When a customer reports not receiving marketing emails after safelisting, a comprehensive troubleshooting approach is needed. Start with basic checks: ensure the customer checked their spam folder and the email address is correct. Then, investigate server-side acceptance by examining SMTP transaction logs to confirm if the recipient's server accepted the email. If accepted, the issue lies on the recipient's end. Check SMTP error codes for more information. Authentication is key: ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are correctly configured. Also, monitor sender reputation via Google Postmaster Tools, as poor reputation overrides safelisting. Review email content for spam triggers and sending limits (AWS SES). Encourage customers to add the sender to their address book and use alternative email addresses for testing. Examine client-side filters by checking custom rules. Don't forget good list hygiene; remove unengaged subscribers and manage complaint rates. Consider dedicated IP addresses. Also check for rendering issues as it might result in unreadable email.
12 marketer opinions
When a customer reports not receiving marketing emails despite safelisting, a multi-faceted troubleshooting approach is necessary. Initial steps involve verifying basic issues, such as checking spam folders and ensuring the customer's email address is correctly entered in the system. More advanced troubleshooting includes analyzing email server logs to confirm acceptance and checking SMTP replies. Technical aspects like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration and sender reputation (via tools like Google Postmaster Tools) should be verified. Furthermore, the content of the emails should be reviewed to avoid triggering spam filters. Other strategies include using dedicated IP addresses, advising customers to add the sender to their address book, checking email client rules, and testing rendering across devices. Using alternative email addresses can isolate domain-specific issues. Addressing high complaint rates and poor list hygiene can also improve deliverability.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Sendinblue advises checking the recipient's email server logs to see if the emails are being accepted. This can help identify if the emails are being blocked at the server level, despite safelisting.
3 Aug 2022 - Sendinblue
Marketer view
Email marketer from Reddit suggests asking the customer to provide an alternate email address (e.g., a Gmail or Yahoo address) to see if emails are received there. This can help determine if the issue is specific to their domain or email provider.
28 Feb 2025 - Reddit
4 expert opinions
When troubleshooting email delivery issues after a customer has safelisted the sender, experts emphasize the critical role of transaction logs. Examining these logs helps pinpoint where the failure occurs and if the recipient domain accepted the email. If the domain accepts the email, the responsibility shifts to them. However, even with safelisting, high complaint rates can negate its effects, making feedback loop monitoring and prompt complaint resolution essential. Furthermore, maintaining good list hygiene by removing unengaged subscribers remains vital, as poor list quality can negatively impact sender reputation and overall deliverability, even for safelisted recipients.
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource explains that even with safelisting, high complaint rates can override that. Monitor feedback loops and address complaints promptly to maintain a positive sender reputation.
24 Mar 2024 - Spam Resource
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks states that the only fix is to get the SMTP transaction logs to see if the recipient domain is accepting from Pardot. If they are accepting, they have taken responsibility and it is no longer your problem.
30 Nov 2023 - Email Geeks
4 technical articles
Even when a customer has safelisted a sender, emails can still be blocked for various reasons. Examining SMTP error codes in bounce-back messages is crucial for diagnosing delivery failures, indicating issues like full mailboxes or non-existent domains. Poor sender reputation, as monitored through tools like Google Postmaster Tools, can also cause filtering despite safelisting. Microsoft's Exchange Online Protection (EOP) may apply restrictive settings that override safelisting. Finally, exceeding sending limits with services like AWS SES can prevent email delivery.
Technical article
Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools explains that poor sender reputation can cause emails to be filtered even if the recipient has safelisted the sender. Monitor your sender reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools to identify and address any issues.
29 Sep 2023 - Google Postmaster Tools
Technical article
Documentation from RFC explains to Check SMTP error codes to understand why the email was not delivered. Look for specific error codes in bounce-back messages to diagnose the reason for failure (e.g., mailbox full, domain not found).
14 Sep 2022 - RFC
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