Why are my cold emails being blocked by Microsoft?

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that if you're sending cold email, your first thought needs to be that complaints due to lack of permission are killing you. Rather than complying with Microsoft's policies requiring consent, you're trying to slide in by reducing volume. You should anticipate that they will notice and adjust their filters to meet your strategy.

Email marketer from GMass explains that sending to outdated or invalid email addresses negatively affects your sender reputation. Regular list cleaning is crucial to avoid being blocked.

Email marketer from Reddit shares that you must warm up your IP/Domain before sending cold emails. If you send too many emails too soon from a new IP address, mail providers are more likely to block you.

Email marketer from BlackHatWorld forum explains that hitting spam traps (email addresses created solely to identify spammers) can severely damage your sender reputation and lead to blocking by Microsoft and other providers.

Email marketer from Hunter.io shares that if a high percentage of recipients mark your emails as spam, it tells Microsoft that people don't want your emails, and they will start blocking them.

Email marketer from Lemlist explains that sending too many emails too quickly from a single IP address can cause mail providers to block your emails. Control email frequency.

Email marketer from Neil Patel's Blog explains that your IP address's reputation is crucial. If your IP has been used for spam in the past, Microsoft is more likely to block your emails.

Email marketer from Sendinblue shares that failing to properly authenticate your emails using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC can lead Microsoft to flag your emails as suspicious and block them.

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that low engagement rates (opens, clicks) signal to Microsoft that your emails are unwanted, potentially leading to blocking.

Email marketer from Klenty highlights that the use of URL shorteners can trigger spam filters. Avoid them in cold emails, and use the direct URL.

Email marketer from Woodpecker mentions that lack of personalization makes your emails look like spam. Personalize your emails to make them relevant to the recipient.

Expert from Email Geeks explains that if Microsoft is cutting off your ability to send mail out of their network, that's not a deliverability problem, that is between you and the company that you're paying money to. You'll need to ask them.

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that maintaining consistent sending patterns and good sender reputation is key. Sudden spikes in volume or changes in sending habits can trigger Microsoft's filters, especially when combined with cold emailing practices.

Expert from Email Geeks explains that sending emails people didn't ask for, that serves your purposes, it doesn't serve the purposes of the people who have the mailbox. When Microsoft puts your email in the spam folder, that's everything working as it should.

Expert from Email Geeks shares that only the recipient can say for certain of a piece of email is spam, but when you send unsolicited unpermissioned email at scale, many recipients (and the MBPs on their behalf) will no doubt declare your email to be spam, making you a spammer.

Expert from Spamresource.com explains that participating in Microsoft's complaint feedback loop (if available) is important to understand the issues recipients are experiencing and take corrective actions.

Expert from Spamresource.com explains that continuous monitoring of your IP and domain on various blocklists is crucial. Being listed on a blocklist heavily used by Microsoft can directly lead to your emails being blocked.

Documentation from RFC explains that Sender Policy Framework (SPF) records specify which mail servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain. Incorrect or missing SPF records make it easier for spammers to forge your email address, leading to deliverability problems.

Documentation from Microsoft explains that their SmartScreen filter analyzes various factors, including sender reputation, content, and recipient complaints, to determine whether to block or filter emails.

Documentation from DMARC.org explains that Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC) allows you to specify how email receivers should handle emails that fail SPF and DKIM checks. A strict DMARC policy can help protect your domain from spoofing but can also cause legitimate emails to be blocked if not configured correctly.

Documentation from DKIM explains that DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) provides a cryptographic signature that verifies the email's authenticity. Microsoft uses DKIM to ensure that the email hasn't been tampered with during transit.