WorkYourLeads

Many ISPs include a “this is spam” button or link for a piece of email sent from a specific IP address. When clicked, it is considered a “complaint”. A feedback loop (or complaint report) notes when a recipient clicks “this is spam” for one of your emails and sends a copy of the report to you.

These complaint reports track the feedback from your recipients and notify you when you are being flagged with SPAM or UCE (Unsolicited Commercial Email) complaints. These reports are extremely useful in the analysis of your lists and the content of your email communications as well as keeping up with compliancy and SPAM laws.

If you are doing any type of e-mail marketing you will want to set up feedback loops with all the providers that you can before you start sending any type of e-mail. When you receive a complaint make sure you remove the offending address from all your lists and block them from signing up again to prevent further complaints from them and to comply with the Can Spam Law.

Here are a list of places you need to visit and get on any feedback loop:

1. The Network Abuse Clearinghouse

Not a reporting service or FBL per se, but a database of correct addresses for spam reports based on domain. Registered users can send spam reports via its mail server, or anyone can query it to find reporting addresses for a particular domain. Since reports are not automated, volumes tend to be lower and reports hand-crafted. This may identify some of the more stubborn spam issues on a network, for example HTTP redirectors or DNS. See the Abuse.net website for instructions on using and updating its database.

2. SpamCop

SpamCop reports the spam source, SMTP relay and spamvertised URLs in the message body based on IP’s. Registered users can use SpamCop to parse and report spam. A SpamCop feed might be high volume depending on your mailing size and output. Follow the instructions on this page if you wish to receive SpamCop reports or daily summaries about spam problems in your IP space.

3. AOL Feedback Loop: http://postmaster.aol.com/tools/fbl.html

When AOL users click the “This Is Spam” button in their e-mail client, this system generates a report to you. It offers excellent feedback on your mailing and complaints they receive about your mailing. You need to sign up for this free service with AOL. (And same with the MSN, Yahoo! and Outblaze systems, too.) AOL’s whitelist info is here.

4. Comcast Feedback Loop sign up form.

5. Earthlink Feedback Loop: Write to fblrequest@abuse.earthlink.net with your IP range, domains, your network’s contact information including name, contact e-mail and phone, and the e-mail to which the FBL will be sent.

6. Excite Feedback Loop: Write to fb-loop@bluetie.com with your IP range, domains, your network’s contact information including name, contact e-mail and phone, and the e-mail to which the FBL will be sent.

7. Microsoft (msn.com, live.com, hotmail.com) has Feedback Loops and other information for bulk mailers at http://postmaster.msn.com/. Their Smart Network Data Services includes delivery numbers at SNDS, “Junk Mail Reporting Program” FBL at JMRPP and other services. Senders may also be interested in this PDF to help your delivery.

8. Outblaze (mail.com)
Request a feedback loop for your network by contacting postmaster@outblaze.com.

9. Road Runner FBL. Here is the original Road Runner Feedback Loop FAQ Make sure you visit here for changes they are making to their FBL: http://postmaster.rr.com/FBL.html

10. Yahoo!’s FAQ on deliverability issues is at http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/mail/defer/index.html and senders might be able to sign up for an Feedback Loop by emailing them.

11. USA.net offers a feedback loop service, operated by Return Path, free of charge, to parties sending large amounts of mail to USA.net members. The feedback loop (FBL) will forward any mail reported as spam originating from your IP addresses back to the listed email address.

12. United Online Trusted List and Feedback Loop for Netzero and Juno e-mail address’s.

When you signup for these feedback loops amke sure you take action on any reports received, if you do not then they will block all mail from you.

JR….