Overview
This section provides important insights into your IP address' deliverability and blacklisting status. Let’s break down the information and explain the key terms to help you better understand what you see on this page.
What Does "12 Blacklisted" Mean?
When you see a "12 Blacklisted" status, it refers to an aggregated value. Here’s a breakdown:
The IP-sending process involves sending emails from multiple senders that belong to different domains.
Each email might be sent via different IP addresses belonging to the respective Email Service Provider (ESP), like Gmail.
These IPs are not always consistent and might come from various points within the ESP’s network.
It’s important to note that while Gmail IPs may appear on some blacklists, this is generally not a concern as these blacklists are often unrelated to email deliverability.
What are the Key Terms?
Let's clarify some key pieces of information shown in this section:
IP Address
The IP Address represents the origination point of the email. It’s essentially where the email "signature" is created and sent from. For most users sending through Gmail, this will show as a Google LLC-listed IP address. If you wish, you can check the origin of any IP address using tools like MX Toolbox.
rDNS (Reverse DNS)
The Reverse DNS (rDNS) lookup is a process that converts an IP address back to its associated domain name. Typically:
A standard DNS translates a domain name (e.g., gmail.com) into its IP address.
An rDNS does the opposite: it translates an IP address back to its domain, revealing where the email is originating from.
This process is crucial because email providers, like Gmail, check the rDNS of the sender to assess the legitimacy of the sending domain.
Importance of IP Address and rDNS
The IP address and rDNS are critical for determining:
If your emails are coming from a trusted infrastructure.
Whether the originating IP is associated with spam or other negative indicators.
Although a blacklisted Gmail IP might show up in this section, it usually does not impact deliverability significantly due to the nature of rotating Gmail IPs.
Interpreting Blacklist Data
By clicking on the Blacklist number in the IP Reputation section, you can view the specific blacklists your IP is part of. Often, these blacklists are not crucial, as they do not affect Gmail's delivery rates. However, SmartLead provides comprehensive information to give you full transparency.
If you see a high number of blacklists, your emails are likely landing in spam folders. Conversely, a low blacklist count correlates to emails reaching the inbox.
Understanding IP Performance
The sender IP's impact on email performance is shown through:
High blacklist count: Greater likelihood of spam folder placement.
Low blacklist count: Increased chances of reaching the primary inbox.
Each IP address is evaluated based on its deliverability history. For example:
An IP with prefix 142 might have a high success rate in deliverability.
Another IP with prefix 209 might show consistent inbox placements.
What is Google's Network and How Does rDNS Affect It?
Most of Google's network resolves to the domain 1e100.net. When emails are sent from Gmail, they originate from this domain, not from SmartLead's sending infrastructure. Here’s how it works:
IP Address ↔️ Domain Name (1e100.net) ↔️ Gmail's Network
If you see an rDNS resolving to 1e100.net, it indicates the email originated from a Gmail IP address. This is expected behavior and confirms that the Gmail infrastructure is sending your emails.
Why Does the rDNS Vary?
You may notice discrepancies in the rDNS data, which can be due to:
DNS Resolution Timing: The point in time when the DNS query was made can affect the result.
Network Caching: DNS data may be cached differently across servers, causing slight variations.
IP Origin Dynamics: Google’s network includes many IPs, and their resolution paths can vary, but they all point back to Google's domain 1e100.net.
Conclusion
The IP Reputation section is designed to provide a detailed look at your email deliverability and any blacklisting issues. By understanding your IP address, rDNS, and blacklist status, you can better manage your email campaigns and ensure they reach the intended inboxes.
If you have any further questions or need assistance interpreting this data, feel free to reach out to our support team. Happy emailing!