If you care about your emails actually landing in inboxes—not spam or, worse, nowhere—then keeping off blacklists is non-negotiable. Maybe you’re running newsletters, sales outreach, or just need company emails to arrive. Either way, a blacklist hit can quietly wreck your sender reputation, tank open rates, and cost your business real money.
This guide is for anyone who sends bulk email and wants a no-nonsense way to track blacklists, spot problems fast, and avoid the pain of getting blocked. We’re going deep on how to use Glockapps for blacklist monitoring—what works, what’s pointless, and what to do if you find yourself in the red.
Why Blacklists Matter (and Who Should Care)
Let’s cut to the chase: email blacklists are lists of IP addresses and domains flagged for sending spam or other sketchy stuff. Get listed, and mailbox providers (Gmail, Outlook, etc.) start treating your emails with suspicion—or just block them outright.
Who needs to care? - Anyone sending bulk email: newsletters, marketing, notifications. - Teams that rely on transactional emails (password resets, invoices). - Agencies managing email for clients.
If you’re sending tiny volumes from a personal Gmail, you can probably skip this. For everyone else, blacklist monitoring is basic hygiene.
Step 1: Understand What Blacklists Can (And Can’t) Do
Before you go all-in on monitoring, know this: there are hundreds of blacklists, but not all matter. Some are outdated, ignored, or just want your attention (and money). The ones that count are the ones major mailbox providers actually use.
The big ones: - Spamhaus (ZEN, SBL, XBL, PBL) - Barracuda - SORBS - Spamcop
Ignore: - Obscure lists nobody uses. - Blacklists with “pay-to-remove” schemes.
Pro tip: Just because you’re listed somewhere doesn’t mean your emails are doomed. Focus on the important lists.
Step 2: Set Up Glockapps for Blacklist Monitoring
Glockapps is a tool that checks if your sending IPs and domains show up on common blacklists. It’s not magic, but it saves you a ton of time compared to checking lists manually.
How to Get Started
- Sign up and log in.
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They offer a free trial, but most serious users will end up on a paid plan.
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Add your domain(s) and sending IP(s).
- If you’re using a big ESP (like Mailchimp), you probably don’t control the sending IP; focus on your domain.
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If you run your own mail server, add the actual sending IP.
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Set up automatic checks.
- Daily or weekly is plenty for most people.
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Glockapps will email you if something changes.
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Review your first report.
- You’ll get a list of blacklists, with clear “listed” or “not listed” status.
- It also tells you which blacklists are widely used, so you can filter out the noise.
Honest take: Glockapps is handy because it checks dozens of lists at once and tells you which ones matter. But don’t obsess over every yellow alert—most don’t affect real-world deliverability.
Step 3: Interpret Blacklist Alerts (Don’t Panic)
Getting an alert that you’re “blacklisted” sounds scary. Here’s how to sanity-check what you’re seeing:
- Is it a major blacklist?
Only worry if it’s Spamhaus, Barracuda, SORBS, or another big name. - Are your emails actually getting blocked?
Check your bounce logs and inbox placement. Sometimes, you’re listed but it has zero impact. - Is it your domain or your IP?
If you use a shared IP (common with ESPs), you might be collateral damage. Your ESP should handle this.
What to ignore:
Most obscure blacklists. If you’ve never heard of it, mailbox providers probably haven’t, either.
Step 4: Investigate and Remediate If You’re Listed
Okay, so you’re on a real blacklist. Here’s the playbook:
1. Diagnose the Root Cause
Ask yourself: - Did you send a campaign with a bad list or questionable content? - Have you seen spikes in complaints or bounces? - Is your authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) set up correctly?
Glockapps shows deliverability and authentication issues, but you’ll also want to check your ESP’s dashboard or mail server logs.
2. Fix the Issue
- If it’s complaints: Remove problem recipients, clean your list, stop whatever caused complaints.
- If it’s technical: Check DNS records, fix any misconfigurations.
- If it’s content: Ditch spammy language, make your opt-outs easy to find.
3. Request Delisting
Most reputable blacklists let you request removal—after you’ve fixed the problem.
- Go to the blacklist’s site (Glockapps links to the right place).
- Fill out the form, explain what you fixed.
- Be polite. Don’t argue. Assume a human is reading.
Warning:
Some blacklists (especially the big ones) will re-list you if you don’t actually fix the root problem. Don’t just ask for delisting without changing anything.
Step 5: Keep Your Sender Reputation Clean
Blacklist monitoring is just one part of sender reputation. Here’s what else actually works:
- Authenticate everything: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Glockapps checks these for you.
- Use confirmed opt-in: Don’t add people who didn’t ask for your emails.
- Clean your list regularly: Remove bounces and unengaged users.
- Send stuff people actually want: Boring but true. High engagement = better deliverability.
- Monitor reputation: Glockapps includes inbox placement and spam tests—use them, but don’t overthink minor dips.
Don’t fall for gimmicks:
You don’t need to “warm up” your domain for months, buy expensive “reputation repair” services, or obsess over every minor blacklist. Focus on the basics and you’ll be fine.
Quick FAQ: Glockapps and Blacklists
Q: Will Glockapps keep me off blacklists?
Nope. It just tells you when there’s a problem—you still have to fix it.
Q: Should I pay for Glockapps?
If you send bulk or business-critical email, it’s worth it for peace of mind. If you’re just dabbling, the free tools may be enough.
Q: Is Glockapps perfect?
No tool is. Sometimes blacklists change, or Glockapps misses a list. But it’s a solid, practical tool for most senders.
Keep It Simple (And Don’t Get Paranoid)
Blacklist monitoring doesn’t need to be a full-time job. Set up Glockapps, watch for real alerts, and focus on sending email people actually want. If you get listed, fix the problem, ask for delisting, and move on.
Chasing every obscure blacklist or “deliverability hack” is a waste of your time. Stick to the basics, check your reports regularly, and keep iterating. Your sender reputation will take care of itself.