Your email address/ IP address/email domain gets blocklisted when email receivers actively report your IP. It is a safety measure taken by ESPs to make email a safe space for everyone. 

Although it is not desired, you may see one of your email addresses get blocklisted. If you find yourself stuck in that situation, there are a few ways you can fix it. 

In this blog post, let's talk about what blocklist email is and how it works. We have also added actionable tips to stay out of blocklists and the best email practices to maintain the sender reputation. 

Let's dive in! 

Blocklist Email: A Brief Introduction

Blocklist email, AKA blacklist email, is a list of email addresses, IP addresses, or domains identified as sending spam, pornographic, or other malicious content. 

Although the terms' blocklist' and 'blacklist' are used interchangeably, contemporary blocklist providers such as Barracuda, Validity, and Spamcop started using the term email 'blocklist' instead of email 'blacklist.' 

Modern email service providers (ESPs) such as Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, or Yahoo block IP addresses when email recipients report them or the email open rates are very low. 

Email content from phishing sites (and contains URLs leading to malicious content) and emails with misleading content may also get blocklisted. Your email address may also get blocked if you send emails to spam traps (these are email addresses deployed by ESPs to identify and take down spam emails). 

Types of Spam Traps You Should Be Aware

Typo Spam Traps

These email addresses get saved on the email list due to the sender's typo error. For example, if the correct email address is "sattwik@domain.com" and the user accidentally writes it as "sattwik@doman.com."

If the user often falls under typo traps, it is considered a malicious practice, and the email provider flags the sender's address for poor user list hygiene or poor list acquisition practices. 

Recycled Spam Traps

Your email address will fall under recycled traps when you send emails to dormant addresses. These email ids were once valid, but with no use, they are now dormant. These addresses are used by ESPs as spam trap addresses, and they could set off spam filters. 

Pristine Spam Traps

While renting, purchasing, or scraping email addresses, pristine traps end up on email lists. If you buy contact lists from third-party email list providers, the chances of falling into this trap are high. 

Besides all these spam traps, email service providers take users' reports/feedback to blocklist emails. If many users report an email address sending unsolicited emails, the sender will be manually placed on the blocklist. 

Spam Trigger Words

Spam trigger words are flagged as fraudulent or spam by ESPs. Spam triggers are typically words or phrases that over-promise to the recipients, posing as desperate sellers or using strange formatting. 

For example, a subject line written "Like This" can land you in the spam folder. 

ESPs track down these emails and send them to the spam folders instead of primary inboxes. 

Here is a list of the spam triggers you must avoid: 

• Buy
• Clearance
• XXX
• Earn $
• Free
• Fast cash
• Cheap
• Stock Alert
• $$$

These are just a few examples from a long list of spam trigger words. These words and phrases keep changing based on industries and target audiences. 

Smartlead can help you stay away from spam folders and keep deliverability rates high with its custom conditional spam trigger check.

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Is Your Email Address on an Email Blocklist? How to Find Out

Usually, you receive an email message informing you that your IP is blocklisted with the undelivered message. 

However, if you don't receive such a message informing you about blocklisting and you see a sudden drop in your deliverability rates, you should do a blocklist check. 

You can easily do it by going to the websites of popular blocklist vendors and checking them instantly. These platforms use lookup tools to search your IP status and let you know.

You can use platforms like: 

• Barracuda
• SURBL
• Proofpoint
• Invaluement
• Spamcop

Here are some free email blocklist checker tools you can try: Ultratools and MXToolbox. 

How to Stay Away from Email Blocklist?

It is easier to stay away from blocklists rather than get your email address removed from one. It keeps your sender reputation intact, and of course, you don't have to go through the hassle of blocklist removal. 

Here are a few ways you can prevent your IP address/domain/email server from getting blocklisted: 

Maintain Opt-In List

Make sure you don't send unsolicited emails. Taking your recipient's permission is very necessary. Maintaining an opt-in list can be time-consuming, but it reduces the chances of your emails getting flagged as spam. 

Always go for double opt-in forms so your contact lists only contain email addresses that are absolutely certain of receiving your emails. 

Clean Your Email List

Cleaning an email list is as important as curating one. It helps you keep your list fresh and maintain a high IP reputation and deliverability rates. 

Remove soft and hard bounced email ids. Also, remove email addresses that have unsubscribed from your list.

Whitelist Your IP Address

Ask your subscribers to whitelist your IP address. This will reduce the chances of landing in spam folders and higher the chances of emails opening.

Use Email Verification Tools

Email verification tools such as ZeroBounce, Mailfloss, or Clearout make sure you are sending legit emails to legit email addresses. Email verification tools not only save you from email blocklists but also reduces spam rates and spam reports and detect temporary accounts. 

These tools also save time & money and increase engagement rates. 

Be Legally Compliant

It is important to abide by various internet laws such as the CAN-SPAM act and GDPR. You must provide an 'unsubscribe/opt out' button in your emails to stay compliant. Also, refrain from using misleading subject lines and 'too good to be true' offers to lure your audience. 

Don't Buy Email Lists

We know it's tempting to buy contact lists from third-party providers because you get ready-made lists and don't have to manually go through the hassle of creating one. 

According to experts, it is email malpractice, as it can lead your email to the spam folder or, worse, get the email blacklisted. 

Proofread Your Content

Proofreading your emails is necessary for better readability and to bypass the spam filter from marking your email campaigns as spam. Also, make sure your emails don't contain plagiarized content.

You can take help of email copywriter tool to rectify grammatical errors, find plagiarized content, and decrease spam scores.

Conclusion

Always remember that it is easier to avoid getting blocklisted rather than to get a blocklisted IP removed from the list. 

ESPs and blocklist providers make email a safe space for businesses and individuals. Based on your business model (specific industry, emails sent in a day, marketing practices), take preventive measures to keep your IP out of blocklists. 

If you abide by Internet laws and follow legitimate email practices, your IP will remain secured, retaining the goodwill of your brand and sender reputation intact. 

FAQs

What are the most common reasons for ending up on a blocklist?

The most common reasons for ending up on a blocklist include sending emails to spam traps, having high bounce rates, receiving multiple spam complaints, and sending unsolicited bulk emails. Poor email list hygiene, lack of proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and sudden increases in email volume can also contribute to being blacklisted.

How long does it take to get removed from a blocklist?

The time it takes to get removed from a blocklist varies. Some blocklists automatically remove entries after a period if no further issues are detected, which can take a few days to weeks. Others require you to submit a delisting request, which can take anywhere from a few hours to several days, depending on the responsiveness of the blocklist operator.

Why are some legitimate emails ending up in my spam folder?

Legitimate emails can end up in the spam folder due to factors like high spam complaint rates, poor sender reputation, lack of proper email authentication, or content that triggers spam filters. Additionally, ISPs and email providers have their own filtering algorithms that might mistakenly flag legitimate emails as spam.

Do email blocklists actually work in reducing spam?

Yes, email blocklists are effective in reducing spam. They help filter out emails from known spammers and sources with poor reputations, improving the overall quality of emails that reach recipients. However, blocklists are not perfect and can sometimes block legitimate emails or let some spam through.

What's the difference between IP blocklists and domain blocklists?

IP blocklists target specific IP addresses associated with sending spam, while domain blocklists target specific domains. IP blocklists can affect any email sent from a blacklisted IP, regardless of the domain, whereas domain blocklists affect emails sent from or containing the blacklisted domain.

How do blocklists impact email deliverability rates?

Blocklists significantly impact email deliverability rates. Being on a blocklist means that your emails are more likely to be filtered into spam folders or rejected outright by email servers. This reduces the likelihood that your emails will reach their intended recipients, affecting open rates, click-through rates, and overall email campaign effectiveness.