Why is my dating site listed on Spamhaus DBL and how to fix it?

Email marketer from Email Marketing Analytics Blog explains the importance of monitoring feedback loops (FBLs) provided by ISPs. FBLs allow you to identify users who are marking your emails as spam and remove them from your list, preventing further damage to your reputation.

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares the conclusion that doing any changes to these confirmation emails won't make any difference and that they have to look deeper into how partners potentially is doing something bad, or if there's a flaw in their logic that urgently needs to be addressed.

Email marketer from Email Compliance Blog explains that ensuring you are fully compliant with email marketing laws like CAN-SPAM and GDPR is vital. Non-compliance can lead to legal issues and damage your reputation. This means respecting unsubscribe requests promptly, providing a physical address, and obtaining proper consent before sending emails.

Email marketer from Dating Site Owners Forum recommends using a dedicated IP address for sending emails. This isolates your email reputation from other senders and gives you more control over your deliverability. But be sure to 'warm up' your IP address!

Email marketer from SEO Chat Forum recommends to ensure that your domain's DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are correctly configured. Incorrect DNS settings can cause emails to fail authentication and be flagged as spam. He advises using online tools to verify your DNS configuration.

Email marketer from Warrior Forum highlights the possibility of user-generated content on the dating site (profiles, messages) being used to spread spam or links to malicious sites. They suggest implementing strict content moderation policies and spam filters on user-generated content.

Email marketer from Webmaster World Forum shares that a common reason for dating sites being DBL listed is spammy affiliate practices. Even if your own marketing is clean, affiliates might be using black hat techniques to drive traffic, resulting in your domain being listed. He suggests auditing all affiliate marketing activities.

Email marketer from Email Marketing Tips Blog shares the best practice to regularly clean your email list to remove inactive or invalid addresses. Sending emails to spam traps or addresses that haven't opted-in can quickly lead to blacklisting.

Email marketer from Reddit r/emailmarketing advises to check your IP and domain reputation using tools like Sender Score or Reputation Authority. A poor reputation can lead to DBL listings, even if you're not directly spamming. She explains you need to actively manage and improve your reputation.

Email marketer from Email Deliverability Blog advises closely monitoring your bounce rates. High bounce rates can indicate a problem with your email list or sending practices, and can negatively impact your sender reputation, potentially leading to DBL listings. He shares you should aim for a bounce rate below 2%.

Expert from Email Geeks explains it's far more likely the sites were listed for serious spam issues, possibly with an affiliate program. After failing to fix the issues, Spamhaus may have requested confirmation of opt-ins before delisting.

Expert from Email Geeks raises the question of what mail is being sent besides the COI message before addresses are confirmed. Suggests considering whether users are blocked from site functionality until confirmation.

Expert from Email Geeks explains that if it’s a DBL listing without a corresponding SBL/IP listing, the problem is almost certainly not the mail that is controlled.

Expert from SpamResource, Steve Linford, explains that the Spamhaus DBL (Domain Block List) is a real-time database of domain names found in spam emails. It's used by network administrators and email service providers to block spam.

Expert from Email Geeks confirms that the COI mails aren’t the problem.

Expert from Word to the Wise, Laura Atkins, explains that if a domain is listed on the DBL, it means email programs should refuse to deliver emails containing that domain. The listing indicates a serious issue with spam or related activities.

Expert from Word to the Wise, Dennis Dayman, shares that maintaining a good sender reputation is crucial for avoiding blacklists like the DBL. He advises monitoring your sending practices and proactively addressing any potential issues that could harm your reputation.

Expert from Email Geeks advises focusing on the issue of 'sends unsolicited email to addresses we control' rather than the COI details. Also suggests investigating how any affiliate program is being policed, as affiliates sending spam to drive traffic could be a cause of blacklisting.

Documentation from RFC Editor details that proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for establishing trust with email providers. Implementing these protocols helps verify that emails are genuinely sent from your domain and reduces the risk of being flagged as spam.

Documentation from Postmark explains the importance of confirmed opt-in (COI) for email marketing. It states that requiring users to confirm their email address before sending marketing emails significantly reduces the risk of sending to unengaged or invalid addresses, thereby protecting your sender reputation.

Documentation from Microsoft Learn shares that understanding how Microsoft's spam filter works is crucial. Factors influencing their filter include sender reputation, content quality, and user complaints. Adhering to Microsoft's sending guidelines can improve deliverability to Outlook.com and Hotmail users.

Documentation from Google Search Central explains that websites with user-generated content should implement robust anti-spam measures to prevent abuse. This includes CAPTCHAs, reporting mechanisms for users to flag inappropriate content, and algorithms to detect and remove spam.

Documentation from Spamhaus explains that the DBL (Domain Block List) lists domains found in spam. Listing criteria includes domains used in unsolicited bulk email, domains hosting malware, and domains associated with known spam operations. Domains can be listed even if they're not directly sending spam but are advertised within spam emails.

Documentation from Spamhaus outlines that to get delisted from the DBL, you need to identify and fix the cause of the listing. This might involve cleaning up your email lists, addressing security vulnerabilities on your website, or terminating relationships with affiliates engaging in spam. Once the issue is resolved, you can request a delisting through their website.