Why am I getting a bounce when trying to push a SORBS delisting through?
Summary
What email marketers say10Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Email Geeks confirms that communicating via a ticketing system with an auto-reply was the cause of the SORBS delisting issues.
Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests the issue is likely the ticketing system is communicating with SORBS' autoresponder, creating a loop. Suggests using a personal corp address without an autoresponder.
Email marketer from AskUbuntu states cleaning up and ensuring the integrity of your mailing lists helps to prevent sending emails to spam traps, which often result in being listed on blocklists like SORBS, thus decreasing the chance of successful delisting request.
Email marketer from Quora says that if sending volume suddenly increases, SORBS may think it's spam. Gradual IP warmup can resolve these issues.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum suggests a possible reason for bounces includes having a poor sender reputation, which SORBS might be flagging. Checking and improving sender reputation could resolve the issue.
Email marketer from MailChimp Community shares that if using a shared IP address, the actions of other users can affect your ability to delist. Their spam activity can cause repeated listings, leading to rejection of your requests.
Email marketer from EmailGeeks discusses that not having properly configured reverse DNS records (rDNS) can cause your emails to be flagged as spam, leading to being listed and the failure of delisting requests. Maintaining proper configuration is critical.
Email marketer from StackExchange shares that SORBS often blocks requests originating from automated systems or ticketing systems to prevent abuse. Personalizing the request and using a non-automated email may help.
Email marketer from Deliverability Blog emphasizes the importance of continuously monitoring your IP's reputation and addressing any issues promptly to prevent repeated blacklisting, which can lead to automated delisting request rejections.
Email marketer from Reddit mentions that frequent blacklisting can cause your IP to be flagged, leading to automated rejections of delisting requests. It's important to identify the cause of blacklisting and prevent recurrence.
What the experts say3Expert opinions
Expert from Word to the Wise, Laura Atkins, advises that proactive IP reputation monitoring can reduce the need for frequent delisting requests. Consistent monitoring allows you to identify and address deliverability issues before they result in blacklisting, potentially avoiding automated delisting rejections.
Expert from Email Geeks suggests that SORBS is fingerprinting the MTA, IP, or rDNS domain and recommends trying from a personal email address not associated with the work one, to use a different sending MTA.
Expert from SpamResource explains that SORBS sometimes requires manual intervention for delisting, especially if automated methods fail. They recommend contacting SORBS directly through their support channels, providing detailed information about the listing and steps taken to resolve the issue.
What the documentation says6Technical articles
Documentation from Microsoft suggests bounces and spam listings can be avoided by using SPF and DKIM records. Delisting requests may fail due to the lack of these records or they are incorrectly configured, so check the records and configuration.
Documentation from SpamExperts explains that if your IP address falls within a dynamic IP range, SORBS might automatically reject delisting requests due to the higher likelihood of spam originating from these ranges.
Documentation from MultiRBL clarifies that SORBS lists IPs based on specific criteria, including evidence of spam activity. If the listing is accurate, the delisting request might be rejected until the issue is resolved.
Documentation from AWS clarifies exceeding sending limits leads to bounces and listing on blocklists, including SORBS. A possible reason for rejections of delisting requests is the continued exceeding of limitations.
Documentation from SORBS explains that automated requests or requests from ticketing systems are often rejected due to anti-abuse measures, as they may indicate potential spambot activity.
Documentation from Proofpoint outlines best practices for email sending, indicating that compliance with these practices can reduce the likelihood of being blacklisted and improve the chances of a successful delisting request.