Summary
When a client is blacklisted by Verizon, experts and documentation highlight the need for a multi-faceted approach. Immediately, contact Verizon support and investigate the specific reasons for the blacklisting, following delisting procedures. Improving overall sender reputation is crucial, focusing on sending practices, list hygiene, and engagement. Use confirmed opt-in, regularly clean email lists, and monitor sender reputation. Email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), list segmentation, and warming up IPs are also recommended. Consider registering for feedback loops and using dedicated IPs. If the IP is new or 'clean' and deliverability on other platforms is acceptable, consider sticking to that IP. If available, explore whether Acoustic can help with a reputation reset.
Key findings
- Contact & Investigate: Reach out to Verizon support, determine the reasons for blacklisting, and follow delisting procedures.
- Reputation Repair: Focus on improving overall sender reputation through better sending practices, list hygiene, and engagement.
- Proactive List Management: Implement confirmed opt-in, regular list cleaning, and sender reputation monitoring.
- Technical Setup: Ensure proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and consider dedicated IPs.
- Strategic IP Use: Evaluate the possibility of sticking to a new or 'clean' IP if deliverability is otherwise healthy.
- Community Loop: Register for Feedback loop with ISPs
Key considerations
- Long-Term Strategy: Blacklisting is often a symptom; a long-term strategy focusing on sustainable sending practices is essential.
- Verizon-Specific Issues: Solutions that work elsewhere may not be effective with Verizon; tailor your approach to their requirements.
- Root Cause Analysis: Identifying and addressing the root cause of the blacklisting is critical to preventing future occurrences.
- Holistic Approach: A holistic approach encompassing technical setup, list management, and engagement is required for lasting results.
- Timing: If the block has only recently come into effect (within a week) then expect it to stay this way until the cause is corrected.
What email marketers say
10 marketer opinions
When a client is blacklisted by Verizon, several actions can be taken to address the issue and prevent future occurrences. These include contacting Verizon support to prove compliance with email marketing best practices and verifying blocked IPs and domains. Proactive measures involve using confirmed opt-in, regularly cleaning email lists, and monitoring sender reputation. Warming up IPs slowly and segmenting email lists to improve engagement are also recommended. Additionally, marketers can monitor sender reputation with tools like Google Postmaster Tools, use dedicated IP addresses, practice good list hygiene to avoid spam traps, and register for feedback loops with ISPs.
Key opinions
- Contact Verizon: Reach out to Verizon support to demonstrate compliance with email marketing best practices and confirm which IPs and domains are blocked.
- Proactive List Management: Use confirmed opt-in, regularly clean email lists, and monitor sender reputation to avoid blacklists.
- IP Warm-up: Warm up IPs slowly to establish a positive sending reputation.
- List Segmentation: Segment email lists to improve engagement and reduce spam complaints.
- Reputation Monitoring: Monitor sender reputation with tools like Google Postmaster Tools to identify and address issues.
- Dedicated IP: Using a dedicated IP address can provide more control over sender reputation.
- Spam Trap Avoidance: Practice good list hygiene and use double opt-in to avoid spam traps.
- Feedback Loops: Register for feedback loops with ISPs to receive notifications about spam complaints.
- Acoustic Reputation Reset: Consider if Acoustic can assist with reputation resets with Verizon
Key considerations
- Compliance: Ensuring full compliance with email marketing best practices is essential for resolving blacklisting issues.
- Data Acquisition: Good data acquisition practices can mitigate deliverability issues stemming from a few bad sends.
- List Hygiene: Maintaining a clean and engaged email list is crucial for sender reputation.
- Monitoring: Regularly monitoring sender reputation and deliverability metrics helps in identifying and addressing issues promptly.
- Verizon Specifics: Deliverability best practice that works for other email providers does not always apply to Verizon.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Litmus recommends using a dedicated IP address for sending emails. This gives you more control over your sender reputation and makes it easier to identify and address any deliverability issues.
9 May 2024 - Litmus
Marketer view
Email marketer from StackExchange explains that when you're blacklisted, reach out to Verizon support and provide the information they need to prove your compliance with email marketing best practices. Also get them to check and confirm the IPs and domains that are blocked.
18 Nov 2021 - StackExchange
What the experts say
4 expert opinions
When dealing with a Verizon blacklist, experts emphasize addressing underlying reputation issues rather than just the blacklisting itself. If a sending stream is poor, filters typically catch up within a week. For a good customer, consider sticking to a new IP address. Understanding the specific reasons for the blacklisting and following delisting procedures is essential. Prioritize improving sending practices, list hygiene, and engagement to prevent future occurrences.
Key opinions
- Address Root Cause: Blacklisting is a symptom of underlying reputation damage, requiring focus on improving sending practices, list hygiene, and engagement.
- Filtering Timeframe: If a sending stream is severely compromised, expect filters to detect and begin filtering within approximately one week.
- Delisting Process: Confirm the reason for blacklisting and meticulously follow the delisting procedures specific to the involved blacklist.
- IP Strategy: For a customer with generally good sending practices, consider transitioning to a new IP address to circumvent immediate filtering issues.
Key considerations
- Reputation Over Blacklist: The primary focus should be on repairing overall sender reputation, as blacklisting is a consequence of that reputation.
- Investigation: Thorough investigation into the reasons for blacklisting is necessary to implement effective corrective measures.
- Proactive Measures: Implement proactive measures for list hygiene, engagement, and sending practices to prevent future blacklistings.
- Strategic IP Use: Consider using new IPs strategically, especially for senders with otherwise healthy email programs, to mitigate immediate filtering problems while broader reputation repairs occur.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains that if a stream was really bad, they'd expect the filters to catch up and start filtering after about a week.
25 Apr 2025 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that being blacklisted is a symptom of underlying reputation damage. Focus on improving sending practices, list hygiene, and engagement to address the root cause, not just the immediate blacklisting.
29 Aug 2022 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
When dealing with blacklisting issues, documentation from Verizon, Spamhaus, Microsoft, and Google emphasizes the importance of adhering to established guidelines and best practices. This includes familiarizing oneself with Verizon Media's postmaster guidelines, understanding Spamhaus's SBL and its delisting process, and implementing proper email authentication using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC as recommended by Microsoft. Google also advises following its bulk sender guidelines, which include authentication, using a consistent sending IP address, and monitoring sender reputation in Postmaster Tools.
Key findings
- Verizon Guidelines: Familiarize yourself with and adhere to Verizon Media's postmaster guidelines to avoid being blacklisted.
- Spamhaus SBL: Understand the Spamhaus SBL, identify the cause of listing, and follow the delisting process.
- Email Authentication: Ensure proper email authentication with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
- Google's Bulk Sender Guidelines: Follow Google's bulk sender guidelines, including authentication, consistent IP, and monitoring reputation in Postmaster Tools.
Key considerations
- Guideline Adherence: Adhering to established guidelines is crucial for avoiding blacklisting and maintaining a good sender reputation.
- Root Cause Analysis: Identifying the cause of blacklisting is essential for implementing effective corrective measures.
- Authentication Importance: Proper email authentication is vital for verifying email legitimacy and avoiding spam filters.
- Reputation Monitoring: Regularly monitoring sender reputation helps in identifying and addressing issues promptly.
Technical article
Documentation from Spamhaus explains that the SBL is a real-time database of IP addresses that have been identified as sources of spam. If your IP is listed, you should first identify the cause of the listing and then follow the delisting process outlined on their website. If you aren't sending spam, it may be due to compromised credentials.
22 Mar 2022 - Spamhaus
Technical article
Documentation from Google explains that you should follow Gmail's bulk sender guidelines. This includes authenticating your emails, using a consistent sending IP address, and monitoring your sender reputation in Postmaster Tools.
16 Nov 2024 - Google
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