Everything You Need to Know About Blocklist Email: How to Get Rid of It

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;t 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.

Smartlead Homepage

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: 

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 content tools to help to rectify grammatical errors, find plagiarized content, and decrease spam scores.

You can go for the intelligent AI-powered Smartwriter tool to create excellent personalized email copies.  

Smartwriter Homepage

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. 

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Everything You Need to Know About Blocklist Email: How to Get Rid of It

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Created On
December 23, 2022

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;t 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.

Smartlead Homepage

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: 

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 content tools to help to rectify grammatical errors, find plagiarized content, and decrease spam scores.

You can go for the intelligent AI-powered Smartwriter tool to create excellent personalized email copies.  

Smartwriter Homepage

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. 

What’s a Rich Text element?

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

  • dfbvrsg
  • svsv

Static and dynamic content editing

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

How to customize formatting for each rich text

Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

Author’s Details

Sattwik Das

Sattwik is a Digital Marketing professional at SmartLead. He is a dedicated content writer who focuses on juggling words to bring out meaningful content. He is experienced in well-researched and SEO-optimized content creation, content editing, and copywriting for various businesses throughout the globe. His expertise in SEO, SMM, and SMO with a touch of creativity helps businesses grow and maximize their credibility and sales.

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Edited by:

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Frequently asked questions

General Questions

Can I import a CSV file into an already running campaign?

Yes, you can import a CSV file into an already running campaign. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Go to the campaign that you want to import the CSV file into.
2. Click on "Edit campaign" to access the campaign settings.
3. Look for the option to upload a CSV file and click on it.
4. Choose the CSV file from your computer that you want to import.
5. Map the fields and Choose/associate a client. The system will process the CSV file and import the data into the campaign.

By importing a CSV file, you can update the campaign with new leads without interrupting the campaign's flow.

Is it possible to connect Outlook via OAuth?

Yes, it is recommended to connect Outlook via OAuth. OAuth (Open Authorization) is an industry-standard protocol that allows applications to access user data on various platforms, including Outlook, without requiring the user to share their login credentials. By connecting Outlook via OAuth, you enhance security and ensure a seamless and secure integration between your application and Outlook.

How can I connect Outlook using OAuth?

To connect Outlook using OAuth, follow these steps:

1. Open your email accounts module in Smartlead
2. Look for the option to add accounts and select it.
3. Choose Outlook as the email provider you want to connect.
4. Clicking on the Outlook logo will redirect you to the Outlook login page.
5. Enter your credentials and log in to your Outlook account.
6. Follow the prompts to authorize the application to access your Outlook account using OAuth.
7. Once the authorization is complete, your application will be connected to Outlook via OAuth, enabling secure access to your Outlook emails and data.

By following these steps, you can establish a secure and authenticated connection between your application and Outlook, ensuring seamless integration and access to your email account.

Why am I experiencing delays in fetching emails from my ESP to MI?

If you are experiencing delays in fetching emails from your Email Service Provider (ESP) to the Master Inbox (MI), there could be a few reasons for this. It is important to note that fetching emails from the ESP to the MI can take some time due to various factors such as network latency, ESP server load, and the size of the email inbox. Here are some points to consider:

1. Time interval: The Master Inbox usually fetches emails at regular intervals, which can range from 5 to 55 minutes. This interval allows the system to retrieve and process new emails periodically.

2. Fetch replies button: If you need to fetch replies immediately, you can use the "Fetch replies" button available in the Master Inbox. Clicking on this button triggers an immediate fetch of replies from your ESP's email inbox folder.

If the delays persist or you encounter any issues with fetching emails, it is recommended to reach out to the Smartlead support team for further assistance.Please note: 

Filtering or rules: Review any filtering or rules set up in your ESP that could potentially affect the delivery of emails to the MI. Ensure that emails are not being automatically sorted, archived, or blocked based on certain criteria.

Why doesn't categorizing leads, such as "Not interested," stop campaigns for them?

Categorizing leads, such as marking them as "Not interested," does not automatically stop campaigns for those leads. The purpose of lead categorization is to classify and organize leads based on their specific attributes or actions. However, categorizing a lead as "Not interested" does not halt the campaign because the system relies on replies from leads to determine if a campaign should be stopped.

In most cases, when a lead categorizes themselves as "Not interested," they may choose not to reply to the email or take any further action. As a result, the campaign continues until it reaches its completion or encounters other stopping conditions.

It's important to note that when a lead does reply to an email, the system recognizes the response and stops the campaign for that particular lead. Therefore, replies from leads serve as the primary trigger to stop campaigns rather than lead categorization alone.

In some cases,A lead might have to be categorized for various reasons even if they do not intend to reply, such as organizing their inbox or indicating their preference. Such categorization does not automatically stop the lead from receiving further emails in the campaign. In such cases the emails have to stopped manually

What type of business can use Smartlead?

No, you get access to unlimited email accounts and warmup accounts without having to pay per account. This will let you scale your email outbound and without paying a penny more.

Powerful Automated Email Marketing that Drives Sales.

  • All Features Included
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  • Free Warmup Included
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