Summary
Beyond Spamhaus, email marketers should monitor a range of blocklists and reputation systems to ensure optimal deliverability. Blocklists like Spamcop, Barracuda Reputation Block List (BRBL), URIBL, Invaluement, AbuseIPDB, and UCEPROTECT Level 1 are frequently mentioned, each with unique criteria for listing. The importance of tools such as Sender Score and ReturnPath Certification for assessing and improving sender reputation is highlighted. Furthermore, feedback loops from ISPs offer direct insights into recipient complaints, and a SORBS listing is a strong indicator of poor list hygiene. The existence of internal ISP blocklists underscores the need for comprehensive monitoring. Ultimately, the most relevant blocklists are those actively used by the ISPs serving the target audience, and using monitoring tools like MXToolbox can aid in proactively identifying and addressing potential issues.
Key findings
- Spamhaus is Key: Spamhaus is consistently recognized as the most critical blocklist.
- Multiple Blocklists: Various blocklists provide deliverability insights: Spamcop, BRBL, URIBL, Invaluement, AbuseIPDB, and UCEPROTECT.
- Reputation Matters: Sender Score and ReturnPath Certification are valuable for reputation management.
- Audience Focus: The most relevant blocklists depend on the ISPs used by the target audience.
- Feedback Loops: Feedback loops offer direct insights into recipient complaints.
- UCEPROTECT Impact: UCEPROTECT Level 1 can significantly impact deliverability.
- SORBS Meaning: SORBS Listings signal poor list hygiene.
Key considerations
- ISP Relevance: Prioritize blocklists used by your target audience's ISPs.
- Internal Blocklists: Be aware of internal ISP blocklists that may not be publicly available.
- Monitoring is Key: Use monitoring tools to proactively identify and address blocklist issues.
- Clean Reputation: Maintain a clean sending reputation to minimize the risk of being listed.
- Log Analysis: Analyze email logs if listed
- Community Reporting: Be aware of the impact listing on community-based lists.
What email marketers say
15 marketer opinions
Besides Spamhaus, email marketers should monitor a variety of blocklists and reputation systems to maintain good deliverability. While some lists like Spamcop, Barracuda Reputation Block List (BRBL), URIBL, Invaluement, and Abuseat are specifically mentioned, the importance of monitoring internal ISP blocklists and tools like Sender Score and ReturnPath Certification is also highlighted. Additionally, SORBS listings are a signal for poor list hygiene, and IVM helps determine issues with contact acquisition. Feedback loops (FBLs) provide direct insights into recipient complaints. Using blocklist monitoring tools like MXToolbox are also recommended.
Key opinions
- Spamhaus is Primary: Spamhaus remains the most critical blocklist to monitor.
- Variety of Blocklists Matter: Several blocklists provide insights into deliverability issues, including Spamcop, BRBL, URIBL, Invaluement, and Abuseat.
- Reputation Systems: Sender Score and ReturnPath Certification are valuable for assessing and improving sender reputation.
- SORBS Listing Meaning: A SORBS listing indicates poor data collection and list hygiene practices.
- Feedback Loops: Monitoring feedback loops from ISPs offers direct insights into recipient complaints.
- IVM Importance: IVM is useful to detect contact aquisition issues.
Key considerations
- Relevance of Blocklists: Focus on blocklists that are actively used by the ISPs your target audience uses.
- Internal ISP Blocklists: Be aware that ISPs may have proprietary internal blocklists.
- Monitoring Tools: Use blocklist monitoring tools to proactively identify and address potential listing issues.
- Dedicated IPs: Investigate if dedicated IPs are listed
- Proactive approach: Maintain a clean sending reputation
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks comments they pay attention to Spamhaus, but use others as an indicator of bad lists and practices. If a customer has dedicated IPs and one is listed, they investigate.
14 Mar 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum suggests monitoring the URIBL blocklists, particularly for links in your emails. Being listed on URIBL indicates a potential issue with the URLs included in your messages and can impact deliverability.
1 Jul 2022 - Email Marketing Forum
What the experts say
2 expert opinions
Beyond Spamhaus, UCEPROTECT Level 1 is important to monitor due to its potential for significant deliverability issues. Understanding which blocklists impact your specific target audience and their ISPs is also critical, focusing on those actively used by the mail providers your recipients use.
Key opinions
- UCEPROTECT Impact: UCEPROTECT Level 1 can cause considerable deliverability problems.
- Targeted Relevance: The relevance of a blocklist depends on its usage by your target audience's ISPs.
Key considerations
- UCEPROTECT Monitoring: Actively monitor UCEPROTECT Level 1 to avoid unintended blocking.
- Audience-Specific Blocklists: Identify and prioritize the blocklists used by the mail providers of your recipients.
Expert view
Expert from SpamResource explains that while Spamhaus is paramount, UCEPROTECT Level 1 can cause significant deliverability issues due to its wide-reaching blocking policies. Monitoring this list is crucial to avoid collateral damage.
13 Apr 2024 - SpamResource
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise discusses the importance of understanding the specific blocklists that impact your target audience's ISPs. They recommends focusing on lists that are actively used by the mail providers your recipients use, as relevance is key.
23 Nov 2021 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
5 technical articles
Beyond Spamhaus, several documentation sources highlight the importance of various blocklists. Microsoft uses a variety of blocklists internally and externally, emphasizing the need for a clean sending reputation. Spamcop relies on user reports to identify spam sources. The Barracuda Reputation Block List (BRBL) is a real-time database of known spammers. AbuseIPDB is a community-based list driven by abuse reports. Invaluement lists IP ranges involved in direct spamming activity, recommending email log analysis.
Key findings
- Microsoft's Approach: Microsoft uses multiple blocklists and stresses maintaining a clean reputation.
- Spamcop's User-Driven Data: Spamcop relies on user reports to identify spam sources.
- BRBL's Real-time Database: Barracuda maintains a real-time database of known spamming IP addresses.
- AbuseIPDB's Community Focus: AbuseIPDB is a community-based blocklist based on reported abuse.
- Invaluement's Range Blocking: Invaluement lists IP ranges engaged in direct spamming.
Key considerations
- Sending Reputation: Prioritize maintaining a clean sending reputation to avoid most blocklists.
- User Reports: Minimize user spam reports to avoid listing on Spamcop.
- Spamming Prevention: Implement measures to prevent spamming activity from your IP ranges.
- Log Analysis: Analyze email logs to pinpoint the source of spamming activity.
- Community-Based: Be aware listing on AbuseIPDB will be impacted by others reports
Technical article
Documentation from AbuseIPDB explains that it is a community-based blocklist that compiles reports of abusive IP addresses. While the impact can vary, being listed on AbuseIPDB indicates a pattern of reported abuse and can affect deliverability, especially with systems that heavily rely on community-sourced data.
3 Jan 2022 - AbuseIPDB
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft Learn highlights that Exchange Online uses a variety of internal and external blocklists. While specific lists aren't named beyond Spamhaus, it emphasizes the importance of maintaining a clean sending reputation to avoid being listed on any reputable blocklist that Microsoft's filtering system uses.
12 Apr 2023 - Microsoft Learn
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