How to Stay off Email Blocklists

Recently, MailChannels CEO, Ken Simpson, gave a talk at WHD.global in Germany on the best practices for outbound spam control.

Web hosts who ensure they are utilizing best practices when it comes to outbound spam control can avoid IP blocklist and other email deliverability issues.

Here are five ways you can ensure your business stays off IP blocklists:

1. Register for Feedback Loops
   Feedback loops are one of the mechanisms by which the email industry attempts to make sure that users don’t receive email they do not want. By registering for feedback loops, marketers can use FBLs to remove bad leads from email lists, avoid their domains getting a reputation for spamming and landing on spam blocklists. They can also ensure mailbox providers don’t send their messages right to the spam folder. Read more about feedback loops and how they work here. 

2. Monitor IP Blocklists
   Spamhaus and other IP blocklists light up when they receive spam from your customers. IP blocklists help you to pinpoint difficult to identify spamming patterns such as “snow-shoe-ing”.  

3. Implement SPF (Sender Policy Framework) in your Outbound Mail Servers
   SPF allows email senders to indicate which IP addresses are authorized to send email on behalf of their domain. Because spammers often impersonate sender email addresses, SPF can help receivers reject messages that originate from servers not designated by the domain owner. Read more about SPF and how to implement it here. 

4. Offer Automatic Software Updates
   One of the most common sources of spam on the Internet is compromised hosting applications such as WordPress and Joomla. If you keep this software up to date, the risk of spammers is greatly reduced.

5. Maintain Accurate WHOIS Data
   The WHOIS system lets IP blocklists and email receivers properly inform you when they notice spam originating from your network. Keep WHOIS up to date, and you’re more likely to get information that can help keep your network clean.