Summary
When blocked on Verizon and receiving canned responses, a multifaceted approach is necessary. It involves understanding potential reasons from the error messages themselves and leveraging external tools like SenderScore, Talos, and MXToolbox to check IP/domain reputation and blacklists. Ensure proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and consider gradually warming up new IPs. Proactively monitor your spam rate and feedback loops through Google Postmaster Tools and set up feedback loops with other ISPs. Review your email content for spam triggers and maintain clean email lists. Persistently contact Verizon support for escalation, but also recognize that it may be difficult to get past automated responses. Engage in industry initiatives like whitelisting and proactively monitor your sending reputation across multiple platforms. Finally, adhere to general email deliverability best practices, including list management, authentication, and content optimization.
Key findings
- Authentication: Verify SPF, DKIM, and DMARC settings to ensure proper email authentication.
- Reputation Monitoring: Use tools like SenderScore and Talos to monitor IP and domain reputation.
- Blacklist Checks: Check for blacklisting using tools like MXToolbox.
- IP Warmup: Gradually warm up new IP addresses to build a good sender reputation.
- Content Review: Scrutinize email content for spam triggers and optimize HTML.
- List Hygiene: Maintain clean email lists by removing inactive or invalid addresses.
- Feedback Loops: Set up feedback loops with ISPs to monitor and address spam complaints.
- Verizon Engagement: Attempt to engage with Verizon's postmaster team for specific error details.
- Persistence: Be persistent in contacting support for escalation beyond canned responses.
- Proactive Monitoring: Proactively monitor sending reputation using platforms like Validity Everest.
Key considerations
- Canned Response Limitations: Understand that canned responses may not provide specific details about the block.
- Alternative Monitoring: Rely on external tools and monitoring platforms to gain actionable insights.
- ISP Specific Policies: Recognize that some ISPs have processes that make it difficult to bypass automated responses.
- Industry Engagement: Consider industry initiatives like whitelisting to improve sender reputation over time.
- SMTP Codes: Try to analyse SMTP status codes for reasons for bounces.
What email marketers say
10 marketer opinions
When facing blocks from Verizon and receiving canned responses, several strategies can help diagnose and resolve the issue. Key actions include verifying email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), checking IP and domain reputation via tools like SenderScore and Talos, and warming up new IP addresses gradually. Reviewing email content for spam triggers, maintaining clean email lists, and establishing feedback loops (FBLs) with other ISPs are also important. Persistence in contacting Verizon support for escalation, understanding error messages, and proactively monitoring sending reputation across platforms are crucial for identifying and addressing underlying issues.
Key opinions
- Authentication: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are correctly configured as a baseline requirement for deliverability.
- Reputation Monitoring: Use tools like SenderScore and Talos to check IP and domain reputation for potential blacklisting.
- IP Warm-up: Gradually warm up new IP addresses to establish a good reputation with ISPs.
- Content Review: Scrutinize email content for spam triggers and poor HTML coding.
- List Hygiene: Regularly clean email lists to remove inactive or invalid addresses.
- Feedback Loops: Set up feedback loops with other ISPs to identify and address spam complaints.
- Verizon Postmaster: Engage with Verizon's postmaster team to understand error messages and potential solutions.
- Escalation: Be persistent in contacting Verizon support and request escalation for detailed information.
- Proactive Monitoring: Proactively monitor sending reputation across multiple platforms like Validity Everest.
Key considerations
- Error Message Interpretation: Canned responses often contain codes or references that indicate the reason for the block; understanding these is crucial.
- IP vs Domain Reputation: Check both IP and domain reputation, as either can be a cause of blocking.
- Content Quality: Even with proper authentication, poor content can trigger spam filters.
- List Management: High bounce rates and spam complaints negatively impact sender reputation.
- Limited Feedback: Verizon may not provide detailed feedback, so rely on external tools and resources.
- Persistence: Getting past canned responses requires persistent and repeated contact with support.
- Industry Engagement: Engage with industry initiatives and work towards whitelisting to improve reputation over time.
Marketer view
Email marketer from EmailVendorBlog.com shares that verifying your email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is properly configured. Even with canned responses, ensuring proper authentication is a baseline requirement for deliverability and can help resolve blocking issues.
22 Dec 2022 - EmailVendorBlog.com
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that talking to Verizon's postmaster team might be helpful and provides a link to their postmaster resources.
10 Nov 2022 - Email Geeks
What the experts say
3 expert opinions
When facing email blocks from Verizon and receiving only canned responses, experts recommend a combination of persistence, proactive monitoring, and industry engagement. While it's possible that you may not bypass the automated responses, it doesn't mean a human isn't reviewing the emails. Persistence in escalating the issue is crucial to obtain specific details about the block. Additionally, exploring whitelisting options, setting up feedback loops, and engaging with industry initiatives can improve sender reputation over time and help mitigate future blocking issues.
Key opinions
- Persistence is Key: Continuously contacting support and requesting escalation can help bypass canned responses.
- Human Review: Even with automated responses, humans might be reviewing emails.
- Proactive Engagement: Exploring whitelisting and feedback loops helps improve sender reputation.
Key considerations
- Limited Direct Feedback: Getting specific block details can be challenging due to automated responses.
- Industry Reputation: Engaging with industry initiatives can lead to long-term reputation benefits.
- Proactive Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of feedback loops helps prevent future blocking problems.
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource explains that persistence is key when dealing with canned responses. He advises trying to escalate the issue by repeatedly contacting support and requesting to speak with someone who can provide specific details about the block. He also notes that it can be difficult to get past the initial automated responses.
19 Feb 2022 - Spam Resource
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise explains to explore whitelisting or feedback loops. Even with canned responses, engaging with industry initiatives and working towards whitelisting can improve your reputation over time. Also, proactively monitor feedback loops from ISPs where available, to identify and address issues before they lead to blocking.
15 Aug 2024 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
5 technical articles
When encountering blocks from Verizon and receiving canned responses, documentation emphasizes proactive troubleshooting and adherence to email deliverability best practices. Review SMTP enhanced status codes in canned responses for granular detail on failure reasons. Use tools like MXToolbox to check for blacklisting. Monitor spam rates, IP reputation, and feedback loops via Google Postmaster Tools. Ensure DMARC is correctly set up for authentication reporting. Follow email deliverability best practices, including list management, authentication, and content optimization, as outlined by Return Path.
Key findings
- SMTP Status Codes: Review SMTP enhanced status codes in canned responses for granular detail on failure reasons.
- Blacklist Checks: Use tools like MXToolbox to check for blacklisting.
- Google Postmaster: Monitor spam rates, IP reputation, and feedback loops via Google Postmaster Tools.
- DMARC Setup: Ensure DMARC is correctly set up for authentication reporting.
- Best Practices: Adhere to email deliverability best practices, including list management, authentication, and content optimization.
Key considerations
- Actionable Insights: Even with canned responses, tools provide actionable insights into potential deliverability issues.
- Proactive Measures: Proactive monitoring and best practice adherence are key to preventing blocks.
- Limited Feedback: Reliance on external tools due to limited feedback from Verizon is necessary.
Technical article
Documentation from MXToolbox explains how to use their tool to check if your IP address or domain is on any public blacklists. Even with canned responses, this check provides actionable insights into potential reputation issues.
11 Apr 2022 - MXToolbox
Technical article
Documentation from Return Path (now part of Validity) emphasizes following email deliverability best practices, including proper list management, authentication, and content optimization. While canned responses might be frustrating, adhering to these practices can prevent blocks in the first place.
16 Dec 2022 - Return Path
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