Recovery: Email
Your domain is on a blocklist and email is bouncing everywhere.
Being blacklisted is different from a slow deliverability decline. It means a named list, run by an organization like Spamhaus or a mailbox provider, has flagged your domain or IP directly. We find the specific list, the real cause, and file the request the right way.
- We identify the exact list first
- Root cause before any delisting request
- No cost to see the scope
Evidence, then action
How we get you off the list
The evidence we pull first
We run your domain and sending IP through the major blocklist lookups, check Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS if they are already set up, and pull recent bounce messages, since the bounce text itself usually names the specific list.
The triage order
First we identify exactly which list flagged you and whether the block is on the domain, the IP, or both, since a shared IP block can be caused by a completely different sender. Next we look for the specific trigger: a spike in complaints, a compromised account sending spam, or a purchased list that generated abuse reports.
What usually fixes it
Fixing the actual cause first, securing a compromised account, removing the offending list segment, or correcting an open relay, then filing the delisting request through the specific list's own process resolves most blocks within days once the request is accepted.
What we cannot promise
We cannot promise every list will approve a delisting request on the first try, since some blocklists review requests manually and can ask for more evidence that the cause is fixed. We can promise we will file it correctly and tell you honestly what each list requires.
The decision tree we run
If the block is on a shared IP address
we check whether other senders on that same IP caused the issue, since shared hosting or a shared sending platform can get an entire IP listed over one bad sender's behaviour.
If bounce messages name a specific list such as Spamhaus
we go straight to that list's own lookup and delisting process, since each blocklist has its own criteria and its own request form, and using the wrong one wastes time.
If the cause looks like a compromised account
we check for signs of unauthorized sending, such as a spike in volume at an unusual hour or a batch of unfamiliar recipient addresses, before filing any delisting request.
If the list was built through unconfirmed sign ups or a purchase
we check the source of those contacts and recommend removing that segment entirely, since a delisting request without addressing the list itself tends to lead to another block soon after.
How the engagement runs
01
Blocklist identification
We confirm exactly which list or lists have flagged your domain or IP, using lookup tools and the bounce messages themselves.
02
A written cause and fix plan
You get a plain explanation of what likely triggered the listing and the specific steps needed before a delisting request makes sense.
03
File the request, then confirm removal
We file the request through the correct process for that specific list and confirm the domain clears the lookup once it is approved.
Domain blacklist questions
Low open rates can happen for many reasons, including a stale list or weak subject lines, without any list actually blocking you. A blacklist is a specific, named block by an organization such as Spamhaus or a mailbox provider, and it usually causes emails to bounce outright rather than just land in spam.
Spamhaus is one of the most widely used blocklists by mail servers around the world, so it is often the first one worth checking. There are others tied to specific mailbox providers, and the bounce message you receive usually names the one that applied.
You can file the request, but most lists ask you to describe what caused the listing and what changed, and a request with no real fix behind it is often rejected or leads to another listing soon after. Fixing the actual cause first gives the request a much better chance.
It depends on the list and whether the block is on your domain or a shared IP. A domain level block from a major list can affect delivery broadly, while an IP level block on shared hosting might only affect recipients whose mail server checks that specific list.
The blocklist identification and cause analysis are part of a free proposal within one business day. Filing the delisting request and any ongoing email marketing management after that is scoped in the same proposal.
Get identified, then get delisted correctly
Send us a recent bounce message and access to your sending platform. We will confirm the exact list and send a written fix plan within one business day.