Hey TrulyInbox user,
IP and Domain Blacklists can severely impact your email deliverability, preventing your emails from reaching inboxes.
That’s why monitoring them regularly is crucial and taking immediate action if your domain or IP gets listed.
A sudden drop in your deliverability rate could be a sign that your IP or domain has been blacklisted. The sooner you identify the issue and request removal, the faster you can recover your deliverability.
Let's understand what is IP and a domain blacklist and how to get it delisted.
What is an IP Blacklist? Why Do IPs and Domains Get Blacklisted?
A blacklist is a real-time database of IP addresses and domains flagged for sending spam.
Email service providers (ESPs), free mailbox providers, and anti-spam vendors rely on these lists to filter out unwanted or harmful emails.
Your IP or domain can be blacklisted due to:
Sending spam (whether intentional or due to compromised accounts)
Emailing contacts that mark your messages as spam (high complaint rate)
Sending emails containing viruses or malicious content
Using purchased or low-quality email lists (high bounce rates)
Regularly checking blacklist status and maintaining good sending practices is key to keeping your emails out of spam folders and in inboxes.
How to Check if Your IP/Domain is Blacklisted in TrulyInbox
You can check for blacklisting inside TrulyInbox:
1. Setup Score
Navigate to your Email Account list.
If your IP or domain is blacklisted, you’ll see a number under the IP & Domain column. This number represents the count of blacklists you are listed in.
Click on the number to view the list of blacklists where your IP/domain appears.
Note: When checking your Domain for being blacklisted, we first look for an A record.
If no A record is found, we then check for a CNAME record. If neither is available, we proceed to check the blacklist status using your domain's MX record.
Get your IP and Domain delisted
If you are listed in any blacklists it's time to take action.
Different blacklists have different delisting portals, but the process followed is mostly the same.
1. Spamhaus Delisting Process
Spamhaus is one of the strictest and most influential blacklists. If your domain or IP is listed, follow these steps:
Check Your Listing: Visit the Spamhaus website and look up your domain or IP to identify the reason for the listing.
Resolve the Issue: Take corrective actions such as stopping spam-like activity, securing your email servers, and ensuring compliance with best practices.
Submit a Delisting Request: Once the issues are fixed, request removal through Spamhaus's online portal and provide evidence of the steps taken.
2. Barracuda Delisting Process
Barracuda Networks maintains its reputation system. If your domain or IP is blacklisted:
Verify the Listing: Use Barracuda Central’s lookup tool to check why you are blacklisted.
Address the Problem: Fix potential issues like spam content, compromised email accounts, or poor email authentication.
Request Removal: Submit a delisting request through Barracuda’s official portal, including details on the actions taken to resolve the issue.
3. SpamCop Delisting Process
SpamCop operates an automated system that blocks and unblocks IPs based on user reports. If your IP is listed:
Understand the Listing: SpamCop removes listings automatically if no new spam complaints are received within 24 hours.
Fix the Root Cause: If spam activity has been detected, address the source—this could be an open relay, a compromised system, or a misconfigured email server.
Check Related Blacklists: If your IP was compromised, also review listings on Spamhaus CBL or similar blacklists to ensure full remediation.
4. SURBL Delisting Process
SURBL focuses on domains and URLs found in spam messages. If your domain is listed:
Search for Your Domain: Use the lookup tool on the SURBL website to check your status.
Request Removal: Submit a delisting request via their official contact form, providing proof of correction.
5. Microsoft 365 Blacklist Removal
Microsoft 365 maintains a blocked senders list to protect users from spam and phishing attempts. If your domain or IP is blocked:
Access the Delist Portal: Visit Microsoft’s delisting page and follow the step-by-step process.
Provide Key Details: Submit your IP address and relevant information about your email practices.
Wait for Review: Microsoft will evaluate your request and remove your IP if it meets its criteria.
6. Other Blacklists
Many blacklists have unique criteria and processes for removal. To ensure delisting:
Check Each Blacklist’s Requirements: Visit the blacklist’s website to understand their removal guidelines.
Demonstrate Compliance: Provide evidence that your email practices align with industry standards.
Monitor Your Reputation: After delisting, continuously follow email best practices to avoid being flagged again.
By staying proactive and maintaining good email hygiene, you can prevent future blacklisting and keep your emails reaching inboxes effectively.
A Practical Process to Stay Off Email Blacklists
Getting blacklisted can seriously hurt your email outreach. To prevent this, follow a structured approach to ensure your email reputation stays clean.
Step 1: Verify Your Email List Before Sending
Before you send a single email, clean your list. You can verify emails by using TrulyInbox email verification credits and avoid sending to bad or risky email addresses.
For new sign-ups, implement a confirmation email to prevent fake entries.
Step 2: Set Up Proper Authentication
Email authentication signals to inbox providers that your emails are legitimate. Configure your domain with:
SPF (Sender Policy Framework) to specify authorized mail servers.
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) to validate email authenticity.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) to prevent spoofing.
Check if your authentication is correctly setup inside Saleshany sequence score
Step 3: Warm Up Your Email Sending Gradually
Don’t start sending bulk emails right away. Instead:
Begin with 20–50 emails per day for a new email domain.
Slowly increase volume over a few weeks while monitoring bounce rates.
Start with the ramp-up feature in Saleshandy and combine it with the warmup tool.
Step 4: Keep Your Sending Volume Consistent
Inbox providers flag sudden spikes in email volume as suspicious.
Maintain a steady sending schedule and segment your list to ensure you're emailing relevant contacts at the right time.
Use TrulyInbox’s daily sending quota to ensure you are not crossing your daily sending limit for any account.
Step 5: Monitor Bounce & Spam Complaint Rates
Regularly check your bounce and spam complaint rates using your email provider’s analytics.
Soft bounces (temporary issues) should be retried but monitored.
Hard bounces (invalid addresses) should be removed immediately.
Spam complaints should stay below 0.1%—if they rise, adjust your messaging and frequency.
Step 6: Check Your Blacklist Status Regularly
Monitor your blacklist regularly with TrulyInbox. Follow the steps shared above to check if you are listed in any blacklist.
Step 7: Ensure Your Emails Are Engaging & Not Spammy
Personalize subject lines and avoid spam trigger words.
Use plain text or lightly formatted HTML emails to prevent being flagged as spam.
Always include a clear unsubscribe link.
Step 8: Stay Compliant with Email Laws
Follow email regulations like GDPR, CAN-SPAM, and CCPA:
Get consent before emailing.
Include your company’s physical address in the footer.
Honor unsubscribe requests immediately.
That is all for IP and Domain Blacklists. Take action now check whether your IP and Domain are Blacklisted anywhere and take action now.