Home/Fix/Reputation ProblemsReputation ProblemsFix complaint spikes, bounce damage, trap hits, blocklists, and degraded reputation.Reading time: 8 minDifficulty: IntermediateEstimated duration: 8 minPrerequisites: ReputationLast updated: 2026-07-17Author: EmpirePrerequisitesReputationHow mailbox providers judge senders from IP, domain, and behavioral signals over time.▼Related learningReputationHow mailbox providers judge senders from IP, domain, and behavioral signals over time.▼Related problemsBlocklistsA sending IP or domain appears on a DNS blocklist used by receivers or downstream filters.Domain reputation degradedAuthenticated domain identity is treated as untrusted despite IP changes.Failed reputation recoveryRemediation attempts stall because harmful traffic or volume ramps continue.High bounce ratePermanent or repeated delivery failures indicate poor list quality and hurt reputation.High complaint rateSpam reports exceed provider expectations and are damaging IP or domain reputation.IP reputation degradedA sending IP is throttled, junked, or rejected due to accumulated negative signals.Missing reputation monitoringNo FBLs, postmaster views, or bounce classification are in place to detect damage early.Shared IP neighbor damagePoor practices from other senders on a shared IP are poisoning delivery outcomes.Spam trap hitsMail is reaching trap addresses, signaling acquisition or hygiene failures.▼Recommended toolsGoogle Postmaster ToolsGoogle’s official dashboard for domain reputation, spam rate, and authentication success at Gmail.MXToolboxPopular DNS and mail diagnostics suite for SPF, DMARC, blacklist, and MX checks.WorkflowsOpen step-by-step: Recover from reputation damageStop harmful traffic, remediate lists, and rebuild volume after IP or domain damage.Open step-by-step: Reduce complaint and bounce ratesImprove consent, suppression, and list hygiene to bring rates within provider expectations.Open step-by-step: Diagnose spam trap exposureIdentify trap-prone cohorts and acquisition paths after suspected trap hits.Open step-by-step: Validate an email listReduce bounce and trap risk before a campaign by validating and suppressing bad addresses.Continue LearningCampaign Performance ProblemsInvestigate low opens, high unsubscribes, and related campaign metrics.PreviousProvider ProblemsNextCampaign Performance Problems