Blocklisting, formerly known as blacklisting, is the process through which spam senders are identified and blocked from delivering content. It involves creating a list of email addresses, domain names, and IP addresses that are associated with spam or unwanted content. Internet providers and external spam services use sophisticated artificial intelligence to recognize recurring patterns in spam and generate filters, which are then used to add senders to the blocklist and protect users from receiving unwanted content.
Companies and providers can create and maintain their own blocklists to filter out spam emails and protect their users. Blocklists work on a negative list principle, where everything is allowed except what has been explicitly added to the list. Senders end up on blocklists if they engage in spamming practices or have suspicious content in their emails. Some common reasons for ending up on a blocklist include sending emails to inactive recipients, a sudden increase in email volume, and manipulating email headers.
To avoid landing on a blocklist, email senders should generate varied and original content, obtain explicit consent from recipients before sending marketing emails, use secure servers and professional software, avoid writing in all caps or using excessive exclamation points, and regularly check their email content for potential spam indicators.
If a sender ends up on a blocklist, they should not panic, as entries can be temporary. To resolve the issue, they should check which blocklist they are on and follow the instructions provided by the blocklist provider to remove themselves from the list. Being on multiple blocklists can seriously affect email marketing efforts and brand reputation, so it is essential to address the issue promptly.
Overall, blocklisting is an important tool to combat spam and protect users from unwanted content, but it requires vigilance and attention to avoid unintended consequences for legitimate email senders.