Demystifying Blocklists

Blocklist is a cryptic word that can cause panic for an email sender. No one wants to be “blocked” from sending an email. It can be complex, but it’s important to know how blocklists work to ensure that you remain in good standing as a sender. In this episode, we unravel blocklists and how to not end up on one.

Main Takeaways

• A blocklist is an organization that compiles a list of IPs, (potentially domains as well) that they believe to be risky.
• Anyone can create a blocklist — what matters is who your mailbox provider decides to use as their authority for blocking. You could be allowed on one and blocked on another. 
• IPs and domains are typically added to blocklists for hitting too many spam traps, and shared IP addresses may cause you to end up on a blocklist. 
• Do not attempt to delist yourself. Reach out to your ESP for help. They will be able to do more to get you delisted. 
• A bounce rate above 2% may indicate that you’re on a blocklist. 
• The URLs you include in your email have their own reputation and could end up on a blocklist, affecting your deliverability. 

Links

• Spamhaus
• Deliverability Defined 005: Avoiding Spam Traps the Right Way

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