07/02/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/02/2024 14:01
Has your IP address been blacklisted? Or, maybe you've received a message delivery failure notification like the following:
This message was created automatically by mail delivery software.
A message that you sent could not be delivered to one of more of its recipients. This is a permanent error. The following address(es) failed:
[email protected]:
SMTP error from remote server for RCPT TO command, host: mx2.supremebox.com(999.99.99.999) reason: 550 Sender IP (99.999.9.999) is blacklisted at zen.spamhaus.org
If you've received a bounce message like this (Pay close attention to the type of error. Does it include the words "Sender IP" and your email address?), then you might be asking yourself, "Is my IP address blacklisted?" The answer is yes. But don't panic. There are steps you can take to remove your IP from the blacklist and avoid being blacklisted in the future.
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DownloadCybersecurity companies compile databases of IP addresses that send spam. They share these databases with email service providers to protect users from unwanted emails.
IP addresses that end up on these lists are typically flagged by email servers. When an email comes in from a blacklisted IP address, the email is marked as spam to protect the recipient's inbox. This ensures users only receive emails from senders in which they've expressed interest, protecting privacy and keeping inboxes clear of unwanted messages.
But you're not malicious, so how did your IP get blacklisted?
Even if you've never sent a single unsolicited email from your IP address, several things could explain how your IP got blacklisted.
If your IP address gets blacklisted, it will have a negative impact on your email delivery rates. Your messages will be marked as spam, and your marketing campaigns won't reach your customers.
More importantly, getting blacklisted is a reflection of your email marketing strategy. If you're spamming customers, buying email lists, and trying to game the system, you're going to get blacklisted. These companies exist to prevent businesses from contacting customers who aren't interested or haven't signed up for their messaging.
Not sure how you got blacklisted? Here are some things you can look into.
How does an IP get blacklisted? Here are just a few of the ways these companies figure out who makes it to their list of blacklisted IP addresses:
Email service providers such as Gmail and Microsoft use these IP address blacklists to decide what to deliver to an inbox, what to send to a spam or junk folder, and what to completely block.
Some IP blacklists are more important than others. Here are the most popular and credible blacklists that will affect your deliverability.
To check if your IP address is blacklisted, the first thing you need is your email server's IP address. This is different from your public IP address. The easiest way to find your mail exchange (MX) server IP address is by using MxToolbox, where you can look up your address with just your website's domain name. This will scan your website for your email server and give you an 8-11-digit address. If you have more than one email server, you might see something like this:
Once you have your IP address, you can enter it into the IP blacklist websites. These will check your IP address against several blacklist databases.
Here are a few sites you can use to check if you're on any blacklists:
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Once you've checked for any viruses and compromised email addresses, you can now actively remove your IP address from blacklists.
Your IP blacklist report should include the blacklist databases your business appears on. Visit each of the blacklisted websites and request removal. Each blacklist will have their own process for removal.
Here's what the process looks like for the top 6 IP address blacklists.
If you want to implement good email marketing practices in the future, check out Jay Schwedelson's tips in the video below.
If you've ended up on an email blacklist, it's not the end of the world. Do what you can to fix your security issues, scrub your contact lists, and remove your IP address from those blacklists.
If you're still having trouble, learn why your emails aren't getting opened, and how to fix it.
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