on email deliverability. They advise prioritizing removal from high-impact lists that are commonly used by ISPs.

March 2023 - Spam Resource

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

If listed on Spamhaus or other blacklists, the first step is to identify the reason for the listing, often through tools like MXToolbox or Spamhaus's Data Query Tool. Fix the underlying issue, such as a compromised server or spamming activity. Then, request delisting through the specific blacklist's website, understanding that delisting is not guaranteed. Prevent future listings by maintaining proper SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records, keeping software updated, and monitoring outbound email activity. Analyzing bounce messages can also help pinpoint blacklisting issues.

Key findings

  • Identify and Fix: Identify the reason for the listing and fix the underlying issue.
  • Use Tools: Utilize tools like MXToolbox and Spamhaus's Data Query Tool to check blacklist status.
  • Request Delisting: Request delisting through the specific blacklist's website.
  • No Guarantee: Delisting is not guaranteed and depends on the severity and resolution of the issue.
  • Bounce Analysis: Analyzing bounce messages can pinpoint blacklisting issues.

Key considerations

  • SPF, DKIM, DMARC: Maintain proper SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.
  • Software Updates: Keep software updated to prevent vulnerabilities.
  • Monitor Activity: Monitor outbound email activity to prevent spamming incidents.
  • Prevention Focus: Focus on preventing future blacklisting incidents through proactive measures.
  • Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot deliverability problems by interpreting bounce codes and error messages.
Technical article

Documentation from MXToolbox shares that you can use their tool to check if your IP or domain is listed on various blacklists. It identifies the listed blacklists and provides links to the respective delisting procedures.

September 2023 - MXToolbox
Technical article

Documentation from Spamhaus explains the delisting process, which involves identifying the reason for listing, fixing the issue (e.g., compromised server, spamming activity), and then requesting delisting through their website. They emphasize that delisting is not guaranteed and depends on the severity and resolution of the issue.

May 2024 - Spamhaus
Technical article

Documentation from Spamhaus describes the Data Query Tool, which allows you to check the status of an IP address or domain on their various blocklists. It provides details about the reason for listing and instructions on how to proceed with delisting.

October 2021 - Spamhaus
Technical article

Documentation from DigitalOcean focuses on prevention, highlighting practices like maintaining proper SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records, keeping software updated, and monitoring outbound email activity to prevent future blacklisting incidents.

July 2022 - DigitalOcean
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft details how to interpret bounce messages. They suggest analyzing bounce codes and error messages to identify the reasons for delivery failures, including potential blacklisting issues. This helps in troubleshooting and resolving deliverability problems.

September 2022 - Microsoft