Woody's SMTP blacklist: Guide to understanding and removal

Being listed on Woody’s SMTP blacklist can disrupt your email campaigns and damage your sender reputation. But here’s the truth: like most external blacklists, Woody’s SMTP blacklist is rarely a deliverability killer for major providers like Google or Microsoft, who rely on their own algorithms.

That said, being flagged is a red flag. It points to deeper issues (poor email practices, spam traps, or authentication problems) that you need to fix. This guide cuts through the noise to show you exactly what Woody’s SMTP blacklist is, why it matters, and how to get your domain or IP delisted fast. Let’s get to it!

Understanding Woody's SMTP blacklist

Woody’s SMTP blacklist is a private database flagging IPs for spam, often caught through traps like listme@blacklist.woody.ch. Its goal? Stop unsolicited bulk email (UBE) by targeting spammers using poor practices or harvesting tools. IPs flagged are publicly listed here, offering transparency for monitoring.

This blacklist mainly affects smaller email systems, while major providers like Google and Microsoft rely on their own algorithms. It’s a warning sign of bad practices, not a deliverability death sentence.

Reasons why you might be listed on Woody's SMTP blacklist

If you’ve landed on Woody’s SMTP blacklist, it’s a sign your email practices aren’t up to scratch. Here’s exactly what gets you flagged:

• Hitting spam traps : Spam traps like listme@blacklist.woody.ch exist to catch sloppy senders. If your emails are hitting these, it means your list hygiene is poor, or worse, you’re using purchased or scraped lists.
• Using email scraping tools : Harvesting email addresses with scraping software is a shortcut to nowhere. These tools collect unverified emails that often trigger bounces, complaints, and spam traps.
• Sending unsolicited bulk emails : Blasting emails to people who didn’t opt-in is spam, plain and simple. This kind of behavior gets noticed by blacklists like Woody’s, and fast.
• Skipping email verification : If you’re sending to invalid or outdated emails, your bounce rate goes up, your reputation takes a hit, and blacklists start paying attention.
• Sending irrelevant or excessive emails : Bombarding inboxes with unnecessary or poorly targeted emails is a great way to annoy recipients and trigger complaints.
• Sudden spikes in email volume : Sending hundreds or thousands of emails out of nowhere looks suspicious. Providers assume spam and treat you accordingly.
• Skipping the warm-up process : Sending high volumes from a new domain without warming it up is a rookie mistake. Without engagement signals like opens and replies, your domain gets flagged quickly.

Pro tip: Use MailReach’s email warm-up tool to build trust with email providers, avoid blacklists, and keep your emails hitting the inbox. Stop guessing and start fixing.

How being listed on the Woody's SMTP blacklist doesn’t affect your email deliverability ?

Let’s cut to the chase: being listed on Woody’s SMTP blacklist, like most external blacklists, has minimal impact on your email deliverability with major providers like Google and Microsoft. These email giants rely on their own advanced algorithms and engagement metrics to decide whether your emails reach the inbox. They don’t rely on third-party blacklists like Woody’s to make those calls.

So, what’s the real impact? Smaller or less sophisticated email systems might block your emails outright if they reference Woody’s blacklist in their filtering processes. However, the biggest takeaway is that being flagged is a symptom, not the root problem. It often points to underlying issues, such as bad list hygiene, spammy content, or lack of authentication, all of which directly hurt your sender reputation and inbox placement.

Ultimately, it’s not the blacklist itself that’s hurting you: it’s the practices that got you listed in the first place. Fix those, and you’ll see deliverability improvements, regardless of the blacklist status.

For a deeper dive into avoiding the spam folder, check out our guide: How to Keep Your Emails Out of the Spam Folder

Your priority is to check where your emails land

Please don’t obsess over blacklists. At the end of the day, the only thing that truly matters is where your emails are landing, so inbox, spam, or nowhere. Google and Microsoft dominate the email market, and their algorithms prioritize engagement over blacklist statuses. If your emails are ignored, deleted, or marked as spam, your deliverability takes a hit, blacklist or not.

To find out where you stand, the most effective tool is MailReach’s Email Spam Test. It gives you a clear, actionable report showing exactly where your emails land, along with insights on improving your sender reputation, content, and setup. This means you can stop guessing and focus on what works.

Blacklist or no blacklist, what truly counts is hitting the inbox.

Run a spam test with MailReach now and take control of your email performance today

Checking if your IP or domain is on Woody's SMTP blacklist

Think your emails are getting blocked? Here’s how to check if Woody’s SMTP blacklist is the culprit:

• Use MXToolbox: Go to https://mxtoolbox.com/MXLookup.aspx , enter your IP or domain, and get your answer instantly.
• Check bounce messages: Bounce notifications often call out Woody’s SMTP blacklist if it’s blocking your emails.
• Run a MailReach spam test: Find out exactly where your emails land and uncover any deliverability issues in seconds.

Test your spam score now with MailReach to pinpoint and fix the problem fast

Steps to remove your IP from Woody's SMTP blacklist

Getting delisted from Woody’s SMTP blacklist isn’t complicated, but you need to follow the process and fix the underlying issues to avoid landing there again. Here’s how to do it:

• Confirm your listing: Go to https://mxtoolbox.com/MXLookup.aspx and check if your IP is flagged. Don’t skip this, because if you’re not listed, the issue lies elsewhere.
• Submit a removal request: Use the contact form or instructions provided on the site. Be professional and precise: explain what caused the blacklisting and the steps you’ve taken to resolve it (e.g., cleaned email lists, fixed authentication issues, or stopped spammy behavior).
• Fix the root cause, quickly: Address what got you flagged in the first place. Whether it’s spam traps, bad list hygiene, or missing SPF/DKIM/DMARC records, fix it now. A repeat offense could make delisting impossible.
• Prevent future blacklisting: Keep your lists clean, authenticate your emails, and monitor engagement rates. Use tools like MailReach’s email warm-up to maintain a strong sender reputation and avoid being flagged again.

Time is money: fix it right the first time!

Start warming up your emails with MailReach to rebuild trust and protect your deliverability

Tips to avoid being flagged by Woody's SMTP blacklist

Here are some tips to really avoid being flagged by Woody’s SMTP blacklist: 

• Always verify email addresses before sending. Sending to invalid or outdated addresses is a fast track to spam traps. Regularly clean your lists, remove inactive contacts, and use verification tools to ensure every email address is legitimate and active. It’s as simple as that. 
• Refrain from using spam-triggering words. Phrases like “FREE!!!” or “Act Now!” can instantly get flagged as spam. Keep your language professional and straightforward. For a full list of what to avoid, check out our guide on spam words.
• Warm up your email account before scaling. If you’re just starting with a new domain and are into B2B cold emailing, use a warm-up tool like MailReach to generate engagement and build a solid sender reputation.
• Provide clear opt-out options. Every email must include an easy way for recipients to unsubscribe.So yes, failing to offer this not only damages reputation but can also get you flagged for non-compliance.
• Review and refine your email practices regularly. Stay on top of changes in email standards and continuously optimize your campaigns. Our other tip: do regular audits of your sending behavior, list management, and content quality, as this will help keep you off blacklists.

For more tips, check out Why Are My Emails Going to Spam?

How MailReach helps maintain email deliverability ?

Stop wasting time guessing why your emails aren’t landing in the inbox. MailReach’s email warm-up tool builds your sender reputation fast by generating real, positive interactions with over 30,000 inboxes. This isn’t fluff: it’s what email providers like Google and Microsoft trust to determine your sender reputation

MailReach gradually increases your sending volume, ensuring your account is fully prepped for B2B cold outreach without the spam folder drama. Whether you’re scaling up or fixing past mistakes, MailReach gives you the credibility you need to stay out of trouble, and nothing less. You’re welcome!

Start warming up your email account today and dominate the inbox with MailReach