Why Gmail blocks Emails

Have you been running frequent campaigns and noticed a drop in email metrics? Gmail may be blocking or sending your emails to the spam folder, preventing you from messaging Gmail users.

Even after you follow email deliverability best practices and bulk sender guidelines, why is Gmail blocking your mail server?

• How to stop Gmail Blocking Emails
  • Authenticate email
  • Lower Gmail Spam Reports
  • Organize Your Emails
  • Request Gmail Blacklist Removal

How to stop Gmail Blocking Emails

With over 1.8 billion Gmail users, being the world’s largest email provider can lead to emails being miscategorized as spam. However, there are a few reasons why Gmail blocks or spams emails.

Here are some tips to ensure your emails reach your Gmail subscribers.

1. Sending an email containing your server’s IP address

Email authentication is essential for email marketing success. This will not only improve deliverability but also security and show spam filters that you are a trusted sender.

Create a Valid SPF record with your service provider to define every sending server’s IP address that will send mail on behalf of your own domain. Before sending messages, you should authorize your own sending IP, third-party IPs, and any new IP addresses.

Your email deliverability may be impacted if sent from G Suite or Gmail.

Incorrect DNS settings trigger spam filters and can result in email blocking. Before sending your next email campaign, check your DNS records for proper authentication.

Reduce Spam Reports to Avoid the Spam Folder

Spam complaints affect IP reputation and Gmail inbox position. Spam filters may believe you are sending spam emails to Gmail users if you receive a lot of spam complaints.

Verify your mail servers aren’t sending spam to avoid spam filter issues.

Reduce your email volume and frequency. Keep track of your email volume to see if you’ve hit the 2,000 daily Gmail limit (500 for trial accounts). If you exceeded your email quota, Google may suspend your IP.

Sending more relevant and personalized marketing emails can also reduce spam reports. Use double opt-in to ensure people want to hear from you and not think you’re spamming them.

Check Your Email List for Recipient Email Addresses

List hygiene is another reason Gmail may be blocking your emails. If you buy an email list (don’t) or haven’t cleaned up your list in a while, some emails may be typos, misspellings, or unused.

Email service providers sometimes recycle abandoned emails as spam traps. Internet service providers assume emails sent to spam traps or invalid email addresses are unsolicited. If you accidentally message one of them, your email may bounce, affecting your account, deliverability, and IP reputation.

So, when people sign up for your newsletter, use double opt-in to ensure the email address and domain are correct. Your recipient will not be added to your list if their email address is incorrect or does not belong to them.

Include an unsubscribe link in all marketing emails. Unengaged subscribers should opt-out of your email marketing campaigns rather than report you as spam and harm your domain reputation. Unsubscribe requests should be removed immediately to protect your IP address.

Request Gmail Blacklist Removal via the Sender Contact Form

Because spammers love email marketing. Google has tightened its security measures to protect Gmail users. So Google published Bulk Sender Guidelines to define best practices for email marketers sending to Gmail users.

If you are sending email to Gmail contacts and your account is blacklisted, stop and review the above advice.

After completing the above steps, review Google’s bulk email sender guidelines before submitting a removal request. Failure to do so may result in your account being blacklisted by Gmail, preventing you from sending or receiving mail.