Email deliverability

What does a Yellow status in Microsoft SNDS mean and what should I do about it?

Microsoft’s Smart Network Data Services (SNDS) uses a traffic light system:

• Green = Good reputation
• Yellow = Potential issues
• Red = Serious problems

If you’re seeing Yellow status:

1. Check for recent changes:

• Sudden increases in sending volume
• Higher than normal complaint rates
• Low engagement (opens/clicks)

1. Take these actions:

• Maintain consistent sending volumes
• Remove unengaged subscribers
• Monitor complaint rates
• Ensure content is relevant and expected
• Verify authentication is properly configured

Yellow status often improves within a few days if you follow these practices.

Note: Want up-to-date deliverability tips? Check Email’s Email Deliverability Guide in our documentation.

what-is-an-oob-bounce

An “Out of Band” (OOB) bounce happens when an email is initially accepted by the receiving server but rejected later. Think of it like a letter being accepted at a post office but returned days later.

Out of Band bounces do not have a RFC standard, therefore we do not receive the same details for an OOB as an in-band bounce - we are reliant on what the mailbox provider tells us.

Common reasons for OOB bounces:

• The email address was found to be invalid
• The mailbox became full
• The message triggered spam filters after deeper analysis
• The recipient server’s policies changed after initial acceptance

How can I get my emails to land in Gmail's Primary tab instead of Promotions?

Gmail’s tab placement is determined by their algorithms based on many factors:

• Content type and formatting
• User engagement history
• Sending patterns
• Authentication status
• Previous user interactions with your emails

While you can’t directly control tab placement, these practices may help:

• Send personalized, relevant content
• Maintain consistent authentication
• Encourage recipients to move your emails to Primary
• Focus on engagement-driven content

Why isn't my domain receiving emails from Email?

**To troubleshoot missing emails:
**

1. Log into your Email account and check Signals:

• Look for attempted deliveries to your domain
• Check bounce reasons if deliveries are failing
• Review Message Events for specific error messages

1. Common issues to check:

• DNS configuration for your domain
• Spam filter settings
• Server acceptance policies
• Full mailboxes or other technical blocks

Why are my emails being blocked or delayed by Microsoft/Hotmail?

**There are several potential reasons for Microsoft delivery issues. Here’s how to diagnose and fix them:

**

1. First, check your metrics in Email Signals:

• If your bounce rate is above 2%, you’ll need to clean your lists.
• If spam complaints are above 0.1%, review your content and opt-in practices.
• Look at your delayed rates to Microsoft domains.
• Check Message Events for specific Microsoft bounce codes.
• [Optional with Inbox Tracker] Review reputation using SNDS or GPT.

1. Next, review any recent changes:

• Have you sent more email than usual?
• Did you change your email content?
• Are you mailing to new lists?
• Did you modify your authentication settings?

1. To resolve the issue:

• Verify your authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) in Email’s Domains section.
• Remove inactive subscribers (no engagement for 6+ months).
• Stop sending to bounced addresses.
• Process unsubscribes immediately.
• Keep your sending volume consistent.
• Include clear unsubscribe links.
• Use clear subject lines.
• Include your physical mailing address.

Contact Email Support if:

• You’ve completed all these steps.
• Your metrics are within normal ranges.
• Issues continue for more than 48 hours.
• You see unusual bounce codes.
• You need SNDS data for your dedicated IPs.

Most blocks clear automatically within 24-48 hours if you follow good sending practices.