Summary
After fixing an SPF failure and facing continued blocks from Gmail and Microsoft, the recommended steps involve a multi-faceted approach. Initially, analyze bounce messages and logs to identify the root cause, such as policy violations or reputation issues. Check domain and IP reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools, Microsoft SNDS/JMRP, MXToolbox, and Blacklistalert. Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly configured and validated. Contact Gmail and Microsoft postmaster support directly. Gradually warm up your IP address with low volumes of emails to engaged subscribers, maintain a consistent sending volume, and segment your email lists. Regularly clean your email list to remove inactive addresses and keep spam rates low, ideally below 0.10%. Also, be aware that the block might stem from issues with your upstream provider's IP.
Key findings
- Analyze Bounce Messages: Check bounce messages and logs to understand the specific reasons for blocks.
- Reputation Monitoring: Monitor domain and IP reputation using Google Postmaster Tools, Microsoft SNDS/JMRP, MXToolbox, and Blacklistalert.
- Authentication Records: Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are configured correctly and validated.
- Contact Postmaster: Contact Gmail and Microsoft postmaster support directly for assistance.
- IP Warm-up: Gradually warm up IP address by sending low volumes to engaged subscribers.
- Consistent Sending: Maintain a consistent sending volume and schedule.
- List Segmentation: Segment email lists, focusing on engaged subscribers.
- List Cleaning: Regularly clean email lists to remove inactive addresses.
- Spam Rate: Keep spam rates low, ideally below 0.10%.
- Upstream IP: The block could be related to your upstream provider's IP address.
Key considerations
- Root Cause: Identifying the specific reason for the blocks is crucial for tailoring the remediation strategy.
- Engagement: Prioritize sending to engaged subscribers to improve sender reputation.
- Delisting Procedures: Familiarize yourself with delisting procedures for various blocklists.
- Documentation: Prepare detailed logs and documentation for postmaster support.
- Persistent Issues: If problems persist, utilize troubleshooting tools and seek expert advice.
What email marketers say
6 marketer opinions
After fixing SPF failures and experiencing email blocks from Gmail and Microsoft, several steps are crucial to restore deliverability. Experts recommend gradually warming up your IP by sending low volumes of emails to engaged subscribers. It's also important to actively check and address any blocklist listings and work on improving your IP and domain reputation. Monitoring your sender score and overall sending reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS is essential. Segmenting email lists to focus on engaged subscribers, using feedback loops to remove problematic addresses, and contacting Gmail and Microsoft postmaster support directly for assistance are also recommended.
Key opinions
- IP Warm-up: Gradually warm up your IP address by sending low volumes of emails to engaged recipients.
- Check Blocklists: Actively monitor and address any blocklist listings using tools like MXToolbox or Blacklistalert.
- Sender Reputation: Improve IP and domain reputation, focusing on your sender score.
- Monitoring Tools: Use Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS to monitor sending reputation and authentication.
- List Segmentation: Segment email lists to focus on highly engaged subscribers.
- Feedback Loops: Use feedback loops to identify and remove problematic addresses.
- Direct Contact: Contact Gmail and Microsoft postmaster support for assistance with delisting.
Key considerations
- Engagement: Prioritize sending to engaged subscribers to improve sender reputation.
- Data Validity: Ensure the validity of your email list to reduce bounce rates and improve deliverability.
- Documentation: Prepare logs and documentation of the steps taken to resolve the SPF failure for postmaster support.
- Proactive Monitoring: Implement proactive monitoring to identify and address deliverability issues before they escalate.
- Delisting Procedures: Familiarize yourself with the delisting procedures for various blocklists.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Stackoverflow recommends segmenting your email lists and focusing on sending to highly engaged subscribers. This can help improve your sender reputation and reduce the likelihood of being blocked. Also, they suggest using feedback loops to identify and remove problematic addresses.
2 Nov 2024 - Stackoverflow
Marketer view
Email marketer from Validity states that one of the first things to do is check your sender score. A poor sender score is the first point to address, while also looking at the validity of the data you are using to send too. A good sending reputation is critical.
13 Mar 2022 - Validity
What the experts say
5 expert opinions
When Gmail and Microsoft block emails after fixing an SPF failure, the initial steps involve contacting the postmaster through official channels with Google and Microsoft and analyzing bounce messages to understand the specific reasons for the blocks, such as policy violations or reputation issues. Maintaining a consistent sending volume and cleaning email lists to remove inactive addresses also help rebuild sender reputation and demonstrate trustworthy sending patterns to mailbox providers. A specific error message might indicate issues with your upstream provider's IP, not necessarily your domain.
Key opinions
- Contact Postmaster: Go through official channels (postmaster) with Google and Microsoft.
- Analyze Bounce Messages: Check bounce messages and logs to identify the root cause of the blocks.
- Consistent Sending: Maintain a consistent sending volume and schedule.
- List Cleaning: Regularly clean your email list to remove inactive addresses.
- IP vs. Domain Issues: An error message might indicate that the issue lies with the upstream provider's IP address.
Key considerations
- Root Cause Identification: Understanding the specific reason for the blocks helps tailor the remediation strategy.
- Reputation Building: Demonstrating trustworthy sending patterns improves sender reputation.
- Upstream Provider: If the issue is with the upstream provider, contact them to resolve the problem.
- SPF Failure: Failing SPF might not cause a block if DKIM signed - so investigate other causes
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise states that regularly cleaning your email list by removing inactive or invalid addresses reduces bounce rates and improves engagement metrics. This demonstrates to mailbox providers that you are sending to real, engaged users, which helps improve your sender reputation.
18 Jan 2025 - Word to the Wise
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks identifies that the block message `550 5.7.1 {hash}, messages from [a.b.c.d] weren't sent. Please contact your Internet service provider since part of their network is on our block lis` indicates the issue is with the upstream provider's IP address, rather than a domain-based problem.
19 Nov 2024 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
5 technical articles
When Gmail and Microsoft block emails after an SPF failure is fixed, documentation emphasizes checking domain and IP reputation via Google Postmaster Tools, Microsoft SNDS/JMRP, and ensuring correct SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configurations. Maintaining low spam rates is vital for inbox placement. Regularly validating DMARC records helps identify sending issues. Correct SPF configuration is important to avoid blocklisting. Troubleshooting tools should be used for persistent problems.
Key findings
- Reputation Monitoring: Check domain and IP reputation using Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS/JMRP.
- Authentication Records: Verify that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly configured.
- Low Spam Rates: Maintain low spam rates, ideally below 0.10%.
- DMARC Validation: Validate DMARC records to ensure they are working correctly.
- SPF Configuration: Ensure SPF records are correctly configured according to RFC guidelines.
Key considerations
- Persistent Issues: If problems persist, use troubleshooting tools provided by Google and Microsoft.
- Microsoft Guidelines: Align sending practices with Microsoft's guidelines for email senders.
- Proactive Validation: Regularly validate email authentication setups to prevent issues.
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft 365 documentation suggests verifying your domain’s reputation through Microsoft SNDS and JMRP. Address any listed complaints and ensure your sending practices align with Microsoft’s guidelines. Check that the IP isn't on a block list and all authentication records are in place.
27 Dec 2021 - Microsoft 365 documentation
Technical article
Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that to fix email delivery issues, you should check your domain's reputation using Google Postmaster Tools, ensure your sending IP address isn't blacklisted, and verify that your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly configured. If issues persist, use the Troubleshooter to identify the cause.
14 Nov 2021 - Google Workspace Admin Help
How can I fix my emails landing in Gmail spam folder?
How can I fix my Gmail email deliverability issues?
How can I improve email deliverability with Microsoft and avoid spam filters?
How can I improve my sender reputation and inbox placement with Microsoft?
How can I resolve Microsoft Outlook S3140 errors blocking my transactional emails?
How do I troubleshoot and fix SPF and DMARC settings for email deliverability issues?
