Why is there an increase in Yahoo FBL reports starting July 6th?
Summary
What email marketers say12Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Reddit user MailGuru shares that the observed increase might be related to Yahoo adjusting its spam filtering algorithms. Messages previously delivered may now be flagged as spam, triggering more FBL reports.
Email marketer from Twitter notes that it's crucial to check IP and domain reputation when experiencing a sudden jump in FBL reports, as a compromised IP or domain can cause a surge in complaints.
Email marketer from EmailMarketingTips suggests Yahoo may have tightened the restrictions on what they consider permission based marketing. Even though you may technically have permission to email, it could be that their algorithm is penalising emails where there has not been recent interaction or engagement.
Email marketer from LinkedIn notes that sudden spikes in Yahoo FBL reports could indicate a compromised sender reputation or a problem with email authentication settings like SPF, DKIM, or DMARC configurations.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares they have seen a dramatic increase since Aug 6 and are worried about getting multiple FBLs for the same complaint.
Email marketer from EmailDudes Forum indicates that some providers may be testing changes to their spam detection algorithms and Yahoo may be one of these providers, causing increased FBL reports as a side effect.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that they are aware and are looking into it, and request samples of duplicate emails sent.
Email marketer from StackOverflow shares that the increase in FBL reports may be tied to Yahoo’s efforts to combat phishing attempts, potentially flagging legitimate emails that resemble phishing patterns.
Email marketer from EmailOnAcid Forums says that Yahoo may be more aggressively enforcing its policies regarding list hygiene, which is causing increased feedback loops as older or unengaged addresses are now marked as spam.
Email marketer from Quora suggests that a recent surge in FBL reports could stem from sending emails to a newly acquired or aged list, causing more recipients to mark the messages as spam.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that the issue should be fixed. They ask to be notified of any continued issues.
Email marketer from Mailgun Help Center explains that Yahoo may have updated their feedback loop reporting mechanisms, leading to an apparent increase in FBL reports. It could also indicate a genuine increase in spam complaints from Yahoo users.
What the experts say4Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks explains that this is likely not an increase in complaints, just an increase in FBL emails due to the new system coming online.
Expert from Email Geeks shares some graphs indicate volume is up.
Expert from Spam Resource explains that increases in FBLs can often be attributed to changes in Yahoo's spam filtering rules or an increase in spam activity targeting Yahoo users, which can lead to more users reporting messages as spam.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that one potential reason for increased FBL reports is a sudden change in the subscriber base's demographics or engagement levels. If a segment of users becomes less responsive or if many new, unengaged users are added, their likelihood of marking emails as spam will increase, resulting in more FBL reports.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools (applicable as a general guide) advises to monitor complaint rates closely and ensure that email authentication is correctly implemented to mitigate deliverability issues which could affect FBL reporting across multiple providers.
Documentation from SparkPost explains that fluctuations in FBL reports are normal and can be influenced by multiple factors, including changes in email client spam policies, seasonal sending patterns, and world events influencing user behavior.
Documentation from RFC 6447 describes the need for standardized reporting mechanisms. Increases in FBL reports indicate either changes in user preferences (more spam reporting) or potential abuse from the sender.
Documentation from Validity (formerly Return Path) indicates that FBL data is a crucial indicator of list health, but a rise might signify a need to re-evaluate list acquisition practices or segmentation strategies.
Documentation from Yahoo Postmaster explains the FBL provides senders with data about user complaints, but a change in reporting methodology or an increase in user-reported spam could cause an increase. Senders should monitor their sending practices and authentication.