Why is Yahoo deferring my emails from new IPs on Linode and how can I fix it?
Summary
What email marketers say8Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Reddit explains that Linode is often used for nefarious purposes. This can impact the overall reputation of IPs hosted on the platform. It may take effort to establish a good sending reputation.
Email marketer from SendGrid Blog shares that Yahoo is known to defer emails from new senders as part of their anti-spam measures. It takes time to build a positive sending reputation.
Email marketer from Reddit suggests that a legitimate website for the sending domain, with clear contact information, helps establish trust and improves deliverability. Lack of a website raises red flags.
Email marketer from Validity shares that closely monitoring feedback loops helps identify and address complaints promptly. Addressing complaints improves deliverability and sender reputation.
Email marketer from StackOverflow notes that having a generic or unrelated reverse DNS record can negatively affect email deliverability, especially with stricter ISPs like Yahoo. The rDNS should clearly identify the mail server.
Email marketer from Mail-Channels discusses that sharing IP space with spammers, or those with poor sending habits, will negatively affect your own IP reputation.
Email marketer from Email on Acid recommends segmenting your list and only sending to active and engaged users. This is crucial when establishing a new IP reputation to minimize negative signals.
Email marketer from Word to the Wise shares using generic rDNS is a common tactic amongst spammers and should be avoided.
What the experts say8Expert opinions
Expert from Email Geeks points out that the reverse DNS setup, with random words, looks like a snowshoe spammer configuration. The lack of a web presence for the sending domain and the naming scheme further exacerbate the issue. They advise changing the rDNS to something like mta1.out.itisonboxes.com and creating a basic website for the sending domain.
Expert from Spam Resource explains that your IP address shares its neighborhood with other senders who may be considered low reputation. It is important that your IP is warmed up and that you are not sending unsolicited mail.
Expert from Email Geeks recommends using hostnames like mail1.itison.com or a subdomain to associate the sending infrastructure with the corporate domain.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that when ISPs like Yahoo are suspicious of a new IP address, they will scrutinize your sending practices much more closely. Following best practices such as proper authentication, engagement and list hygiene are critical to building a positive reputation.
Expert from Email Geeks advises that because human review is likely involved after the postmaster contact, it's crucial to make changes that convince them the mail is wanted. This includes aggressively segmenting recipients, closely monitoring the Yahoo FBL for complaints, and avoiding frequent server spin-ups and shutdowns.
Expert from Email Geeks suggests focusing on sending to engaged recipients, monitoring the Yahoo FBL daily to quickly address complaints, and avoiding sending to unverified addresses to minimize spam reports. Emphasizes that even low complaint rates are problematic at lower sending volumes.
Expert from Email Geeks states the problem is likely due to the IP being hosted on Linode, which has a poor reputation because it's often used by spammers. This negatively impacts the base reputation of the IP, making it difficult to achieve good deliverability, even with proper authentication.
Expert from Email Geeks explains that because Linode is full of spammers, the base reputation will be low. It will take a while to dig out, even if the mail stream is perfectly authenticated.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from RFC states that reverse DNS records are an important part of email deliverability. It allows the receiving mail server to verify the hostname and IP address.
Documentation from SparkPost details that positive email engagement indicates the emails are valued. Use these metrics to segment your email audience to boost sending reputation.
Documentation from Yahoo Postmaster Help explains that temporary deferral errors, like "151.236.220.98 temporarily deferred due to unexpected volume or user complaints - 4.16.55.1," indicate Yahoo is temporarily unable to accept mail from the sending IP. This can be due to various reasons, including new senders needing to establish a reputation.
Documentation from Yahoo Postmaster Help explains that a high complaint rate can lead to deliverability issues, including deferrals. Senders should monitor and address complaints promptly.
Documentation from Spamhaus explains that IPs can be listed on blocklists if they've been associated with spam activity. They explain it is crucial to check the IP's history to prevent deliverability issues