Microsoft Deliverability

I am currently ~35 days into IP warming. Since the start I've had issues with Microsoft. Even when sending ~137 emails a day to highly engaged openers I was marked as spam. Perhaps I moved to quickly with IP warming?

I've reeled back to only send to people who opened every email for over 3 months (supposably) before switching email platforms. I'm still being marked as spam. My complaint rate is 0 percent.

This is the soft bounce error I keep getting from microsoft in my message activity log:

550 5.7.1 {hash}, messages from [a.b.c.d] weren't sent. Please contact your Internet service provider since part of their network is on our block list (S3150). You can also refer your provider to http://mail.live.com/mail/troubleshooting.aspx#errors. [Name=Protocol Filter Agent][AGT=PFA][MxId={hash}] [{base64} {hash}:31:50.583Z {hash}]

I've reached out to microsoft several times and this is what they get back with:

"The connection and throttling limitation against your IP has been set to a more appropriate level based on your reputation. Please note that this does not guarantee that your mail will be delivered to a user’s inbox, only that it will no longer be subject to the previous thresholds unless your IP/domain reputation degrades (or) until it exceeds its revised thresholds."

I'm at a loss for what to do. Should I scale way back and start IP warming again from 10 emails?

This is my Microsoft SNDS email performance page:

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Comments

TedScott

The error and the response do not match.

Have you checked your IP(s) to see of they are on any block/black lists? Have you reached out to Braze?

DavidO

Hi @klfoulk16, sorry I missed this question earlier. I work in lifecycle marketing at Microsoft and 137 emails a day during warming would be no issue if you were ramping up carefully.

Microsoft does work on the premise of ' it's spam until proven otherwise' since security is our number one priority.

Looking at the error message and issue that is happening:
1. As @TedScott mentioned, I would check if your IP provider or someone they work with is on a blocklist

You can put your own IP address into MX Tool Box to get a quick scan of whether it might be blacklisted.
Email Blacklist Check - IP Blacklist Check - See if your server is blacklisted

2. Does the content of your message, headings, bodies, CTAs sound spammy in any way? If the content sounds very promotional, Microsoft will junk it pretty quickly. You may be able to test this by sending a very neutral message to some of your trusted users or a test group. For example, anything suggesting to buy something would likely get junked but how-to or educational content is more likely to be okay.

klfoulk16

Thank you for the help! I think because Braze gave me the IP address that means that Braze is my IP provider? Do a lot of companies use Braze for messaging and another company for the IP typically?

I'm not only any block lists according to that tool. I've started sending to only about 70 people a day (and sending more consistently versus just on Thursday as I did previously). My emails are no longer block-bouncing and sometimes Microsoft gives me a "yellow" ranking. I think sending consistently each day of the week is important. My onboarding consultant had experience in the past with brands that could send one day a week, but I think that's not me yet.

2. Nothing Spammy. Typically my messages go to the primary inbox on gmail versus promotional. Put perhaps gmail isn't as strict.

I'm going to keep treading carefully with Microsoft and hopefully I'll be trusted eventually!

TaniaCR7

Dear @klfoulk16

Usually Braze provides dedicated IPs and it is needed to link these IPs to your email domains. In addition to Ted & David comments, I'd suggest you to check your domains using the MX Tool Box to ensure everything is set up correctly.

I'd also recommend that you confirm that your authorizations, including DMARC, DKIM, and SPF, are accurately configured. Additionally, during the initial phases of the IP warm-up, it's recommended to keep the rate limits under 1000 to avoid any issues.

Other factor which can also support on the spam issue, it is verifying that your content includes unsubscription options, such as a list unsubscribe in the header and a footer unsubscription link.

Wishing you great success with your IP warming!💪We're also in the process of warming up our IPs, so you're not alone in this journey.

Warm regards,
Tania